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Sterling Seacrest Pritchard Announces Hire of Director of Producer Development Matt Ford

Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, one of the nation’s top 100 commercial insurance brokers, has announced the hire of Director of Producer Development Matt Ford. 

Matt is based in the company’s Atlanta office. In this role, he will recruit and develop producers enabling them to expedite their validation and achieve partner status. In addition, Matt will work directly with additional team members to develop and enhance the SSP sales strategy. 

“We are excited to have Matt join our SSP team,” said Chairman of the Board John Miller. “Matt’s experience and expertise will be a driving force behind our company’s growth and the perpetuation of our production team.” 

With over 34 years of experience in the insurance industry, Matt most recently served as the Senior Vice President at Amerisure where his focus was Field Marketing & Underwriting in addition to Partnership Operations. 

Originally from Indiana, Matt attended Ball State University where he graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Corporate Finance and Risk Management and Insurance. 

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How to Get Access to the MLS Database Without a License

How to Get Access to the MLS Database Without a LicenseAs a real estate investor, you are well aware that you will need access to important data in order to make the best possible investment decisions. Real estate investing is…
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Hyperion Bancshares Q2 Sees Revenues and Net Income Up

In its Second Quarter 2024 Report to Shareholders, Hyperion Bancshares, Inc., Hyperion Bank’s holding company, noted more moderate balance sheet growth in loans and deposits, as well as growth in revenues and net income.

“Revenues have increased 26% and our net income is up 38% over the same period last year,” says Charlie Crawford, CEO & Chairman of the Philadelphia-based community bank, which also has a banking office and mortgage joint venture in Atlanta. “And the credit quality of our loan portfolio continues to be very good.”

Shareholders also learned that Paul Rutkowski, Hyperion CFO, has announced his retirement, first working concurrently with the bank’s new SVP, CFO & Treasurer, Eric Golden, to ensure continuity. Golden previously served in CFO & Controller roles with Iron Workers Bank, Susquehanna Bancshares and Abington Bank, as well as being a Senior Auditor with Deloitte.

“Paul’s financial leadership over the last seven years has seen Hyperion Bank go from assets of $89 million to $420 million,” Crawford says. “Capital grew from $6 million to $41 million, and net income has increased by a multiple of 13. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Paul during such a pivotal time for the bank.”

Hyperion is among the 20 finalists in the small company category for the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2024 Best Places to Work. “We’re proud to be an employer of choice, and to be the only bank in our category,” says Hyperion President & COO Lou DeCesare.

Founded in 2006, Hyperion is a full-service community bank, connecting with customers via technology and highly accessible, experienced, enthusiastic bankers who have local decision-making authority. The bank expanded to the Atlanta market in 2019 and in 2020 launched joint venture Hyperion Mortgage, which now does business in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Offer of credit is subject to approval.

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GPTC Earns Prestigious Accreditation for Adult Learners

Georgia Piedmont Technical College announced today that it has earned Cognia® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. The accreditation will go a long way in Georgia Piedmont providing recognized credentials for its adult learners.

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts and providers that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school is accredited, and that Georgia Piedmont Technical College is recognized across the nation as a school that meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.

“School accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Georgia Piedmont a nationally recognized mark of quality,” shared GPTC President Dr. Tavarez Holston. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”

Coordinator for Georgia Piedmont’s Career Plus initiative, Philandria Williams, said, “Thanks to the accreditation, GPTC can award our own high school diplomas to our students. So now we officially have a second option for students rather than solely high school equivalency with GED or HiSet® exams.”

The Career Plus program allows students 18 years and older to simultaneously earn their high school diploma and college credentials – all while starting on a career path.

To earn Cognia accreditation, a school district or education service provider must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review.  Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Georgia Piedmont is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards, is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

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Dr. Ashwani Monga Named Interim President of the University of West Georgia

University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue today named USG’s Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Ashwani Monga, as interim president of the University of West Georgia, effective Aug. 19.  

UWG President Brendan B. Kelly announced in June he had accepted the role of president of the Arkansas State University System, which encompasses seven institutions in the state. The leadership transition between Monga and Kelly will begin prior to Kelly’s departure at the end of August.  

“Under Dr. Kelly’s leadership, UWG has created multiple new degree programs focused on Georgia’s workforce, named a new college of Mathematics, Computing, and Sciences and strengthened fundraising and student retention,” Perdue said. “We wish him and his family well and are grateful to Dr. Monga for taking on this temporary role at such a critical time. Ashwani’s previous administrative experience at Rutgers University and his academic leadership over the past two years across USG will help bring consistency and strategic insight to UWG ahead of a national search to find its next president.” 

