The Shrimp Tank Podcast Atlanta - The Best Entrepreneur Podcast In The Country

Bill Falconer / Founder & Chief Executive of Live Oak Caregivers Bill Falconer is the Founder and Chief Executive of Live Oak Caregivers. He has over 30 years of business consulting and professional services experience, specializing in business strategy, customer relationship management and training teams of service providers. Live Oak Caregivers is dedicated to providing professional in-home care giving services that promote wellness, dignity, safety and quality of life while supporting the vital activities of daily living. We strive to deliver the level of care and compassion that we would insist on for our own family members. - Licensed in Georgia and Tennessee with offices in Atlanta and Chattanooga - Successfully completed over ONE MILLION hours of caregiving - 160+ of our active caregivers have logged more then 1,000 hours of care for us - 50 of our caregivers have completed 5,000 hours of caregiving Live Oak Caregivers is NOT a franchise. We are a privately held organization focused on serving families. Having delivered over half a million hours of elderly care to many different clients with varying health and cognitive challenges, we have the experience to care for your loved ones. As an effort to ensure the safety of our clients, we conduct comprehensive background checks on each of our 300+ caregivers. Our background screening includes criminal record history, motor vehicle history, employment references, education history, TB testing and sex offender registries.  Through a comprehensive hiring and training program, we ensure that each of our 300+ caregivers are highly qualified, and demonstrate patience, respect and encouragement with every client. Our mission is to provide the very best service in the home care industry, and help our clients enjoy as much independence as possible while remaining in their own homes. Prior to Live Oak Caregivers, Bill served as President of Summit Industries, a consumer and health care products manufacturing company and was the Co-Founder of Midtown Consulting Group, a strategic business management consultancy. He also serviced as Vice President at The North Highland Company, where he led their CRM and Business Intelligence practices in Atlanta and was a Sr. Manager in Accenture's Strategic Services practice.  Prior to attending business school, he served as a Sr. Engineer for Exxon. Bill grew up in Athens, Georgia, received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University. Bill and his wife, Sharon, have four children. https://youtu.be/LuZrlJnfKHM Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Bill Falconer / Live Oak Caregivers (Guest)

Austin Rocconi / Food & Beverage Director of Boone's Restaurant Austin Rocconi familiarized himself with cooking at a young age, growing up in Mississippi in a large Italian family focused on food and the joy of preparing it. While attending Delta State University in pursuit of a degree in business management, Rocconi took a job washing dishes at a local restaurant and immediately became enamored with the fast-paced atmosphere of the kitchen. After attending culinary school in Pasadena, California, and working in LA at several locations, including The Jonathan Club, he found his way back to the South, landing in Atlanta. Feeling more aligned with his Southern upbringing, Rocconi worked his way up within several renowned Atlanta restaurants, including Kyma and Canoe. He took his first executive chef role at Le Vigne Restaurant at Montaluce Winery in 2011. In 2015, Rocconi extended his fine dining experience by taking a sous chef position at Michelin-starred La Toque in Napa, California, where he also studied as a sommelier. With his Southern and West Coast experience, Rocconi brought his culinary style to Austin, Texas, in July 2018 when he joined Hotel Ella as executive chef. After more than a year in Texas, he and his wife decided to move back to Atlanta where he joined Bobby Jones Golf Course to help bring the Boone's vision to life. https://youtu.be/OfdGbGxjBjc Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Stone Stafford / Icon Studios (Host) Austin Rocconi / Boone's Restaurant (Guest)

Aviva Wolmer / CEO of Empower Leadership LLC, Vistage Chair of Vistage Worldwide Inc. My purpose is to enhance the lives of others. I want to inspire others to become the leaders they can be through helping them to envision their goals and dreams both personal and professional and empowering them with the clarity and accountability they need to achieve them. As a Vistage Chair, I facilitate group meetings of high-caliber CEOs, senior executives and business owners who help each other grow their companies. Members are fully present, engaged and ready to become better leaders. I challenge each one to continuously exit their comfort zone and strive to improve. I also host a podcast, "Beyond the Comfort Zone." Prior to being a Chair, I was CEO of Pacesetter, where my unique focus on technology, developing talent, and strong family culture made me a pioneer in the steel industry. I challenged preconceptions of the industry, benefiting not only Pacesetter but also the entire market. My culture-based people-focused approach drove results. I invested in my team through coaching and professional development, providing the tools to generate ideas, drive strategy and execute. I have relentless enthusiasm for continued learning and self-development, bringing new ideas to drive innovation and growth in a positive and engaging culture that encourages giving to one another and the community. When I became CEO, I immediately joined a Vistage group to get the support and guidance of people in similar positions. For 6 years, I relied on the wisdom of the group to help me process complex issues and make tough decisions on topics such as talent, M&A, and change management. Now as a Vistage Chair, I get to create an environment that brings diverse perspectives and experiences to CEOs who have a desire to grow and scale their businesses or achieve their visions faster. A mastermind of other CEOs who can come together regularly to share ideas and experiences and help one another avoid wrong turns and accelerate towards their goals. I also host a Podcast and video series: "Beyond the Comfort Zone" geared towards business leaders looking to expand their comfort zones and grow. Making a difference in the community is just as important as making a profit. I have had a longstanding commitment to giving back, including my participation with the Pacesetter Team in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for 5 years, as well as the It's a Journey walks. I served on the Rabbi Search Committee for my Synagogue and co-chaired the Rabbi Transition Committee focusing on a smooth transition of leadership during a time of transformation. Now I lead the communications committee for the Synagogue. When not in the office, I can be found with my husband Michael, son Ari, and dog Violet, spending time with friends and family, or enjoying the outdoors. https://youtu.be/Okel-Sg0-sw Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Aviva Wolmer / Empower Leadership LLC, Vistage Worldwide Inc. (Guest)

Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon / Founder of the Village Market Recognized as one of the most brilliant minds in education and business, Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon has transformed the lives of thousands of Black entrepreneurs across the world. Her love of community, paired with her mantra, “Support Is A Verb,” inspires and educates African-Americans to create generational health and wealth. As an award-winning expert in education, business development, plant-based living, she leaves an indelible mark on any business who walks through her door. Dr. Key has developed an economical vehicle that empowers the Black community through cooperative economics. Her ‘key' to success is her village. Affectionately known as “Dr. Key,” she moves businesses from sales to success, and inspires them to become doers, supporters and leaders of change. The mission-forward visionary advocates and empowers artisans, creators, and burgeoning Black businesses who want to thrive. After founding the Village Market ATL in 2016, she has reached and served 1440 businesses and facilitated 5.3 million dollars of direct sales to Black-owned businesses. Now with several verticals under the Village Market moniker, Dr. Key has recently expanded her village to include her storefront The Village at Ponce City Market, a curated collection of premier Black businesses. She has cultivated a team of her own, employing 100% Black people, over 90% of them women. From Atlanta all the way to the Bahamas, the Mississippi-bred thought leader helps businesses with big ideas turn them into even bigger profit. Her goal is to build a Black mecca, where Black businesses can build and grow anywhere, and with several market storefronts on the way, she's just getting started. Dr. Key's expertise in education spans 15 years, where she has served as a critical voice and advocate for creating empowering learning and work environments for students and employees and is deeply passionate about work efficacy and social-emotional learning. Dr. Key has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, CNN/ HLN, the Today Show, NOW THIS, the Source, Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Atlanta Voice, Madame Noire, Side Hustle Pro, Therapy for Black Girls, Black on Air. A sought-after speaker, served as the keynote speaker for the Fall graduating class at Clark Atlanta University and the Boys and Girls Club of NW Mississippi and graced the stages of the Steve Harvey Foundation, Hope Global Forum, Beyond School Hours National Conference, Students At-Risk Conference, National Summer Institute Conference, GA Federal Programs Conference, the Power Rising Conference, EnricHER Conference, Atlanta University Center's Financial Literacy and Innovation Conference, and the HBCU Entrepreneurship Financial Literacy Expo. Walker's Legacy has honored Dr. Hallmon. In 2017, she was inducted into the 40 under 40 Society at her undergraduate alma mater, Tougaloo College and in 2020 40 under 40 for Atlanta Business Chronicle, and recognized as most notable Georgians by GeorgianTrends. https://youtu.be/2hi5YVRHRmE Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon / The Village Market (Guest)

Ladell Hill / Founder of Chuice, Founder of Taste of Earth, Molecular Health Specialist, National Speaker, & Lifestyle Coach Ladell Hill is a national speaker, lifestyle coach, and trainer in the field of health, wellness, and nutrition. His passion for health and wellness over the last 50 years, achieved through a unique knowledge of ancient, bio-available herbal remedies coupled with modern science and nutrition, is sought after by elite athletes, A-list celebrities, and global executives. Ladell has been a guest on CNN, The Steve Harvey TV and Radio Show, Fox News, as well as many other national and local tv and radio stations. He is also the founder of Chuice, a juice company and Taste of Earth, an herbal supplement company. As a Molecular Health Specialist, fitness trainer, herbalist, and wellness expert, Ladell empowers his clients to achieve optimal health. He is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner and a Certified Holistic Nutrition Practitioner. https://youtu.be/dui5rrt9xYk Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Ladell Hill / Chuice, Taste of Earth, Molecular Health Specialist (Guest)

Danny Zook / CEO & Founder of Alien Music, Manager for the Supergroup The Migos Manager for the supergroup The Migos. Migos have shot to international fame and traveled all over the world taking their music from Atlanta to Europe, Dubai, Australia and all points in between. From touring to branding deals, song writing and acting, the Migos do it all and Danny Zook has managed all aspects of their careers. Danny Zook, CEO/FOUNDER started Alien Music two decades ago as an indie label for bands he played in and produced.  Danny Zook ran publishing and production companies for two of the most influential artists and producers of current popular music; Dallas Austin and CeeLo Green.  Alien Music handles music licensing and clearance for wide variety of todays top artists, including Diplo, Wale, Skrillex, Nico & Vinz, Jason Derulo and Big Sean. Alien Music also manages artists Le Castle Vania, who scored several tracks for the Keanu Reeves cult hit “John Wick”, and Trinidad Jame$, who followed up his hit “All Gold Everything” with a co-write on international hit “Uptown Funk”. https://youtu.be/VIOLSq1bCTg Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Danny Zook / Alien Music, The Migos (Guest)

