Partners

Since its inception, the Atlanta CEO Council has been supported by limited exclusive partners, leaders in their industry who recognize the importance of cultivating exceptional business leaders and prioritize giving back to their community. Click each image below to get to know the people behind the logo.

Bennett Thrasher is the eighth-largest Atlanta-based full-service certified public accounting and consulting firm. What differentiates Bennett Thrasher from other accounting firms is the respect and regard we have for our clients and for each other. The firm creates significant value and a unique positive experience through collaboration- with and between clients, partners, associates and the  community. Founded in 1980 by Rick Bennett and Ken Thrasher, today Bennett Thrasher boasts a dedicated, experienced team of 31 partners and more than 210 associates serving our clients in tax, financial reporting & assurance, valuation, litigation, client accounting services, international, personal financial services, state & local tax, dispute resolution & forensics, transfer pricing and wealth management.

Lindsey B. Sykes

Lindsey Sykes is a Partner and the service line leader for our Financial Reporting and Assurance department. Lindsey has over twenty fi ve years of business experience, having spent twelve years in public accounting with Arthur Andersen and six years as Chief Financial Offi cer of a publicly traded company prior to joining Bennett Thrasher in February of 2007. Lindsey has signifi cant experience in serving companies from the start-up/ development stage through large multi-national public companies. He has been involved with companies in the technology, manufacturing, distribution, real estate and service industries.

Vijay Vaswani

I am a Partner at Bennett Thrasher and lead the firm’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) practice. In this capacity, I advise strategic and private equity investors on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and divestitures. I also assist clients with early stage investments, equity recapitalizations and debt financing transactions.

I am a CPA by trade and launched my career in public accounting as an auditor in the Big 4. I have approximately 18 years of accounting and finance experience, with the last 13 years in M&A (referenced below). My M&A experience is highlighted by my time spent leading financial due diligence engagements for the TAS practice at a Big 4 firm as well as executing deals from sourcing to signing on the corporate development team at two publicly traded companies.

With hands-on experience across the full spectrum of the deal cycle, I have a unique set of skills and experiences that separate me from many of the traditional transaction advisors in the market.

Zachary Leder

My practice at Bennett Thrasher focuses on middle market businesses and growing start-up technology companies in both the public and private sector.

We’re a global technology partner that provides end-to-end digital services for fintech. Software innovation, application development, large-scale database migrations…you name it. We’re always mission-ready!

Michael Wear

President/CEO at Blankfactor

Mark Davies

Founded in 2004, Carabiner Communications is an Atlanta-based agency specializing in marketing, PR and sales lead generation. We custom-build a nimble team of B2B experts to partner with clients for as much or as little as they need. We’re strategic, cost-effective, and very, very human. If you’re helping to steer a start-up, a fast-growth company or an organization headed in a new direction and need branding, marketing, public relations, content development, social media or lead-gen assistance to get to the next level, then let’s talk.

Peter Baron

Peter Baron serves as a senior-level consultant, offering advice to clients on product positioning, lead generation and nurturing, and digital marketing. Through more than two decades of technology marketing and PR experience, Peter has the skills to recognize new trends and opportunities, helping companies plan strategies accordingly. His client experience spans telecommunications, networking, healthcare technology, mobile computing and myriad software solutions. Peter received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and PR from the University of Utah.

Sara Wakefiled

Specialties: General: Verbal and Written Communication in English and Spanish, Self-Motivated, Leadership, Organized, Detail Oriented, Strong Personal Work Ethic

Suzanne Moccia

Over 30 years of corporate and agency marketing experience focused on B2B technology companies. I’ve worked with start-up, established and public companies and have built a solid background in marketing, public relations, message development, content marketing, branding and social media to help clients build brand awareness, secure thought leadership and drive revenue.

Established in 1953, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is a professional services network and the eighth-largest accountancy firm in the United States. Our services include Wealth Advisory, Tax, Audit and Digital as well as Consulting and Outsourcing across the United States and throughout the globe. Our vast network of professionals and resources are seamlessly presented and delivered for our clients. We believe that by getting to know our clients well, we’ll be in a better position to help them. We start with conversations, ask questions that matter, and listen. Our clients find innovative advice that is clear and actionable, driven by industry-specialized teams. We turn challenges into opportunities.

Mathew Abraham

Mathew is a member of CliftonLarsonAllen’s federal tax strategies (FTS) practice.

