Burr Forman's Results Matter Radio

Anton Mertens/Burr & Forman Anton Mertens is a Partner in Burr & Forman's Labor and Employment Practice Group with a focus on immigration law. Anton's concentration consists of business immigration matters for investors, managers, executives and technical personnel. Anton's expertise includes business and professional visas, labor certifications, immigrant visas, consular representation and citizenship for foreign executives, managers and professionals. His background also includes consulting and advising clients on a number of employment issues including compliance procedures in verifying the work eligibility of new employees as required under the I-9 “workplace compliance” provisions of federal law. Anton has experience representing clients from various industries, including international companies, technology firms and subsidiaries of foreign corporations engaged in the computer, communications, chemical and engineering industries. Anton is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated attorney. He is involved in several professional organizations including: the Atlanta Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Global Commerce Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and the Immigration Law section of the State Bar of Georgia, where he served as Chair from 2007 to 2009. Anton also served as the Chair of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia from 2004 to 2006 and he is a Fellow of The Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. Born in Brussels, Belgium, Anton is a member of the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Chapter of the Belgian American Chamber of Commerce. He received his B.A. degree in Mathematics from Mercer University in 1984 and his J.D. degree from Mercer University School of Law in 1987. Anton is fluent in Dutch and French and is admitted to practice law in Georgia. Anton is a frequent lecturer and has authored a number of articles dealing with corporate immigration matters. Scott Williams/The Stonehaven Group - HR Scott Williams is the founder of The Stonehaven Group-HR, LLC, an international human capital support and advisory firm. Started in 2001, TSG-HR employs a global network of human capital experts reporting to either TSG- HR’s North American office in Atlanta, or their London, England headquarters.  Operating in 54 countries, TSG-HR’s staff of certified HR experts supports their clients of all industries with staff ranging from 25 to 600 associates. From full, turn-key support to highly specialized, Subject Matter Expertise (SME) projects, TSG-HR’s core belief is to customize their clients’ solution to fit their short and long term needs. Over his career, Scott has held several domestic and international executive positions ending his corporate tenure as the Director (VP) of HR, North America for The Coca-Cola Company. Scott is an angel investor and sits on the board of several start-up companies. He advises companies located throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. He is sought out for his skills at maximizing human capital/cultural potential and reducing human capital functional costs. Scott has appeared in/on The Wall Street Journal, The Tampa Tribune, Psychology today, SHRM, Good Morning Pittsburgh, PBS Pittsburgh/Tampa/Denver/San Diego/ Baltimore, Great Clips, I.S.S.A, IEHA national conventions, several Federal Regulatory panels and other media outlets.

Jim Wanserski/FEI-Atlanta Jim Wanserski (principal of consulting firm Wanserski & Associates) is currently serving as President of Financial Executives International Association (“FEI-Atlanta”)—Atlanta Chapter.  FEI-Atlanta is a 250-member affiliate of FEI-National, the “association of choice for Controllers, Treasurers, VPs-Finance & Accounting, and Chief Financial Officers” in the metropolitan area.  Wanserski is a veteran of the telecom and high-tech industries, and has served in all the finance and accounting “chairs” during his public and private company tenure.  However, he’s also worked in consulting for Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, and at a Chicago-based turnaround firm – Morris Anderson & Associates, as well as formed his own firm in 2002.  Most recently, he has fulfilled specialty consulting and management trustee roles as nominated by the United States Department of Justice and appointed to two CEO roles as Management Trustee by two Washington DC-based Federal judges in Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel and AT&T’s acquisition of Centennial Wireless. Today, Wanserski consults via a variety of projects and roles in several industries, and to the C-Suite.  He has also published articles, and presented some 60 times to universities, accounting, regulatory and ethics organizations on several topics—primarily fraud prevention and detection…having uncovered fraud some dozen times and executed multiple testifying stints during his business career thus far. Mike McCarthy/FEI-Atlanta Mike McCarthy is the Vice President of FEI – Atlanta, and is also the CFO with World 50, Inc. Graham Stieglitz/Burr & Forman Graham Stieglitz is a Partner with Burr & Forman. Graham’s practice in the Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy group focuses on commercial and bankruptcy litigation. He has experience in commercial reorganizations and workouts, as well as transactional and litigation experience involving commercial transactions, receiverships, real estate and other business-related matters. He has represented debtors, trustees, unsecured and secured creditors in Chapter 11 cases. Graham has also represented financial institutions, commercial lenders, commercial lessors and lessees in bankruptcy cases and structured loan workouts. Graham is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the American Bar Association, the Turnaround Management Association, the National Funding Association, the Atlanta Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia. In 2011 and 2012, Graham was named as a leading practitioner in Bankruptcy/Restructuring by the highly regarded Chambers USA, a legal directory featuring client-led intelligence on America’s leading lawyers for business. Since 2007, Graham has been named in the Georgia Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition in Atlanta magazine. The lawyers chosen as Rising Stars represent approximately 2.5 percent of the best up-and-coming attorneys in the state as voted by their peers based on their personal observations. Additionally, Graham was selected as one ofGeorgia Trend’s “2010 Legal Elite.” Graham graduated from The Westminster Schools in 1991. Graham received his B.A. in Economics from Washington University at St. Louis in 1995, his J.D. from Georgia State University School of Law in 1999, and his LL.M. in Bankruptcy from St. John’s University in 2000.