Dr. Michael Breus / The Sleep Doctor, Clinical Psychologist, Best-Selling Author, & Public Speaker The Sleep Doctor first launched in 2008. Guided by the expertise of Dr. Michael J. Breus, our site has since become a leading authority in the field of sleep health. The Sleep Doctor team is dedicated to helping readers get the rest they need, make meaningful lifestyle changes to ensure high-quality sleep, and achieve peak performance during their waking hours. We cover all aspects of sleep health and science. Recently, our website has grown to also feature information about different types of sleep products. Our expanding team now includes sleep product experts who personally test mattresses, pillows, sheets, and other bedroom essentials. As The Sleep Doctor evolves, we will continue to deliver evidence-based content intended to help you understand sleep and use this information to sleep better. Dr. Michael J. Breus is a clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in his field. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Breus is one of the only psychologists to pass the Sleep Medicine Specialty board without attending medical school. In 2021, Reader's Digest named him the best sleep specialist in the state of California. Since launching The Sleep Doctor in 2008, Dr. Breus has taken a hands-on approach with this website, reviewing the content he hasn't personally written and offering his expertise across a variety of topics. Dr. Breus is also a best-selling author. His publications include three books: Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health (2006) The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep (2011) The Power of When: Discover Your Chronotype–and the Best Time to Eat Lunch, Ask for a Raise, Have Sex, Write a Novel, Take Your Meds, and More (2016) Dr. Breus lectures all over the world and serves as an expert resource for most major publications, doing more than 250 interviews per year. https://youtu.be/rUf2g7PryEo Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Dr. Michael Breus / The Sleep Doctor, Clinical Psychologist, Best-Selling Author, & Public Speaker (Guest)

Natasha Davis / Owner of Impact Branding Consulting, Chief Brand Strategist, Strategic Planner, and Author Natasha E. Davis affectionately known as "The Chief Visionary" is a baccalaureate prepared Registered Nurse certified in Emergency and Trauma nursing for over 12 years. She emerged as a Branding Strategist and Corporate Trainer in 2007, with the launch of her 3rd company Impact Branding Consulting, Inc. a certified Woman Owner Small Business. Natasha advanced her career and pursued her Masters in Business & Marketing in the Fall of 2009. Her specialty is helping executives, entrepreneurs and companies create brands that have a lasting impact. She thrives on fixing problems and eliminating frustrations for companies and their executives. Over the past 10 plus years, Natasha has worked with several companies and executives to assist them in enhancing their business potential, brand equity, brand loyalty, customer satisfaction and marketing strategy through the power of brand positioning. Utilizing her "Brand First Principle" she has taken companies from a negative 8% profit margin to a flourishing 40% profit margin and on average increases company revenue by 30% per year. She quickly identifies performance gaps, find solutions, get results and improve outcomes. Natasha, authored and published her first book "Get Grounded; Stay Grounded" to educate individuals on how to achieve personal branding and personal development. She published her 2nd book "Unleash You Millionaire Mindset and Build Your Brand" to educate business owners on how to achieve professional branding and business growth. She developed the proprietary model software "The Profit Enhancer" to quickly identify and close business performance gaps. Natasha has gained recognition as the Executive Professional & Entrepreneur of the Year, noted as one of the 40 under 40 Movers and Shakers in Business by Career Magazine. Presented with recognition as a "Woman of Outstanding Leadership in Business" by the International Women's Leadership Association - Leadership Category and awarded by the USIEC with the "2013 Georgia Excellence Award in Marketing". In 2016 she was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama. In 2017, she was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success - Sigma Alpha Pi for the works she has done. In 2019 she was appointed the Leadership Council Member for Small Business by the National Small Business Association for the state of Georgia. And in 2020, she received the Home Office Business Achievement award from the Atlanta Business League and featured in an Entrepreneurship DocuSeries produced by one of the largest CRM companies, Infusion Soft by Keap. View full details about Natasha on www.NatashaDavisVisionary.com https://youtu.be/n_wnPawOTP8 Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Natasha Davis / Impact Branding Consulting, Chief Brand Strategist (Guest)

Noel Kierans / Founder & CEO of CelticQA Solutions, Inc. Noel is the founder and CEO of CelticQA Solutions, Inc., and has successfully managed testing efforts on hundreds of IT projects. CelticQA Solutions is a global service provider of Integrated QA solutions for software systems with 16 years of experience serving clients in the US, Irish, and UK markets. Noel's passion is building winning teams through mentoring and coaching. Noel is an advocate for enhancing the value and role of quality assurance within IT organizations. Before starting CelticQA, Noel worked as a principal consultant for more than 10 years for a leading consulting firm. Prior to his career in IT, Noel's soccer career in Ireland led him to receive a scholarship to Georgia Southern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and information systems. Today, Noel still draws on his background in team sports, serving as a coach to his team of consultants and to his clients at the C-level. Noel is passionate about giving back and has spoken at the National Stuttering Association conferences and coaches and mentors other professionals that are challenged with stuttering. https://youtu.be/lBtiK2lNQ6c Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Noel Kierans / CelticQA Solutions, Inc. (Guest)