Details of the search will be forthcoming. At its conclusion, Monga will return to his executive vice chancellor role at USG. 

As USG’s chief academic officer, Monga oversees systemwide initiatives related to academic programs and innovations, enrollment management and student affairs, student success, faculty teaching and research, the Georgia Film Academy, the Georgia Public Library Service, the Georgia Archives, and Georgia’s virtual library, Galileo. He also holds a faculty appointment in the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

“I am grateful to Chancellor Perdue for his trust in my ability to lead UWG in the interim while we begin a search to find a new president,” Monga said. “President Kelly has done tremendous work, and I’m looking forward to working with faculty and staff as the university builds on its momentum, helping students succeed in college and in their careers.”  

Before joining USG, Monga served as provost and executive vice chancellor at Rutgers University—Newark, where he was the university’s chief academic officer. He was also on the faculty at Rutgers Business School, where he was a professor in the marketing department. Monga has also taught at the University of Minnesota; University of Texas, San Antonio; Koç University, Turkey; and the University of South Carolina. He has won awards for his teaching, as well as commendations for research excellence. Monga’s research on consumer behavior, particularly the psychology of time and money, has been published in the most influential journals of marketing. He has also co-authored a book, “Becoming a Consumer Psychologist.” 

He earned his Ph.D. in business administration with a major in marketing, and minors in psychology and statistics, from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He earned his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India, and his Bachelor of Technology degree from the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal, India.  

 
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Bobby Dodd Institute Welcomes Four New Board Members

Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI) announced the appointment of a new board chair, Peter Lauer. On the BDI board since 2016, Peter believes BDI is an amazing way to engage people with physical and intellectual disabilities in productive careers, leading to happier lives. Peter is an experienced commercial leader in the B2B world with a passion for technology and engineering- based businesses. He has led sales teams and managed corporate development both domestically and globally. A natural-born leader, Peter combines strategic thinking with operational discipline. Peter inherits the position from Andy Tuck, who will now serve as an Immediate Past Chair.

“I joined the BDI board through angel investing, where I met Rodney Hall, and we continue to serve together. It is an honor to provide strategic leadership to an organization that delivers real value to people. I am a huge fan. Serving on the board has been a great experience for me, and I am excited about the opportunity to be elected as the new board chair,” commented Peter Lauer.

Four new board members join the organization, Bala Sundaramoorthy, Katie Hearn, Laura Putz, and Thomas Smith.

Bala is a veteran business and technology leader with expertise in media and entertainment, financial services, and the software-as-a-service industry. As a father of two children with Stargardt’s disease, he understands how life-altering disabilities can be. He says that joining the BDI board is a special opportunity for him to give back to the community and help further the organization’s mission.

After suffering sudden vision loss, Katie Hearn quickly showed those around her that her lack of sight would not define her. As the 2018 recipient of the Walter Banks Hospitality Award and the 2019 recipient of LaGrange College’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award, she is a tireless advocate for disability employment across Georgia. Hearn is the Gameday Staffing and Administration Manager and Club ADA Coordinator for the Atlanta Braves. She lives in Smyrna with her guide dog, Jack.

Laura Putz serves as General Counsel for Gray Matters Capital, focusing on non-profit compliance and impact investing in the developing world. She has spent the last 10 years practicing law in the impact investment space, helping investors and entrepreneurs achieve their missions.

Thomas Smith is a dynamic professional with over 15 years in the chemical industry, specializing in business development. With a passion for driving growth and a knack for creative problem-solving, he excels in expanding market opportunities and forging strategic partnerships. “BDI has developed a sustainable framework to empower individuals with disabilities. This demographic is frequently marginalized, but BDI’s efforts have opened avenues for many to harness their present and future capabilities, fostering invaluable self-worth and a sense of purpose,” says Thomas.

At the beginning of the new fiscal year for BDI, after an independent vote, several leadership changes have taken place. John Ralls, Managing Director, Impact Wealth Advisors at William Blair, was appointed as Vice Chair. Lori Chase, Senior Vice President and Public Relations Director at First Horizon Bank, replaced Special Needs Planning attorney Kristen Lewis as the secretary. Fred Hill, Principal Managing Director at NFP, took over the treasurer position from Rodney Hall, who previously held the role and is the Executive Vice President and Atlanta Market President at First Horizon Bank. Also on the BDI Board of Directors are Jim Terry, John McKenney, Judith Moen – Stanley, Kedrick Eily, Maryann Balbo, and Peg Nichols.

