Past Speakers - 2008

FEB 02 Gregg Branham,
CEO and Founder, nFront Security
 
which provides a software security product for Windows to customers in over 20 countries around the world. - Gregg was born and raised in Ridgeway, South Carolina, a small town of about 500 people. Gregg’s parents are very hard-working, selfless people and made many sacrifices for Gregg to attend college. Gregg skipped a year of high-school and entered Georgia Tech in 1992. From 1992 to 1996 Gregg attended Georgia Tech and worked for Michelin Tire Corporation, alternating quarters of work and school. In 1996 Gregg graduated Georgia Tech with an EE degree. In 1997 Gregg took a part-time instructor position with Learning Tree International. Gregg has taught classes on Microsoft and Cisco technologies for such customers as NASA, the National Security Agency, the United Nations and even a course in Hong Kong. In 1997 Gregg also started Altus Network Solutions, a computer consulting firm. In 1999, Gregg published Windows NT Domain Architecture for Macmillan Technical Publishing. In 2003 Gregg developed a software security product which has now evolved into a core business with over 300 customers in over 20 countries. Gregg is now the CEO of nFront Security. Gregg and Susan have lived in Polo since 2003 and are very blessed with two wonderful boys.

MAY 03 Charles R. Smith,
Municipal Court Judge for Cumming, Attorney, Banker.
 
Charlie was born in Atlanta in 1928. He worked with his father delivering ice from the time he was 9 years old, joined the U.S. Army after high school, and was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant. He worked with the City of Atlanta as a probation officer and attended Woodrow Wilson College of Law at night, graduating magna cum Laude with a Juris Doctor degree. His wife Evelyn then studied law and they practiced law together for 30 years. For 14 years, they represented the Yaarab Shrine Temple free of charge in appreciation of their treatment of crippled and burned children. Charlie has appeared in 3 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Charlie and Evelyn moved to Forsyth County 30 years ago, moving from Lake Lanier to 6135 Polo Drive 20 years ago. Their daughter Lynn works with the Cherokee County Board of Education, and son Chuck Is a Captain with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department. Charlie served as Chairman of the Forsyth County Zoning Appeals Board for 12 years, was made Municipal Court Judge for the City of Cumming 16 years ago, and has served as supply Judge for State and Superior Court. His business ventures include the first major motel in Forsyth County, starting Peoples Bank of Forsyth County, which, after 2 mergers, became a part of Regions Bank, and starting The Citizens Bank of Forsyth County where he presently serves as a Director on the board. His latest endeavor is raising over a million dollars and overseeing the building of a boys shelter for abused boys of Forsyth County which will accommodate 18 boys.

AUG 02 Financial Strategies Panel
Tim Eckel, Fred Headley, Rocklyn E. “Rock” Hunt
 

Tim Eckel - Tim began his career in financial services and insurance in 1991. Tim is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. His vast business experience includes industrial sales, marketing, and management positions with two Fortune 500 companies. Following this career, Tim became a licensed insurance agent, a registered representative, and an investor advisor representative with one of the largest insurance companies in America. His focus is on conservative, tax-advantaged growth and preservation of retirement savings, and estate planning needs of financially successful Seniors, business owners and, professionals. Tim also conducts educational programs on the uses of financial products for retirement, estate planning, charitable giving, and tax-advantaged cash accumulation. Tim is a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters, The Atlanta Association of Insurance and professional Advisors, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and AARP.

Fred Headley - Fred has been in residential real estate since 1996 having worked with Coldwell Banker until January 2005 when he joined Jenny Pruitt & Associates. Prior to that Fred was Oversight Manager with Resolution Trust for 5 years. Before that Fred was in the banking industry for 30 years working at several banks around the country. He was Senior VP of Citizens Bank & Trust in Jonesboro, Arkansas as the number 2 man. Fred is active in Alta tennis and in his church, Cumming 1st United Methodist, where he led an adult Sunday school of 105 people.

Rocklyn E. “Rock” Hunt - Rock was born in Cordele, Ga. in 1954. He graduated from The University of Georgia in 1976 with a BBA in Banking & Finance, Magna Cum Laude. He is a member of the honor fraternities Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. Upon graduation he joined the First National Bank of Gainesville and has served in that organization, its successor Regions Bank with a tenure spanning 31 years. During his career he served in numerous capacities and as state representative on various corporate committees. He has earned numerous banking degrees and certifications in all aspects of banking in both the retail and corporate sector. His most qualifying assignments were having served as President & CEO of The Peoples Bank of Forsyth County, later Regions for 14 years. His most recent position prior to joining North Metro Bank was CEO North Georgia Banking Group responsible for 16 Community Banks throughout North Georgia with aggregate assets under management of 2.3 Billion and over 800 associates. He has lived in Forsyth County for 17 years.


NOV 01 Arthur Morgan,
Former Senior VP for the National Bank of Georgia.
 
Arthur retired as a Senior VP for the National Bank of Georgia in 1984 which he joined in 1958 as a management associate. He graduated from Georgia State University in 1957 with a BBA in Accounting and then Georgia Tech with an MS. in Industrial Management in 1958. Arthur sold real estate with Residential Real Estate Co. from 1985 to 1996 and was also a licensed appraiser.Arthur was born April 19, 1929 on a farm four miles from Vienna, Georgia in Dooly County. He graduated from Vienna High School in 1946, graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in June, 1948 and joined the Navy in September, 1948. As an enlisted man Arthur went to the Navy's meteorology school and was a weather observer and forecaster before going to Navy Flight Training and getting his wings and a Navy commission on July 3, 1952. He married Laree Peavy on July 19, 1952. Arthur was assigned to a Navy Patrol squadron and was deployed to the far east in 1953 and 1954 during the Korean conflict. Arthur joined the Navy Reserve soon after release from active duty in April of 1955 and retired as a Captain in August of 1977. Arthur lost his first wife of 33 years, Laree, to a brain tumor in November 1985 and remarried in August 1990 to Diane Hewitt. They each have three children, (two boys and a girl each) and 15 grandchildren between the two of them. All of their children live in metro Atlanta.



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