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Past EventsPlease click on the date for more Event Details
On Tuesday July 15, 2008 we spend an evening with David Nour, Managing Partner of BeOne Now, Inc., as he discussed how he developed a unique set of methodologies for monetizing referral-based personal and business development efforts. This framework provides a focused road map for individuals and organizations to develop new skills, leverage relationships and build the discipline necessary for lasting (and profitable) relationships.
Your personal and professional success depends on the diversity and quality of your relationships. Yet most of us don't spend enough time building, nurturing and quantifying the key personal, functional, and strategic relationships we need to achieve success. That's where Relationship Economics® comes into play and the expert advice of David Nour.
David is a social networking
strategist and one of the world’s foremost thought leaders on the
quantifiable value of business relationships. A native of Iran, David
came to the U.S. with just a suitcase, $100, few family ties and limited
English speaking skills. Over the past 25 years, he has built an
impressive career both within large corporations and early stage
ventures.
On Tuesday June 17, 2008 we enjoyed the SEVENTH ANNUAL ENTREPRENEUR'S BEER TASTING. This popular event featured a presentation study by our host, Dennis Lange and FIVE SEASONS Brewery and Restaurant, entitled: "Recent Developments in Craft Brewing."
Partners Dennis Lange and David
Larkworthy met in the early '90s. David, a managing chef at Buckhead
Life Restaurant Group, was a regular guest at Yakitori Den-Chan,
Dennis' groundbreaking Buckhead eatery. The rapport between Lange
and Larkworthy ... clicked ... and what united the two was a shared
passion for food and beer. It wasn't long before Dennis and David
began cooking — and brewing — for each other, their families, and
friends. Why, they wondered, was it still so difficult to find
world-class beers in Atlanta? Why was it even tougher to find
premium beer and food served side-by-side?
On Tuesday, May 20th, we welcomed Douglas A. Blackmon, The Wall Street Journal’s bureau chief in Atlanta when he shared with us the information in his recently published book “SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME.” Based on a vast record of original documents and personal narratives, SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME unearths the lost stories of slaves and their descendants who journeyed into freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation and then back into the shadow of involuntary servitude. It also reveals the stories of those who fought unsuccessfully against the re-emergence of human labor trafficking, the modern companies that profited most from neoslavery, and the system’s final demise in the 1940s, partly due to fears of enemy propaganda about American racial abuse at the beginning of World War II. Over the past 20 years, Douglas A. Blackmon has written extensively about the American quandary of race, exploring the integration of schools during his childhood in a Mississippi Delta farm town, lost episodes of the Civil Rights movement, and, repeatedly, the dilemma of how a contemporary society should grapple with a troubled past. Many of his stories in The Wall Street Journal have explored the interplay of wealth, corporate conduct and racial segregation. As The Wall Street Journal's bureau chief in Atlanta, he manages the paper’s coverage of airlines and other major transportation companies and publicly traded companies and institutions based in the southeastern U.S. The bureau directly covers the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and more than 1,200 companies, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Bank of America, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, United Parcel Service and FedEx. The Journal staff in Atlanta also writes about key news and issues in the 11-state region. Blackmon's stories or the work of his team have been nominated by the Journal for Pulitzer Prizes four times, including for coverage of the subprime meltdown, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Florida hurricanes in 2004 and for his 2001 examination of slave labor in the 20th century. His article on U.S. Steel was included in the 2003 edition of Best Business Stories. The Journal’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina received a special National Headliner award in 2006. Blackmon joined the Journal in October 1995 as a reporter in Atlanta. Prior to joining the Journal, Blackmon was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered race and politics, and special assignments including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. Previously, he was a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat, managing editor of the Daily Record in Little Rock, Ark, and a writer for weekly newspapers. Blackmon penned his first newspaper story at the age of 12, for the Progress, in his hometown of Leland, Mississippi. He graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., and lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children.