 

Mathew has 20+ years of public accounting experience, specifically in the credits and incentives arena covering a range of subjects, which include the Research and Development Tax Credit, Accounting Methods and Inventory, IRC Section 199 (Domestic Production Activities Deduction), the Tangible Property Regulations, and Meals and Entertainment Studies. Prior to joining CLA, he served as a tax professional at two other large public accounting firms, which included five years at one firm’s national tax office. Throughout his career, he has consulted with companies of all sizes, from closely-held businesses to large multinational corporations in different industries (technology, manufacturing, health care, retail, hospitality, real estate, and financial services) as it pertains to U.S. federal income tax matters on the subject areas noted above.

Purvi G. Shah

Purvi started her career in software development and then moved over to accounting after a few years. She worked for small firms for the first 11 years of her accounting career and then became part of CLA through an acquisition in January 2016. She has spent her accounting career providing tax and accounting solutions to privately held businesses and their owners. She serves clients primarily in the retail industry.

Crowe Horwath is a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm with offices across the globe. Connecting deep industry and specialized knowledge with innovative technology, our dedicated professionals create value for our clients with integrity and objectivity. We accomplish this by listening to our clients – about their businesses, trends in their industries, and the challenges they face. We forge each relationship with the intention of delivering exceptional client service while upholding our core values and our industry’s strong professional standards. Crowe invests in tomorrow because we know smart decisions build lasting value for our clients, people, and profession.

James Parker

Mr. Parker has over 25 years of public accounting experience in providing tax consulting services to a broad range of clients in the manufacturing, distribution, technology and other industries. Professional and Industry Experience Mr. Parker works in many areas of taxation including; merger and acquisitions, S-corporation taxation, C-corporation taxation, partnership taxation, multi-state taxation, and individual tax. He has extensive experience in the following activities:

  • General Corporate Tax Planning
  • Personal Income Tax Planning
  • Buying and Selling of Businesses
  • Merger and Acquisitions
  • Multi-state Income Tax Compliance and Consulting
  • Internal Revenue Service Examinations

Professional Affiliations

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Georgia, Florida, Ohio CPA Societies

Education & Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Accountancy
  • Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)| Georgia, Florida, Ohio

We represent tenants — the people leasing or buying space — in commercial real estate. We are your advocate, helping you navigate every aspect of commercial office and industrial real estate. Our goal is to make the process easier: from selecting the ideal work environment, to managing complicated lease/purchase negotiations, to ensuring the deal is completed to your satisfaction. Above all, one difference with CTR is our intentional development of long-term, ongoing relationships with every client.

Jason Ferguson

When it comes to businesses, if you can attract and retain the best people, your company will thrive. One aspect of the culture mix is often overlooked and this is your office space. Does it convey the message you are preaching? Do your ideal employees want to come to your office? Can your office accommodate the design and feel you are wanting to create? Does your space have the ability to grow with your business?

We take the long-term, old-school approach of getting to know you and your business so that we can find the best fit for today and the future. We focus solely on the tenant/buyer side of a transaction so that you always know that our loyalty lies with you, our client.

Jeff Richardson

I am an advocate for tenants and buyers in the office and industrial real estate market. My business focus is on assisting companies with their corporate real estate needs, from lease negotiation (e.g., renewal, expansion, extension, etc.) to facility relocation. In every relationship, I strive to serve each person and organization well. From strategic planning to evaluating market conditions to negotiating strategy, I am a valuable resource for my clients in achieving the utmost value from their office/industrial space while ensuring they have an educated voice and perspective throughout the process.

Regardless of the real estate need, I have a desire to positively impact the lives of others either through business or other avenues.

Specialties: Strategic planning, lease negotiation, facility utilization, relocation scheduling

Rob Coatsworth

CTR Partners, Inc. is a specialized, commercial real estate consulting firm that focuses exclusively on representing the interests of the tenant, rather than the landlord. Our clients are local and national companies that are interested in leasing or purchasing office and office/warehouse space for their business. We have been providing real estate solutions while investing in relationships through God’s grace and love since 1993.

Dualboot is a business and software development company. We build great software, but we base our success on whether it helps your business grow. Clients include tech and non-tech founders as well as Fortune 500 companies, so we can start small or scale fast. Our capabilities include product innovation, strategy, design, front and backend development, fractional CTO, QA, and PMO. We are fluent in almost every modern open-source technology stack, including Salesforce.