Brian Daughdrill/Buckhead Business Association Brian Daughdrill is an attorney and partner in the firm of Roberts & Daughdrill, P.C. They have been in Buckhead for more than a decade and concentrate their practice on real estate litigation and family law. Brian served on the City of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit B and the Board of the Garden Hills Civic Association. Brian has been a member of the Buckhead Business Association for more than five years, has been on the Board of Directors for four years, and on the Executive Committee for three years. This year he will also be serving as President Elect of the Buckhead Business Foundation and will continue working closely with its new President, Catherine Cattles, the outgoing president of BBA. Garth Peters/Buckhead Coalition Garth Peters is the Director of Development with Buckhead Coalition, Inc. Lolita Browning-Jackson/Buckhead Business Association Lolita Browning-Jackson is the 2011 Past President of the Buckhead Business Association. Jennifer Burns Thomas/Buckhead Business Association Jennifer Burns Thomas is the Executive Director  with the Buckhead Business Association. Ed Snow/Burr & Forman Ed Snow practices in the Atlanta office of Burr & Forman and serves as Chair of the firm’s Banking and Real Estate practice group. Ed has practiced law since 1988 and is admitted to practice in Georgia, Maryland and Tennessee.  He represents banks, finance companies, funds and borrowers in the middle and large corporate markets and his clients include: Wells Fargo Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, PNC Bank, Regions Bank, Atlantic Capital Bank, Synovus Bank, First Citizens Bank, Chatham Capital and Healthcare Finance Group, among others.

Teresa Hargrave/Charter Oak Consulting Group Teresa Hargrave is a Partner with Charter Oak Consulting Group and Chapter Chair of Atlanta's Women Presidents' Organization, a new chapter in Atlanta established for women presidents, CEO's, managing directors and partners of privately held multi-million dollar companies. Kathie Gottlieb/AGH, LLC Kathie Gottlieb is a Principle with AGH, LLC, a CPA and business advisory firm.  She is also a member of Atlanta's Women Presidents' Organization. Suzanne Durbin/GV Financial Advisors Suzanne Durbin is a Partner with GV Financial Advisors, a leading financial advisory and wealth management firm, based in Atlanta. She helped shape her firm’s innovative Guided Wealth TransformationTM philosophy, the core of which is the belief that the true purpose of wealth is to allow us to lead happy, fulfilling lives. Working closely with business owners, senior executives, and families in transition, she guides successful people through the critical change points in their lives and careers to achieve positive outcomes. Phyllis Newhouse/Xtreme Solutions, Inc. Phyllis Newhouse is President and CEO of Xtreme Solutions, Inc. and a member of Atlanta's Women Presidents' Organization.

