economic development Archives - Page 4 of 5

Robert Long with Forward Forsyth

July 17, 2019 by Mike

Case In Point

Robert Long with Forward Forsyth

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Robert Long/Forward Forsyth

The Cumming-Forsyth Chamber not only serves the business community as a traditional chamber, but it also the lead entity for economic development and tourism. Forsyth County is one of the fastest growing counties in the US, has the #1 school system in Georgia, and is the most affluent county in Georgia.

Forward Forsyth is your resource for all things business in Forsyth County. Forward Forsyth is here to connect you to the opportunities you need to get started, relocate or grow.

Andrew Kolikoff with Kolikoff and Company and Ian Wist with Wist Office Products E4

June 3, 2019 by Karen

AZ-GOOD-BUSINESS-Andrew-Kolikoff-with-Kolikoff-and-Company-and-Ian-Wist-with-Wist-Office-Products1

Phoenix Business Radio

Andrew Kolikoff with Kolikoff and Company and Ian Wist with Wist Office Products E4

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Andrew Kolikoff with Kolikoff and Company and Ian Wist with Wist Office Products E4

Kolikoff and Company is a business growth and development consulting firm that has a passion for serving people. We have a passion for growth – of both people and businesses.

We have a passion for making it rain, so you can enjoy more happiness, fulfillment and prosperity in your life, while you too are in service to others. The most important thing to know about Kolikoff is that our focus is on YOU.

Andrew Kolikoff, Owner of Kolikoff and Company, is a former chief science officer, 3-time successful business owner (once landing him on the front page of USA Today), author, adjunct professor, coach and consultant now helping lead the charge in one of Arizona’s fastest growing tech companies.

Andrew has mentored over 500 business owners and professionals.

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

As a charter member of Local First Arizona, Wist Office Products has since 2003 helped to promote, strengthen and support local business. The Wist family has owned and operated Wist Office Products for 58 years. The average life span of a family-owned business is 24 years.

Ian Wist’s grandfather, Martin Wist, entered the office supply industry in 1921 with PBSW Supply and Equipment. Wist Office Products has been a yearly Alfred P. Sloan Award winner for workplace flexibility since 2008.

Ian Wist is an experienced General Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the business supplies and equipment industry.

Skilled in Negotiation, Customer Service, Sales, Strategic Planning, and Business Development, Ian is a strong entrepreneurship professional with a Bachelor of Science, Marketing focused in Business Marketing from Arizona State University.

Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.

About Arizona Good Business Radio

What is good business? What are local businesses doing to build a better Arizona?

Join Arizona Good Business Radio to hear from local companies who are:

Centering purpose at the forefront of business
Creating social well-being for the community
Prioritizing sustainability and positive environmental practices
Growing strong company cultures through building authentic teams
Ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion are involved in all business decisions

Arizona Good Business Radio features local business leaders that are redefining what it means to do good business.

About Your Host

Thomas Barr is the Executive Director for Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in North America. He advocates for a strong local business community that contributes to building vibrancy, equity, and prosperity across the state. A proud Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University,Thomas leads the business coalition of Local First Arizona by advocating for the economic and cultural benefits provided by building strong local economies.

Thomas steers the strategic direction of LFA’s major programs and initiatives as well as the engagement of over 3000 businesses across Arizona. As Executive Director, Thomas guides a team of statewide senior directors overseeing the execution of LFA’s communication strategy, major initiatives and key partnerships, as well as the collaboration of over 30 staff implementing work in entrepreneurship programs, small business advocacy, local food initiatives, sustainability, urban development and community building. He frequently speaks to groups locally and nationally, presenting the impact of Local First Arizona and the importance of local economy work in building prosperity.

