CEO Nexus Webinar / Workshop Series

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Mark Brewer, CAP
CEO, Central Florida Foundation

mbrewer@cfcflorida.org

Mark Brewer is the President/CEO of Central Florida Foundation, the region’s community foundation. Mark joined the Foundation in 2000 and has worked with hundreds of individuals, families, and corporations to establish philanthropy plans, endowments, funding strategies, and planned gifts. He frequently advises private and corporate foundation grant makers across the region and plays a public policy advisory role on strategy and advisory boards around the state of Florida. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in Business, a master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialty in Nonprofit Management and is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy ®. His graduate studies include work in policy and law at Walden University.

Jamie Hollis
CEO, North Star Consulting

jamie@northstarconsultingsolutions.org

Jamie Hollis is the founder of North Star Consulting Solutions. With over 20 years of experience in developing teams and leaders across the nation, Jamie has brought her personalized approach utilizing authenticity and empowerment to companies, universities, hospital systems, and nonprofit organizations. A Licensed Professional Counselor and a certified DiSC® trainer, Jamie has authored award winning programming focused on team development, workplace engagement, and leadership development.

Mark Freeman, Ph.D.
CEO, Freeman & Associates

Mark Freeman, Ph.D. is a senior organizational development and behavioral consultant, working in the private and nonprofit sectors. His work in the area of performance improvement includes, organizational training and development for management, change management, strategic planning, and executive leadership coaching. As an executive coach he has extensive experience with a wide variety of corporate clients. Mark designs custom curricula for leadership development programs.
He is trained in conflict mediation, emotional intelligence and offers a myriad of seminars and workshops designed to enhance organizational development change management, and performance excellence. Mark primarily works at the senior leadership and middle management level of the organizations he serves.

Linda Schubring, Ph.D.
CEO, Leadership Vision Consulting

Leadership Vision is a consulting firm inspiring people to transform how leaders express their brilliance and beauty for the benefit of the organization. We use CliftonStrengths® as a tool to highlight each team member. We use our data-based, EOS informed, decades of expertise working with teams to help you invest in your organizational health through investing in positive team culture and investing in the potential and performance of your people.

Brian Schubring, Ph.D.
President and Founder, Leadership Vision Consulting

Leadership Vision is a consulting firm inspiring people to transform how leaders express their brilliance and beauty for the benefit of the organization. We use CliftonStrengths® as a tool to highlight each team member. We use our data-based, EOS informed, decades of expertise working with teams to help you invest in your organizational health through investing in positive team culture and investing in the potential and performance of your people.

Kennan Burch
CEO, BCP

kennan@brandcatalystpartners.com

Kennan Burch is a Culture Alignment and Branding Expert. He is the founder and CEO of Brand Catalyst Partners. His vision is uniting teams to do great things. Over the past fourteen years he has partnered with over 150 CEO’s to unite their teams on their Vision, Mission, Values and Brand Strategy to help them scale faster, make more money, and see the impact they want to have in the world.

Russell Slappey
CEO & Managing Partner, Nperspective

rslappey@nperspective.com

Russell is the founder/CEO and Managing Partner of Nperspective, and is responsible for overseeing the Florida market. He combines over 20 years of experience in Accounting, Information Systems and Taxation. He takes a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach in working with business owners both large and small. Since founding Nperspective, he has provided solutions for clients in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, retail, mortgage banking, insurance, software development (SaaS) and internet based companies.

Jason Petro
Business Advisor / Owner, uGreenit

jason@ugreenit.com

Jason Petro is an Advanced Certified Profit First Professional who owns and operates several businesses that run on both EOS Traction and Profit First systems. Over the past 15 years of business ownership, Jason has developed a passion for helping other entrepreneurs create financially healthy businesses by implementing Profit First in their businesses. Enabling quality sleep for his fellow entrepreneurs by creating a system that generates consistent profitability.