Jim Wanserski/FEI-Atlanta Jim Wanserski (principal of consulting firm Wanserski & Associates) is currently serving as President of Financial Executives International Association (“FEI-Atlanta”)—Atlanta Chapter.  FEI-Atlanta is a 250-member affiliate of FEI-National, the “association of choice for Controllers, Treasurers, VPs-Finance & Accounting, and Chief Financial Officers” in the metropolitan area.  Wanserski is a veteran of the telecom and high-tech industries, and has served in all the finance and accounting “chairs” during his public and private company tenure.  However, he’s also worked in consulting for Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, and at a Chicago-based turnaround firm – Morris Anderson & Associates, as well as formed his own firm in 2002.  Most recently, he has fulfilled specialty consulting and management trustee roles as nominated by the United States Department of Justice and appointed to two CEO roles as Management Trustee by two Washington DC-based Federal judges in Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel and AT&T’s acquisition of Centennial Wireless. Today, Wanserski consults via a variety of projects and roles in several industries, and to the C-Suite.  He has also published articles, and presented some 60 times to universities, accounting, regulatory and ethics organizations on several topics—primarily fraud prevention and detection…having uncovered fraud some dozen times and executed multiple testifying stints during his business career thus far. Mike McCarthy/FEI-Atlanta Mike McCarthy is the Vice President of FEI - Atlanta, and is also the CFO with World 50, Inc. Paul O'Hearn/Burr & Forman Paul O'Hearn is a Partner with Burr & Forman.  Paul has extensive experience in representing financial institutions including asset based lenders and real estate lenders. He has also successfully represented Chapter 11 Debtors, Trustees, Creditors’ Committees, and purchasers of assets in the Bankruptcy Court. For example, he has served as Counsel to the Creditors’ Committee in the multi-billion dollar Chapter 11 case of Walter Industries in Tampa; counsel to the principal competing bidder in the hotly contested Hayes Microcomputer Products case in Atlanta; and counsel to the lender in the Chapter 11/foreclosure of the Tower Place complex in Atlanta. He is the former Chair of the American Bar Association’s Subcommittee on Lender Liability of the Commercial Financial Services Committee and the former Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Paul is also affiliated with the Atlanta Bar Association, The Lawyers Club of Atlanta and the Old War Horse Lawyers Club of Atlanta. In addition, he has been selected for the past three years, as a Georgia “Super Lawyer” in the area of Bankruptcy and also named by Chambers USA as a “Leader in their Field” since 2010 in the area of Bankruptcy & Restructuring.

Today's studio guests were recently featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle for the Atlanta World Showcase and Governor's International Awards. Emily Moerdomo Fu /Capital Investment International, Inc. Winner - Individual of the YearEmily Moerdomo Fu is the CEO and Founder of Capital Investment International, Inc. Emily is responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth and management of the team. In addition to fostering strategic growth, she serves as a mentor for The CII staff. Emily's knowledge and experience of the ever-changing climate of the Global market enables her to guide the team towards the best possible client service available.  Her goal is to provide the highest level of business and real estate services internationally with the utmost integrity, reliability, and professionalism. Wilson Faure/Advanced Global Partners Finalist - New Company of the YearWilson Faure is President of Advanced Global Partners (AGP).  He is a global business executive having worked and lived in Brazil, Germany and the United States. Wilson has built a successful business career working in a variety of industries, functions and cultural settings. He has a unique career experience including business owner, Managing Director, Relationship Manager, Business Developer, Consultant and Program Manager allowing him to clearly understand all aspects of business. He is fluent in Portuguese and English and has a good conversational level in German and Spanish. He is recognized for his strong leadership skills and his ability to drive performance through workforce engagement and relationship building skills. Wilson earned an electrical engineering degree with a specialization in software business in Brazil. He also earned an Executive MBA degree from the University of Georgia. He founded the Operational Excellence Society Chapter in Atlanta and is Volunteer at PMI Scholarship foundation. Wilson lives in Woodstock, Georgia with his wife and two daughters. Edward Brown/Burr & Forman Ed Brown is Vice-Chair of Burr & Forman LLP’s Business section and a Partner in the firm’s Corporate law practice group focusing on taxation and estate planning.  He has over twenty-four years of experience in franchise law, mergers and acquisitions and personal planning, specifically with federal estate and gift taxation.  Ed represents venture capital companies and investors in funding early-stage and start-up companies and also represents both buyers and sellers in the purchase or sale of businesses, through tax-free mergers, stock purchase arrangements, and asset acquisitions.  Ed can be reached at ed.brown@burr.com.