Kelly Anne O'Neill

I’m Kelly Anne O’Neill. First, I enjoy connecting great people more than anything – both personally and professionally. I also love helping entrepreneurs and serving the local community. I am currently mentoring for Techstars, Startup Showdown and serve as a board member with TER, Speedway Childrens’ Charities, Love Your Story, and as a partner with ATL CEO Council.

Todd Buelow

Over 20 years of experience managing digital products and serving as a catalyst for growth. Before founding Dualboot Partners and Bella Tunno, Todd was a founding member of Elogex (Sold to One Network Enterprises), Cloud Logistics (Sold to E2Open), and Castle Digital Partners.

Todd is a tech investor and is active in social change. He serves on the boards of Speedway Children’s Charity, American Football Without Barriers, SIM Charlotte, and Bounce Out the Stigma. Todd lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife Michelle and daughters Riley and Ella.

At Fifth Third Bank, we are always listening to new ideas so that we can strengthen our commitment to you and the communities we serve. Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Fifth Third Bank is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. M/F/D/V

Matt Ward

Securities and investments offered through Fifth Third Securities, Inc.; member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, is a registered broker-dealer and a registered investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission – SEC (www.sec.gov). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Content listed on this profile is for general purposes only and is not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell any security. Third party posts found on this profile do not reflect the views of Fifth Third Securities, Inc. and have not been reviewed by Fifth Third Securities, Inc. as to the accuracy or completeness. Posts on this website made by the above referenced individual and any responses/comments to these posts will be monitored and retained in accordance with FINRA and/or SEC Rules.

Raymond M. S.

Whether leading teams or managing client relationships, I facilitate the banking products and services privately held companies and their owners need to execute their strategic plans.

I work with business owners in the commercial/middle-market segment, targeting companies between $20MM and $500MM in topline revenue. My clients typically borrow $5MM or more and rely heavily on our robust treasury platform for daily cash management needs. In addition, my team and I can help clients acquire real estate, finance working capital and capex, protect themselves from fraud, exit their business, acquire businesses, manage personal assets, mitigate interest rate risk, commodity, and foreign exchange risks, and streamline operations through industry-leading AR and AP optimization platforms.

Christopher Mattie

Commercial Line of Business Manager at Fifth Third Bank

Founders Legal (Bekiares Eliezer LLP) is a Corporate & Intellectual Property Law Firm based in Atlanta, Georgia USA, that focuses exclusively on complex matters in the areas of Intellectual Property, Corporate, Transactional, and Securities law.

We employ the services of highly skilled and experienced attorneys who are specialized in their unique areas of practice. Our team is dedicated to creating, utilizing, and continually iterating upon the latest software, technology, and processes to maximize efficiency and provide uncompromising value to its clients.

We are devoted to making the practice of law more efficient while improving the client experience and delivering uncompromising value. As a Founders Legal client, you will benefit from the Founders Legal Client Experience 2.0 — combining the newest technology and automation with a dedicated team of highly-skilled, practical, responsive, and results-oriented professionals to meet your legal needs. Our Practice Specialties include: Intellectual Property, Business Transactions, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Technology Law.

Yuri Eliezer

Yuri heads the Intellectual Property practice group at Founders Legal. A practice he co-founded at the Atlanta Tech Village – the nation’s fourth largest incubator. Yuri was one of the few attorneys invited by the USPTO to provide technical training and industry insight at the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP), where he shared insight into technology company decision points and challenges within the US Patent System.

David Pierce

Leveraging over a decade of technology, business, and sales experience to provide your business with legal enablement

Ed Khalili

IP, Patent & Technology Attorney | Innovation Evangelist | Partner at Founders Legal

At Humans Doing, we utilize our 50+ years of combined national technology-centric recruiting experience to pair great clients and candidates together. Our approach and experience ensure that both receive great value, growth, and appreciation for each other. We take pride in making sure both sides make great decisions that will have a lasting positive impact on their companies, careers, and families.

Joshua McAfee

In addition to being a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Measure Up: Mastering Your Career Search Like a Boss I’m also a three-time founder, entrepreneur, tech investor, board member and advisor to high growth companies. More importantly, I’m thankful to be a husband with a very patient wife & a new father who’s in over my head.

I’m passionate about helping people make great hiring and career decisions so they can have the most fulfilled, abundant, and meaningful lives possible. I’ve spent almost 30 years in the recruiting and coaching world consulting with and placing thousands of leaders, sales, and tech-savvy people into high-growth companies. I’ve founded, built, and sold a national tech staffing company and have helped countless leaders of high-growth companies grow their teams with the right people to have a positive impact on their products, culture, and, ultimately, their customers. My experience has molded me into a leading expert in recruiting, hiring, employee retention, and career growth best practices.

