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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Across The Network





Victor Antonio with Sellinger Group, Joanne Hayes with Simply Buckhead, Vera Starks with Pink Pumps Soirée, Sonja Rodgers with Sisters Network, Mark Myette with The Entreprenuer’s Source and Network Over 40, Steve Shamatta with Pennywise Room

Victor Antonio with Sellinger Group, Joanne Hayes with Simply Buckhead, Diana Galloway, Vera Starks and Sonja Rodgers with Sisters Network Atlanta, Mark Myette with The Entreprenuer’s Source/Network Over 40

Mark Myette, Steve Shamatta, Karen Canavan, Diana Galloway, Vera Starks, Sonja Rodgers, Joanne Hayes (Co-Host), Victor Antonio, Rich Casanova (Host)

Victor Antonio/Sellinger Group
Keynote speaker on sales motivation

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Victor Antonio 2A poor upbringing from one of the roughest areas of Chicago didn’t stop Victor from earning a B.S. Electrical Engineering, an MBA and building a 20 year career as a top sales executive and becoming CEO of a multimillion dollar high-tech company. Prior to being CEO he was President of Global Sales and Marketing for a $420M company. As Vice President of International Sales in a Fortune 500 $3B corporation at the time. He was selected from over 500 sales managers to join the President’s Advisory Council for excellence in sales and management. International: He has conducted business in Europe, Asia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Latin America, Middle East, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

www.VictorAntonio.com     LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

Joanne Hayes/Simply Buckhead Magazine (Show Co-Host)
Publisher /Founder 

Buckhead Business RadioX 06-03-14 Joanne Hayes 1Publisher and Founder of Simply Buckhead Magazine, launched in 2010. More than 18 years in the industry, worked for Journal Register Company (owners of 377 weeklies and dailies across the country), for 12 years, then as Marketing Director for SO RI Magazine, launched in 2007 at Providence Media, for 3 years, before moving to Atlanta. Without knowing a single person here, we spent 8 months in early 2010 researching and educating ourselves on the Atlanta media landscape before launching. As the fastest-growing publication in Atlanta, we are very excited to collaborate with many local businesses and Buckhead and Brookhaven residents, bringing to the readers unique stories that continue to keep them seeking us out. My specialty is building long-term relationships, educating clients, and helping businesses grow through advertising and editorial opportunities.

LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

Vera Starks/Pink Pumps Soirée
Founder

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Vera Starks 1The mission of Pink Pumps Soirée is to raise funds to support breast cancer survivors with their financial needs during treatment and recovery. There are so many more women like Aunt Dollie who are currently out there. Stepping in the gap and helping alleviate the financial burdens of treatment, will relieve stress during their time of recovery. We strongly believe that by providing this much needed assistance,will help them focus on living and getting stronger.

“I am no stranger to the financial stresses associated with Fighting Breast Cancer. My Aunt Dollie and Cousin Minnie, both fought the good fight and are my inspiration. I later understood how they had to not only fight the disease but fight to make ends meet due to the costs of treatment, event with insurance! A survivor should not have to fight cancer to live and then, simultaneously, figure out how to pay their bills. We have to do something”
-Vera Starks

www.PinkPumpsSoiree.com      LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

Sonja Rodgers/Sisters Network Atlanta
Vice President

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Diana Galloway, Vera Starks, Sonja Rodgers 1Sonja grew up in Pontiac, MI – one of the busiest car making cities in the world – right outside of Detroit, MI as an only child raised by her mother. Her surrounding family helped her to grow into the God fearing strong woman she is today. Sonja was always the center of attention and loved to perform in school and church plays and sang in the youth choir until she graduated High School and left for college where she studied Broadcast Journalism at Michigan State University in East Lansing , MI. After college, she stayed in the metro Detroit area were she worked in various positions as a Telecommunication Specialist until she eventually met and married her best friend, Lawrence Rodgers. They decided to move to Atlanta in 1993 to start their new lives as progressive young professionals. Her career has taken her through various doors of large financial institutions where she lastly was employed by Wachovia Bank, N.A. and held the position of a Bank Officer & Licensed Series 6/63 and GA Insurance professional until August 2010 when her career and life abruptly was interrupted with the diagnosis of stage 3B Inflammatory Breast Cancer on her 43rd birthday, where then she became a second generation breast cancer survivor; whereas her loving mother had already traveled this journey and beat it almost exactly 25 years before her. Since then, her life journey through healing and restoration, she has been an advocate of self breast exams and getting your mammograms yearly. In this advocacy and transparency with all she meets, she met Charter President Diana Galloway and subsequently is now the Vice President of Sisters Network affiliate chapter Atlanta Southern Region. She does not believe in coincidences and knows this meeting was divinely arranged. She is looking forward to many years of serving under her leadership. Over the last months since becoming the Vice President of the Atlanta Southern Region Chapter, which was launched in September 2013, they have hit the pavement to be there for those who seek and need support during this most difficult time. Since our inception ASR – SNI has traveled the metro Atlanta area spreading the word and supporting and speaking to others about the diagnosis of Breast Cancer and offering Survivorship support to all who request it. Being apart of this journey thus far has been the best time of her life. Sonja looks forward to many more days and years of sharing the creed and mission of Sisters Network Inc., to all that she comes in contact with “In Unity there is Strength In Strength there is Power In Power there is Change” Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder & CEO of Sisters Network® Inc

