Bone Up on Business

With over two decades of sales and marketing experience ranging from start-ups to Fortune 20 Companies, Cliff Pelloni has developed an ability to effectively create marketing systems for businesses of all sizes, allowing them to compete effectively online. Understanding the shifting patterns of media from tradition to digital and responding to requests by friends and business associates for help, Cliff turned a passion and interest into a thriving business, serving clients that are local, national and international in scope. Additionally Cliff is putting the finishing touches on a new book on Mobile Marketing for Business, expected to be on Amazon in May.

Eric J. Romero, PhD is an Unconventional Leadership Consultant, Author & Reality Speaker with more than 15 years of experience. He has presented his ideas in the United States, Brazil, France, Peru, Thailand, Portugal, Mexico, India, Switzerland, China, Japan, Estonia, Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Germany. He earned a PhD in Management, published over 36 articles and a book, Compete Outside the Box: The Unconventional Way to Beat the Competition. However, he believes he does not fit the stereotype of a stuffy intellectual. He is also a part-time stand-up comedian. Originally from New York City, Eric's ideas are delivered with a sense of humor, 100% unedited honesty and street smarts!

Betsy Holland is director of Corporate Responsibility & Civic Affairs at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) She oversees the company’s community outreach efforts, corporate contributions, government affairs and environmental sustainability programs. She is based in Atlanta and reports to Misty Skedgell, senior vice president of corporate communications for TBS, Inc. Holland joined TBS, Inc. in 1997 to work in the Corporate Affairs department. Her initial responsibilities included developing an employee volunteer program and launching the company’s annual day of service. Holland currently sits on board of directors for ToolBank USA and Fugees Family, Inc. She also serves on the Board of Deacons at Morningside Presbyterian Church. She holds a degree in Government and in Women’s Studies from Smith College and a certificate in corporate community relations from Boston College. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Bone Up on Business kickstarts this episode with Kimberly Corbin-Greene as she talks about ConferenceDirect, a full service meeting planning company which handles all logistics of any meeting, convention, conference or event, from venue site selection to contract negotiations, to onsite assistance, all at no cost to group or company hosting the event. Following her is the wonderful Dr. Janet Page, professional psychotherapist and author of the book "Get Married This Year: 365 Days to 'I Do'". Rounding up the episode is the lovely Caroline Stoessinger. Caroline is a concert pianist, Founder and Director of The Mozart Academy and has recently launched her book "A CENTURY OF WISDOM: lessons from the life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the world’s oldest living Holocaust survivor" which is a collection of stories and life lessons from this most remarkable 108 year old woman.

Caroline Stoessinger is a concert pianist who has appeared on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and from Australia to Tokyo and Europe. She is the founder and director of The Mozart Academy, which provides music lessons free for children of United Nations workers and immigrants. She's also the Artist—In-Residence and Professor of Music at John Jay College. As a producer of internationally televised programs. With her book, A CENTURY OF WISDOM which gives readers wisdom from the life of Alice Herz-Sommer who at 108 years old is the world’s oldest living Holocaust Survivor and concert pianist, Stoessinger is a major voice for music in our lives. The book has won the Norman Mailer Book Award 2012 for preserving the history of our times.

Dr. Janet Page is a psychotherapist in private practice for over thirty years in New York City and Atlanta. She was "Noonday's" psychotherapist on WXIA for 14 yrs, taught "I Will Be Married in A Year" at Emory for 22 years, and is a Huffington Post contributor. Her book "Get Married This Year" is very successful on Amazon and in bookstores has been excerpted in Huffington Post and Fox News Magazine, radio, and TV. Workshops are offered. Here's the introduction to her book: "Think falling in love and living happily ever after is a fantasy? This action-based book emphasizes both heart and brain - an emotionally intelligent approach to finding your mate. Attitude really is everything. Where you go is important. Who you are when you go there and how you make use of opportunities are more important. Learn to avoid pitfalls, fight fear, put your new show on the road, know when to quit, and how to recognize a keeper. Isn't your future spouse too important to leave to chance?"

Kimberly Corbin-Greene is a certified meeting planner and certified meeting specialist. She has degrees in hotel/restaurant management, hospitality sales & meeting management & hospitality law. Previously, Kimberly was in charge of national and global sales for Hilton, InterContinental, Starwood Hotels & Resorts for which she taught hotel sales teams how to contract with meeting planners. Currently, she's a global meeting planner with ConferenceDirect, a full service meeting planning company, which handles all logistics of any meeting, convention, conference or event, from venue site selection to contract negotiations, to onsite assistance, all at no cost to group or company hosting the event. Kimberly has been in the hotel and meeting planning industry for over 17 years where she has booked conference & convention revenue well over $1,500,000,000 in her career history. She works with conferences and conventions globally. Kimberly is originally from the NY/NJ Area and is now residing in Atlanta.  Also managing director for inSideOut Hospitality consulting, assisting hotels to be better partners with meeting planners through webinars, onsite trainings and workshops

On this episode of Bone Up on Business, Joyce interviews three magnificent guests, Directors in their respective fields. First off, Jack Brunson, Jr. Jack is the Director of Rooms for the Emory Conference Center Hotel. ECCH is approved by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), and provides the ideal setting for conferences, meetings, weddings, special events, business trips, and relaxing getaways. The conference center offers spacious, beautiful conference and meeting rooms, and complete meeting packages and amenities. Our second guest in Carol Cox, Director of Marketing & Business Development for Mall of Georgia, which iscurrently the largest shopping mall in the state of Georgia, consisting of more than two hundred stores on three levels. The Mall of Georgia is managed by the Simon Property Group, one of the largest real estate investment trust companies in the US. And we round up the show with Martin Ekster, Director of Sales and Construction at EnviroBuilt Systems. EnviroBuilt Systems is the premier provider of insulated precast concrete is the US, primarily used for residential and commercial building systems. The company sells, manufactures and installs the strongest and most energy-efficient building envelopes across the country.

