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Andy Lipman, who has cystic fibrosis, is 37 years old, the current median life expectancy for people with the disease. However, Lipman’s life expectancy now far exceeds the expected.  
In 2000, Lipman established an annual charity softball tournament benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  The event honors the memory of his sister, who died of cystic fibrosis in infancy.  Lipman’s experiences dealing with CF inspired him to write Alive at 25:  How I’m Beating Cystic Fibrosis in 2001. 

Lipman, a certified Toastmaster speaker, was chosen as the finale conference speaker of the Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Center at CDC. He was selected to run with the Olympic Torch for the 2002 Olympic Games for his work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and received the Excellence in Community Service Award from the NBC affiliate in Atlanta in 2006. More recently, he was interviewed for a piece called Living with a Disability on WABE radio, and featured in articles in the “Dunwoody Crier”, “Jewish Georgian”, and “400 Edition” magazine.
Lipman’s novel, A Superhero Needs No Cape, was published in 2006. Centered on a boy’s dream of playing major league baseball, the story is an uplifting message to young adults and teenagers about the power of hard work, determination and positive attitude. 
His recently completed the manuscript for The Drive at 35, which is scheduled for release later this year, chronicles his journey of discovery in the methods for beating cystic fibrosis mentally as well as physically, and shares his vision for living positively, contributing to the community at large and attaining seemingly elusive goals.

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 Cary Green

Cary Green has been in the IT Services industry for over 25 years.  His background includes Sales, Engineering, Operations, Business Development and General Management. Currently he is working for CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) where he is responsible to develop the solution offering for the pursuit of IT Outsourcing opportunities valued at greater than $500MM Total Contract Value (TCV). In his past he has worked for Bell Atlantic, Digital Equipment Corporation, Siemens and SITA.  He has managed P&L’s of over $175MM in a global setting having done business in all continents except Antarctica.  He’s held Board seats at CertiPath and the Aerospace Industry Association.  Locally, he is active with the Boy Scouts of America, The Kettering Executive Network, The Technology Association of Georgia, and  The Project Management Institute. Cary lives in Cumming with his wife of 25 years and their teenage son.

 Leigh Moore, MSW, PHR, CPRW, FJST

Leigh Moore, President of Bridge Career Management, Inc. is a Career Coach & Trainer with more than 15 years’ experience in resume writing and career coaching for both the private sector and Federal government job markets. 

After 9/2011 Leigh earned a Federal Job Search Trainer designation and began working with clients pursuing positions in the Federal arena.  She was featured on WGST Radio 640 Atlanta in March, 2003 and July, 2004 and in the Atlanta Journal Constitution in June, 2003, and January, 2011 regarding the federal job search process. Additionally, Leigh teaches meditation classes for Evening at Emory and has traveled to India, Mexico, and Switzerland to attend meditation retreats.

Eric Bell

Eric has been in the franchising industry for almost 10 years, starting out as a franchisee with the popular tanning concept Hollywood Tans.  Eric also oversaw operations for the Atlanta area, and even sold franchises.  In October of 2005 he joined FranchiseGator.com, the leading online destination for those seeking to invest in a business or franchise opportunity  Eric began his career with FranchiseGator.com as a sales representative, serving franchisors and other companies that had an opportunity to present to budding entrepreneurs, and by 2008 he was managing the sales team.   In his current role as Director of Sales and Service, Eric works very closely with the 300+ clients who use their services to find prospective franchisees.  Eric is very active in the franchising community, and is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Southeast Franchise Forum (SEFF). 

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Steve Clements, an award-winning producer, writer and director in broadcast, video and industry, is both executive presentation trainer and academic professor.

Through the Atlanta-based Executive Speak/Write, co-owned with his wife Claudia Coplon, Steve customizes training and coaching programs that enable professionals to maximize oral presentation skills for interactions with peers, stakeholders and the media. 

Prior to arriving in Georgia, Steve produced over 3,000 national television broadcasts. In these roles, Steve trained experts to greet national audiences, including Parade Magazine medical editor Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, chef Wolfgang Puck, fitness guru Richard Simmons, and talk show hosts Bob Goen and Pat Sajak; produced Hour Magazine with Gary Collins, the new Mickey Mouse Club for Disney, Body by Jake and others; and wrote for Welcome Back, Kotter; Three’s Company and Dinah Shore.

Since 1999, he has also sat as Cree-Walker Distinguished Professor of Television & Communications at Augusta State University (part of the University System of Georgia).