Kristin Andree / Host of The RENEW Podcast, Founder of The Andree Group Kristin Andree has made it her life's work to coach, challenge & empower others to lead passion-filled, powerful & prosperous lives. After successful careers in the medical, and financial services industries, Kristin launched The Andree Group - a coaching and consulting firm focused on implementing creating business strategies to help companies and entrepreneurs Step Up, Stand Out, and Scale their businesses while living their lives to the fullest. Through her coaching, consulting, podcasting, writing, and speaking, Kristin guides others to harness the power of their unique gifts, to stand proud in who they are, to succeed at the highest levels, and to truly live life. Kristin and her team at Andree Consulting Group focus their work on implementing effective strategies to help clients take their businesses to the next level. Areas of focus include: Business Development Marketing & Social Media Client Engagement Strategic Planning Leadership Development Staffing and Office Operations Team Development Succession Planning She is a certified trainer, a master certified coach, and author of Don't Make Me Pull This Car Over: A Roadmap for the Working Mom, and her most recent release, You're Not for Everyone: But, You Can Be For Everyone. She is also the host of The RENEW Podcast Kristin resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and is an incredibly proud mom to three loud, fun, and very unique daughters. Contact: Kristin@AndreeGroup.com 203-906-7266 www.AndreeGroup.com https://youtu.be/NjH9QfASs4A Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Jeff Perkins / Park Mobile (Co-Host) Kristin Andree / The RENEW Podcast, The Andree Group (Guest)

Natalia Beley / Owner & Chief Curator of Evimero Marketplace Natalia Beley is the owner/chief curator of Evimero Marketplace, a fair trade and artisan boutique located in Milton, GA.  You could say small business is in her blood, she grew up in New Jersey with a father who owned his own business and still remembers helping him reconcile sales in his big green ledger book as a young girl. The latest copy of Vogue magazine was always within reach and when she went off to college she attended the University of Delaware's and enrolled in their fashion merchandising program. She spent 3 years there and dual enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology graduating with a bachelors and associates degree. Her early career began in the buying office at Bloomingdale's in NYC and from there she took on rolls at The Children's Place and was eventually a merchandise manager for Tommy Hilfiger. A long and winding road later, a handsome husband came along, two beautiful boys and 2 super cute pups. That handsome husband finally made this Jersey girl a southerner when his job brought them to the Atlanta suburbs in 2019. She loves encouraging women in their business pursuits, sometimes likes working out and is a closet political junky. https://youtu.be/zajpUACzDr8 Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Jeff Perkins / Park Mobile (Co-Host) Natalia Beley / Evimero Marketplace (Guest)

Will Nobles / Founder & CEO of Vector Choice Technology Solutions Will Nobles is the Founder and CEO of Vector Choice. He is a seasoned IT veteran with a track record of helping small to large companies find IT success. With more than 25 years in IT, Will is recognized as a top Cyber Security Expert with two IT degrees and a number of certifications. Will has worked with a variety of industries including many Fortune 500 companies. Since founding Vector Choice in 2008, Will and his team have grown the firm to become one of the leading managed security service providers in the country. Will often speaks and writes about IT challenges and topics and is a sought-after guest on topics such as leadership, business growth, and cyber security. Will is the champion of his customers and is constantly working to align Vector Choice's services with the company core values including the implementation of EOS and the Culture Index. He is also active in Vistage, a leading CEO-mentoring program for small to midsize businesses. Will lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia with his wife, three children, and two dogs. He enjoys playing softball, coaching his children's sports teams, and traveling with family. https://youtu.be/7W4BfVLGUAc Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Will Nobles / Vector Choice Technology Solutions (Guest)

