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Opportunities Through Athletics: Mike Gilliam

For over twenty years, Mike Gilliam has positively impacted the lives of thousands Nationwide. Companies, organizations, schools, teams, and booster clubs have retained Mike for his dynamic message. Mike’s electrifying message comes from first hand experience in what needs to happen to prepare young adults for success in school, career, and life.

Mike is an accomplished former Division I athlete. He was inducted into the Kent State University Hall of Fame with the likes of Lou Holtz, Jack Lambert, Thurman Munson, and Ben Curtis. He was a National Champion, two-time Nationals qualifier, Midwest Regional Champion, five-time conference champion, school record holder, and two-time team captain at Kent State University. He also coached at the Division I level winning a conference championship and performed in five world tours as a professional athlete, entertaining millions with the world renowned Daredevils. He’s been featured on ESPN, CNN, Incredible Sunday, the Tonight Show, and Late Night with David Letterman. Mike recruited some of the finest athletes in the world, professionally and collegiately.

He has helped hundreds of high school student-athletes and their families, worldwide, with the organization he founded in 1998, Opportunities Through Athletics, Inc. also known as Oi.  His organization, based in Marietta, GA has helped secure over $50 MILLION in scholarships and financial aid for student-athletes they work with. The Atlanta Falcons have joined forces with Mr. Gilliam and Oi to further assist the youth of Metro-Atlanta. Mr. Gilliam and his organization have been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Fox 5 High School Sports Show, AM-680 The Fan, AM-790 The Zone to name a few.

He and his family have raised thousands of dollars to assist Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis patients to support cancer and MS research through Team in Training and the MS Bike Tour. He lives in Marietta, GA with his wife and five kids.

Breakthrough Business Solutions: Rick Crain

Rick Crain’s experience and knowledge for building successful businesses and leaders began with a 32 year career with the World’s largest financial services company, ADP. Starting with ADP in St. Louis, MO in 1974, his career included leadership responsibility for the startup operations for regional offices. In 2003, Rick accepted Vice President responsibility for the Southeast operations for ADP Major Accounts division spanning 14 locations in seven states with $290 million in revenue. Throughout his career Rick has developed high performing leaders and teams to replace him before moving on to the next organizational development and personally challenging initiative.

In 2005, Rick left ADP to pursue his career and passion. Rick is a certified and licensed business and executive coach with the World’s #1 business coaching and consulting firm, ActionCOACH Business Coaching. He owns his own company, Breakthrough Business Solutions, and is also an entrepreneurial partner with DrawSuccess, a company with an innovative and fun solution for team transformation.

In 2008, Rick was recognized as a Top 100 Coach in the World by the International Business Coaching Institute, and, Georgia’s Most Inspirational Coach, Rick’s mission is to accelerate the advancement of inspiring leaders and teams above and beyond bottom line results.
Rick Crain received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from Peirce College and Certifications in Project Management and Strategic Organizational Leadership from Villanova University.  He is a certified executive coach, with a master’s in Certified Coach Trainer This certification separates Rick into the top 1% coaches in the world.

Rick still loves to play baseball and has a burning desire to participate in a major league baseball fantasy camp. He is the father of two very successful kids and a proud grandfather.

Co-Opportunities Inc.: Ira Blumenthal

Ira Blumenthal is the president of CO-OPPORTUNITIES, Inc., an Atlanta-based consulting company that has counseled world class clients such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, Kroger, McDonald’s, Harrah’s, American Airlines, Disney, United Artists, Marriott, Exxon, Wal-Mart and others in areas related to branding, strategic alliances, marketing, change management, re-invention and success.
His successful first book, “Ready, Blame, Fire!” focuses on the “myths and misses in marketing.” He is also the recipient of the coveted “George Washington Honor Medal For Literary Excellence” (Freedoms Foundation). Ira has written and published over 100 magazine articles on business development.

The former host of a popular radio talk show “SuccessTalk”, Ira has interviewed guest “success stories” such as General Colin Powell, Mario Andretti, Tommy Lasorda and other notables.