Outside of Local First Arizona, Thomas has participated in volunteering his time to many causes and organizations throughout the Valley including Young Nonprofit Professionals – Phoenix, Equality Arizona, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Heritage Square Foundation and Phoenix Legal Action Network. Additionally, Thomas is a 2018 Phoenix Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree, alumni of Arizona Leading for Change, and current participant in Valley Leadership Institute’s 40th cohort.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Local First AZ

Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization that celebrates independent, locally owned businesses. We support, promote and advocate for a strong local business community and raise public awareness of the economic and cultural benefits provided by strong local economies. Local businesses contribute to a sustainable economy for Arizona and build vibrant communities we’re all proud to call home.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

May 28, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

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**Geoff Smith and Ann Hanlon on “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”**

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

Host Geoff Smith speaks with Ann Hanlon, Executive Director of the Perimeter CIDs, on the history of community improvement districts in Georgia, why they are so important in economic and infrastructure development, and the project priorities for the Perimeter CIDs.

Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

As Executive Director for the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), Ann Hanlon is in charge of the organization’s daily operations, as well as its investments in transportation infrastructure. The Perimeter CIDs have an annual operating budget of $8 million.

Previously, Ann was the Executive Director of the the North Fulton CID for 12 years, beginning when it was a start-up. Prior to joining the North Fulton CID, Ann served as a Senior Program Specialist at the Atlanta Regional Commission. She began her career in the private sector, as a Research and Development Analyst with Press Ganey & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm in South Bend, Indiana.

A native of South Georgia, Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Government and Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters of Public Administration degree in Management and Finance from Georgia State University.

Ann was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar Atlanta Chapter in November 2016. In April 2015 and again in 2017, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ann to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority where she serves on the Projects and Planning committees. Ann was named “Business Woman of Excellence” by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce in 2019, selected as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40” in 2018, named a “Notable Georgian” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Women Who Mean Business” in 2015 and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40” in 2012.

Ann is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute of the Atlanta Regional Commission (2010) and Leadership North Fulton (2006). She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth and will be the Council’s first female Chairman in 2019. Additionally, Ann serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s’ Transportation Seminar, Atlanta Chapter, the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. She has been a citizen member of the “Shape Dunwoody” Comprehensive Plan committee, the North Fulton Poverty Task Force and was Co-Chair of the DeKalb County Charter Review Commission. She is a Chairman’s Circle member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber.

Personally, Ann is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Metro Atlanta, a member of All Saints Catholic Church and a sustainer with the Junior League of Atlanta. She lives in Dunwoody with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Catherine.

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” covers all things economic development in the Atlanta Metro area. From everything inside the Beltline to Avalon and beyond, Geoff Smith interviews the movers and shakers making the ATL one of the best places to live, work and play. An archive of past episodes can be found here.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial working with Real Estate agents and homebuyers to help them get happily to their closing table. Geoff is an authority on the latest economic development trends shaping the Atlanta Metro area. His interviews reveal an inside perspective at how things get done in the ATL.

Geoff is an active member of his community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, as well as holding the position of chairman for the Chamber’s Education Committee. He is also Secretary of the Roswell Youth Baseball Association and coaches his sons in football, baseball and basketball. Geoff enjoys golf, camping and traveling with his wife and two sons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $12.9 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Kirkland Carden with Duluth City Council and R.J. & LaVerne Cox with Evergreen Investment Realty

February 14, 2019 by Mike

Gwinnett Business Radio

Kirkland Carden with Duluth City Council and R.J. & LaVerne Cox with Evergreen Investment Realty

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Kirkland Carden, R.J. Cox, LaVerne Cox, Mike Sammond

Kirkland Carden/Duluth City Council

Kirkland Carden is a current council member for the City of Duluth, GA. Duluth is recognized as a model city for Gwinnett County. It is poised with a perfect blend of small businesses, entrepreneurial enterprise, major corporations, and visionary developers. Its success rate has been obtainable through sound economic efforts, business advocacy and leadership development. The vitality of Duluth is no accident. It is the result of careful planning and great foresight on the part of its business and community leaders. From tangible communication programs to local events that influence and impact the business environment, Duluth embraces a unique, concentrated form of government.

As the second largest city in Gwinnett County, Duluth is noted first in financial stability throughout the State of Georgia. As a result, there are no bond ratings, and the City basks debt free. This, in addition to Duluth’s favorable growth pattern, has earned it the reputation of a suburban oasis, making it a very desirable address, particularly at the start of a new millennium.