Maurice Morgan, TAS

As a 20 year veteran in the discipline of Talent Acquisition, Recruiting, and Staffing Industries, I have found joy throughout my career in assisting individuals and organizations in achieving their highest potential. I have learned that the human experience is most meaningful when individual talent is self-actualized. Being a guide for others in their respective career search has come to be my “superpower”. Equally, partnering with organizations I believe in, while strategically guiding those organizations to obtain the most talented individuals in their respective business arena is my passion as well. I believe as a collective, collaboration and growth through human capital is our greatest asset.

Since 1986, Insperity’s mission has been to help businesses succeed so communities prosper. Offering the most comprehensive suite of scalable HR solutions available in the marketplace, Insperity is defined by an unrivaled breadth and depth of services and level of care. Through an optimal blend of premium HR service and technology, Insperity delivers the administrative relief, reduced liabilities and better benefit solutions that businesses need for sustained growth. With 2020 revenues of $4.3 billion and more than 80 offices throughout the U.S., Insperity is currently making a difference in thousands of businesses and communities nationwide.

Ashley Edwards Altman

I am passionate about working with small-medium sized businesses in the Atlanta community. I help business owners increase their bottom line by helping them focus on their business. I do this through streamlining efficiencies, mitigating risks, cost containing their employee benefits while providing the big company benefit options and offloading many of the areas that take focus away from growing their business.

Justin Otte, CBPA

District ManagerDistrict Manager

Catherine Hanson

Exceptional account manager and business development professional with a proven track record in prioritizing and balancing multiple facets of account development. Consistent top performer who exceeds revenue targets through building relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Qualifications include growing existing accounts and renewing multi-year contracts. Intuitive business acumen and professional presence with the ability to establish collaborative partnerships with C-Level executives.

Integgra Valuation & Advisory Services provides business valuation and financial advisory services. The scope of business valuation services and the methodologies applied therein can be unclear to many people.  We differentiate ourselves by focusing on impeccable client service and by clearly and efficiently communicating valuation issues and defensible opinions while maintaining a high standard of technical excellence. The result is a higher level of client service and satisfaction.

The needs of each client and the nuances of each business are unique. We invest time in listening carefully to ensure that our analyses reflect that uniqueness. 

We operate with cutting-edge technology.  This enables us to exchange data efficiently with our clients and to provide current financial data and research in an efficient and cost-effective process. This results in high-quality valuation reports with a shorter turnaround time, which translates to reduced fees for our clients. 

Gregg Ficery

Gregg Ficery is President of Integgra Advisory Services, which he founded in 2011. He has over 15 years of business valuation consulting experience and has valued hundreds of private companies. He also has over 10 years of industry experience in the technology, telecommunications, and financial services sectors in finance, accounting, and corporate development roles.

Prior to founding Integgra, Gregg held a Director position at SVB Analytics, a subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank, where he led over 150 valuation engagements advising early stage private technology companies for the purpose of determining stock option pricing for IRC 409A and SFAS 123R compliance. In this role, Gregg managed a global team of analysts and interfaced with C-level executives, Boards of Directors, attorneys and auditors throughout all phases of the valuation process. In addition, Gregg developed business with top audit and law firms, leading to sales of valuation and financial software services.

Prior to joining SVB Analytics, Gregg held a Senior Director position at Taylor Consulting Group, a boutique valuation consulting firm in Atlanta, where he was responsible for valuation analysis, financial and transaction advisory services covering public and closely held companies. In this role he developed and led engagements requiring valuation of companies for purposes including mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial reporting, tax compliance, and litigation support, including providing expert testimony. He served clients in a wide variety of industries, including technology, telecommunications, renewable energy, healthcare, food and beverage, financial services, retail, and manufacturing.

Morris, Manning & Martin is a full-service law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients’ success. In order to provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity.

Our Firm and lawyers possess a keen understanding of our clients’ businesses and the sectors in which they operate. Legal solutions are delivered by industry-focused, diverse, involved lawyers who are dedicated to their clients’ success, whether in a transaction, in court or in the everyday course of business.