Taylor Barnes / Co-Founder of CentricsIT, Senior Vice President of Global Business Solutions Taylor W. Barnes, 41, is the Senior Vice President of Global Business Solutions and a founding partner at CentricsIT. Barnes co-founded CentricsIT in 2007 and has since helped the organization become one of the fastest-growing companies in Georgia and one of the top IT Solution Providers in North America. He currently manages global business solutions, responsible for charting and maintaining an aggressive revenue growth plan. CentricsIT services revenue has grown by 800% since Barnes assumed sales leadership responsibility over the segment in 2014. Barnes was in his early twenties when he formed CentricsIT with his partners. Barnes's company, CentricsIT, is one of the top global IT project management companies in the industry, with other offices in Toronto, Dubai, London, Prague, and Bucharest, and they're delivering services in over 100 countries. He is known amongst the global IT community for his gregarious personality and the indominable nature of his positive attitude. An eternal student, Barnes commits himself deeply to personal development. He describes his personal mission as, to use my knowledge and experience to help others realize their personal and professional potential. He is known amongst the global IT community for his gregarious personality and the indominable nature of his positive attitude. An eternal student, Barnes commits himself deeply to personal development. He describes his personal mission as, to use my knowledge and experience to help others realize their personal and professional potential. One of the most personally rewarding aspects of Barnes role, as he often shares, is his responsibility for leading sales training at CentricsIT. Each year, he puts together a 10-week intensive sales course that covers traditional sales methodologies with a special focus on personal development. By implementing lessons learned and knowledge gained from the time he commits to his own growth, Barnes strives to help his employees become the best versions of themselves. His approach has made a substantial impact on employee morale, which has strengthened the overall quality of CentricsIT customer service and service delivery. Barnes believes wholeheartedly that a positive company culture has a near-direct impact on revenue. As a member of the CentricsIT executive team, Barnes places a special focus on company culture. The organization is known to offer generous perks and unique benefits and was recently recognized among Atlanta's Top Workplaces by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution for the fifth time. The company also commits to volunteering and donating to local organizations through its corporate social responsibility arm, Centrics Cares. Barnes colleagues describe him as loyal, steadfast, positive, inspiring, purpose-driven, a servant leader, and a role model to all. He is husband to Brittany and father to Kellar and Cyrus. For info on Taylor, visit www.taylorbarnes.com https://youtu.be/x0FktYUdOy8 Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Taylor Barnes / CentricsIT, Global Business Solutions (Guest)

Mike Dendy / CEO & Co-Founder of Caryn Health & Association Health Plans of America Mike co-founded Caryn Health and AHPA along with Dr. Tom Price, Fran Tarkenton, Scott Miller and several other Atlanta business leaders. Caryn operates as a Management Services Organization (MSO) and provides administrative outsource services primarily in the healthcare benefits field.  Additionally, Caryn develops software programs for inward and outward facing communications with plan sponsors and members. Caryn initiated its client service portal in January 2020 and will show revenues of ~$22mm in 2022. CEO HealthWorth CTC, Inc Provides investment banking and consulting services to employers and private equity firms looking to enter or exit the healthcare space. 2005-2018 Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions Mike co-founded and served as CEO/President of Atlanta, GA based Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions (AMPS), a healthcare cost management company, serving the self-funded (ERISA) employer, payer and Workers Compensation communities.  After founding the Company in 2005, Mike oversaw all aspects of AMPS management, ranging from product development, sales and marketing, finance, operations, and client relations.  AMPS has seen organic growth of over 300% over the last five years and has continued to increase its offerings in the healthcare cost containment space to include large claim audits, reference based reimbursement, out of network claims management, nationwide narrow network – direct contract build-out,  and Workers Comp cost management services.  AMPS clients range in size from those in the Fortune 500 to mid sized regional employers. AMPS was recently honored as a Georgia Fast 40 company as one of the State's fastest growing concerns. AMPS revenues grew from start-up to $23,000,000 in 2017 with an EBITDA of over 45%.  In April, 2017, Mike led an external financing phase that brought three Private Equity firms in as financial partners with a valuation of $75,000,000.  1997-2004 HPS Paradigm Administrators Prior to founding AMPS, Mike served as Chairman & CEO of HPS Paradigm Administrators Inc. from 1997 until its subsequent sale in 2004.  HPS Paradigm is a health insurance Third-Party Administrator (TPA) serving corporate and government employer groups throughout the United States.  During his tenure as CEO, HPS Paradigm experienced strong corporate growth, increasing on average 30 percent in fee income per year, while achieving industry leading EBITDA margins of over 20%.  In 2000, Mike oversaw HPS' business process outsourcing (BPO) relationship with Memorial Hospital of Savannah, Georgia one of Georgia's largest hospital systems.  Mike served as Executive Director of Memorial's Community Healthcare System managing the TPA, HMO, PPO, UR/UM and Case Management services provided for the benefit of southeast Georgia employers.  Mike led business development efforts while managing operations and finance and consulted with and managed over 500 different mid-sized and large employer group relationships during his tenure. HPS Paradigm revenues grew from $1.05mm in 1997 to $10mm in 2004 when the company was purchased by STI Knowledge for $10.5mm. 1992-1997 HealthWorth CTC, Inc From 1992-1997, Mike founded and managed HealthWorth & Health Partners Services, Inc. (HPS), a brokerage and consulting firm, which specialized in group health benefits, stop-loss insurance, benefit plan design, provider negotiations, pharmacy benefit management, disease management, predictive analysis, and cost containment. HPS developed community health system plans in a number of southeastern U.S. markets and grew consulting revenues to $600,000 annually. Education Mike holds two Master's degree, from Georgia State University in Business Administration 1997 (MBA), and Healthcare Administration 2002 (MHA) and a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia 1981 in Journalism and a minor in Psychology.  In addition to his graduate and undergraduate degrees, Mike attended executive management programs at Harvard University's Business, Public Health, and Law Schools. Mike serves on the Advisory Board for the Robinson College of Business School of Healthcare Administration at Georgia State University and is the former Board Chairman for the National Safe Care Campaign.  Mike was awarded the Georgia State University School of Health Administration's Healthcare Executive of the Year in 2015. Mike has authored over a dozen white-papers on the issues and future of healthcare finance in the United States. https://youtu.be/xFn2E6Fv-kY Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Mike Dendy / Caryn Health, Association Health Plans of America (Guest)