Duluth remains a busy hub today, continuing in the vanguard of the Metro area’s great business and residential expansion. Despite phenomenal growth, it has retained its small-town character, where personal camaraderie, spirited by annual holiday and festive events, is savored. Duluth is home to more than 26,688 residents who live, work and play in its 9.8 square-mile community. Its commercial corridor is among Gwinnett County’s busiest. Over 1,750 businesses are located within the City limits.

R.J. & LaVerne Cox/Evergreen Investment Realty

Evergreen Investment Realty is a niche brokerage dedicated to serving as the solutions provider to the acquisition, operation, and disposition of residential to commercial real estate portfolios. Their services are customized for the investors’ specific needs. They provide personalized advisory services to each of their clients. Bottom line: Evergreen Investment Realty helps investors make the right acquisition and operation decisions depending on their specific situation. Evergreen works extensively with wholesalers, builders, and landlords from local to institutional sized investors.

Robert Long with the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

February 6, 2019 by Mike

Case In Point

Robert Long with the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

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Robert Long/Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber not only serves the business community as a traditional chamber, but it also the lead entity for economic development and tourism. Forsyth County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, has the #1 school system in the state of Georgia, and is the most affluent county in Georgia.

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power and Bill Bland with Choate Construction

December 4, 2018 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power and Bill Bland with Choate Construction

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Bill Bland, Kali Boatright, and Jeff Petrea

Jeff Petrea/Georgia Power

Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, GA. It was established as the Georgia Railway and Power Company and began operations in 1902 running streetcars in Atlanta as a successor to the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company.

Georgia Power is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company. Georgia Power is an investor-owned, tax-paying public utility that serves more than 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. It employs approximately 7,500 workers throughout the state.

Bill Bland/Choate Construction

Choate Construction Company is one of the largest general contractors in the Southeast specializing in Preconstruction, Design-Build, LEED Programming / Implementation, and Construction Management services for multiple market sectors. Choate is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to hold an 85% rate of repeat clients. Due to financial strength and depth of expertise Choate’s annual volume has continued to grow, topping $1.2 billion in 2017. Additionally, Choate has received many notable distinctions including being named the 2017 Southeast Contractor of the Year by ENR magazine. Choate’s employees are members of various professional and personal organizations with a strong backbone of charitable involvement. Choate is continually recognized as one of the top corporate fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation having raised over $3 million to date.

North Atlanta’s Bizlink is produced by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Our service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. We provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jonathan Keyser with Keyser Co and Jenny Poon with Co-Hoots

September 4, 2018 by Karen

Jodi-Low-with-Jenny-Poon-and-Jonathan-Keyser-on-Business-RadioX1

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jonathan Keyser with Keyser Co and Jenny Poon with Co-Hoots

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Jonathan Keyser with Keyser Co and Jenny Poon with Co-Hoots

Keyser is a model to businesses in all industries that consistent selfless service can result in extraordinary profits and success. Keyser is a commercial real estate and business advisory firm that manages domestic and international real estate portfolios. They have gone against the grain of their industry’s profit- driven, win at all costs tendencies. Keyser’s ‘serve-first’ mantra brings client service and advocacy to a whole new level. This cutting edge philosophy is working since Keyser is the fastest growing commercial real estate firm in the Southwest with the focus to become a billion dollar company.

Whether the need is to relocate, consolidate, downsize, expand, renegotiate a current lease, purchase a property, or construct a building, Keyser has the expertise and experience needed to manage the project. They are fully committed to helping their clients reduce their real estate expense, increase their flexibility and enhance their competitive position in the global marketplace.

Keyser’s refreshing selfless service business model has been disruptive to the commercial real estate industry and the business marketplace. Beyond their real estate needs, companies seek out Keyser’s services to redesign their businesses using the Keyser selfless service model.