Lori C. Bibb

Lori C. Bibb is a partner in MMM’s Atlanta office and a member of the Corporate Department. Ms. Bibb concentrates her practice on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, venture capital investments, joint ventures, complex business transactions and securities offerings.
Ms. Bibb also advises clients on corporate governance matters, as well as periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliance with NYSE and NASDAQ listing requirements.
Ms. Bibb graduated with a B.S. from Vanderbilt University in, of all things, Molecular Biology and Art History, and earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she served as Articles Editor of the Tennessee Law Review.

David M. Calhoun

David M. Calhoun is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Securities, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Financial Technologies practices. Mr. Calhoun practices in the areas of corporate finance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He has significant experience in public and private securities and corporate finance, including representation of issuers, underwriters, and investors. Representative transactions include debt and equity offerings (public and private), going private transactions, venture capital financings, IPOs, secondary offerings of common and preferred securities, PIPEs (private investments in public equity), and tender offers. Mr. Calhoun has been active in mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies, including acting as counsel in transactions ranging in size from less than $100,000 to over $1 billion. Representative M&A transactions include representation of both buyers and sellers in mergers, asset sales, stock sales, international and cross-border transactions, and leveraged buy-outs. He has represented companies in numerous industries, including technology, financial technology, green tech, logistics/freight forwarding, medical devices, business process outsourcing, manufacturing, and financial institutions. Mr. Calhoun’s practice also includes general corporate counseling, corporate governance, audit and special committee representation, and securities law compliance matters.

Nick Rueter

I am a member of the Corporate Law group and the chair of the International M&A practice with Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP. I represent domestic and international clients in a variety of corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity transactions, joint ventures, emerging company issues, fund formation, private placements, and franchise law. I also routinely serve as a general business and legal advisor to my clients, counseling on matters such as corporate governance, executive compensation, employment and partnership disputes, regulatory compliance and commercial contracts, coordinating, where appropriate, with other attorneys within my firm.

Refactor Talent is an elite, women owned talent agency obsessed with delivering the right talent to enable you to achieve your desired outcomes. All teams, even the best ones, need to be refactored and augmented at times to improve performance.

The recruiting team at Refactor Talent has over 75 years of combined experience helping companies of all sizes, from all industries hire the best talent to grow, refine, and enhance their workforces. Let us help you do the same.

Jack Fenley

I thrive on problem-solving and helping customers achieve their target outcomes through people focused solutions. With a strong focus on technology, consulting, and software – I’ve found my place as a tech nerd. If the solution allows me to do something better, quicker, and more enjoyably, I am in!

I recently joined Tanzu and their Global Accounts team to help achieve a better developer experience through modernization.

Outside of work I LOVE to meet new people, coach football (soccer), spend time outside with the family and (unfortunately) endure being a Newcastle United fan.

Jen Beatty

Jen Beatty is a Principal Recruiter. For the last 20+ years, Jen has placed consultants across all technologies and skill sets. Jen is married to a software development lead/DBA. She has travelled to 45 different countries…. and counting.

Specialties: Jen’s strengths include working across technical and functional skill sets. She has been successful in areas of technology including Java, .Net, Oracle, SAP, Infrastructure platforms as well as Business Analysts, Project/Program Managers, and Writers. She has recruiting experience with Coca Cola, The Home Depot, SunTrust, IHG, Cox, and Emory. Current clients include Delta, AT&T, Anthem, UPS and several others. Please contact me; I can help!

 

Renasant Corporation, a 118-year-old financial services institution, is the parent of Renasant Bank. Renasant has assets of approximately $16.9 billion and operates 196 banking, mortgage, financial services and insurance offices throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Zennie W. Lynch Jr.

Zennie W Lynch Jr. serves as the Atlanta Market President for Renasant Bank. Under his leadership, the bank will focus on serving the needs of small to medium sized businesses (and their principals) throughout the region. Renasant Bank is one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $14.8 billion in assets and more than 200 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

Scott Rossman

Director of Middle Market Banking, Georgia at Renasant Bank.

Savills is the integrated commercial real estate advisory firm. They bring together people, services, and technology to cut through the complexity of today’s markets, helping clients unlock hidden value and drive results for their business. For over 160 years, they’ve truly partnered with every client, tailoring strategies to their unique needs across lease and portfolio solutions, project management, advanced technology, and capital strategies. And with over 600 offices around the world, they deliver the benefit of one of the largest real estate companies in the world, while connecting clients with the local market expertise they need.