On Tuesday, April 15th, Tino Mantella, President of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) presented: “TAG State of the Industry: Technology in Georgia Report.” The TAG State of the Industry: Technology in Georgia Report (Please click here to download report) was created to be a useful tool for Georgia's many technology stakeholders. The report and the valuable information it contains will have far-reaching and virtually unlimited uses, including:
Tino Mantella joined TAG in September, 2004 as the organization's new President. Prior to joining TAG, Tina amassed over 20 years of related experience leading two of the nations more prestigious volunteer-driven organizations - National Arthritis Foundation and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. As President and CEO of two multifaceted and complex charities, he spearheaded agendas that led to the development of innovative new services, resulting in the facilitation of significant membership growth. In addition, Mantella’s track record reflects impressive results in fund raising, advocacy, and economic development. Since coming to TAG, Mantella has worked with a team of dedicated volunteers and staff to: build a prestigious board made up of 48 technology stakeholders; grow membership by more than 20%; and add a series of program and services that support TAG’s vision of educating, informing and uniting the technology community. Mantella is a long-standing member of the Northwestern Universities’ Kellogg Board; the Young Presidents Organization (YPO); and the board of Catholic Social Services of Atlanta. TAG is the largest tech association in the region with over 4000 members and acts as an umbrella association with 22 societies, 7 affiliate partners and over 100 meetings per year. It offers its members a distinct source for education, information, networking and visibility. Our membership is diverse and includes entrepreneurs, leaders and executives from start-ups, tech-enabled and large, publicly traded companies. (Please click here for TAG membership brochure)
On Tuesday, March 18th, Dr. Gary Selden and Mr. Harry Vardis of the Center for Innovation and Creativity, Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University presented: “A Report Card on Innovation: How Companies and Business Schools are dealing with innovation in today’s environment.” Come to discover, through a 7 month-old study conducted by the Center for Business Innovation and Creativity and BusinessWeek among 513 companies with over 1,000 employees, some myths and facts about innovation:
Plus, what are corporate expectations of MBA graduates?? Are Colleges and Universities are meeting these expectations with their curricula?? February's
program features Gary L. Selden and Harry Vardis, co-directors of the
Center for Business Innovation and Creativity at Kennesaw State
University's Coles College of Business.
Come join Harry and Gary,
educators, businessmen, and consultants, as they give us a brief
overview of Creativity and Innovation as a competitive advantage. They
promise we will have fun and learn something - an interesting
combination and well worth the commitment.
Or if you cannot be there join Harry and Gary and some of
the greatest brains in the field of innovation at the May 2008
conference. Go to
www.atlantacreativity.org and register before March 17, 2008 Harry holds a B.S. in Mathematics, and a M.S. and M.A. in Organizational Psychology. To read more about Kennesaw State University's Business Innovation and Creativity, please visit: http://coles.kennesaw.edu/innovation/workshops.html and to get information about our annual conference in May 2008 go to www.atlantacreativity.org
On Tuesday, February 19th, Steve Hoeffler, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, discussed “Creating a Winning Brand.” Please click here to download presentation materials.
Steve Hoeffler is an expert in consumer products
marketing, brand management and consumer behavior. His research on such topics
as positioning multiple category products, marketing radically new products and
the advantages of strong brands have appeared in such journals as Journal of
Consumer Psychology, Journal of Product Innovation Management and Journal of
Marketing Research. Among his current research interests are the marketing of
"really new" (novel) products and the development of consumer preferences.
On Tuesday, January 15th, Dr. Karsten Jeske of the Federal Reserve discussed "Globalization: A Threat to the U.S. Labor Market?"
Globalization
in general and the large trade deficit in particular have been blamed for job
losses in the U.S. I take a closer look at labor market data. Contrary to common
belief, trade deficits spur record employment growth. Moreover, manufacturing
job losses around the world are mostly a result of higher productivity rather
than foreign competition.
“Being Part of the Solution – and, Not the Problem”. Why some people succeed in business – and, most fail. On Tuesday, December 18th, we spent an evening with Brian Patrick Cork, who has been a highly successful executive and entrepreneur, is a seasoned public speaker, a Professional Athlete, and an accomplished Executive and Business Coach.
Brian Cork has raised over $500 million dollars in private placement
capital for a wide array of companies across every industry;
recruited and counseled hundreds of executives and other
decision-makers; and, has actively participated in building dozens
of successful organizations.