Jonathan Keyser is the founder and thought leader behind Keyser. With more than 18 years of experience in the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Jonathan represents companies both domestically and internationally across a broad range of industries. Jonathan is particularly good at identifying creative strategies to align real estate with business requirements, designing and implementing unique solutions to complex real estate challenges, and solving Landlord / Tenant conflicts where negotiations have deteriorated in the face of rising hostilities.

Jonathan speaks throughout the nation to thousands of professionals annually at industry and charity events. His selfless service model resonates with corporations and individuals seeking a competitive edge to acquiring and maintaining clients. His book, DISRUPTIVE, explains this model and is sure to disrupt the marketplace.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn.

CO+HOOTS is the largest coworking community in Arizona and was recently ranked one of the top coworking spaces in the nation by Inc.com. CO+HOOTS’ unique model is highly successful because of its ability to attract passionate entreprenurs and surround them with impactful resources and each other in one highly productive collaborative space. The results are simple: consistently stronger and more successful businesses. As a social enterprise, CO+HOOTS is often sited as a catalyst for building vibrant innovation hubs in emerging cities. On average, CO+HOOTS’ supports the creation of more than 100 jobs a year across different industries through access to resources, shared space and educational events

CO+HOOTS launched their non-profit arm that focuses on inclusion by expanding entrepreneuership to underrepresented communities in 2014. The non-profit further supports entrepreneurs in building solutions that will change the world and create wealth with in their city.

Jenny Poon is an entrepreneur and founder of CO+HOOTS. Ranked #4 coworking space in the nation by Inc.com, CO+HOOTS currently houses 280+ scaling entrepreneurs and small businesses and has been an integral role in creating hundreds of jobs locally. She has led CO+HOOTS from its inception in 2010 to be the #1 most innovative coworking space in the world. Her background in business, design and marketing led her to build a place where she could connect with like-minded folks that believe business growth comes from collaboration between different industries. She speaks regularly on the gig economy, the importance of nurturing innovation in the workspace and works tirelessly to bring visibility to coworking as an economic development tool for building vibrant and equitable cities.

Her background as an award-winning designer and strategist led her to build a shared work space where she could connect with like-minded, talented folks who believe collaboration between industries is where innovation flourishes. Jenny serves as an advisor for several startups, Chair of the CO+HOOTS Foundation, and mentors young entrepreneurs weekly.

Jenny was named Phoenix Business Journal’s 2016 Phoenix Businessperson of the Year. The first minority and the first woman to receive the honor.

Follow CO+HOOTS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Leadership Lowdown was created to share the REAL story behind valley leaders’ rise to the top, and the truth about what it takes to TRULY succeed in life and business. Hear the raw stories of these leaders’ journeys…the pitfalls, the victories, and all of the heartaches and triumphs in between.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Jodi Low is an accomplished corporate trainer, inspirational speaker, and the Founder and CEO of U & Improved. Jodi has trained thousands of entrepreneurs and executives on how to build a booming business, master a mindset for success, and achieve the lifestyle they desire through heart-fueled leadership.

Through U & Improved—an award-winning personal and professional leadership development company based in Scottsdale—Jodi has redefined traditional leadership training by creating a sustainable and actionable model that is personal, challenging and meaningful to each and every individual who enrolls in any of the two-and-a-half-day experiential training classes. She and her elite training team have advanced the charge in heart-based leadership
development and empower U & Improved graduates with knowledge, tools and awareness to immediately be more effective and responsive leaders at work, home and within their communities.

Among her many accomplishments as a Valley leader, Jodi launched a teen leadership program in 2014 to empower young adults to become more confident, motivated and focused stewards of our future. In 2016, she founded a non-profit arm of the company—the U & Improved Leadership Foundation—that makes the program more accessible to deserving teens.

Jodi has been recognized by industry publications and organizations for her work in leadership development and serves as a source of inspiration within the community. In 2015, she was honored as an “Outstanding Women in Business” by the Phoenix Business Journal and by the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona with the “Amazing Women” award. She has received both the prestigious “Diversity Leader of the Year” and the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce’s “Sterling Award.” She was also awarded a Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 and was a finalist for the Junior League of Phoenix’s Valley Impact Award. Jodi is a devoted single parent who volunteers her time at her daughters’ school programs and with organizations such as Angel Mamas, where she’s served on the board for three years.