Geoffrey Gallo
CHFC, Partner, Grennan Fender CPAs & Advisors

ggallo@grennanfender.com

Geoffrey brings over 25 years of sales, marketing, financial and operations experience in various industries to his role as Partner, Advisory Services & Practice Development. Using his broad expertise in strategic planning implementation, tax planning, incentive compensation, asset protection and estate planning, Geoffrey works with business owners to identify needs and solutions, with a specific focus on helping them achieve their growth and exit goals. Leading the firm’s channel marketing programs, he also directs building strategic alliance partnerships for the firm, bringing other professionals together to seamlessly deliver on all components of Grennan Fender’s comprehensive planning process and value proposition. Mr. Gallo has held senior officer roles throughout his career including CEO in an international business venture in Eastern Europe and more recently CMO and COO roles for Houston and Central Florida companies.

Chris Grim
CPA, Partner, Grennan Fender CPAs & Advisors

Chris serves as a Partner for Grennan Fender CPAs, leading their Outsourced Accounting and Assurance Departments. He has more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting and financial management. Prior to joining Grennan Fender, Chris was the Chief Financial Officer for a defense contractor, and he has held senior positions in a number of highly regarded accounting firms, where he was chiefly responsible for financial audit and review functions. He has built accounting teams in both private industry and public accounting. Working from both sides of the table has resulted in an advisory approach rare among Central Florida CPAs. He brings practical, hands-on financial clarity to the CEOs of second-stage companies and their management teams.

Ryan Tansom
Co-Founder, Arkona

rtansom@arkona.io

Ryan Tansom started his journey at his family business where he was the Executive VP of the $21 Million company. He helped turn the company around and lead it through a successful 8-figure exit to a local competitor.
Ryan took his experience and founded Arkona and the Intentional Growth™ Academy to help owners view – and run – their company like a financial asset through educational training and fractional CFO services. He has guided over 400 owners through the Academy, been involved in dozens of transactions, and hosts the Intentional Growth™ Podcast that has 340+ episodes, 500k+ downloads.

John King
Certified EOS Implementer

john.king@eosworldwide.com

John started his entrepreneurial journey in music and entertainment. He was the first employee at a venture capital-backed music technology startup, and was the Integrator at a film production company. As Integrator he grew that company over 200% in 2 years, created award-winning, nationally broadcast commercials, and produced a film that streamed on Netflix. Now, as a Certified EOS Implementer, he helps 2nd stage companies throughout Florida clarify their vision, gain traction, and get healthy with EOS.

John Ward
Certified EOS Implementer

john.ward@eosworldwide.com

After a 10-year corporate career, John joined the leadership team of a family-owned business and helped to grow that company to a $150 million state-wide distributor. Following that assignment, with a partner, John formed a national consulting, training and development company helping companies across the country to dramatically improve performance. For the past seven years, as a Certified EOS® Implementer he has helped over 60 business owners and their leadership teams to achieve the results they want from their business.

Jeff Badovick
CEO, APT Future and Seasoned EOS Integrator

jeff@aptfuture.com

After a 10-year corporate career, John joined the leadership team of a family-owned business and helped to grow that company to a $150 million state-wide distributor. Following that assignment, with a partner, John formed a national consulting, training and development company helping companies across the country to dramatically improve performance. For the past seven years, as a Certified EOS® Implementer he has helped over 60 business owners and their leadership teams to achieve the results they want from their business.

Casey Fernandez
P&C Client Executive, Hylant

casey.fernandez@hylant.com

With clients ranging from public traded entities to Stage 2 Growth companies Casey brings risk and insurance solutions in a no nonsense way so you can get a peek at what is “around the corner.” Casey is partnering with Ken Enlow, a professional with over 35 years in the industry. As a Client Executive, Ken strives to provide strategic solutions that fit the specific needs of his clients. Ken is recognized for his ability to deliver exceptional results on behalf of his clients, specializing in providing executives with strategies and tools to secure their business and their successful exit.