David Rubenstein

David Rubenstein has worked in the commercial real estate industry since 1989 and has a diverse background, including development, leasing and finance. Since 2000, he has worked exclusively as a tenant representative assisting clients in office, healthcare and industrial real estate transactions. As a tenant representative, David has worked with some of the most prestigious established and fast growing companies in the country on commercial property leases and acquisitions.

Bo Keatley

I specialize in office tenant representation and occupier services & analytics. My primary focus is in Atlanta and the Southeast with resources at Savills to handle work nationally/internationally. I represent my clients interests in the leasing and acquisition (purchase) of office space as well as the disposition of space as well as location strategy, workplace strategy and labor analysis. I strive to help clients be more strategic about their Real Estate so that we can implement a plan that better conforms to their overall business objectives, aligns with their culture and labor objectives and allows them to utilize their Office Footprint as a tool for the business.

SeatonHill provides organizations financial leadership with a strategic and operational focus by placing elite CFO talent to challenge the business and contribute to operational decisions to achieve results. With our curated talent, our financial leaders guide small and medium sized businesses through complex financial problems to mitigate risk and achieve organizational goals. We are the fastest-growing CFO services firm in the nation, offering the power of combined thought leadership and the support of the country’s top financial talent to the benefit of all our clients. SeatonHill has offices in Boston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Austin, Houston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and Washington D.C.

Steve Morse

SGR is a full service, International law firm that advises regional, national, and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s 270 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.

Gregory J. Kirsch

Gregory J. Kirsch is a Partner and the Head of the Intellectual Property Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Mr. Kirsch serves as patent counsel to clients ranging from large multinational corporations to small start-ups, as well as universities. His practice encompasses the entire range of patent law, including patent procurement, strategic patent portfolio development, patent opinions (infringement, validity and patentability), post grant proceedings, licensing, as well as patent litigation. He has served as a patent expert in a patent litigation matter, and has participated in patent opposition hearings at the European Patent Office. He has prepared and obtained many hundreds of patents during his career for a diverse clientele, for inventions spanning the full range of technologies, including software, business methods, computer technology, electronics, communications technology, analog and digital circuitry, medical technology, mechanics, electromechanics, plus many others. In addition to his US patent practice, Mr. Kirsch has extensive experience overseeing and pursuing on behalf of his clients patent protection in patent offices throughout the world, utilizing patent treaties (Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty), in coordination with foreign patent counsel.

In addition to his full-time legal practice, Mr. Kirsch has served as an Adjunct Professor of patent law at Emory University School of Law since 1997, and as an Adjunct Professor of intellectual property law at Washington University School of Law (St. Louis) since 2011. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences on various intellectual property topics, and has contributed chapters on patent law to two books.

Mr. Kirsch serves on the Board and on the Executive Committee of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce-Southeast, and is a past Chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Intellectual Property Law Section. He’s also been active in the Intellectual Property Section of the American Bar Association, and is a past Chair of that section’s Patent Policy Committee.

Mr. Kirsch received his B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iowa in 1987. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1990, where he was Notes & Comments Editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly. Mr. Kirsch is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Georgia, Virginia and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Brett Lockwood

Brett Lockwood is a Partner in the Corporate Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and chairs the Firm’s Technology Law Practice Group.

Mr. Lockwood devotes a substantial portion of his practice to serving as principal outside counsel with his clients, advising on corporate, cybersecurity and technology issues as well as significant business transactions. His practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity and data privacy, technology transactions, licensing, strategic alliances and corporate finance matters.

He has published extensively on business and legal topics in many publications and has spoken widely about technology legal matters. Mr. Lockwood is AV Rated (top rating) from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer.

His current professional affiliations include serving as Co-Chair of the Atlanta Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society and as a member of the ACG’s Capital Connection Planning Committee, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Technology Association of Georgia. He has previously served as a Board member and officer of the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals, the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Technology Law Section (former Chair), the Business & Technology Alliance, the Atlanta Electronic Commerce Forum, the Georgia Technology Forum, Literacy Volunteers of America (Metro Atlanta), and as the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgia Bar Journal.

Mr. Lockwood received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of North Florida, performed graduate studies at Columbia University’s School of International Affairs and received his J.D. degree, with distinction, from Emory University School of Law. During law school he served as Executive Managing Editor of the Emory Law Journal and received the Laughlin Award for excellence in legal research and writing.