Using State Tax Credits to Reduce Your Income Tax Burden

August 22, 2018 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Using State Tax Credits to Reduce Your Income Tax Burden

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Craig Frankel, Brian Sengson, Peter Stathopoulos, Adam Gaslowitz

Brian Sengson/Bennett Thrasher

Brian Sengson is a Manager in the State and Local Tax practice with Bennett Thrasher. Brian specializes in helping clients reduce their effective state tax rates through multi-state tax planning, state credits, and economic development incentives. Brian also provides state tax consulting for M&A due diligence with an emphasis on income/franchise tax, sales and use tax, and unclaimed property.

Prior to joining the firm, Brian managed the tax litigation practice of a national consulting firm specializing in federal and state tax credits for small/medium sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Brian earned his Juris Doctorate with honors at Georgia State University and graduated from Lee University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Business Management. Brian is a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Georgia, and is a member of the Bar’s Tax Law Section in addition to the American Bar Association (“ABA”).

Peter Stathopoulos/Bennett Thrasher

Peter Stathopoulos is a Partner and leads Bennett Thrasher’s State and Local Tax practice. Peter has been practicing in the area of state and local taxation and economic development incentives since 1993. Peter has extensive experience in helping clients reduce their effective state tax rates through multi-state tax planning and in resolving state tax controversies from the audit level through litigation in state trial and appellate courts.

Prior to joining the firm, Peter was a partner with a national law firm and practiced in the area of state and local tax controversy and litigation. Prior to entering private law practice, Peter was a principal consultant in the multi-state tax consulting practice of a Big Four accounting firm. Prior to joining Big Four accounting, Peter was a tax policy attorney with the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Peter has worked closely with state tax and economic development policy makers to represent the business community’s interests. In 2008, Peter helped draft a portion of the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act as well as legislation that expanded a variety of Georgia tax credits to apply to the broadcasting industry. In 2002, he co-chaired a joint Georgia Department of Revenue/State Bar of Georgia committee that help draft Georgia’s current consolidated income tax return regulations. In 2001, he served on the executive committee of the Business Council of Alabama that helped draft Alabama’s privilege tax scheme. In 1995, he was a tax policy attorney with the Georgia Department of Revenue and led the drafting of regulations for many of Georgia’s current tax credits and acted as a liaison with the Governor’s Economic Development Council.

About Gaslowitz Frankel:

Gaslowitz Frankel is an experienced trial practice firm specializing in all aspects of complex fiduciary litigation throughout Georgia and the Southeast. With a focus on representing individuals, companies, banks, and fiduciaries in dispute involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, businesses, and securities law, their experienced and highly qualified litigation attorneys have tremendous credentials and a proven history of success.

CLICK HERE to watch the video of this show.

If you would like to watch past episodes of “Wealth Matters”, please visit their You Tube Channel.
Remember to tune in HERE on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 8:30 AM to listen live to their show!

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN with Tom Hatten of Mountainside Fitness and Russ Yelton of Yelton and Associates

March 10, 2018 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN with Tom Hatten of Mountainside Fitness and Russ Yelton of Yelton and Associates

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LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN with Tom Hatten of Mountainside Fitness and Russ Yelton of Yelton and Associates

It all started with an idea. An idea to be the friendliest gym in town. To know their members’ names, not just their numbers. To offer free towel service, even if that meant doing laundry at his apartment until two in the morning. This was the beginning of Mountainside Fitness.

In 1991, founder and CEO, Tom Hatten, began Mountainside Fitness while a junior at Arizona State University. Together with his family and friends, Tom brought his dream to life. From welding gym equipment to painting walls to selling memberships, the early years were true sweat equity in every sense of the word. Mountainside Fitness was founded on community and value, and those continue to be at the company’s core as they grow into 16 locations and over 80,000 members this year.