Martin Ekster is the Director of Sales and Construction at EnviroBuilt Systems. Marty is a precast builder and designer in hurricane southeast coastal region of the USA. He is fortified qualified and green building certified.

Carol Cox grew up in Gwinnett County and attended college at Brenau University, graduating with a degree in Marketing. Upon graduation, Carol began working at Lenox Square as a Guest Services Manager, and was promoted to the Assistant Director of Marketing at Lenox. In 2009, Simon Property Group promoted Carol to Director of Marketing at Virginia Center Common in Richmond, VA. In 2010, Carol was offered a position back home and joined the Mall of Georgia team as the Director of Marketing & Business Development for Mall of Georgia. Carol is a proud member of the Buford Business Alliance.

Jack Brunson Jr. is the Director of Rooms for the Emory Conference Center Hotel. Located on the Emory University Campus and adjacent to the Centers for Disease Control, the 325 guestroom hotel offers upscale accommodations, as well as 32,000 square feet of state-of- the-art conference space. Mr. Brunson brings more than 16 years of hospitality industry operations experience having also held positions with the Hilton Atlanta Northeast in Norcorss, Doubletree Hotel Virginia Beach, Hilton Knoxville, TN, and the Hilton Suites Brentwood, TN. Mr. Brunson holds a B.S. in Hotel & Restaurant Administration with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

On this episode of Bone Up on Business, Joyce talks to two Atlanta natives, both successful in their respective fields. Robin Martinelli is the founder and current president of Martinelli Investigations, Inc., a well-known and respected private investigations agency throughout the state of Georgia and nationally. Reg James III is the CEO and co-founder of Home Physician Care, LLC., a company that offers full primary health care services in the home as well as chronic condition wellness care, post surgical care and much more.

Reg James is the CEO and co-founder of Home Physician Care, LLC. He has over 29 years of experience in operating and managing emergency medical ambulance services. And 3 Years ago, he and his partners identified a need for providing house-calls for homebound individuals as well as folks that have difficulty walking and/or getting to and from a doctor’s office. Ultimately, their goal is to provide everyone with an alternative to having to go to a doctor’s office for general checkups and minor episodic care. Since its inception, the company has evolved to include partnering with hospitals and clinical practices in order to improve overall patient. The company provides the organizational and logistics services necessary to safely and efficiently integrate house-call services with existing clinical and hospitalists practices. We have a proven track record of improving patient wellness, while reducing costs of service delivery and increasing overall customer satisfaction.

Mrs. Robin Martinelli, President of Martinelli Investigations Inc., is a native of Georgia. She graduated with a major in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Gwinnett Technical College. In the early 90’s, Robin entered the Law Enforcement field. She trained as a Sheriff’s Detention Deputy and also completed training in Civil Service of Process. In 2003, Coleman and Associates evolved into Martinelli Investigations Inc. Robin is the founder, past President and current Secretary of the Georgia Association of Professional Process Servers (GAPPS). She is also a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL) and the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS). Robin is currently in the process of creating the Georgia Association of Female Private Investigators and Process Servers & National Association of Female Private Investigators and Process Servers. Robin, together with daughter Kristi, have been featured on television shows such as The Montel Williams Show, Geraldo, CNN and Gwinnett Local TV. Kristi has also been featured in the AJC, as well as In Touch Weekly Magazine. Robin Martinelli has served as an Officer and Judge for State, Regional and National DECA competitions. She also speaks to high school students and mentors those interested in the Criminal Justice field. Robin has also judged numerous beauty pageants in the state of Georgia and is now a Certified Miss Georgia Judge.

On Joyce Bone's pilot episode of Bone Up on Business, she features two magnificent gentlemen. Tom Keith, representing Gwinnett County as its Director of the Solid Waste & Recovered Materials Division talks about the different sustainability projects and initiatives the county has in place. Kevin Johnston of the Atlanta Chapter of Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) discusses how more and more meeting and event professionals are trying to build some form of sustainability into the events they organize, the facilities they operate, or the products and services they supply.

Increasingly, the global meetings and events community is turning to GMIC as the leading resource on sustainability. The Council supports the transition to a more sustainable industry through education, recognition of best practice, advocacy for international sustainable event standards and community support via chapters and partners. The Green Meeting Industry Council is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. The Council is a membership-based professional organization which provides educational resources to planners, suppliers, and venues seeking to meet the ever-rising standards consumers set for sustainable meetings. The GMIC seeks to inspire, educate and support leaders of all levels and disciplines who will manifest the transformation of the global meetings industry towards sustainability. We champion the implementation of sustainability practices and provide advocacy, education, resources, industry research and recognition of industry leadership.

Tom Keith joined Gwinnett County in 2011 as Director of the Solid Waste & Recovered Materials Division. Having over 30 years of experience in environmental programs, his background includes serving in both the public and private sectors as well as the non-profit sectors occupying positions such as a state environmental regulator, assistant county administrator, an environmental consultant and executive director of a conservation non-profit. In addition, Tom’s work has focused on integrated municipal solid waste management and sustainability programs.