On May 8, 2012, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed into law Georgia House Bill 868 expanding Georgia's new research and development tax credit available to Georgia businesses. Find out how this change affects current Georgia businesses and why this may attract more businesses to Georgia. Edward H. Brown/Burr & Forman Based in the Atlanta office, Ed Brown is Vice-Chair of Burr & Forman’s Business section and a Partner in the firm’s Corporate law practice group focusing on taxation and estate planning. He has over twenty-four years of experience in franchise law, mergers and acquisitions and personal planning, specifically with federal estate and gift taxation. Ed’s corporate and tax law practice includes assisting clients who are involved in the formation and development of business ventures and representing both companies and individuals seeking venture capital financing. He represents venture capital companies and investors in funding early-stage and start-up companies and also represents both buyers and sellers in the purchase or sale of businesses, through tax-free mergers, stock purchase arrangements, and asset acquisitions. Ed regularly works with real estate developers and investors in developing effective structures for the acquisition, development and ultimate disposition of property. His experience also includes representing public and private companies in connection with access to capital securities and markets. Ed is licensed to practice in Georgia and Illinois, Georgia Superior Courts, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the U.S. Tax Court. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and the State Bar of Georgia. In 2012, Ed was named as a “Leader in their Field” in Coporate & M&A Law by the highly regarded Chambers USA, a legal directory featuring client-led intelligence on America’s leading lawyers. Ed recently co-hosted a webinar with Steve Ennen of SocialStrategy1 entitled Corporate Policies in Social Media, where they discussed how companies can create proper social media policies and how to approach social media with the compliance of corporate policies. Ed received his LL.M. in Taxation in 1984 from Emory University. In addition, Ed has spoken before a variety of business and accounting groups, has written on business and tax law issues, and has appeared as a guest analyst on CNBC. Ed serves on the Board of Directors and as President of the Atlanta Junior Golf Foundation. He earned his J.D. in 1980 from Washington and Lee University School of Law and his B.A., with distinction, from the University of Virginia in 1977. Melissa L. Horne/Smith & Howard, PC Melissa L. Horne, CPA,  is a Senior Manager in the Tax Group of Smith & Howard, a nationally-ranked “Best of the Best” CPA firm. Melissa’s expertise involves tax planning, compliance and consulting services for high net-worth individuals and businesses. She has worked extensively with manufacturing, distribution, insurance, construction, professional services, and trucking businesses throughout the Southeast. Melissa seeks to help her clients minimize taxes and take advantage of the significant R&D and other tax credits available to them in Georgia. Melissa received a BBA in Accounting and a BBA in Finance from Valdosta State University, and a Master of Taxation from Georgia State University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she is a member of the taxation section, an alumnus of the GSCPA Leadership Academy and has served on the Financial Literacy Task Force. Melissa is a CPA Professional Mentor and a member of the Atlanta Tax Forum.

Today was a roundtable discussion on Burr & Forman Results Matter with four top attorneys discussing the current state of the legal profession. Lee Thuston/Burr & Forman Lee Thuston is Burr & Forman’s Managing Partner. He served as Alabama Counsel during the site selection and negotiation processes for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., The Boeing Company, Mi-Tech Steel, Inc. and IPSCO Steel when these companies chose to locate their facilities in the State of Alabama. He assisted Honda Manufacturing of Alabama with the implementation of its incentives package with the State of Alabama for the development of its plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Lee also negotiated the incentives packages with the State for the recent Mercedes-Benz and Honda plant expansions in Alabama. Additionally, he assisted with negotiations on behalf of both DaimlerChrysler AG and Michigan Automotive Compressor Inc. (an affiliate of Toyoda Industries) during their site selection and incentives negotiation processes with the State of Georgia. Lee also assisted Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC with the implementation of its incentive package with the State of Alabama for the development of its plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Lee oversaw the site selection process for a new transmission manufacturing facility being developed by Honda Motor Company in Tallapoosa, Georgia. In 2006, Lee and his partner, Warren Matthews, assisted with the site selection process for KIA Motors Corporation for a new automobile manufacturing facility to be located in West Point, Georgia. Most recently, Lee and Warren Matthews represented both ThyssenKrupp AG and National Steel Car, Ltd in their site selection and negotiation processes to locate manufacturing facilities in Mobile and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. To date, Lee has worked on new economic development projects and expansions representing over $15 billion of capital investment and the creation of thousands of new jobs. Lee is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the General Corporate Law and Economic Development categories. He is also listed in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, including being named for the past four years as a “Leader in their Field”, and Alabama Super Lawyers. Lee and colleagues Louis Anders and Warren Matthews co-authored Alabama Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual. Lee is a Fellow of the Alabama Law Foundation, as well as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, both of which recognize significant contributions to the legal profession and the community. In 1994, he served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Birmingham Bar Association and as President in 2005. After law school, Lee served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard L. Jones, Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. He is licensed to practice in both Alabama and Tennessee. Michael Sullivan/Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge, & Rice Michael Sullivan is the Managing Partner of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge, & Rice's Atlanta office. When it comes to senior-level strategic guidance in mass tort product liability litigation and other large-scale commercial litigation, clients turn to Michael. Michael brings nearly three decades of experience in “bet-the-company” cases. He serves in the role of “outside General Counsel” or Coordinating Counsel, providing big-picture advice to craft successful litigation strategies, increase efficiencies and contain costs. Michael collaborates with clients on a wide range of high-end business problems, including mass tort litigation. He spent 10 years as National Coordinating Counsel, Chief Litigator and Case Manager guiding a global automotive company through national asbestos friction litigation. In this role, he coordinated the efforts of a national network of 35 defense firms, as well as the company’s in-house legal team. Michael has particular experience serving the automotive industry, including Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers,