www.SistersNetworkAtlanta.com     Twitter     Facebook

 

Mark Myette/The Entreprenuer’s Source / Network Over 40: Atlanta
Owner /Area Developer / Coach

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Mark Myette 1I’m an Owner – Area Developer / Coach for The Entrepreneur’s Source. Creating trusted, advocacy-based relationships where clients achieve clarity around entrepreneurship. We help people build rewarding businesses / careers. Our unique NO FEE discovery and education experience empowers our clients to explore alternative career options outside of the traditional job market in self-employment and business ownership.

Throughout my business career, which began in 1983 and where I spent 24+ years within Fortune 500 companies, I have always loved being an advisor, catalyst, coach, connector, influencer, pioneer, stimulator and teacher!

I’m passionate about giving back, volunteering, doing my part to leave the world in a better place AND helping people see things in themselves or the world they may not yet see.

BA from Boston University. MBA from Emory University. Certified Professional in Learning & Performance (CPLP) from the Association of Talent Development (ATD). I am the WORLD’S first certified coach for the Gallup “Entrepreneurial Strengths Finders” assessment.

eSourceCoach.com     LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

Steve Shamatta/White Hall Tavern, Red Door Tavern and Pennywise Room
Owner

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Steve Shamatta 3Established in 2004, the Red Door has a laid-back, neighborhood atmosphere. Home to the Slush Puppy, we are the only bar in Atlanta to offer this tasty treat in any of your favorite slush puppy flavors, topped off with your choice of liquor. If Slush Puppies aren’t your thing, we also offer 180oz. Beer Towers.

We are a great place to go with friends and meet new people.

www.RedDoorATL.com

 

 

Robert Balentine with Balentine and Company, Jim Cook with National Financial Services Group, Brad Stonecipher with Peachtree Planning Corporation, Reo Oravec with Pilot House Advisors

Buckhead Business Radio 10-21-14 Group

 

Robert Balentine/Balentine and Company
Partner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Robert Balentine 1Robert Balentine is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Balentine, the Atlanta based independent investment advisory firm. In 1987, Robert founded Balentine and Company, which grew to become the largest independent investment advisory firm in the south. In 2002, the firm was acquired by a large public company where Robert become CEO of their investment management business, managing more than $36 billion in assets. Five years ago, he and his partners became entrepreneurs once again and created Balentine as an independent firm. Robert began his career with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, where at the age of 28, he was elected the youngest vice president in Merrill Lynch history. In 1987, he and his father cofounded Balentine & Company, which grew to become the largest privately owned investment counseling firm in the Southeast. In 2002, the firm was acquired by Wilmington Trust Company where Robert served as Executive Vice President and Chairman and CEO of Wilmington Trust Investment Management. There, his Atlanta based team managed over $36 billion in assets for clients throughout the United States. Robert has held a variety of leadership positions in the community. He was Chairman of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Vice Chairman of the Woodruff Arts Center and Chairman of the Salvation Army Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs. He is a 20 year member of Vistage, an international organization of CEOs; founding president of The Southeastern Horticultural Society; and a member of the Elachee Nature Center Advisory Board. Robert is also founder of the Southern Highlands Reserve (SHR), a nationally recognized native plant arboretum in western North Carolina, and in 2014 was honored for his work with SHR by Invest in Others in its annual Community Leadership Awards. Since its founding in December 2009, Balentine has grown to nearly $2 billion in assets, employing 25 people in two offices and has been named one of the Top 50 fastest growing RIAs by Forbes and a best place to work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments. In addition, the Metro Atlanta Chamber awarded Robert with the Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. In August of this year, Robert was named one of the nation’s “Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors” by Barron’s.