For 35 years, Claudia Coplon has developed strategic communications that effectively convey a company’s message. Today, she uses her expertise gained as a writer and public relations consultant to train professionals in generating concise, relationship-building written communications. 



As president of her Atlanta-based Executive Speak/Write, she customizes training programs to help employees, managers and executives overcome life-long phobias and poor writing habits. Her non-threatening, humorous corporate training programs improve business writing skills, inspire confidence and engender more effective written communications.



Claudia brings a broad expanse of knowledge to her training programs. Her expertise is based on having developed, organized, coordinated and prepared written materials and public relations programs for companies in public and private sectors. Company industries within which she has worked include but are not limited to engineering, high tech, food and food packaging, transportation and logistics, health care, finance, consumer, association, legal, and business-to-business. 



Her business writing seminars blend writing basics and direction within the jargons specific to each client’s industry. From correctional professionals working in New Mexico, Tennessee and Alaska prisons to CEOs in Atlanta boardrooms, she has conveyed the skills that declutter the written word and attract reader attention.

Interspersed, she still writes and edits extensively, using effective written communication techniques to prepare manuals, proposals, media kits/releases, articles, publications, speeches, video scripts, web site copy and newsletters. 



Claudia brings to her training real life experience coupled with tried and true public relations approaches and a drive to conciseness. As a result, professionals gain the skills and philosophy necessary to position their written materials for impact and success.


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Brad Lurie

Brad Lurie has 19 years of experience in both management and Senior Executive roles with Fortune 500, Privately held and Private Equity portfolio companies having managed P&L from $15m to $200m.  After earning his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University, Brad accepted his first role as an Application Engineer putting his technical degree to work.  In a short time, his passion for the business and outgoing personality rewarded him as the Regional Sales Manager – Northwest USA and Western Canada.

Over the next nine years Brad took on different challenges in sales, marketing, and business unit management roles continuing to hone his management and leadership skills while growing revenue and profits in each role. It was during this time he spent approximately 40% of his time outside the USA and learned how to build an international business, learning the cultural challenges and risks associated with doing business on all Continents. 

In 2000, realizing the need to elevate his career and improve his financial and business skills, he enrolled in the MBA program at Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business. Brad Lurie landed his first Executive level role – Vice President of Sales & Marketing for a division of a European privately held organization.  For the next 4 years Brad re-established the company as a global leader developing channels in 35 countries growing the company’s revenue by more than 200%.

His most role has been as Executive Vice President for a Private Equity portfolio company, Brad was brought in to drive organic growth and establishing an integration plan for acquisitive growth. Through his year of experience, Brad Lurie has developed a deep understanding of global business, developing and retaining talent, creating alignment across the functional responsibilities, and exceeding the corporate objectives.  This can be greatly attributed to his 6-pillars foundation that underpins his management.

Chris Gillig

Chris Gillig is a Senior Healthcare Executive who has 28 years of experience and has been successful at the Sr. Vice President and COO levels in the Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare Services and Biotechnology & Health Information Technology Industries.

As a brief introduction, Chris is  a creative Executive with a diverse background in multiple facets of the healthcare and life sciences industries.  A knowledgeable Sales, Marketing, National Accounts, Business Development and Strategy Executive, with a track record of building teams and driving revenue and profitability in start-up, mid-size, and fortune 1000 companies.  He is  a strong leader with a strong business acumen and the ability to develop and execute strategies to drive customer satisfaction while generating revenue and improved profitability.  Chris’s areas of expertise in healthcare supply chain logistics, selling tangible products, intangible services, and emerging technology solutions, which provides a diverse background to draw upon and develop creative solutions to today’s healthcare challenges

Bob Eskew

Bob Eskew, is the founder and CEO of Automated Systems Design, Inc. (ASD®), a four-time Inc. 5000 company and the leading nationwide solution for custom turnkey information transport systems. Eskew began his career serving briefly in the Army and was awarded an honorable discharge in the winter of 1975.
 
In 1987, Eskew founded ASD and it was his passion for taking chances and innovative business approach has contributed to the company’s growth, success and changed the way that business is typically done in the industry. Most recently, has been named a Top Growth Company by the Entrex Private Company Index (PCI) for its 38 percent growth in Q2 2010 over Q2 2009.

Today, ASD® manufactures, manages and maintains high-performance iCAT-ITS™ cables and products for copper wiring and iGLO-ITS™ for fiber optic systems. The experienced team at ASD® provides physical infrastructure systems nationwide with one point of contact for all project deployment. Additional nationwide turnkey solutions include structured cabling, audio video systems, VoIP phone systems, IP-based surveillance and access control systems, digital signage, point of sale systems, network moves, adds and changes, wired and wireless networks and National Rollout Services.