Today we discussed again the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge. The mission of this program is to reduce energy and water consumption in buildings by 20% by the year 2020. In a joint effort between Central Atlanta Progress, the City of Atlanta and many other local partners, Atlanta was one of the first cities to sign on to the Better Buildings Initiative. Lauren Dufort/Central Atlanta Progress Lauren Dufort’s sustainability expertise has come from over 5 years of promoting and improving sustainability efforts in her professional endeavors. During her time employed at Cousins Properties, Inc., Lauren specialized in researching sustainability opportunities and applying various USGBC LEED rating systems to multiple property types, including office, retail, industrial, and multi-familyproperties. While at WorkingBuildings, Lauren provided LEED project management and carbon emissions inventory management for both public and private organizations with large real estate portfolios. In her current role as the Director of Sustainability at Central Atlanta Progress, Lauren develops andimplements various sustainability programs through collaboration with the City of Atlanta and the Downtown business community. Such initiatives include the Downtown GreenSource program and the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge. Jeffrey Portman/AMC, Inc. Jeffrey L. Portman is President and Chief Operating Officer of AMC, Inc., the world’s largest trade mart/trade show organization and parent company of AmericasMart Atlanta, the nation’s largest wholesale home/gift/apparel marketplace. Portman leads the daily operation of these Atlanta-based businesses, which annually bring tens of thousands of visitors to the city, generating more than $478 million in direct economic impact, and making Atlanta the wholesale/retail trading capital of the United States. Portman’s career spans more than 35 years in commercial real estate development and management, including his leadership of the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) as general manager from June 1986 through July 1994, at which point he was appointed Executive Vice President of AMC, Inc.  His election as AMC president and chief operating officer followed in February 2001. He subsequently has led AMC and AmericasMart Atlanta through a period of growth unprecedented in the companies’ 53-year history, commencing with the rebranding of the former Atlanta Market Center as AmericasMart Atlanta in 1996, and continuing with expansion of its global business base, most recently advanced in the opening of the celebrated Building 2 WestWing in January 2009. A native Atlantan, Portman is consistently named among the Top 100 most influential people in the U.S. home furnishings industry, and comments regularly in national and international home, gift and apparel trade media.  Portman was named Atlanta Citizen of the Year by the Atlanta Police Foundation, with Mayor Franklin bestowing the honor.  He serves on the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and on the Board of The Lovett School, his alma mater. Portman did undergraduate work at Mercer University and Georgia State University and post-graduate study at Harvard in Cambridge. Scott Hitch/Burr & Forman, LLP Scott practices in Burr & Forman's Environmental group and works with clients in all aspects of environmental law. Scott counsels clients on business strategy, regulatory compliance, permitting, policy, transactions and resolution of disputes. Scott’s services include: land conservation, historic preservation, brownfield redevelopment, environmental remediation, corporate responsibility/sustainability and recycling and regulation of wastes. He also consults with corporations in dealing with resource allocation and regulation such as water quality and its environmental impact, air quality, greenhouse gas, climate changes and energy sources. Scott’s environmental services also include dealing with comme...