An evening with Clive Rainey, Director of Community Relations for Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. Learn how Habitat for Humanity has taken on the daunting task of changing the world from its base in Atlanta. Clive Rainey joined Habitat for Humanity International on April 1, 1977, soon after the organization was formed, as its first volunteer. One of his early duties was serving as chair of the family selection committee for the house-building program of Koinonia, a rural Christian community where the idea of building homes in partnership with the poor was conceived. It was Rainey who brought the concept of "sweat equity" to Koinonia — and ultimately Habitat — after learning that developers of middle-class housing sometimes used a family’s unskilled labor on their house in lieu of a down payment. In the summer of 1978 Rainey was sent to Immokalee, Fla., to assist Habitat’s fledgling second affiliate in setting up its family selection process. The first homeowners there volunteered to do 2,000 hours of sweat equity — a number they suggested and the equivalent of a whole year of paid labor! After sitting in on planning sessions for the launch of a Habitat project in Kinshasa, Zaire, Rainey felt called to be involved in that effort. In May 1979, he went to Kinshasa and began three years of work on Habitat’s third international project. During that time Idi Amin, the infamous dictator of Uganda, was overthrown and the opportunity arose to start Habitat work in northern Uganda. Inspired by two books — "A Distant Grief" by Ugandan pastor Kefa Sempangi about life under Amin, and a biography of David McKay, the first Protestant missionary to Uganda — Rainey felt compelled to take the lessons he had learned in Zaire and apply them to the effort to rebuild Uganda. The first permanent structure built in Uganda in a decade was a little two-room house built by Habitat for Humanity with a widow and her two children as the occupants. From September 1983 until September of 1989 Rainey served as Habitat’s first Africa area director. Under his direction Habitat’s work in Africa spread to 12 countries located throughout the continent. From 1989 to 1999 he served as a fund-raiser helping to fund the Sumter County Initiative, Habitat for Humanity International’s effort to eliminate substandard housing from its home community. Currently he serves as director of Community Relations for HFHI. In this role, he travels to affiliates asking them what they are prepared to do in leading their communities in the elimination of substandard housing. He urges affiliates to plan for and work toward significant increases in their own housing production and to create collaborative partnerships with other housing providers, local governments, civic groups, churches, and other organizations and individuals in order to meet Habitat’s goal of eliminating substandard housing worldwide. As local communities take on this challenge Rainey works with Habitat field staff to strengthen affiliates for their role in the effort. This includes raising the affiliates’ profile in their communities and helping them to develop the resources needed to meet the challenge. Rainey’s active speaking schedule as a promoter of Habitat and its 21st Century Housing Challenge also includes teaching Sunday school classes, preaching and speaking at fund-raising events, civic clubs and other venues. He holds a B.S. in history and an M. Ed. in reading from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Ga. Prior to his association with Habitat, he served in the U. S. Army for three years and taught 7th and 8th grade reading and social studies for three years. He is an honorary chief of the village of Assin Akropong in Ghana, West Africa; an honorary Conch of the Florida Keys; and an honorary citizen of several other U. S. communities. At home in Americus he is active in church and civic organizations, and has served on the boards of art, tourism, education and literacy groups as well as his local Rotary Club. He is a member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus and also worships with a Hispanic Baptist congregation on Sunday evenings. He is a birder and pursues this hobby with the same passion that he has for Habitat. His other interests include learning Spanish and studying the natural and social history of Central America to which he hopes to retire in a few years. There he hopes to volunteer as a literacy teacher and with local Habitat groups. He also hopes to organize and lead budget birding trips for visitors to Central America.
EAT MOR CHIKIN! The Story of Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A. An evening with Truett Cathy, the Founder and Chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Meet and learn from an Icon in the Atlanta business community how to combine business success with ethical life balance. “Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else-our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.” — Quote from "Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People" by S. Truett Cathy, published 2002. S. Truett Cathy is founder and
chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc. Cathy started the business in 1946,
when he and his brother, Ben, opened an Atlanta diner known as The
Dwarf Grill (later renamed The Dwarf House). Over the years, that
restaurant prospered and led Cathy to further the success of his
business. In 1967, Cathy founded and opened the first Chick-fil-A
restaurant in Atlanta's Greenbriar Shopping Center. Today, Chick-fil-A
is the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the
United States based on annual sales. Cathy has received countless
awards over the years including: Lifetime Achievement Award from the
National Poultry & Food Distributors Association (2005); Norman
Vincent & Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award (2003); Catalyst
Lifetime Achievement Award from Injoy/John Maxwell (2003); Georgia
Sports Hall of Fame – Chairman’s Award (2003); the Ernst & Young-
Entrepreneur of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Award (2000) and
Horatio Alger Award – Horatio Alger Association, Washington, D.C.