www.Balentine.com     LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

Jim Cook/National Financial Services Group
CEO

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Jim CookJames L. Cook serves as CEO of National Financial Services Group (NFSG), a comprehensive financial services firm headquartered in Atlanta. Under his leadership, which began in 2000, the firm has become one of the premier financial services companies in the Southeast having grown from a single office of 16 associates to over 125 financial services professionals with offices in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. NFSG has a long proud history. Through its association with National Life Insurance Company (NLIC), NFSG can trace its roots back to 1896, the year the first NLIC agency opened in Atlanta. Over the years, the firm’s name has changed but its solid reputation for excellence in service and long term client relationships has endured. Jim’s steadfast commitment to ongoing training and education builds the intellectual capital of the firm and enables the firm’s financial professionals to stand out among their peers in the industry. NFSG was recognized as the top National Life agency from 20052010 and for the past ten years, it has been ranked as one of the top agencies for insurance and assets under management by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The firm has been the recipient of numerous GAMA International Awards which recognize exceptional agencies and firm leaders around the world. These awards include the Master Agency Award (five times), the First in Class Award (six times) and the International Management Diamond Award (eight times). Jim served for four years as a GAMA International Board Member.1 A 1981 graduate of Western Illinois University, Jim earned his Certified Fund Specialist® designation in 1995 and became a Chartered Financial Consultant® in 1997. He is past President of NAIFA Atlanta and served as a board member for three years. Jim has traveled to Washington D.C., along with NAIFA leaders from across the country, to discuss important industry issues with members of Congress. Jim and his wife, Belynda, live in Cumming, GA and have three daughters. They are members of Johns Creek United Methodist Church. During his occasional free time, Jim can be found golfing or cheering on the Atlanta Braves.

www.NationalFinancialServicesGroup.com     LinkedIn

 

Brad Stonecipher/Peachtree Planning Corporation
Executive Vice President Investments

Buckhead Business Radio 10-28-14 Brad StonecipherBrad Stonecipher has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He was previously employed with Trust Company Bank, Merrill Lynch, and Robinson Humphrey, before joining Peachtree Planning in 1995. Brad currently oversees Peachtree Planning’s Investment Department which includes, Operations, Compliance, and Investment Product Sales. He is responsible for over 90 registered representatives who currently manage over $2.6 billion of their clients’ assets. Brad is the recipient of several professional organizational awards. He has served as a member of the Field Advisory Board for Park Avenue Securities (PAS) and for Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company. He helped develop and implement the PAS Investment Specialist Training Program, a program that has trained over 200 Investment Specialist’s throughout the country. He graduated with a BBA, from the University of Kentucky. He is a member of the IAFP, International Association of Financial Planners, a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the ALU, Association of Life Underwriters, and a member of GAMA International, The General Agents and Managers Association. Brad lives in Buckhead with his wife, Iris, and their son, Nick, and daughter, Haley. They are members of Peachtree Presbyterian Church.

www.PeachtreePlanning.com     LinkedIn     Facebook

 

Reo Oravec/Pilot House Advisors
Founder

Buckhead Business RadioX 07-15-14 Reo Oravec 1Reo Oravec comes with 32 years as a trusted advisor to clients. He started his career with Anderson Consulting in Europe where he attended the University of Oxford for an MBA. He returned to the US to run the West coast branch of Anderson and was hired as a CIO for a DOT COM client, which he took public. Reo has spent over a decade in various VP roles for a global consulting company helping a broad range of businesses from startups to F100 companies. As CEO of Pilothouse Advisors, he currently leads the business strategy efforts that focus on customer’s high growth and innovation execution. Reo has a vast experience with SMEs from all aspects of business operations, and, today, he will uncover their origins and usefulness in today’s challenging environment. Optional: Reo holds certifications in project management from Stanford University, business intelligence from TDWI, and is a certified outsourcing executive from IAOP. He’s the author of an upcoming book on effective business processes and revenue generation titled “Sales Best Practices.” In Atlanta, he is involved in TAG, ASP, AICPA, IIBA, the AQAA, and is a fund raiser for SOGA, the Salvation Army Bed and Bread program, Feed America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

www.PilothouseAdvisors.com     Linkedin

 

Heather Thompson/Pilot House Advisors
Show Producer

Buckhead Business RadioX 07-15-14 Heather Thompson and Reo Oravec 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Toro with North American Properties, Steve Palmer with Indigo Restaurant Group, Patrick Scullin with Ames Scullin O’Haire, Denver Rayburn and Jeff Meng with HackAtl

Jeff Meng, Denver Rayburn, Patrick Scullin, Steve Palmer, Mark Toro

Jeff Meng, Denver Rayburn, Patrick Scullin, Steve Palmer, Mark Toro

Mark Toro/North American Properties
Partner

Buckhead Business Radio 10-14-14 Mark Toro 1Mark Toro founded the Atlanta office of North American Properties in 1996 and since then has led the acquisition, development and redevelopment of more than 7 million square feet. An industry veteran, he has completed more than 60 projects, totaling 19 million square feet, in his 26 year career in commercial real estate.

