Executive Committee and Board of Directors

Executive Committee

 

 

 

 

Jim Demetry,  Chair

 

 

Demetry DeCarlo, LLC

Jim is a trusted and practical legal advisor and mediator with years of experience working with businesses and individuals to prevent legal problems and to resolve legal disputes.  With his years of experience in private practice and as a former General Counsel, Jim has counseled and advised clients on all forms of business matters.  He has been recognized as a “Best Lawyer in America” in the area of Employment Law and Employment Litigation, and has worked with companies on all aspects of the employment relationship, litigated employment and commercial lawsuits in state and federal court throughout the U.S., and trained hundreds of executives and managers on general legal and employment issues.  Jim has particular expertise in the wholesale automotive, media, broadcast, publishing and transportation areas.  Most importantly, Jim prides himself on helping companies and individuals succeed.

Jim received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he was the co-founder and Editor in Chief of The Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Henry, Vice-Chair

 

 

Aulick Engineering

Kate Henry, PE has over 10 years of experience in the transportation design and planning industry. Her diverse experience includes airport engineering, aviation planning, civil site design, public-private partnership initiatives, transportation planning, drainage design, and transportation data analysis. Kate has lived in Chamblee since 2010 and became a partner in her engineering firm based here in Chamblee in 2014. She enjoys working on projects in her own community and becoming more engaged with other locally owned businesses through the Chamber. Kate received her BS in Civil Engineer from Georgia Tech and enjoys cheering on the Yellow Jackets with her husband and their two young boys.

 

 

 

 

 

Belinda Wedgwood, Treasurer

 

 

Suthers Center for Christian Outreach

Belinda Wedgwood has lived the better part of the last 25 years in the Chamblee community. Arriving in Atlanta via Philadelphia, PA where she attended Temple University as an accounting major, Belinda began her public accounting career working for large & local public accounting firms.  Ms. Wedgwood’s 30 years of accounting systems & tax compliance experience and expertise have cultivated into a broad spectrum of business acumen, including – partnerships, service corporations, retail operations, restaurants, construction & development.  Ms. Wedgwood has a passion for service and more recently continues focus toward developing a special concentration on non-profits.  Working with the Chamblee Chamber of Commerce and the newly elected leadership feels like an opportunity to make a difference in a great community.

 

 Ronni French, Secretary

 

 

 

Consignment Furniture Depot

With long term experience as a non-profit Administrator and Executive, Ronni French is a perfect fit for the Chamber Secretary position. After 16 years with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, she founded and led the Atlanta Downtown Partnership for 13 years, working with the City, CAP, and the business community to create a more vibrant Downtown.   Ronni later worked with the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University as Development Director, and with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office as Director of Community Programs.  She is currently working with Consignment Furniture Depot in sales and research.   Ronni is also active in a number of organizations including Kiwanis International, Leadership Atlanta and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Board Members

  • Brent Morris
    CBIZ Employee Benefits
    Brent Morris

    Brent Morris has more than twenty years of commercial insurance experience with companies such as GE Capital/Employers Reinsurance, American International Group, Metropolitan Life Insurance, and Humana.

    Mr. Morris has served on the Board of Directors for the Chamblee Business Association since 2009, and as President in 2010 and 2011. He is the past Chairman of the Dunwoody North East Georgia Soap Box Derby Association, is on the Entrepreneurship Program Advisory Board for the Interactive College of Technology, and Past-President of the Chamblee Kiwanis Club. Brent has been a director of the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce since 2010, and currently serves as the Vice-Chair.

    CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc. creates tailored commercial and personal insurance solutions designed to protect your assets. We partner with you to go beyond the obvious risks and identify the exposures with the highest impact to your bottom line. And we monitor changes, assess impact and communicate regularly with you to make sure your business insurance and personal insurance keeps pace. With this consultative approach, you get peace of mind knowing your assets are protected for the long-term.

  • James Tsismanakis
    Discover DeKalb
    James Tsismanakis

    James Tsismanakis, CDME, TMP is the Executive Director and CEO of the Discover DeKalb / DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arts DeKalb, Sports DeKalb, DeKalb Hotel Council and Customer Centric Academy in Metro Atlanta. He serves on the Tucker-Northlake CID Study Steering Committee, served on the DeKalb Economic Development Strategic Plan Advisory Council helping to establish the first Economic development plan for DeKalb County and Chair of Tourism and Arts Task Force, serves on the DeKalb Africa Initiative Steering Committee, United Soccer Africa tournament planning committee for 2016, Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association Governmental Affairs Committee, Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors and Advocacy Pillar Committee member, Georgia Chamber Board, Georgia State University Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration Industry Advisory Board, the Chamblee Chamber founding member and Board of Directors, Chamblee Chamber Economic Development Committee and Chamblee Main Street Development Committee and DeKalb Chamber Board of Directors. Selected by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and July 2016 as one of the Who’s Who 100 Leaders Who Are Shaping Atlanta’s Hospitality Industry. The DCVB was honored by winning the Georgia Tourism – Al Burruss Award For Creative Expression – We Are DeKalb Magazine in 2013 and for the new Discover DeKalb Magazine at the 2015 Governors Conference on Tourism. He resides in the Northlake area of Atlanta with his wife Bethany and their three children.

    Specialties: Tourism, product development, destination management, destination marketing, and foundation management.

  • JoAnn Kock
    Interactive College of Technology
  • John D. Revell, Sr.
    St. Vincent de Paul Georgia
    John D. Revell, Sr.

    John is an Atlanta native and went to St Jude and Marist schools and attended Spring Hill College in Mobile AL.  He was the CEO/President of Revell Flooring Company, Inc. which furnished and installed athletic flooring throughout the Southeast.  John sold his company and retired but after some years decided that he wanted to go back to work doing something to give back.  His extensive business management and project management experience will be invaluable to helping us improve our operations and for when we begin the building transformation after the Capital Campaign.

     

    He attends St Brigid Catholic Church and is a past Grand Knight of his council and current Faithful Navigator of the Assembly.  John is married to DeLana (33 years) and they have two grown children, Stephanie and John Jr (Daniel).

  • Julio Peñaranda
    Plaza Fiesta
  • Liz Montgomery
    Atlanta Marriott Century Center/Emory Area
    Liz Montgomery

    Liz is the Catering Sales Manager for the Atlanta Marriott Century Center where she is responsible for all events from 2 people up to 500 with few guest rooms. This is Liz’s second tour of duty at this property. She has been with several Marriott properties in Atlanta over the last 14 years and also spent some time traveling to various Marriott properties who were in need of sales assistance. She has been awarded Marriott Chairman’s Circle; President’s Circle; Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards as well as the PacWest Regions Superior Sales Assistance Award. Her favorite events are Weddings, Mitzvahs and anything with a social vibe.

    Liz is also a Licensed Real Estate Agent with Atlanta Communities and a Certified Wedding and Event Planner (CWEP). In addition to the Marriott and Atlanta Communities, Liz owns her own Travel and Event Company. Liz moved to Georgia in 1983 from Indiana and earned her BS in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2003.

    You can reach her at elizabeth.montgomery@marriott.com or elizabethmontgomery@atlcommunities.net

  • Victoria Schutter
    Consignment Furniture Depot