Today we had a spirited discussion about Georgia's new noncompete employment statute - House Bill 30.  Our guests were State Representative Wendell Willard, one of the co-sponsors of the statute and William (Chip) Collins Jr, the attorney who heads Burr and Forman's new noncompete and trade secrets group - he is also the editor of their new Noncompete & Trade Secrets blog. Wendell Willard/ State Representative 49th District Georgia House of Representatives Wendell is the co-sponsor of Georgia's new noncompete employment statute that became effective last year and drastically changed the legal landscape for noncompetes. State Representative Wendell Willard represents the 49th District in the Georgia House of Representatives. Since being first elected to serve in 2001, Representative Willard has been instrumental in passing several pieces of landmark legislation. Since 2005 Representative Willard has served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Chairman Willard’s notable legislative accomplishments during his time with the General Assembly include: the 2006 passage of Georgia’s Eminent Domain law, which strengthened personal property rights for all Georgians, and the 2004 Child Protection Law, which protects children against reckless and abusive caregivers. Chairman Willard also points to the 2005 creation of the City of Sandy Springs, his hometown, by the General Assembly and the subsequent creation of the cities of Johns Creek and Milton among his most notable legislative accomplishments. In recognition of his legislative accomplishments, Chairman Willard has been honored by: the Georgia Council on Aging with their Special Legislator Award, the Department of Human Resources with their Leadership Award, and by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, among others. Most recently, he was honored in 2008 by the Georgia Municipal Association as a "Champion of Georgia’s Cities." Representative Willard resides in Sandy Springs with his wife Vicki. When not working at the Capitol, Representative Willard is an attorney in his own private practice, and serves as the City Attorney for Sandy Springs. Active in the Sandy Springs and North Fulton communities, Representative Willard serves on the board of The Newtown Park Foundation. Representative Willard serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and also serves on Appropriations, Ethics, Ex-Officio of Judiciary Non-Civil, and Vice Chairman of Rules. He was a member of the Insurance Committee from 2001-2005. William (Chip) Collins, Jr. Chip helps his clients successfully resolve multiple types of business disputes, including those involving breach of contract, commercial lending, unfair competition, real estate, and employment issues. He has represented clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to large banks and Fortune 500 companies in matters involving between tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars in dispute. Chip firmly believes in working with his clients at the beginning of an engagement to clearly identify the client’s objectives and develop a strategy and budget for achieving the client’s goals in the most cost-effective manner. Although he is able to efficiently resolve most of his cases through dispositive motions or alternative dispute resolution, Chip is fully prepared to go to trial for his clients when necessary, having tried cases and handled appeals at both the State and Federal levels. Disputes involving real estate and lending comprise a substantial portion of Chip’s practice. In the recent economic climate, Chip has spent the majority of his time representing several national and regional lenders in litigation involving large defaulted commercial loans, including the institution of receivership proceedings and defense of lender liability claims. Chip has significant experience and expertise in helping businesses of all types prevent unfair competition through the drafting and enforcement of ...

On July 31, 2012, Georgians will vote on a one-cent sales tax to invest in a specifically identified list of transportation improvements in each of our State's twelve economic development regions. Each region's election will be separate from the other eleven regions, and each region's citizens will determine the fate of a new 10-year Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) on all sales in the counties within that particular region. Today's guests discussed the impact of T-SPLOST on Atlanta and Georgia. Rob Hill/Hill Corporate Partners Rob Hill is a commercial Realtor along with his partner and father Bob at Hill Corporate Partners in Atlanta.  Hill Corporate Partners is one of the few firms in the country that specializes in the exclusive representation of the end-users of commercial real estate: the tenants and the buyers, and for years they have been the most recommended commercial Realtors in metropolitan Atlanta on LinkedIn. Before entering the real estate field, Rob founded and ran The Historian’s Gallery, a broker/dealer inhistoric documents and artifacts for museums and private collectors.  He has since served as a consultant to major museums and universities in the acquisition and authentication of historically significant items and even entire collections. He was Program Director for the Leadership Exchange and Analysis Program (LEAP) for the Yale School of Management and has also worked in the field of mergers and acquisitions as well as commercial lending. Rob is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber as well as a sought-after speaker on Atlanta history, transportation, and business. Bert Brantley/McRae Communications (representing MAVEN) Bert Brantley joined McRae Communications in January 2011 after serving four years in Governor Sonny Perdue’s Communications Office, including the last two and a half years as Communications Director. Before that, Bert was in state government for nearly eight years at the Department of Transportation and the Department of Economic Development. Since joining McRae, Bert has worked with Southwest Airlines as they entered the Atlanta market, the Metro Atlanta Regional Transportation Referendum campaign and a number of other clients providing public affairs counsel, crisis communications strategy and traditional media relations activities. Mitch Kaminer/Atlanta Board of REALTORS® and RE/MAX Paramount Properties Mitch Kaminer is President of the Atlanta Board of REALTORS®, the largest Boards of its kind in Georgia and considered one of the strongest and most successful in the nation.  With nearly 5,000 members, ABR serves as a valuable resource for real estate education, the promotion of professionalism in the industry, and as a force for legislative initiatives geared toward creating positive change for the real estate community. Mitch has been successfully involved in the metro Atlanta real estate scene since 1994, an active participant in ABR since 2002, and is currently a Associate Broker/REALTOR with ReMax Paramount Properties in Roswell. Mike Alexander/Atlanta Regional Commission Mike Alexander is the Chief of Atlanta Regional Commission's Research Division. This Division provides a broad and accurate base of demographic, economic, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) information to support ARC’s long-range planning efforts including the Regional Transportation and Development plans, functional plans, policies and implementation strategies. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the 10-county area including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, as well as the City of Atlanta. For 60 years, ARC and its predecessor agencies have helped to focus the region's leadership, attention and resources on key issues of regional consequence.