Tony Rouse / Founder & Senior Brand Strategist of TonyRouse Tony Rouse is the intersection of lifestyle, culture, business and entertainment. A Brand Strategy Specialist known as The Curator of High-End Experiences whose revolutionary concepts and projects have achieved international exposure and acclaim. He is the mastermind behind the creation of F.I.L.M. (Fully Integrated Lifestyle Marketing) which, as he sees it, takes an unconventional approach to traditional advertising by seamlessly creating experiences for brands in the lives of their target consumers and as such, has become the signature of his award-winning style. What started off as a branding project for a  French Parfum House in Neiman Marcus for the 2012 Holiday Season turned into an eponymous fragrance line lauded by celebrities and influencers the world over. Coupled with a healthy dose of witty wisdom and humorous understanding of the rapidly changing state of consumer preferences and affairs, he effortlessly relates to a world inundated with ever-evolving technology. https://youtu.be/tqzYQSPTAPc Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Tony Rouse / TonyRouse (Guest)

Eric Johnson / Brewmaster of Wild Heaven Beer, Co-Host of GardenSMART TV Show Eric is from Athens, Georgia and could make a living in music, science, horticulture, construction and he actually did own a great pub (Trappeze). Thankfully, he chose beer. A renowned horticulturalist with 19 years of award-winning all-grain brewing experience, Eric Johnson also founded Trappeze Pub, a beer bar in Athens, Georgia that enjoys a stellar reputation and an A+ rating on BeerAdvocate.com (#2 in Georgia). Eric is also an accomplished musician, sitting in on pedal steel and guitar for numerous acts in the Athens area and continues as host of the PBS show Garden Smart. https://youtu.be/kJKduPw7_Z0 Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Eric Johnson / Wild Heaven Beer, GardenSMART TV Show (Guest)

Seth Watson / Owner & Founder of Distillery of Modern Art An innovator who genuinely believes nothing is out of the realm of possibility, Seth Watson is taking his 18 years of hospitality expertise at Track Seven Events and implementing those skills into his newest endeavor, Distillery of Modern Art. A true connoisseur, the conceptualization of DoMA started with a glass of whiskey and was quickly infused with his sentiment for art and music to build the only full-sensory craft distillery. An instigator of anything that facilitates creativity, Watson is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he first developed his appreciation for not only whiskey but products that are affordable, approachable, and of vast value. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA, with his wife and two children, with whom he has set out to build a legacy, for which Watson and the Distillery of Modern Art are well on their way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbqbwkB_lzA Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Seth Watson / Distillery of Modern Art (Guest)

Jeff Perkins / CEO of ParkMobile, Author of How Not to Suck at Marketing Jeff Perkins is CEO of ParkMobile, the #1 parking app in the U.S. with over 30 million users. Prior to ParkMobile, Jeff was the CMO of QASymphony (now called Tricentis) where he helped establish the brand and grow revenue 500% over a three-year period, leading to a $40 million Series C with Insight Venture Partners. He also has held senior marketing leadership positions at PGi and AutoTrader. Jeff started his career grinding it out in the NYC ad industry at Saatchi & Saatchi. His experiences range from traditional to digital, B2C to B2B, and agency-side to client-side. Jeff's work has earned him numerous accolades including the Atlanta Business Chronicle's MAX Award for marketing excellence and the Technology Association of Georgia's Award for Marketing Executive of the Year. Jeff received his BA from American University and MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School where he is now an adjunct professor. He is a frequent contributor to several marketing publications and a speaker at many industry events. His book, "How Not to Suck at Marketing" was published by How2Conquer in 2021. When he's not working, you might find him riding his Peloton bike or attending a Bruce Springsteen concert (he's been to 32 so far).  He lives in Atlanta with his awesome wife (also a Goizueta grad), two adorable daughters (ages 11 and 13) and two poorly behaved rescue dogs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzMaypAGx3E Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Jeff Perkins / ParkMobile, How Not to Suck at Marketing (Guest)

Scott Rosenblum / Principal & Co-Founder of Hugo Posh, Founder & Board Member of SkilletWorks Principal and co-founder of Hugo Posh (a Hugo Posh Holdings Company) a diversified company with operations in technology hospitality and real estate Scott Rosenblum is a critical part of the team that developed the restaurant procurement app SkilletWorks. Created in late 2019 SkilletWorks communicates directly to the Food and Beverage operator's suppliers forms and processes orders through a simple scan of the product barcode or search taking the manual process out of product orders and saving time and money. In addition to his extensive role with Hugo Posh Rosenblum is also a principal with venture capital firm NMG Holdings where he holds board or principal positions in companies ranging from apparel media technology and medical products. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY566pRqOVQ Ted Jenkin / Oxygen Financial (Host) Lee Heisman / Savant CTS (Host) Scott Rosenblum / Hugo Posh, SkilletWorks (Guest)