Ken Enlow
Senior Client Executive, Hylant

ken.enlow@hylant.com

With clients ranging from public traded entities to Stage 2 Growth companies Casey brings risk and insurance solutions in a no nonsense way so you can get a peek at what is “around the corner.” Casey is partnering with Ken Enlow, a professional with over 35 years in the industry. As a Client Executive, Ken strives to provide strategic solutions that fit the specific needs of his clients. Ken is recognized for his ability to deliver exceptional results on behalf of his clients, specializing in providing executives with strategies and tools to secure their business and their successful exit.

Tom O’Neal, Ph.D.
Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, UCF

oneal@ucf.edu

Tom O’Neal is an electrical engineer and a professor of Industrial Engineering and Management at UCF. He founded the UCF Business Incubation Program, a network of 10+ incubator facilities throughout the region. He’s also a past Chairman of the National Business Incubator Association. Tom is an I-Corps Instructor certified by the National Science Foundation.

Travis Proctor
CEO, Artemis IT

tproctor@ArtemisIT.com

Travis is a technology strategist with nearly 30 years’ experience. As the CEO of Artemis IT, he leads an organization that provides outsourced managed IT services for over 100 client organizations. He founded the company while a sophomore at Florida Tech before graduating top of his class with a degree in Computer Science. Travis was inducted into the Space Coast Business Hall of Fame in 2022 and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Florida Tech and chair-elect for the EDC of Florida’s Space Coast.

Keith Coker
Co-Founder and President, OrLANTech

kcoker@orlantech.com

Keith co-founded OrLANtech in 1995 and has grown it to be Central Florida’s largest Managed Service Provider.OrLANtech partners with small and medium-sized businesses that share their concern and commitment for IT and security. Keith routinely gives cybersecurity workshops to a variety of companies and organizations to educate them and their staff on the costly mistakes made as a result of cyber-crime. Fundamentally, we are living in a far more technologically-advanced world, and cyber security is something nobody can afford to ignore.

Joe Raymond
Managing Partner, RVR Consulting Group

jraymond@rvrteam.com

Joe’s vision has always been to support entrepreneurs in the small to mid-market sectors maximizing their business potential. He has proven his success as a business leader through the launch, growth, and exit of numerous companies throughout his business career. He is the Managing Partner of RVR Consulting Group Holdings, a family of companies focusing on helping companies manage and excel through their business lifecycle. In the community, Joe is a founder of CECO.org, which serves hundreds of children and adults with motor disabilities. Joe serves on multiple boards in the Community.

Karen Turner
Principal, RVR Consulting Group

kturner@rvrteam.com

Karen Turner is a principal at RVR Consulting Group and leads the firm’s Talent Advisory and Optimization practice. Karen brings her practitioner’s expertise from two decades of experience growing and scaling talent-related businesses and helping transform talent strategies at some of the most notable organizations globally. Today, Karen works across sectors with boards, Owners, CEOs, and management teams to bring talent to the top of their agenda, focusing on aligning business strategy with talent strategy to achieve maximum performance and business results.

Jean Seawright
CEO, Seawright & Associates

jseawright@seawright.com

She operates one of the most respected HR management consulting firms in the nation & is a highly sought after speaker, author, expert witness, & consultant. Without a doubt, Jean Seawright can make sense out of the HR madness every employer faces! For over 25 years, she has proactively resolved thousands of HR issues in a multitude of industries nationwide. Dedicated to helping employers build a strong HR foundation, Jean takes complex HR challenges & turns them into practical, positive, bottom-line solutions that mitigate risk & save countless dollars, time, & unnecessary HR headaches.

Nicole McMurray
Regional VP, AppleOne Employment Services

nmcmurrary@appleone.com

Nicole McMurray utilizes AppleOne’s Hiring Made Human philosophy which centers around one true belief: we believe in people. As a Regional Vice President within AppleOne, she has the privilege of leading three divisions, five teams, and over 30 people. She is recognized within AppleOne for her success with conflict resolution, engagement, building winning teams and developing a culture the supports their core values. Nicole is a member of CEO Nexus, and supports the continued efforts of GrowFL in our community.