Toro is currently focused on building North American’s portfolio by identifying opportunities to acquire or develop retail, multifamily and mixed use assets, adding value by leading a select group of best-in-class professionals engaged in development, leasing, management, marketing and finance.

Prior to opening the Atlanta office, he served as Managing Director for Faison & Associates and Vice President of Development at Cousins/New Market Development Company. Toro holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University.

An advocate of walkability and transit oriented development, Toro serves on the Midtown Alliance Board (Executive Committee) and ULI Atlanta’s Livable Communities Council (Chairman)

www.naproperties.com    www.experienceavalon.com  @AvalonInsider


Steve Palmer/Indigo Road Restaurant Group

Managing Partner

Buckhead Business Radio 10-14-14 Steve Palmer 2Steve Palmer formed the Charleston-based hospitality group The Indigo Road in 2009 when he began working with the celebrated Oak Steakhouse and went on to open O-Ku, Cocktail Club, The Macintosh, The Oak Table (Columbia, SC) and Indaco. Prior to forming The Indigo Road, Palmer served as vice president of food and beverage for the Ginn Clubs and Resorts. In this role, he managed eleven properties in the Southeast and the Caribbean, while still developing other hospitality concepts for the company. He eventually served as the lead developer for Ginn Resorts, and developed over $100 million in hotel and club space.

www.theindigoroad.com     LinkedIn
Twitter:  Steve Palmer     Oak Steakhouse  

 

Patrick Scullin/Ames Scullin O’Haire
Adman/Wordsmitty

Buckhead Business Radio 10-14-14 Patrick Scullin 1Patrick is chief creative officer and a founding partner of Ames Scullin O’Haire Advertising, Inc. (www.asoy.com) working with clients Mitsubishi Electric, The Georgia Aquarium, Seagram’s Ginger Ale, Seagram’s Sparkling Seltzer Waters, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, Sealed Air Corporation, Wild Wing Cafes and Anthony HillPhoenix. The agency has also created successful campaigns for UPS, Randstad Staffing Services, Danka Business Systems, HEARTGARD Plus and Delhaize America Grocery Stores.

He has worked with Hal Riney & Partners/San Francisco, Leo Burnett/Chicago and The Richards Group/Dallas and created successful marketing campaigns for American Airlines, McDonald’s, Kellogg’s Cereals, The Stroh Brewery, Church’s Chicken, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Arby’s, Anheuser-Busch and Alamo Rent-A-Car.

(He even worked as an advance man for The Clyde Beatty–Cole Bros. Circus.)

He’s been named to ADWEEK’s All-Star Team and was selected as “One of The Hottest Copywriters in America” by Winners Magazine. Patrick served three terms as President of The Atlanta Ad Club and received The 2007 Silver Medal Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Advertising Federation’s Atlanta chapter in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the business community.

Scullin writes a popular blog called The Lint Screen (www.thelintscreen.com) and is casually working on his first novel about an adman who works for a circus. Go figure

www.asoy.com     LinkedIn   Twitter     Facebook  

 

Denver Rayburn/PosterFuse.com
Founder

Buckhead Business Radio 10-14-14 Denver Rayburn 3As a founding member of technology startup PosterFuse.com, Denver was recognized by the USA Today for innovation in the digital media space, specifically for his efforts in programming and supply chain management. Through his experience at PosterFuse, Denver has gained extensive exposure to the venture capital and startup ecosystems of Atlanta. This exposure led him to become the Executive Director of HackATL, an annual tech conference held in Atlanta, as well as a strategic advisor for multiple venture backed startups.
In addition to his startup and technology experience, Denver worked as a summer analyst at global investment banking firm Lazard Frères & Co. in New York. His experience at Lazard includes M&A related valuation, cross border re-organizations, and strategic advisory within the Power & Energy and Technology Media & Telecommunications groups. Prior to Lazard, Denver worked as a summer analyst at Dover Corporation’s Hydro Systems gaining exposure to cross-border M&A transactions.