Talent 360 provides comprehensive staffing solutions for the Information Technology and Finance industries. With decades of experience within our chosen markets, our goal is to provide headache free staffing solutions. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients. Our vision is to provide our clients with excellence in the hiring process. We strive to handle each client with accountability and responsiveness, as if we were recruiting for our own business. Our mission is to take on the hiring headaches for our clients, by providing efficient cost-effective staffing solutions.

Kevin Raxter

Kevin Raxter is a 20 year veteran of the Staffing Industry here in Atlanta. In 2018, he founded his second staffing agency, Talent 360. Today, Talent 360 provides both permanent and staff augmentation services to both companies local to Atlanta and across the country. Talent 360 has a strong focus in IT and Accounting/Finance recruiting, with many clients asking them to help in additional areas of need.
Kevin is published author of, Staffing! Recruiting with New Tricks and Old Techniques and he focuses his attention on small to medium size companies, where the power of hiring the right person is truly magnified. He works closely with his clients to understand exactly what are seeking, both from a skill standpoint and personality/culture fit.

Matthew Fox

Managing Partner at Talent 360 Solutions

Ricky Steele

Experienced C level executive with a demonstrated history of working across multiple industries. Strong business development professional skilled in Sales, Marketing, Networking and Public Relations/Branding. Passionate about making a difference in the community through relationship creation especially in the not for profit community.

Founded in 1962 and a public company since 1983, Raymond James Financial, Inc. is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies engaged primarily in investment and financial planning, in addition to capital markets and asset management. The firm’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (RJF). Through its three broker/dealer subsidiaries, Raymond James Financial has approximately 8,400 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are $1.18 trillion (as of 9/30/2021). Raymond James has been recognized nationally for its community support and corporate philanthropy. The company has been ranked as one of the best in the country in customer service, as a great place to work and as a national leader in support of the arts.

Trey Haydon

As team leader, Trey has final responsibility for investment strategies, planning strategies and client care. He understands the tremendous value that services such as financial planning and tax strategies have and the significant role they play in the financial future of their clients.

Previously in his career, Trey was a financial advisor and vice president at Morgan Keegan when the firm was acquired by Raymond James in 2012. Earlier, he was a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards, and also held positions at Scientific Atlanta and Arris Technologies. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Washington and Lee University.

Trey grew up in Clearwater, Florida, and attended St Paul’s Episcopal and Shorecrest Prep.
His wife, Chandler, is a Georgia native and well-known lobbyist. They have two children, Carter and Sara Elizabeth. Trey is a member of Northside Church and Cherokee Town and Country Club.

In his free time, Trey enjoys attempting to lower his golf score. He also enjoys duck hunting twice per year in South Carolina and Arkansas, and saltwater fishing for snook, tarpon and redfish, preferably in the skinny waters around Florida.

Tim Dorothy

We provide financial planning services to closely held business owners.
Our process begins with a Tax Mitigation Analysis (TMA) for the business owner considering a liquidity event.
Liquidity events can include a sale, a partial sale, a growth capital recap, or divestiture.
We work closely with multiple sell side advisory firms and can provide confidential introductions to evaluate options.

Family office services for families begin post liquidity event.
These services include:
– Tax Planning
– Cash Flow Planning
– Private Banking and Lending (through Raymond James Bank)
– Risk Management (through a partnership with MARSH)
– Investment management (multiple custodial options)
– Direct private investing
– Family governance

The Atlanta CEO Council has been an important part of the Atlanta business community fabric for almost 2 decades. It remains our great honor to partner with the Council as it uniquely serves the needs of top executives in some of the region’s best companies & non-profits. There’s not another organization quite like it in our rapidly growing city and region.

Peter Baron, Founder and Principal, Carabiner Communications

In just a few short months since joining the Atlanta CEO Council, I have developed relationships with countless individuals and companies.  The CXO receptions and CEO dinners have provided unrivaled opportunities to meet some of the top leaders in Atlanta.  The Atlanta CEO Council is unlike any networking group I have ever been a part of … no pressure, no selling, just the chance to meet new people.  Looking forward to all the 2020 events lined up!

Kevin Raxter, Managing Partner, Talent 360 Solutions

ATL CTO gathers the best and brightest product development tech leaders. Then, we bring them together to network and collaborate. We’re all about learning from each other. Plain and simple. We bring great people together to exchange innovative ideas. We’re united by our passion for building technology, right here in Atlanta.

Nandu Shah

I like to build. Software. Infrastructure that runs software. Teams that build software and run infrastructure. Organizations that deliver value through technical achievement. I like to build.