(1989) He is also the author of Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More
People (Looking Glass Books, 2002), It’s Easier to Succeed
Than to Fail (Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1989), and It’s
Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men (Looking Glass Books, 2004),
and he is co-author of The Generosity Factor with Ken
Blanchard (Zondervan Publishing, 2002).
SUCCESS AT UPS – Atlanta’s 100 year old Global Titan! Dealing with the
challenges of diversity, confronting 9/11, and thriving in corporate America, as
BGS presented the inspiring story of attitude by UPS officer, Ken Lee. Lee is vice president of Security for UPS. He is the first Asian
American to attain the title of vice president and is one of the
highest ranking Asians at UPS.
An
interactive evening with expert negotiator Harv Frankel, President of HF
Associates. Negotiating – a process that collectively uses
communication and persuasion skills to help you get ahead in your
career, and expand your interpersonal relationships. Learn how to
improve this vital skill by joining us for an interactive evening
with expert negotiator, Harv Frankel, who will walk us through the
negotiation process and provide valuable suggestions for improving
your next negotiation! An event you will not want to miss.
An
evening with the High Museum of Art’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Susan Clark, MBA,
and a presentation on the business of the High Museum, the genesis of Louvre Atlanta and a brief highlight of a few pieces that we are so honored to have here in Georgia. Susan Clark is the Director of Marketing & Communications for the High Museum of Art. She has responsibility for Marketing, Public Relations, and Group Sales. She came to the High from the Eastman Kodak Company, where she directed worldwide and US marketing teams. Prior to joining Eastman Kodak, Susan worked in brand management at SC Johnson & Sons, Inc in Racine, Wisconsin, where she managed several leading consumer brands. She has also worked in the non-profit sector, managing national and regional hunger relief programs. Susan received her MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, specializing in marketing and management & strategy. She holds a BA in Public Policy Studies and Political Science from Duke University. In her free time, Susan enjoys adventurous travel, reading, and exercise. She also enjoys singing, and regularly performs with Octave, an Atlanta-based female acapella singing group.
An
evening with Dennis Lange, Master Restaurateur / Provocateur of Five Seasons
Brewing, as he presented “An Entrepreneur's Story in Three Acts (With a Free
Beer Tasting as a Chaser). Partners Dennis Lange and David
Larkworthy met in the early '90s. David, a managing chef at Buckhead
Life Restaurant Group, was a regular guest at Yakitori Den-Chan,
Dennis' groundbreaking Buckhead eatery. The rapport between Lange
and Larkworthy ... clicked ... and what united the two was a shared
passion for food and beer. It wasn't long before Dennis and David
began cooking — and brewing — for each other, their families, and
friends. Why, they wondered, was it still so difficult to find
world-class beers in Atlanta? Why was it even tougher to find
premium beer and food served side-by-side?
An evening with Jim Villwock, President & CEO, of the IEM Group, as he discussed "Identity Theft."
Don’t miss this great program! Handouts will be provided for all participants. Mr. Jim Villwock is a Senior Executive with 27 years of experience in General Management, Supply Chain and Finance/Treasury roles, and is a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist. He has created and implemented paradigm shifts within Technology, B2B, and Logistics Products and Services Industries. He possesses the ability to create vision, strategies and the organizations required to increase competitive advantages and profitability. Mr. Villwock has been the Director of Global Procurement for Cendian Corporation and Unisys Corporation. While at Unisys he built a global strategic commodity, contracting and relationship management team for all hardware, software, parts and services which resulted in cost savings which exceeded $475 million. He was also the Managing Director for Emeritor Group where he developed an organization for e-procurement software and procurement consulting and he had full profit and loss responsibility including the creation of sales, marketing, operations, product development, finance, human resource and IT departments. Earlier in his career Mr. Villwock held positions in finance, accounting and Treasury. Mr. Villwock has an MBA from North Texas State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He possesses a Masters degree from the Dallas Theological seminary and has a BA in Business Management from Golden Gate University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Mr. Villwock proudly served in the United States Air Force, and has received many honors in business.
An evening with Patrick Noonan, Assoc. Professor in the Practice of Decision & Information Analysis at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University as he discussed "Strategic Decision Making - Game Theory vs. Business Reality." Click here to download presentation materials
An evening with David Lee, Founder and CEO of AirShares Elite, as he presented "The ABCs of Starting your Own Business."
David realized that he wanted more. He thought of “that something” and recognized it had always been a part of his life, ever since he was 16 years old when he earned his private pilot’s license. He remembered the freedom he experienced when he acted as the Pilot in Command in the multiple aircraft he flew. Then, he decided to be the Pilot in Command of his Life.