This April is the fifth annual Autism Awareness Month, and on April 2 the World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated in order to recognize Autism as a growing  global health crisis. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism and is a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe. In today's Autism Speaks special edition we met with three individuals whose work directly benefits those who are celebrated and honored on this day. Sheila Wagner/Emory Autism Center Ms. Wagner is the Assistant Director of the Emory Autism Center at Emory University, and Program Manager for the Monarch School-age program. She is a certified special education teacher and teacher consultant on educating students with Autism for close to 30 years. Ms. Wagner is a teacher and school consultant, national and international lecturer on educating students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, project director for a multi-county Inclusion Project affecting more than 600 students with ASD in the state of Georgia, and is a long term member of an interdisciplinary diagnostic team. Ms. Wagner is an award winning author of four publications in the area of ASD, including "Inclusive Programming for Elementary Students with Autism" (1999), "Inclusive Programming for Middle School Student with Autism and Asperger's syndrome" (2001), "Inclusive Programming for High School Student with Autism and Asperger's" (1999), and "Understanding Asperger's Syndrome: Fast Facts" (Future Horizons, Inc.,2004). Both the elementary and the high school books won the Autism Society of America Outstanding Literary Work of the Year (2001 and 2010 respectively). She has also published a chapter on educating females with Asperger’s syndrome in T. Grandin and T. Attwood’s book, Asperger’s and Girls (Future Horizons). Ms. Wagner contributes bi- weekly articles on ASD to NBC.Com’s popular television show Parenthood website. She consults with school districts and families throughout the State of Georgia and nation on school issues for students with autism/AS and lives in the Atlanta area. The Emory Autism Center is a component of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. The program was opened in 1991 as a public, private and University collaboration. Since opening, the Emory Autism Center has become a national model for diagnosis, family support and innovative treatment, as well as a vital source of professional training. Judy Tatro/Nobis Works Judy Tatro is the On Site Project Manager for EPA Mailroom with Nobis Works. Nobis Works is a non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities and other barriers to employment find meaningful work. This happens through evaluation, training and employment services both at the center and in the community. Nobis Works serves youth & adults with all types of disabilities, and sees that the population on the Autism spectrum is growing. Nobis Works recognizes that this disability requires special training and support services, and has created employment opportunities to help foster independence and success in the workplace for individuals on the Autism spectrum. Danny Umali/Strategic Planning Group Danny Umali helps families with special needs place their loved ones in the best possible financial situation through his Strategic Planning Group. Danny began his career recently as a financial services professional and has decided to place his focus on this special needs planning. His wife of 15 years, Karen, had a direct link to the special needs community. For the past 7 years she has played a vital role at The Joseph Sams School in Fayetteville, GA where she worked full-time as a member of the speech depart...