Jessica Walberg
Partner, FordHarrison

jwalberg@fordharrison.com

Jessica concentrates her practice on representing employers in a broad range of labor and employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as preventative risk management.

Jessica’s focus also includes cases involving violations of federal and state wage and hour laws, leave laws, and disability discrimination laws. Jessica routinely represents management in charges of discrimination before various administrative agencies. Jessica provides management training and practical advice and counseling on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Jessica is passionate about partnering with her clients to learn their business and provide preventative labor and employment defense advice.

Jessica’s work includes developing and implementing employment policies and procedures, offering leave management advice, conducting internal investigations, and providing day-to-day support, guidance, and solutions for executives, human resources, and management.

Robert Newland
CEO, Newland Associates

robert@newlandcpi.com

Robert helps organizations align people and business strategies in order to achieve great outcomes. His work includes executive search, leader development, and HR services. He is CEO of Newland Associates, a national headhunting and Predictive Index certified firm. He’s also founder of HRfrenzy, an online marketplace where you can find independent HR experts in the US. Robert graduated Cum Laude in Management and has continued to enhance his education through programs like the Harvard’s Private Equity & Venture Capital Executive Program and the M&A Executive Program at Pepperdine University.

Jeremy Williams
MHRER, Talent Optimization Partner, Cornerstone Strategic Alliance

Jeremy is a proven Human Resources leader and has over 30 years’ experience helping companies minimize risk and maximize results involving people issues. His last organizational leadership role was with Olive Garden where he led a national team that achieved industry leading staffing levels and retention. Additionally, he developed succession planning and talent management strategies that ensured strong performance management, business strengthening, and increases in diverse talent. Jeremy now uses his vast experience with Cornerstone Strategic Alliance to help organizations connect their business strategy to a people strategy to achieve winning results.

Shalyn Dever
Co-Founder, Engineer, and Fractional CMO, Chatter Buzz Media

shalyn@chatterbuzzmedia.com

Shalyn is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder of Chatter Buzz, a digital marketing agency with locations in Orlando, Tampa, and New York. With over 20 years of experience in engineering and digital marketing, Shalyn & her 40+ team helps businesses develop a reliable and scalable client acquisition system to increase revenue utilizing automation, processes, and digital technology.

Her professional experience includes working with small to large organizations including 3B Medical which exited at a $100M acquisition and Novatus at a $40M buyout by Salesforce.

Derek Sussner
CEO & Executive Creative Director, Sussner Design Co.

derek@sussner.com

Derek Sussner is the Founder and Executive Creative Director of Sussner, a branding firm focused on developing meaningful brands for growth-minded organizations. His mission is to help clients’ brands communicate, stand out, and engage. Derek’s expertise clarifies brand stories, creates messaging and brand assets that connect with customers, and includes certification in the StoryBrand framework. A sampling of clients Sussner has been privileged to partner with includes: United Sports Brands, Game One Sports, Life Time Fitness, Lemon Bay Golf Club, and the Minnesota Vikings.

Clay Patterson
CEO, Digital Space Marketing

clay@digitalspacemarketing.com

Clay Patterson is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and speaker based out of Orlando, Florida. He has 15+ years of experience launching, operating, and growing businesses across various industries. Clay is currently the Founder and CEO of Digital Space Marketing, a full-service marketing agency with customers in the healthcare and legal sectors. Clay is an investor and board member with venVelo II, a nearly-stage venture capital and private equity firm for innovative companies seeking funding and mentoring. He also volunteers as President of Elevate Orlando’s Young Professional Council.