Beta Gamma Sigma invites you for an evening of learning about the ABCs of entrepreneurship. David Lee will share his experience and lessons learned on his journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur. An event you will not want to miss!
Inspired by Richard Santulli, founder of NetJets, David co-founded AirShares Elite in 1999 with a simple vision of "Enhancing the Human Journey." David is the CEO and Co-Founder of AirShares Elite. AirShares Elite offers fractional aircraft ownership and management services in the incredible Cirrus SR22 - the only single engine aircraft that has a parachute system.
David built AirShares Elite from the ground up to become the leader in fractional aircraft ownership in the single engine market. AirShares helped paved the way for this new "fractional" concept making it a viable and acceptable way by which people can own the aircraft of their dreams. AirShares currently has a fleet of 50 Cirrus SR22, has over 235 clients spread over 15 markets in the nation.
An
evening with Dr. Gary Selden and Mr. Harry Vardis of the Center for Innovation
and Creativity, Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University as they
presented "One Foot Out-of-the-Box: Creativity and Innovation for Competitive
Advantage."
An evening with Jim Bradford, Dean and Ralph Owen Professor for the Practice of Management at Vanderbilt University as he discussed how to act strategically in a changing global environment.
"Lessons from the Red Cross: How to Manage a Catastrophe Under Media and Public
Scrutiny", an evening with Tim English, Chief Executive Officer of the American
Red Cross, Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter and learn what you and your business can
learn from the experiences of the Red Cross in managing a catastrophe under
media and public scrutiny.
“The Role of International Trade and Investment in the Growth of Atlanta: A view from 30+ Years on the Front Lines” with Ben Greer of Alston and Bird. Ben Greer is the senior partner of the firm’s International Practice Group. Ben has more than thirty years of international business and securities experience, including:
Recent transactions on which Ben has served as lead counsel, include representation of a major investment bank based in the United Kingdom in connection with the financing of the acquisition of the assets of a division of a major multinational corporation for an aggregate consideration of $140,000,000. Ben has also advised both US and non-US directors on their fiduciary and other duties as directors of United States companies. He has represented more than a dozen non-US companies in connection with the establishment of manufacturing operations in the United States in all aspects of their establishment, including financing. Ben has written and lectured frequently on international business topics as well as the impact of globalization on the legal profession. For more than thirty years, Ben has been active in the International Bar Association, the world’s largest international lawyer’s association, in a variety of capacities. From 2000 to 2002, he served as the IBA’s Secretary General, and he continues to chair the IBA’s WTO Working Group. His other professional affiliations include the American Law Institute, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia, the State Bar of New York and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Ben is the Chair Emeritus and a member of the Executive Committee of Lex Mundi, the world’s largest alliance of independent law firms. He serves as Chair of the Japan-American Society of Georgia, Inc. He has been honored by Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in the World. He also serves as a member of the Editorial Board of The European Lawyer. He has long been active in community affairs in Atlanta and is a Lifetime Trustee of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Inc.
Pandemic Influenza Challenges for Business" with Jim Seligman, Chief Information
Officer for The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Click here to download
presentation materials What is the current situation on pandemic flu globally? What are the business continuity implications should pandemic influenza occur in the U.S.? How should business executives prepare? Jim Seligman was appointed to the position of Chief Information Officer (CIO) at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1999. Mr. Seligman is responsible for the agency's Information Technology Services Office, Management Information Systems Office, and Management Analysis and Services Office. As the agency's CIO, Mr. Seligman provides leadership for the agency's overall information technology (IT) program including IT Architecture, IT capital investment management, policy and standards development, information security, IT workforce development, and other enterprise activities. He serves on the HHS CIO Council and the HHS Information Technology Investment Review Board. Mr. Seligman graduated from the State University of N.Y. at Stony Brook in 1974 with a B.S. in Earth Sciences and received an M.S. in 1978 in Environmental Science. He has won numerous awards including the President's SES Meritorious Rank Award.
"Interviewing from the Outside In and the Inside Out" with Gail Geary, JD, CMC. A presentation/discussion on "Interviewing from
the Outside In and the Inside Out". This high content and
entertaining program is based on Gail Geary's personal experience as
a career consultant working with over 2000 business professionals
and her research for the recently released Over-40 Job Search Guide.