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John has more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and engineering. That includes executive experience with leading-edge Fortune 500 high-technology companies and pre-IPO companies where he was an officer of the company and member of the senior management team. He has held P&L responsibility and managed direct and indirect sales channels in North America, Europe and Asia. His teams have consistently enabled profitable revenues, improved customer satisfaction, and increased market share.

John was the Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Enpirion, Inc. and led a successful turn-around in achieving profitability. As the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Galvantech, his strategy and management led the company to record sales and a successful acquisition by Cypress Semiconductor Corp. Prior to Galvantech, he was the Vice President of Sales at Equator Technologies Inc, where he captured the company’s first publicly announced design-win with Tektronix, and also managed the due diligence activities for private equity placement from Sony, Canon, Hitachi and others.

Mr. Corbitt holds a BSEE from Florida International University and began his career in biomedical engineering, working with implantable pacemakers at Cordis Corporation in Miami FL. Then he followed his interest in radio communications and designed digital pagers with Motorola in Plantation FL, before making a career change to sales, and joining Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

Mr. Corbitt has been a frequent author and been published in Electronic News, PC Magazine, Upside, Business Geographic, Electronic Business, TechLINKS, and EDN. He is a volunteer with the High Tech Ministry, and active with the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Executive Sales and Marketing Association (ESMA), The Indus Engineers (TiE), and the Kettering Executive Network (KEN).

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Carlos Nouche brings 20 years of experience in the enterprise software industry, including sales, service, business development, partner alliances and business operations to ValueSelling Associates. This depth and breadth of experience provides sales organizations with dynamic and prolific collaboration leading to quantifiable results.

Nouche is a partner at Visualize, a sales and service business assisting companies in bridging the gap between marketing and sales while maximizing the effectiveness of their sales organizations and positively impacting the bottom line. Visualize leverages the ValueSelling Framework®, a formula-based sales process proven to drive long-term, consistent results. He works with companies such as Avaya, TELUS, Motorola, TheLadders.com, and Interwoven to name a few.

Prior to joining Visualize, Nouche rebuilt the sales and services organization for Amdocs Customer Management. He was an integral member of the leadership team responsible for the successful turnaround of his business unit growing sales by more than 250 percent. Leveraging the principles of ValueSelling he was able to increase license and maintenance sales. After taking responsibility for services, Nouche was able to increase services revenue by 76 percent and margins by over 43 percent.

Nouche also worked for Clarify and Nortel where he set records for driving growth in sales and service. During his tenure, he successfully established channel sales as a revenue source resulting in multi-million dollar sales growth. In addition to many successful sales campaigns, he built the financial services vertical and revitalized the enterprise business channel.

Nouche holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting with a concentration in Finance from Florida State University.

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David Schendowich is an interactive, social, mobile and promotional marketing Pro. His marketing career has been in traditional marketing, promotions, and advertising agencies.  After being in corporate America for many years, he recognized their limitations which made him focused on integrated marketing, shopper marketing and ROI.

Over the past 6 years it has become his mantra. He has lived and embraced interactive, social, mobile and experiential strategies as technology shifted from Geek to Granny and reached all demographics.

David’s core  marketing beliefs:
• there are no routine solutions
• innovative strategies change everything
• exceptional messages create new opportunities
• great ideas are viral, they spread and take on a life of their own
• ROI is the real metric of success

Laura A. Davis & Associates, Inc. is an Atlanta-based transformational coaching and leadership development and sales training firm founded in 1995.  We assist individuals, teams, and organizations in growing through change by developing people and organizational capabilities to create healthier, engaged, coaching cultures within organizations. Prior to becoming an executive coach and facilitator, Laura held both line and staff marketing management positions at Exxon, Equifax, and United Parcel Service as well as serving as an Adjunct Professor at Mercer University.

The breadth of her experience includes new product development, marketing research, product management, and sales training. After a successful marketing management career, she started her own leadership training and coaching business. In addition to her solid corporate experience, she possesses a unique talent for seeing “the big picture” and for simplifying complex problems into their essential elements.

Laura is a Master Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, the most rigorous certification body in the coaching industry today. She is affiliated with The Forum Corporation as a Senior Facilitator and Executive Coach as well as several other highly regarded training and consulting firms which offer assessments, training, coaching, and consulting services. She has a B.A. degree in Sociology with Honors from the University of Delaware. She earned her Masters in Business Administration from Emory University on a partial scholarship. She has been an Adjunct Professor in the Business Studies Program at Mercer University. Laura has also received recognition as a “Who’s Who in America” conferee.