The city of Atlanta and Property Owners are taking the "Better Buildings Challenge" in order to promote environmental sustainability it the city. What is now being called The Atlanta BBC, was one of the first operations of the national Better Buildings Challenge announced by President Obama early last year. The challenge was implemented by the U.S. Department of Energy and has been created as an energy-efficiency leadership initiative. The Challenge supports commercial and industrial building owners, and any of those owners that decide to participate are provided with technical assistance and proven solutions to energy efficiency. Atlanta's Better Buildings Challenge was launched in November 2011 by Mayor Kasim Reed’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Central Atlanta Progress and other organizations. The goal of the challenge for Atlanta is to reduce their energy and water consumption by 20%. In today's Atlanta Environmental Sustainability Special Edition we had Scott Briskey from Sustainable Atlanta and Craig Jones from Cousins Property Incorporated on the show to discuss this new challenge that Atlanta has taken on. Scott Briskey/Sustainable Atlanta Established in 2007, Sustainable Atlanta is a catalyst and facilitator for sustainable progress in Atlanta.  Its core focus lies in convening leaders from business, non-profits, academic, civic and governmental sectors to develop sustainable policy and programs for those who live, work and play in Atlanta.  Sustainable Atlanta leverages its expertise to help orchestrate strategy, best practices, policies and programming that make Atlanta, citizens and organizations more bottom-line efficient, environmentally responsible and more competitive when attracting employers/jobs. Scott Briskey is Director of Communications and Development for Sustainable Atlanta. With a career spanning more than a 15 years across multiple industries and disciplines, Scott has worked on a wide array of corporate communications and sustainability related projects. His career has included stints with Roy Communications, Jeanine Cooper Entertainment and Communications, Fletcher Martin Ewing and Edelman.  Scott earned a B.A.in Mass Communication Arts with a focus on Public Relations from Clark Atlanta University Craig B. Jones/Cousins Property Incorporated Cousins Properties Incorporated is a leading diversified real estate company with extensive experience in development, acquisition, financing, management and leasing. Based in Atlanta, the Company actively invests in office and retail projects. Since its founding in 1958, Cousins has developed more than 20 million square feet of office space and 20 million square feet of retail space. The Company also provides leasing and management services to third-party investors. Cousins has built and maintained an industry-wide reputation for innovative and sustainable developments, premium management services and top quality leadership.  The Company creates and maintains value in real estate assets for the benefit of shareholders, partners and clients.  Cousins Properties is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust (REIT) and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CUZ. Craig Jones is the Executive Vice President of Cousins Property Incorporated. Craig is responsible for the Company's debt financings and for dispositions of Company assets and is also involved in acquisitions and in structuring of joint ventures. Previously, Craig has held other positions in the Company, including Chief Investment Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and President of the Company's Office Division. Craig joined Cousins in 1992 as part of the firm's acquisition of New Market Development Company, an Atlanta-based shopping center developer. As the Executive Vice President at New Market, Craig was involved in nearly all aspects of its business, with an emphasis on development activities and debt and equity finance...

Parents who have a child with special needs like a physical and/or intellectual disability face many challenges. On today's show Deirdre O'Brien, Executive Director of the Arc of Georgia and David B Glass, Vice President of the Arc of Georgia and Principal with Glass Financial Group were kind enough to share some real tips from their own life on how to care for a child with special needs. The Arc of Georgia is a 50+ year old non-profit organization that advocates for families and people with developmental disabilities.  The Arc works to develop programs, funding and public policy that assists these people realize their goals of learning, living and working in the community. David discussed some of the financial issues families of a disabled child have to deal with. He suggested building a team of trusted advisors (including a financial/tax planner and an attorney like James McCarten from Burr and Forman who are experienced in special needs planning) to help manage the complexity that is involved. Deirdre mentioned that a well meaning financial gift from a family member can disqualify a child from receiving government assistance so you have to be very careful with your finances. They both mentioned the importance of  setting up a trust to ensure that your special needs child is set up for life.

Health Care Reform is at the forefront of every physician’s mind. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Healthcare and Reconciliation Act present many new, and uncontrollable, challenges to physicians and their practice.  Special guests Jim Hoover and Jim Stroud discuss what physicians can control and what they should focus on to help their business succeed.  Jim Hoover is a Partner in Burr & Forman’s Healthcare Practice Group and resides in the Birmingham, Alabama office of Burr & Forman. Jim represents numerous hospitals, physician practices, pharmacies and medical device manufacturers throughout Alabama and the Southeast.  Jim concentrates his practice on litigation of Stark anti-kickbacks and false claims violations, writing healthcare compliance programs, responding to alleged EMTALA violations, Medicare appeals and many other health law disputes.  E-Mail Jim Hoover Jim Stroud is currently a member with the largest accounting firm in Alabama, Warren, Averett, Kimbrough and Marino, LLC.  With over 35 years of accounting experience, Jim specializes in working with service businesses and medical practices in matters such as profitability improvement, physician compensation plans, staff training and motivation, recruitment of new physicians and strategy exit of senior doctors.  E-Mail Jim Stroud