David Wasilewski / Former COO/CFO of Spanx, Former President/COO of Privé Revaux In 1999 David caught the entrepreneurial bug when he left his healthcare consulting job to focus on selling footless pantyhose out of the back of an Atlanta apartment. The company was called Spanx, and by the time he left, Spanx was a global brand worth over a billion dollars. After Spanx, David founded WhatNext.com, an online cancer support network he developed with the American Cancer Society. (more…)

Michelle Taylor Willis / Founder of Gagnant Media, Author, Speaker, & Media Personality Michelle Taylor Willis is the founder of Gagnant Media. A Florida native, she is married with four sons and resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a proud graduate of the University of Florida, and an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and master strategist. (more…)

Josh & Christy Wilson / Founders of Woo's IT, Serial Entrepreneurs in GA Josh and Christy Wilson ventured into business ownership in 2015 by launching Woo's IT, an IT consulting company focused on assisting small businesses.  Over the years, they acquired several local small businesses themselves, including the Atlanta Bread café in Woodstock, GA, China Star Restaurant in Canton, GA, and Cas Med Spa in Canton, GA. (more…)

David Lefkovits / Co-Founder of The LEFKO Group, Founder of Niche Digital Brands David was born in Brazil and raised in Venezuela, South America. Since a very young age, he worked with his family businesses on weekends and summers where he was exposed to entrepreneurial life. He moved to the US in 1991 to obtain his Industrial Engineering degree at Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology). (more…)

John Cristadoro / President & CEO of The Alliance Group John began his career in marketing as a marketing manager for WestsideRentals.com, a web-based home finding service covering southern California.  After just six months, he was promoted to director of marketing.  WRS was eventually acquired by Apartments.com. (more…)

Justin Bizzarro / CRO & Executive Director of FoodService Partners Inc. Who is Justin Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is an entrepreneur, who continues to build a 24-year-old food empire he created with his father out of his family's basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal growth, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. (more…)

Melissa & Gil Ruiz / Co-Owners of Pink Stone Chili Co. Hello! Thank you for your interest in Pink Stone Chili Co. My name is Melissa Ruiz and I am currently living in North Georgia. I am, at first, a housewife and mother of 2 kids currently living at home and one in California. I am second, the sole owner of this gourmet hot sauce/salsa company that recently was established in January 2021, although I have been making this sauce for over 20 years! (more…)

Matt Goldstein / Managing Director & Private CFO of oXYGen Financial Boulder Matt grew up just outside Washington DC in Silver Spring MD. He attended Florida State University and completed The Wharton School of Business executive leadership program. Outside of work Matt is a family man and loves spending time with his wife Michele and his two daughters, Mackenzie a freshman at Emory University, and Lexi a Freshman in high school and his two dogs. (more…)

Hugh Hale / Managing Director & Private CFO of oXYGen Financial Savannah Hugh Hale began his career in the financial services industry in 1995 at United Lending Company and went on to become one of the Top Ten Branch Managers in the country within four short years. In 2000, Hugh became a Private Banking Consultant for First Union in Savannah, GA and two years later he accepted a position as Director of Private Banking at National Bank of Commerce. Hugh was recruited by AXA Advisors in 2004 and worked as a Financial Advisor and Partner in a detached office in Savannah. In 2010, Hugh achieved his ultimate goal which was to start his own business, Financial Architects of the Low Country, in Savannah, GA. (more…)

Scott DiGiammarino / CEO of MovieComm Scott DiGiammarino is the CEO and Founder of MovieComm (www.moviecomm.com.)  MovieComm is the first and only company, in the history of Hollywood, to gain legal access to the major studios movie clip libraries for use in Leadership Communications, E-Learning and Presentations. (more…)

Eric & Jason Champion / Co-Founders of Posie Fields My name is Erin Champion, the Founder of Posie Fields. I grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and have always been drawn towards how to make things beautiful. In 2018, I asked the Martins of Martin's Garden (where I am currently growing) if I could use a small part of the farm to grow a few flowers as a sort of experiment. Not only did the flowers flourish but so did my love for flower gardening and floral arrangement. In 2019. I completed the Floret Workshop where I learned how to grow the flower business from "seed to market." (more…)

Brian Dawkins / Author of Blessed by the Best, Former NFL Safety for the Philadelphia Eagles Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Brian Dawkins’ life story is one of constant renewal and rebirth. Often the underdog and challenged by mental health struggles early in his career, he could have easily been pulled down the […]

Dean Fusto / President and Head of Brandon Hall School Dean J. Fusto is a 2020 recipient of the Klingenstein Fellowship at Teachers College, Columbia University and the President and Head of Brandon Hall School, an international boarding and day school serving students in grades 6-12. His career spans nearly three decades as an educational leader. […]

Kevin McDonough / Advisor at John Morgan Sportswear We are certain that once you wear your first John Morgan piece, we will be together for years to come. While our Brand Style and action influences are golf, tennis, sailing, our Brand Voice speaks to the  established or confident, up and coming.  You lead by example. You live with integrity, […]