Kirk Hall
CEO, Sentry View Systems

khall@sentryviewsystems.com

Kirk Hall is the CEO of Sentry View Systems, Inc. a software engineering firm specializing in situational awareness involving multiple levels of data fusion. Sentry View Systems has operated as a prime contractor and a subcontractor for programs with the Air Force since the early 2000s. Kirk’s background is on the legal and financial side of the programs and he has functioned as the contracting officer on those programs since 2014. The programs included Firm Fixed Price, Time and Materials, Cost Plus Fixed Fee and Cost Plus Incentive Fee formats.

Brian Mills
Attorney / Partner, Maynard Cooper Gale

bmills@maynardcooper.com

Brian is a member of Maynard Cooper & Gale’s Government Solutions Group, and frequently serves as an external general counsel, advising clients on issues related to entity formation, corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance, and private equity and debt financings, outsourcing, strategic alliance, and teaming arrangements, consulting and service agreements, distributor/dealer relationships, zoning, and the licensing of intellectual property, as well as other types of business matters.

Blake McMahan
Fractional CRO and President of AutoInnoMarket

blake@croinportions.com

After years of bringing the new “new” to market, I have learned the importance of clearly understanding the value of what you provide, through the eyes of your intended audience. The market tells you the value of what you provide, who wants it, and how best get it to them in the format they want. You simply have to listen. Technology is a weapon, that allows you to accomplish the above, in a sustainable and repeatable way. Through innovation, you are able to provide solutions, elicit feedback, and be more responsive to your clients.

Kai Isaac
CEO and Producer, FILMSCAPE PRODUCTIONS

kai.isaac@filmscapepro.com

Kai Isaac is a Producer and Content Stategist with a passion for storytelling. As the founder of Filmscape, a leading video production company, he helps businesses create compelling videos that set them apart from the competition and drive engagement with their audience.

With over a decade of experience in the industry, Kai is a recognized expert in video production and marketing and has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. His commitment to delivering exceptional results and his passion for storytelling have guided him through his career.

Will Wellons
President, Wellons Communications

will@wellonscommunications.com

Will is a hands-on PR strategist with nearly 25 years’ experience working with a broad spectrum of clients across North America, including those in hospitality, attractions, real estate and finance. He’s worked at the highest level on a local and national scale in all facets of PR including media relations, major events, crisis management and investor relations. Prior to establishing himself as a top public relations professional, Will spent over 20 years as an award-winning journalist. Working in print, radio and TV, Will has a deep knowledge of newsroom operations across all media types.

Tee Persad
CEO, Attorney, Mediator & Advisor, CLPS, P.A.

attorneypersad@cplspa.com

Mr. Persad is a business lawyer, consultant and mediator. His clients include business leaders, athletes, entertainers, and SMEs. His practice includes representing clients in Florida, the US Virgin Islands, and other jurisdictions, primary serving as their Private Corporate Counsel. He obtained his J.D./M.P.A. from the University of Akron; he is also a graduate of New York University and the University of the Virgin Islands and holds a diploma in negotiation, leadership and conflict resolution from the Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation. He is a U.S. Army Veteran.

Regina Rabitaille
Partner, Estate Planning Practice Area, Nelson Mullins Law

regina.rabitaille@nelsonmullins.com

Regina Rabitaille is a graduate of both the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she received her JD, and the New York University School of Law, where she earned her LLM. A partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough’s Orlando office, she focuses her practice primarily in the areas of probate, trusts and estates, and transfer tax controversy matters. In 2023, Regina was also selected in August 2022 for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 in the area of Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Trusts and Estates.

Doug Starcher
Managing Partner, M&A Practice Area, Nelson Mullins Law

doug.starcher@nelsonmullins.com

Doug Starcher is the Managing Partner of the Orlando office of Nelson Mullins, an AmLaw 100 law firm. Doug also leads the firm’s Florida M&A practice and has worked with entrepreneurs and their companies for 33 years. He has led transaction teams on acquisitions ranging from a couple million dollars to over $285 million. During a deal, he considers his most valuable roles to be that of educator and protector. Doug has been married to Linda for 35 years and they have 4 beautiful daughters, 3 sons-in-law, and 3 grandchildren.