For over 20 years I have worked with engineering teams large and small, at companies large and small. Together we optimized MPLS networks with hundreds of nodes in real time, we automated the planning of $65M/yr of IP and voice capacity, we delivered self-service insurance claims to 40M mobile phone users, and we migrated petabytes of data and over 150M users to Google Cloud Platform.

I’m interested in truly agile approaches to getting things done and in continuously improving my product, my team, and my craft.

Jay Sandhaus

Jay Sandhaus is a technology executive with twenty years experience growing companies, building teams and delivering great software. He is hands-on and loves to code as well as manage and set technology direction.

Jay leads the technology organization at PriorAuthNow, an innovative health care technology company. Previously he was Sr. Vice President of Technology at Mobilewalla, a consumer intelligence company that specializes in data science and artificial intelligence, and CTO of PlayOn Sports and the NFHS Network. Before PlayOn, he was Senior Director of Content Management and Social Media at Turner, where he built the publishing platform for Turner’s digital properties, including CNN.com, NBA.com, and NCAA.com. Jay wrote software for the Foreign Exchange desk at Goldman Sachs and led development of Emmy-award winning projects for the PGA Tour and NASCAR.com at Sportvision. He serves his community as the treasurer of the Freedom Park Conservancy and organized the Friends of Freedom Bridge. Jay received a MS in Computer Science from Columbia University.

Specialties: AWS, Video, Leadership, Building teams, Planning, Strategic vision, Product Development

Venture Atlanta is the region’s largest venture conference gathering together more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, investors, leaders, and students for a high-caliber, 2-day conference.

We began 14 years ago with one mission – to connect companies to capital. Today, this mission has expanded beyond monetary capital to connect startups with the resources, network, clients, partnerships, and talent they need to grow. Venture Atlanta has played an important role in the tech ecosystem of the Southeast and is proud to be a part of so many success stories in the community.

Our network of 575 alumni companies have collectively achieved have led to $4.7B in funding raised and $14B in successful exits.

It takes a village to make an event as exceptional as Venture Atlanta a reality. Our incredible team of leaders and visionaries work throughout the year to recruit the best companies, investors and sponsors to bring the event to life.

Allyson Eman

Sales, Marketing and Business Development senior leader and executive with over 30 years of experience. I have what it takes to help a company, conference or organization grow and thrive! Extensive fundraising skills.

At SouthStar Funding, I was responsible for all marketing and communications during my 9 1/ 2 year tenure. SouthStar Funding grew to be one of the most reputable, respected and trusted wholesale mortgage lenders in the country. SouthStar received many accolades including A+ Employer, Fastest Growing Privately Held Company and was on Inc. 500’s list of fasting growing privately held companies.

I am currently the CEO for Venture Atlanta. Venture Atlanta is the premier investor showcase in the Southeast. The conference brings the most innovative technology companies together with top-tier investors from around the country. It is an opportunity for anyone who works with emerging technology companies or investors to network, interact and make great connections.

Richard Fraim

Partner at Knoll Ventures

Stone Soup Tech is a company offering a diverse suite of complementary technology, management, and marketing services.

Bradley Kirkland

Bradley Kirkland is the co-founder of Stone Soup Tech Solutions (SSTS), a company which has offices in the US, Romania, and Germany. SSTS focuses on custom complex software development, including AI, native mobile apps, and complex web systems. He has also founded or co-founded several companies in the software space, as a co-working space and accelerator.

Bradley is a managing partner of Stone Soup Holdings, LLC which focuses on early stage AI related companies. As an active angel for 6 years, he’s invested in 12 software companies. Among his volunteer efforts, Bradley is active as a mentor for Startup Weekend, Founder Institute, Georgia Tech, VentureLab, ATDC, and the National Black MBA Association, as well as a shark for startup competitions in many cities world-wide.

Amanda (Richey) Dowis

Like many people, I was not sure what career I wanted to pursue. I went through some courses in the veterinary field, medical billing and coding, and microcomputer applications. I also worked in customer service and direct sales for several years.

While working as a receptionist, I was asked to build a custom database (I already did the website and technical maintenance anyway, so I liked the idea of taking on this project). That is when I discovered how much I loved coding! I ended up building a database for my office and one for a separate company. The databases increased productivity and reduced user errors tremendously by allowing hand-written forms to be populated electronically at the click of a button, as well as organized the large number of details needed for customers. I currently work as a Project Manager and assist on databases (MS Access, SQL) and websites (WordPress, HTML, CSS).