Amber Saunders / Founder of The Saunders Firm As is a highly regarded attorney whose mission is to enhance the lives of families by securing their futures tomorrow, it took personal loss to underscore the importance of estate planning to Amber Saunders. Since that point, she has tirelessly dedicated herself towards this cause, using her […]

Chris Brennaman / Co-Owner of Infinite Realities: Comics, Games & More Chris Brennaman has been a beat reporter, a retail monkey, a children’s story writer, a software development manager, and a comics journalist. Now he divides time between chasing two small children around the house and being co-owner of Atlanta’s best comic book store ever, […]

Brandi Starr / COO of Tegrita, Co-Author of CMO to CRO Brandi Starr is a marketing maven and author who brings two decades of experience into her role as the COO of Tegrita. A graduate of Penn State and the University of Phoenix, Brandi was recently named one of MartechExec's “50 Women You Need to […]

Sean Shannon / Vice President & Marketing Manager of Cumulus Media Sean Shannon has spent the past thirty odd years working at the crossroads of marketing and sales in various roles in the broadcasting business.  He's watched as the industry has grown and evolved as the value proposition for consumers when it comes to their […]

Nate Hybl / Founder of Gusto! Nate Hybl is a former NFL quarterback who experienced a culinary awakening and made it his mission to deliver bold flavors in a quick, healthy and innovative way. As the founder of gusto!, he offers a sense of discovery that the typical fast food customer isn't used to experiencing. […]

Jamie Lagarde / CEO of Sedera Jamie Lagarde is the Chief Executive Officer of Sedera, a Medical Cost Sharing organization that offers an innovative, non-insurance approach for managing large health care costs. As a visionary leader and entrepreneur in healthcare, Jamie's experience in software-as-a-service (SaaS), health informatics, and AI has helped him tackle one of […]

Justin McLain / Managing Partner of Duart Mull As Duart Mull's Managing Partner, Justin R. McLain is responsible for directing the investment activities of the funds held in its trust. McLain's duties include: evaluating new investment opportunities, overseeing the activities of the outside fund managers, directly managing the firm's private equity placements, enhancing the enterprise […]

Brett Paulson / CEO of Integritek Brett Paulson serves as the CEO of Integritek. He previously worked growing Sales and Marketing teams at startups. Prior to helping companies grow, he founded and sold his own company who invented a novel product for mobile transactions. Brett earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from […]

Clayton Romero / Co-Founder of Novis Opera LLC CLAYTON ROMERO combines tech savvy from years working in I.T. with a passion for writing that has been with him since his youth. After becoming one of the chief architects of the Garfield’s Crossing Project, and later it’s driving force, he went on to co-found Novis Opera […]

Josh McAfee / Author of Measure Up: Mastering Your Career Search Like a Boss In addition to being a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Measure Up: Mastering Your Career Search Like a Boss, three-time founder, entrepreneur, tech investor, board member and advisor to high growth companies, Josh McAfee is most thankful […]

Mikey Moran / Founder & CEO of Private Label Extensions, Author of Fearless Beauty Mikey Moran had only a single advantage when he started his hair and beauty business: his idea was different from anything he'd seen in the industry. Seven years later, Mikey has expanded his original idea into ten different brands, five retail […]

Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert / Founding Attorney & Owner of Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group – Gore LLC Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert is the founding attorney and owner of Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group – Gore LLC, a personal injury firm based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group – Gore LLC represents victims of vehicle collisions, drunk […]

Jonathan Brimer / Co-Owner of Select Shades As a child, Jonathan Brimer turned his bedroom into a boutique department stores, with price tags on everything from stuffed animals to a stereo. “Customers” – aka his parents – would come “shop” with Jonathan ringing up purchases on an adding machine and transacting with Monopoly money. At […]

Brian Dixon / Owner of Insight Virtual Ballistics Brian Dixon started in the security field as a security specialist in United States Marine Corps. Working at various Aviation air groups throughout the world, including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Hawaii, and California, He quickly rose to be in charge of different security divisions and special […]

Greg Johnson / Founder of Sapient Global Solutions For more than two decades Greg served as a CEO and senior executive at Fortune 500 and start-up enterprises in the wellness and financial services industry including American Express, Ameriprise Financial, Crawford and Pulse Centers & Pulse Equine.  Greg is the founder of Sapient Global Solutions,  a […]

Josh Sweeney / President-Elect of EO Chapter of Atlanta & Founder of FounderScale Josh Sweeney is a seasoned entrepreneur, who's relentless drive has given him the platform to build big ideas, and even bigger companies.  One of his successes, AtcoreSystems, was acquired in 2016 by a leading partner in the CRM industry. Experiencing the impact […]

Clayton Romero / Co-Founder of CodexTen Clayton Romero cut his teeth in the information technology world, spending more nearly two decade helping businesses meet their goals through the use of technology. For the last ten years he's spent his time in the legal world guiding law firms through a rapidly changing landscape of technology, security, […]

Michelle Seiler Tucker / Founder & CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated, Co-Author of Exit Rich Michelle Seiler Tucker is the Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated. As a 20-year veteran in mergers & acquisitions, Michelle and her firm has sold over a thousand companies in almost every vertical. She owns and operates several successful […]