Delivering over 75 speeches annually, Ira has served as the “opener” for leaders such as President George Bush (Sr.), General Colin Powell, Tommy Lasorda, Bob Dole, Lech Walesa, Henry Kissinger and others

Ira is a committed leader in the fight against hunger, he is also a tireless community activist and youth coach. In his own youth, he was a “World Cup” athlete, as well as a collegiate Football and Lacrosse coach. Originally from New York, Ira resides in Atlanta with his wife Kim. He is the father of two daughters and three sons.

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 Georgia Tanner, ASP®

Georgia owns House to Home Staging, LLC and has been an Accredited Staging Professional for 3 years, after training under Barb Schwarz, who is the force and creator behind the whole concept and practice of Home Staging®. Georgia is also President of the Georgia Chapter of International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP®), which was recently awarded ‘International Chapter of the Year.’

In this ‘buyer’s market’ of Real Estate, the last two vacant houses she staged, sold in less than 2 weeks. She not only can furnish vacant houses, but also works with homeowners to prepare the houses they are living in for sale. With the ‘fresh eyes’ of a perspective buyer, she looks for the strength’s of each house, and helps the homeowners address anything that would date or detract from the house, or not photograph well.

Coming from the film industry as an Emmy Award winning Director, Georgia has the unique perspective of years of experience in styling homes for photography and national television commercials. Her list of National Clients includes Maytag, Tide, Cadillac, Simmons, Georgia Pacific, Gold Bond Ultimate Lotion, Selsun Blue, Coty, and Belk. In her film projects she designs the art direction; including location shooting, sets, props and wardrobe, and is also responsible for the final look of each spot.

Georgia has always worked in professions that require an acute critical eye. Whether it is a 30 second commercial or the 30 seconds it takes to fall in love with a house, she believes everything that is being sold must look great and make the buyer feel good about what they desire and need. Georgia loves creating a warm, welcoming environment that buyers desire to call their own, transforming a house into a home.

 Joanne Sanders

Joanne Sanders is the Social Marketing Practice Leader & Partner of Social Gastronomy, the southeast’s premiere enterprise social marketing firm. She brings over 12 years of sales, marketing, public relations, public affairs, and communications experience representing corporate, small business and non-profit organizations worldwide.  During her professional tenure, Joanne worked closely with a variety of industries including IT, banking, chemical, academic, entertainment, pharmaceutical, tourism, hospitality and communications.

Prior to joining Social Gastronomy she served as Managing Director of a social media agency specialized in broadening online presence, coordinating online outreach, and maximizing online revenue.  Prior to serving as Managing Director, she was Director of Marketing and Business Development for a national strategic communication agency –specialized in grassroots and public relations communication efforts across traditional and new media platforms.

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JenniferB. Kahnweiler, Ph.D.

Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D. is a Speaker, Executive Coach and Author who specializes in developing and coaching introverted leaders. Her book, The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength (Berrett-Koehler, 2009) had been named a top 20 leadership book on Amazon, a “Staff Pick” by CIO Magazine, a “recent standout” by T & D Magazine and is being translated into six languages, including Chinese and Spanish.

Jennifer has been an entrepreneur and internal consultant in organizations such as GE, Turner Broadcasting, and The Department of Homeland Security. Her most fun gig has been as a featured work-life expert on the TBS show, Movie and a Makeover and she is very proud of earning the highest honor from the National Career Development Association.  She has also been a workplace advice columnist for AARP, SHRM and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jennifer has presented leadership programs in Japan and Great Britain.

Active in professional and community groups, Dr. Kahnweiler serves on the board of the Berrett-Koehler Author’s Co-op, and has been on the boards of the National Speakers Association of Georgia, The National Career Development Association, The Georgia Executive Women’s Network and the Workplace Learning Society of The Technology Association of Georgia. She also leads monthly pro bono programs for job seekers in the metro Atlanta area.

 Caryn Ewald

Caryn Ewald has been an Executive Search Research Consultant since the early 1990’s. Her past experience has been in recruiting and outsourcing. Prior to founding Executive Mining, Inc., in 1999, she executed research and search strategies for a well-known international search firm. Her business background includes more than 20 years in staffing and executive search.