  hackatl.org    Twitter    Facebook  

 

Jeff Meng/Emory Entrepreneurship & Venture Management
President

Buckhead Business Radio 10-14-14 Jeff Meng 2Jeff is currently a senior at Emory University studying finance and consulting. He has previously worked at a $9B growth equity/venture capital investment fund, as well as Ericsson and Intel corporation. In 2012 in co-founded the Emory Entrepreneurship & Venture management organization to develop the entrepreneurship community and help other students launch start ups at Emory.


hackatl.org
       Twitter     Facebook

 

Whitney Wilson with LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Stacy Weenick with Taste of Atlanta, Terry Carver with Bricktop’s, Kit Cummings with Power of Peace Productions, Inc.

 

Stacy Weenick, Terry Carver, Kit Cummings, Whitney Wilson

Stacy Weenick, Terry Carver, Kit Cummings, Whitney Wilson

 

Whitney Wilson/ LEGOLAND Discovery Center 

Marketing Manager

Buckhead Business Radio 10-07-14 Whitney Wilson 1Enthusiastic and dedicated professional, with two years working for Merlin Entertainments, the second largest global entertainments company. With experience in all Operational and Marketing aspects of the business, I strive to achieve maximum guest satisfaction, optimization of all Marketing channels and the personal career development of the Marketing team. I enjoy working in a fast-paced and energetic environment. In my career at Merlin Entertainments have demonstrated excellent customer service and problem solving skills, and have developed a passion for the entertainments industry.

– Source, develop and execute promotional partnerships.
– Work with the Finance Department to develop annual visitor budget.
– Oversee Trade Sales activity, group bookings, hotel relationships, and 3rd party partnerships.
– Oversee social media activity and initiatives.
– Oversee the development and execution of all community events, both on site and off site.
– Develop and track ticket products to ensure daily, monthly and annual targets are achieved.
– Develop online digital marketing strategies and relationships.
– Actively manage and monitor online social review sites.
– Responsible for the creation and execution of the annual marketing plan.

LegoLandDiscoveryCenter.com     LinkedIn   Twitter     Facebook     

 

Stacy Weenick/Taste of Atlanta

Event Manager

Buckhead Business Radio 10-07-14 Stacy Weenick 1Taste of Atlanta packs the bold flavors, colorful personalities and vibrant energy of an entire city into 10 blocks in Midtown Atlanta. The three-day festival explores the city’s unique neighborhoods by sampling tastes from the chefs and bartenders that give each area its own creative energy. Since its inception in 2002, Taste of Atlanta has become an annual pilgrimage for thousands of food, wine, beer and cocktail lovers from across the country. Festival attendees bring their adventurous appetites and experience a full range of flavors, from time-honored Southern classics to innovative dishes that are destined to be the next culinary trend. Patrons also enjoy interactive cooking demonstrations on four main stages, live entertainment and family-friendly activities for food lovers of all ages. Taste of Atlanta supports several Atlanta non-profit groups, including Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters, Atlanta’s Table, Georgia Organics and Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia and ProStart®. Indulge in the city’s flavors Friday through Sunday, October 24-26 in Midtown at Tech Square to truly savor what makes Atlanta the food capital of the South.


www.TasteofAtlanta.com     LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

Terry Carver /Bricktop’s
General Manager

Buckhead Business Radio 10-07-14 Terry Carver 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.BrickTops.com     LinkedIn

 

Kit Cummings/Power of Peace Productions, Inc.

Founder & President

Buckhead Business Radio 10-07-14 Kit Cummings 2Born and raised in Atlanta, Kit has been involved in the field of personal development and leadership for over two decades. Kit earned a BBA in Marketing from the Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia, and he also holds a Master of Theology. Kit founded Power of Peace Project, Inc. and Power of Peace Productions, Inc. and brings his experience working in some of the most dangerous areas in the world– to bring about organizational CHANGE in your community. Kit has inspired people to aim higher in places as far away as Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, and recently completed speaking tours in South Africa, Mexico, Honduras and Ukraine.  Kit has negotiated peace between rival gang leaders in dangerous prisons and recently spoke at the Gandhi Global Peace Summit in Durban, South Africa. Having taught in some of the toughest environments in the world, he now brings his dynamic message to schools, prisons, churches, corporate events and seminars. Kit has authored four books.

www.PowerofPeaceProject.com     LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook

 

BBR Wall of Fame #35

 

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