In November of 2005, Mountainside Fitness Centers was voted 1 of 10 “hottest growing” companies in Arizona by Biz AZ magazine when 5 clubs were added to the chain. Tom has also received various awards and accolades throughout his career, including being voted 1996 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Business Journal/USA Today, being the Cover story of Entrepreneur Magazine July 2004, and being featured in Forbes Magazine, US News and World Report, Club Solutions Magazine, Paradise Valley Magazine, and Club Insider Magazine.

In addition to growing his company, Tom is a motivational speaker to many business organizations, colleges, high schools and churches. His topics range from entrepreneurship, economics, and corporate community involvement. Hatten is also featured in the college textbook titled Entrepreneurship: A Practice Based Approach co-written by authors: Christopher Neck (Management Professor Arizona State University), Heidi Neck (Entrepreneurship Professor Babson College), Emma Murray (Consultant). And he is currently working on another book Dream On: An Entrepreneurs desire to overcome which is due out in Spring 2018.

Hatten at one time co-hosted the mid-day all fitness request hour for local KZZP FM radio. Tom strongly values the community and has dedicated his time and resources, not only to helping people live healthier lifestyles, but also to social responsibility. Some of the highlights of his commitment to the community include:

2016 Honoree – Teen Lifeline Foundation
2016 Honoree – Muscular Dystrophy Association
2016 Chairman of the board – Make-A-Wish Arizona
2017 Honored as one of the Most Admired Leaders by the Phoenix Business Journal
2017 Board member – AZ Special Olympics
2017 Board member – AZ Diamondbacks Foundation

Tom is also a Founding Board member of AZ Bank & Trust, member of the YPO (Young Presidents Organization) Scottsdale, and member of the International CEO’s against cancer. Born in Austin, Minnesota, he has lived in Arizona for all but 6 months of his life. Favorite charitable organizations include: Make-A-Wish Arizona, Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, Special Olympics and MDA of AZ.

Tom@MountainsideFitness.com
MountainsideFitness.com
Tom Hatten on Linkedin

Russ Yelton served as Chairman of the AZBio Board of Directors from January 2015 to December 2017. He has been an active board members since being elected in 2009.

He is currently president of Yelton and Associates. The firm provides economic development services as well as early stage business solutions. Yelton and Associates has experience both domestically and internationally and has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs to raise funding and bring their products to a variety of markets. The firm also has a long history of assisting municipalities with the development of co-w0rk, incubators and accelerators as well as loan funds, student focused entrepreneurial programming as well as shared facilities.

As a Board Member at Pinnacle Transplant Technologies, Inc., Yelton provides executive level leadership to a rapidly expanding tissue bank and medical device company. Yelton served as Pinnacle Transplant’s CEO from 2014 to 2017.

Pinnacle Transplant Technologies is a multi-service tissue bank dedicated to ethical participation in the donate life process. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited, Pinnacle only works with federally chartered Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and agencies accredited by AATB to help safeguard our employees, provide superior allografts for transplantation and assure reverence to our donor families.

Prior to joining Pinnacle Transplant Technologies, Yelton was President and CEO of the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology located in Flagstaff. NACET is a business incubation program that assists companies with commercializing their technologies in both domestic and international markets. NACET is supported by the City of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University where it functions as the Technology Transfer Office for NAU. Clients in NACET’s program received individual business consulting, access to mentors, venture and angel capital and domestic and international student research teams.

Prior to coming to Arizona in 2009, Yelton oversaw the creation of a business incubation program in Asheville, North Carolina in an abandoned 141,000 sq feet former BASF manufacturing plant. That program, located at a community college, included a commercial food kitchen, biotechnology space with wet, dry and core laboratories, light manufacturing and executive offices.

Yelton received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Appalachian State University, a Masters of Business Administration from Western Carolina University and Doctoral studies in Educational Leadership also at WCU. In addition, he received a European Union Grant in 2008 to complete Evaluation of Sustainability Training from Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.

Russ@YeltonandAssociates.com
PinnacleTransplantTechnologies
Russ Yelton on Linkedin