At Sport Clips, we’ve created the perfect place for a guy to get great service and a great haircut. Our mission is to create a championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sports themed environment.

You simply walk in and get your haircut while watching sports on TV. And we’re open every day – no appointment necessary. Our Guy-Smart Stylists understand that each Client is different and makes every effort to provide personal attention.

Our Stylists deliver the ultimate Just-for-Guys haircut experience without the fuss and chit chat of a full service hair salon. They are consistently trained to cut the latest men’s hairstyles and will work with you to get your hair just the way you want it.

Since the earliest efforts of ancient Egyptians to distinguish individual organs, humankind has been fascinated with uncovering the secrets of the human body. The study of human anatomy remains a cornerstone of medical education. BODIES…The Exhibition provides millions of visitors around the world with unprecedented access to anatomical detail historically only available to medical professionals.

BODIES…The Exhibition offers an intimate and informative view into the human body. Using an innovative preservation process, the Exhibition allows visitors to see the human body’s inner beauty in educational and awe-inspiring ways. Our Exhibitions have over 200 actual human bodies and specimens meticulously dissected and respectfully displayed, offering an unprecedented and wholly unique view into the amazing body.

Specimens in the Exhibition are prepared through a revolutionary process called polymer preservation, in which human tissue is permanently preserved using liquid silicone rubber. This process creates a specimen that will not decay, offering thousands of unique teaching possibilities for educators at all levels. Preparation time varies: a small organ may take only a week, while a full-body specimen may take up to a year to prepare. After quality preservation, specimens can last for decades.

Look deep inside the systems of the human body: Skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, and circulatory. Come explore, experience, and celebrate the wonder of the human form at BODIES…The Exhibition.

DIALOG IN THE DARK is not an ordinary Exhibition; it is an experience that will awaken senses, challenge prejudices, and deepen self-awareness.

DIALOG IN THE DARK’S visually impaired guides lead visitors on a journey through a series of darkened galleries created to replicate everyday experiences. Without familiar sight clues, visitors learn to “see” in a completely new way with their non-visual senses.

DIALOG IN THE DARK has been presented in 22 countries and in over 130 cities throughout the world, breaking through stereotypes to promote respect and tolerance in an engaging and lighthearted way.

DIALOG IN THE DARK is a one-hour experience, which lasts a lifetime.

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Snap Finger: Jim Garrett

Jim Garrett, founder and CEO of Kudzu Interactive and Snapfinger.com received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia in 1980 and his MBA from Georgia State in 1991. After spending many years working in the communication industry with Scientific Atlanta, GTE and Harris Corporation, Garrett then moved on to form his own consulting firm focused on re-inventing companies and strategic business initiatives around the changes brought on by the Internet and other advanced technologies; assisting companies such as Cisco, Equifax, NET and others.

Garrett is largely credited as being one of the pioneers behind the Internet banking industry and marketing financial services via the Internet beginning in 1993.  His accomplishment included leading the growth strategy behind Servantis and Response Marketing Group.  In 2000 Garrett started Accelerated Growth Partners in order to provide early-stage capital and strategic management services for emerging Internet businesses.   In 2004, Garrett started Kudzu Interactive which today is the leading provider of remote ordering technology within the restaurant industry.

 In 2009 Kudzu Interactive launched the Internet’s largest restaurant online ordering site  with over 26,000 restaurants in over 2,600 cities across the US. Garrett’s vision for Snapfinger is to make take-out more convenient by offering variety and ease of access to most of the nation’s largest restaurant concepts.  Today Snapfinger represents the single largest mobile ecommerce applications connecting mobile users to thousand of restaurants for ordering and payment. 

New Places, New Faces; Your Path to People and Profit: David Topus

David turns reputations into revenue by taking the mess out of messaging and putting the art in articulation. A veteran expert in value-based communication, he brings a thirty year career with companies and individuals across the country and around the world. Since 1990, after 12 years in advertising and marketing with The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and IDG Communications, David has consulted and trained thousands of sales professionals in articulating their value propositions for competitive advantage. He has an uncanny ability to uncover and convey in engaging and compelling terms the essential value in people, products and companies.

“Who we know, and how we get to know them, has everything to do with our success in our business, our careers, and our lives in general. You can’t deny the growth of online networking, yet it can leave a lot to be desired, as nothing beats face-to-face for establishing the basis of a trusting, enduring relationship.” – David Topus

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John began his professional career with the Coca-Cola Company in 1979 and in 1982 became one of a four-member team selected to establish Coca-Cola USA’s first new product development department.