As the President/Director of Research Of Executive Mining, Caryn Ewald has provided executive recruitment research services to both corporations and executive search firms. She is involved in overseeing all aspects of research assignments from conducting the original research to identify potential candidates, participating in search committee meetings, and interacting with clients and candidates throughout the search process. Her clients range from small boutique firms to large firms.

She co-founded the Alpha Omega Group, a professional area network group for executives, with the mission to advance and mentor executives in transition.

Ms. Ewald completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. She is a member of the Atlanta Executive Search Roundtable and actively involved as a volunteer in the Hispanic community.

 Frank Palma

Mr. Palma has been one of the leading practitioners in the field of executive search for more than 25 years. “Career Makers” has recognized him as one of North America’s top 200 executive recruiters several times. During his corporate career Mr. Palma held key Human Resources positions with RCA, American Broadcasting Company and Sun Chemical Company. Prior to his own enterprise, he was a Vice President and General Manager with Goodrich & Sherwood Associates in New Jersey, and a Principal with Martin Bauman Associates in New York City. Mr. Palma has successfully completed over 500 key searches within a variety of different industries and functional disciplines.

Mr. Palma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the City College of New York and has completed graduate studies at both Cornell and New York Universities. He is an author and guest lecturer, has appeared on national television to include a feature presentation on ESPN. Additionally, he has been quoted in Newsweek and featured in articles in the New York Times, Newark Star Ledger other major publications. Mr. Palma has served on several Boards of Directors to include Stonepath Group, Inc., The Brooklyn Sports Foundation and North Jersey Country Club. He is an avid golfer and a member of The Smoke Rise Club, The Park Avenue Club, and both North Jersey and St. Ives Country Clubs. Mr. Palma is also an off-ice Official for the ECHL and covers the Gwinnett Gladiators at the Gwinnett arena, and is a patron of the High Museum in Atlanta, GA.

He and his family reside in Kinnelon, N.J. and Duluth, Georgia.

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Find your Franchise / Keller Williams Realty: Anita Best

Anita Best brings over 20 years of business experience to the franchise industry.  As a franchise owner and operator for over 10 years herself, Anita’s experience and passion toward the industry are of constant benefit to all her clients.
In 2001 Anita opened a Keller Williams Franchise as managing Partner, through her stewardship the business achieved profitability in year one and the office grew to over 125 agents in less than 3 years. Due to her outstanding business instincts and her success in running the franchise, she was invited to join the business coaching program at Keller Williams, where she coached other Franchise owners and their brokers around the country on how to better their business results and expand their successes.
Today Anita uses her wealth of knowledge and broad base of experience to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in determining if business ownership is the right choice for them. Her services are complimentary and each consultation is designed to elicit the absolute best match for their experience, skill set, goals and available investment capital, from nearly 4000 franchise concepts that are available today.
“My single expectation of every client interaction is that they have a positive experience and leave the exchange immensely more knowledgeable of their choices, regardless of whether or not they decide to pursue business ownership.”  Anita Best

Sports Clips: Paul Rogers

Paul Rogers is a Sport Clips franchise owner. After twenty years in apparel manufacturing working for Russell Corporation and Fruit of the Loom, Rogers partnered with three local business owners to build and operate Sport Clips stores that provide a championship haircut experience for men and boys in a sports themed environment. After opening their first store in East Cobb in April of 2010, this group acquired three more stores in North Fulton within the next ninety days. In March of 2011, Rogers received the Sport Clips Rookie Franchise Owner of the Year Award at the annual franchise convention. Future plans include the addition of eight to ten more stores within the next 4 years.

Yogli Mogli: Roy Levi

Roy Levi, together with his attorney wife and another investor partner, is the owner of Yogli Mogli Dunwoody, a premium self-serve frozen yogurt store. Prior to opening his franchise business on April 2011, Roy had several diplomatic posts around the globe for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including working for the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta.
Roy was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. He moved to the United States in 2005 and obtained a B.B.A Degree in Managerial Science from Georgia State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude on May 2010. Today he lives happily in Dunwoody with his wife, Tina and their two dogs, Sophie and Oscar.