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Malika Bowling, John Loud, Katharine Mobley, Austin Thompson
Austin Thompson/Thompson Management Consulting, LLC
Austin Thompson is the founder and CEO of Thompson Management Consulting, LLC, and the Visionary and Chief Organizer behind the company’s First Annual Entrepreneurship and Small Business Summit, in celebration of National Small Business Week 2014. In addition to small business consulting, Austin was appointed in December 2013 by Mayor Judy Jordan-Johnson of Lawrenceville, GA to serve a 4- year term on the Downtown Architectural Review Board.
Also a published Author, Adjunct Professor of Business at Shorter University, and community leader. Austin is a graduate of Keller Graduate School of Management, receiving his MBA and a Master of Project Management degree with honors in 2005, and has plans to pursue Doctoral studies in International Business very soon. He enjoys reading, sporting events, mentoring and inspiring young children, and meeting people from around the world.
www.TMConsultingLLC.com www.nsbw2014.com
Katharine Mobley/WeCareCard.com
Spending 15+ years in the advertising and PR world, Katharine Mobley decided it was time for a change, and became the Chief Marketing Officer, of WeCareCard, a revolutionary crowdfunding technology powered with a prepaid debit card.
She is using her previous experiences of working with some of the world’s largest brands; Coca-Cola, DASANI, Bank of America to name a few, to share the WeCareCard story. This is an exciting time for startups and a MUCH faster pace than 1999 – of course we were on dial up back then! WeCareCard’s patent pending prepaid technology offers unique services to those participating in the rapidly growing crowdfunding market. WCC allows one cardholder to register a card in time of celebration or hardship, but allows multiple donors to donate through our secure platform. WCC is entering into two industries that have exploded in the last couple years – prepaid and crowdfunding. The prepaid industry is expected to top $594B this year, and the crowdfunding industry is expecting $5.1B in revenue.
Currently we are looking for personal investors, not your typical ‘startup’, as our team is lead by, Phillip Qualls CEO, a 20+ year veteran and serial entrepreneur in the technology, payments and financial sectors. Previously, Phillip was a partner of Money Network Financial, which was acquired by First Data in 2007. He continued to serve as acting EVP/ GM of Money Network for First Data until 2009, deepening his expertise in the FinTech sector.
www.WeCareCard.com Linkedin Twitter Facebook
Malika Bowling/Atlanta-RestaurantBlog.com
Malika Bowling was born in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, but only lived there for a couple months before being adopted by two wonderful, loving people. Had they not adopted her, she would have surely perished from the terrible living conditions in the orphanage where she was.
While in the orphanage, Malika was malnourished and mistreated to the point that when her adoptive parents came to get her, those managing the orphanage told them, “this baby will mostly likely die; you should choose another.” Determination led them to take their chances with her, literally smuggling her on a plane back to the United States. It was an incredible journey and they beat incredible odds, but that’s another story….
With a background in Marketing (Kennesaw State University), Malika has worked in Market Research and Product Development for varied industries including Transportation, manufacturing, and Consumer Packaged Goods. After being laid off in 2008, she decided to go into business for herself. She is currently a consultant in Online Marketing and a Freelance writer, having published her first book, Food Lovers’ Guide to Atlanta and her latest book Food Blogging 101 will be available in about a month.
She works for various clients, creating, writing and managing Blogs, Email Newsletters, Social Media profiles, as well as helping companies with Blogger Outreach, and other Internet Marketing efforts. Malika loves trying new foods and is quite an adventurous eater. She consistently seeks out hidden gems, and writes about them on her blog, Atlanta Restaurant Blog. She has served as a judge at many culinary competitions like the Taste of Atlanta, The Atlanta Cocktail Competition and Tech Chef. Recognizing the need to clearly define the standards for Food Bloggers, she founded the Association of Food Bloggers. The goal of the AoFB is to qualify reputable Food Bloggers and serve as a resource for tips and information on all things blogging related.
www.Atlanta-RestaurantBlog.com www.AssociationofFoodBloggers.org Linkedin Twitter Facebook
John Loud/Loud Security
Locally owned, LOUD Security has been an Atlanta leading security and life safety company for over a decade. Recognized by numerous professional organizations, such as Honeywell and First Alert, for offering one of the best security systems in the business – including prices, products, service and professional system installation quality.
Over the years we have established a growing base of customers, increasing our numbers with sales and mergers, to include customers in fifteen states. Our local relationships have expanded with our memberships in the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, the Kennesaw and Acworth Business Associations and our participation in local events. You may have seen the LOUD Security panel van make a lap around the track at Turner Field. We also expanded our product line to include: access control, commercial fire, whole house audio, theater rooms, home automation, CCTV and central vacuum.
We are more than just a security company. Whatever your needs, LOUD Security has a custom solution. We’ve only come this far due to our loyal customers, and the tremendously talented and caring people that make up the LOUD Security staff. Together, they have contributed in such an important way by referring our services to their family and friends. Our goal is to make LOUD Security the first company you call for any of our family of services.