In 1993, AT&T hired John as director of global retail marketing for their newly acquired NCR Corporation. John helped create a professional marketing organization and the programs that supported NCR’s movement toward market-driven R&D.

In 1999, John left corporate life and became CEO and Publisher of his online startup, Business Book Review, a business book summary and subscription service. He managed and edited the work of 11 professional writers, built the business to over 700,000 subscribers worldwide and sold BBR to a larger publishing unit in 2008.

In 2009, John launched the online version of The Literary Coach^TM, a consultancy he started in 2005, offering individual consulting and creative workshops for first-time and established authors.

In addition to providing individual coaching and creative workshops, John delivers best practices seminars and webinars on a variety of business and personal skills development topics. He has lectured at the Library of Congress and to growing list of companies, including AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, Ford, General Motors, Nintendo, Siemens, and Rockwell Collins.

“Don’t write the book; write the posposal first!”

Emile retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1995, as a Colonel, last serving Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training, Marine Force Reserve.  Upon retirement, he worked as an American Express Financial Advisor, later moving to the Shilla Corporation, a regional third party administrator for employee benefits. 

In 1998, Emile started the first chapter of Business Network International in Louisiana.  He moved to Atlanta in January of 2002 as the Managing Area Director, BNI, Atlanta.  The aggressive growth of his region included an extensive educational program for BNI members. 

 Emile is the Managing Partner of RPM Advisors and is a franchise owner of the Referral Institute.  He has been a Referral Institute Master Trainer and has developed a number of referral training programs that are taught nationally.  He is also certified as a DISC Practitioner by Personality Insights, Inc. and has conducted DISC training for businesses both large and small.  Emile is known for his fast-paced, results oriented training style.  His dynamic presentations provide on-the-ground, useful information, mixed with action items and a little fun. 

 Emile is the Executive Director for Fast Forward Restart, a nonprofit organization working with small businesses and nonprofits in their recovery from major disasters.  Current project areas include New Orleans, LA, Livonia, MI, and Rumford, ME. 

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Paul Breslin is the managing partner of Panther Hospitality, a hotel consulting company that he founded in 2005. He heads a team of industry professionals who guide developers and hoteliers in all aspects of their businesses from property acquisition and infrastructure to the successful opening and operating of a hotel.Prior to founding Panther, Mr. Breslin’s hospitality career spanned ten hotels in nine cities, and included positions at the world-famous Fontainebleau Hilton Resort and Spa, the Sheraton San Diego Resort, the Sheraton New Orleans, and three high-profile Atlanta convention hotels. Prior to leading his hotel consulting company, he served as Managing Director of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel where he led the transformation of an $80 million asset from an operating loss of $4 million in 2000 to a gain of $9 million in 2006.

A passionate industry leader, Mr. Breslin teaches hotel management at Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality. Respected by his peers, he has served in leadership roles with the Atlanta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association (GHLA), the Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association and the Atlanta Hotel Council.

Paul is also Chairman & President of the Shamrock Society in Atlanta, Georgia. The Shamrock Society is a group of Irish and Irish-American leaders in Atlanta who support Irish values of family, faith and charity, through Irish-related causes and charities and other charitable organizations. Each member is active in business, education, ministry, philanthropy, or government, and the Atlanta community.

Diane Crompton loves all things social and helping people showcase their unique skills.  It made sense that Diane was an early adopter of social media and leveraged her knowledge of social media to help people build their personal brand.  Her multi-faceted career includes experience as an educator and as a nationwide recruiter where she recruited medical specialists nationally for several contingency and retained search firms. In addition, she has worked for ten years as a Senior Career Consultant with an international human resources consulting group.  In this role she has coached hundreds of professionals from all organizational levels and industry backgrounds, including Fortune 500 firms locally and nationally.  Since 2004 Diane has applied her knowledge to consult with professionals on how to build their personal brand by using social media strategically.  In her consulting practice she partners with organizations to enhance their success through strategic use of social media.
Diane is the co-author of several books including “Seven Days to Online Networking,” (JIST 2008) and “Find a Job Through Social Networking” (JIST 2010).  She has had the opportunity to share her expertise at industry, corporate and academic events and has presented live and web based sessions on this topic to organizations throughout the country.  Diane has also served as a SME (Subject Matter Expert) and is a frequent contributor to media on this topic. 
Diane holds a B.S. degree in Education from Springfield College in Massachusetts, combined with graduate studies in Instructional Design. She is a member of ACPI (Association of Career Professionals International), and CDI (Career Directors International).