The program is a combination of real case studies, riveting stories
and extensive research and includes:
This is a dynamic, not to miss program! Handouts
will be provided
for all participants and will demonstrate the best way to deliver a
Killer interview.
Haven Riviere, Vice President of Coca-Cola's Marketing Division, presented a sneak preview of the New World of Coca-Cola. Haven
Riviere, Vice President in Coca-Cola's Marketing Division, is
managing the design and development of the new World of Coca-Cola.
The new facility, located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, is
scheduled to open in the summer of 2007. The venue will allow
consumers to see, touch and taste many of the company's brands,
learn how they intersect with popular culture, and experience The
Coca-Cola Company's impact around the globe. You won't want to
miss this refreshing presentation!
Fifth Annual Entrepreneur's Beer Tasting. This popular event featured a presentation study by our host, Dennis Lange and FIVE SEASONS Brewery and Restaurant, entitled: "Recent Developments in Craft Brewing." Dennis prepared a very entertaining presentation about brewing and the restaurant business. He also took us on his famous "Brewery Tour" to demonstrate what goes into creating award-winning beer.
An evening with Dr. Rajeev Dhawan as he shared his latest forecasts with Beta Gamma Sigma. Dr. Dhawan is the Director of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University in Atlanta where he develops forecasts for the U.S., Southeast regional, and local metro Atlanta economies. Dr. Dhawan has received several awards for his forecasting accuracy, including most accurate GDP forecast by Bloomberg News in 2005. Appearing often in the media, Dhawan is frequently seen on CNN and CNBC, and is quoted in national and regional publications, including USA Today, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, among others. A popular speaker on national and international business lecture circuit, Dhawan is known for his entertaining style and straightforward analysis. As a consultant, he regularly briefs the boards of private companies. He has also been commissioned to prepare economic impact reports, develop home price forecast models, and provide public policy recommendations. In addition, he serves on the Georgia Governor's Council of Economic Advisors. Dhawan is the author of the book, "Firm Size, Financial Intermediation and Business Cycles," which explores the effect of credit constraints on the U.S. economic performance with special emphasis on the role of small firms. Currently, he is examining strategies that have enabled Toyota to dominate U.S. automakers, but Japanese counterparts as well. Prior to joining Georgia State University in 2000, Dhawan served as director of Econometric Forecasting at UCLA's Business Forecasting Center and as a lecturer at Pepperdine University and the University of California at Long Beach. He earned a B.A. in Economics, with honors, from St. Stephen's College in India, an M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics in India and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles.
An evening with Christopher Hanks, Entrepreneur Extraordinaire and faculty member of the Herman J. Russell Sr. International Center for Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University, as he discussed "Risk Free Entrepreneurship: Building Wealth Through Business Ownership". Christopher C. Hanks is an entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses, including e-commerce, retail, service, and export ventures. Mr. Hanks also is a Visiting Instructor at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University where he teaches entrepreneurship. He spends much of his time helping aspiring and existing entrepreneurs achieve their visions of success through business ownership. Mr. Hanks is a principal of Academy Capital, a firm comprised of valuation experts. He serves business owners and their advisors by determining value, increasing value, and transferring value into cash. Mr. Hanks has extensive expertise in all areas impacting value, such as venture creation, mergers & acquisitions, and exit planning. He also provides expert witness testimony regarding the value of privately held businesses. Mr. Hanks has spoken on a variety of entrepreneurship, exit planning, and business valuation issues before numerous national, regional, and local organizations. He also served as a frequent guest on a syndicated radio program targeting business owners. He is a member of several organizations, including the Business Enterprise Institute, Society of Entrepreneurs, and Institute of Business Appraisers. Mr. Hanks received a BBA in Risk Management from University of Georgia and an MBA in Finance from San Jose State University. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Mr. Hanks held corporate finance positions in the pharmaceutical and beverage industries. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and two children.
An evening with Evelyn A. Ashley of Trusted Counsel LLC as she discussed "The Rewards and Risks of Entrepreneurship: Creating, Building & Selling a Business." In 2001, Evelyn Ashley did what many lawyers
have never done themselves. She negotiated and closed the sale of her own
business. As a result, she was put in the same position as so many of her
clients before her and after: Living with a Deal. Come hear of lessons
learned, what she would do differently and the same and some thoughts on
setting the right foundation for growth, success and sale of your own
business. And she can tell you a lot about the clash of business cultures! |