Bill Lowman
Attorney, Managing Partner, Shuffield Lowman, LLP

wlowman@shuffieldlowman.com

Bill Lowman is a founder and president of ShuffieldLowman, and a seasoned attorney in the areas of corporate, mergers & acquisitions, business taxation, securities, intellectual property, estate planning, planning for high-net-worth families, charitable trusts and foundations, families with closely held businesses, executive compensation planning and general tax law. Bill works with owners of businesses of many different sizes, from the small family business to many of the Top Golden 100 Companies in Central Florida, handling the legal intricacies of both their business and personal lives. Bill believes in building a real and trusting relationship with his clients, serving as more than just an attorney, but also an advisor, counselor, and confidante, offering his big-picture perspective and personal touch.

Julia Dennis
Attorney, Partner, Shuffield Lowman, LLP

jdennis@shuffieldlowman.com

Julia Dennis joined ShuffieldLowman in 2009 and specializes in mergers & acquisitions, securities law, corporate law, and intellectual property. She has specific experience representing emerging and established companies, private equity firms, and portfolio companies within the manufacturing, technology, restaurant, distribution, and professional service sectors. Her transactional work includes counseling clients on corporate formation and asset protection planning, growth-centric transactions including private offering capital raises, employee incentive planning, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and exit strategies leading up to and including the ultimate sale of the business.

Jon Molayem
President, ACQUIVEST Financial Group

jon@acquivest.net

Jon began in commercial real estate in 2001 with the construction of a Hampton Inn in Old Town, Alexandria, and started in business with establishing Acquivest, an M&A Advisory firm, in 2004. Jon has since built a reputation as a top deal maker within Florida as well as around the DC Metropolitan area. To date, Jon and his team have led and transacted over $1 billion in total privately-held deal volume.

Today, in addition to roles overseeing Acquivest and Molayem Capital, Jon maintains multiple board positions and is a Managing Director for venVelo, a leading early stage venture fund.

Jason Albu
CEO, Albu & Associates

jasonalbu@albu.biz

Jason Albu is the Co-Chairman for Albu & Associates an award winning commercial general contractor that has been involved with premier construction projects throughout the state of Florida including office, retail, hospitality, healthcare, education and light industrial. He has also been involved in a strategic company acquisition and real estate deals in Central Florida. Lastly Jason enjoys giving back and works with several nonprofit agencies. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”- Winston Churchill

Will Stewart
Managing Director, Shareholder, PCE Investment Bankers

wstewart@pcecompanies.com

A PCE partner and the head of the firm’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) practice, Will has closed more than $3 billion in ESOP transactions and is a frequent speaker, panelist and presenter at both regional and national ESOP-focused conferences and events.

Having a deep understanding of the benefits business owners and employees can realize through an ESOP, Will welcomes the opportunity to advise owners on all of their transaction options.

Mike Brennan
Managing Partner, The Emprise Group

Mike Brennan is lifetime entrepreneur who had founded multiple businesses in a variety of industries. Mike has participated as an owner, partner, investor, hands on operator and board member. He has sold multiple companies leading transactions with different exit strategies in each event. Notably he has successfully converted two businesses into ESOP’s.

Currently Mike is incubating Vividlux, a startup outdoor lighting company. He is also a very active early-stage investor and managing partner of The Emprise Group.

Chris Hite
President and CEO, Dix•Hite + Partners

chite@dixhite.com

Christina (Chris) Hite, FASLA, LEED AP is a Founding Partner at Dix.Hite + Partners, bringing more than 35 years of extensive experience in a holistic landscape architecture practice. Chris has helped define Dix.Hite as a 45 person firm with a national reputation for excellence. Chris led the firm for 12 years as its CEO, and recently shepherded its transition to an ESOP. She fosters the advance and influence of the landscape architecture profession through leadership in design, practice, academic, and community service.