Larry Gluth, President and CEO of Bobby Dodd Institute says: “As we begin fiscal year 2025 with enthusiasm and ambitious goals for the future of the organization, we are honored to welcome our new board members. It will be exciting to see their ideas and fresh perspectives in action as they drive BDI’s mission forward. The next few years are critically important for BDI as we aim to double the number of individuals we serve by 2027. I would also like to thank Andy for his outstanding leadership over the past two years and Peter for his dedicated service to the disability community. We are grateful to all our board members for their contributions to the organization and the individuals and families we serve.”

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Arkadios Lands $325 Million LPL Team in Texas

 Stewardship Wealth Management, a fast-growing financial advisory firm founded by Chris Albertson, Tyler Maness and Alan Jenkins, has successfully transitioned $325 million in assets under advisement to hybrid broker-dealer Arkadios Capital. 

The move adds yet another large advisory team to Arkadios Capital’s  fast-growing community of successful advisors, and solidifies a partnership that aims to accelerate growth and expand investment solutions.

Stewardship Wealth is the second large LPL team to join Arkadios in as many months, following Gulf Coast Wealth Management’s $825 million transition in June.     

“The team at Stewardship Wealth Management is excited to be joining Arkadios Capital,” said Chris Albertson, Chief Executive Officer of Stewardship Wealth Management. “Arkadios shares our commitment to a client-centered and innovative approach to wealth management. We are thrilled to have a partner that values growth and allows us a host of new offerings for clients. We believe this move will further strengthen our ability to meet and exceed our clients’ goals.”

Stewardship Wealth has experienced significant growth and has been ranked  as one of the fastest-growing investment firms in Texas. The transition will enable them to leverage Arkadios Capital’s extensive experience in practice acquisition and High Net Worth wealth management solutions. 

“Stewardship Wealth’s decision to join Arkadios further underscores the disruption in the traditional independent brokerage model,” said Nate Stibbs, Director of Corporate Strategy at Arkadios Capital. “Leading advisory firms like Stewardship want a partner, not a platform, that will grow and evolve with them, not against them. That is why Arkadios is successfully attracting elite firms like Stewardship.”

Arkadios Capital, a dual-registered RIA and Broker-Dealer, provides advisory groups with the flexibility to grow their businesses on their own terms. Their advisors can operate under the Arkadios RIA, Arkadios Wealth Advisors, and have access to a broad spectrum of investment solutions, including private equity, real estate funds, hedge funds, credit funds, structured products, oil and gas, managed futures and 1031 offerings. Arkadios Capital is built on independence, flexible investments and collaborative culture.

Recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in Georgia for three consecutive years by the Association for Corporate Growth, Arkadios Capital also ranks in the top 30 on Financial Advisor Magazine’s Independent Broker-Dealer list.

For more information on Stewardship Wealth Management, visit stewardship-wealth.com.

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Trump Economic Boom 2025

Trump Economic Boom 2025

The Trump Economic Boom 2025 The resignation of Joe Biden and the refusal of Barack Obama to endorse Kamala Harris, has sent the Democrat Party into turmoil and conflict. The infighting is only beginning as hopefuls try to capture attention and support ahead of their convention. The disarray of the failing party seems to be…

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Earnings Up for Q2 as June ‘Functional Unemployment’ Declines, Says Ludwig Institute

Overall labor market indicators point to improvements for middle- and lower-income workers, with “functional unemployment rates” declining and earnings rising for key demographics, according to a report by the  Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP). But the report also reveals gains are unevenly distributed, with women in the workforce losing ground for the second consecutive quarter, resulting in the widest gender pay gap in two years.

LISEP issued its monthly True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) for June in conjunction with the Q2 2024 True Weekly Earnings (TWE) report. TRU is a measure of the “functionally unemployed” — defined as the jobless plus those seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment paying above poverty wages (pegged at $25,000 a year in 2024 dollars), while TWE is a measure of median weekly earnings (after adjusting for inflation) for all members of the workforce. This includes part-time workers and the jobless who are seeking work. By comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics headline numbers only include those who are employed at full-time jobs.

The TWE rose $3 a week in Q2, from $958 to $961 — but it remains 2% lower than its Q4 2023 levels ($20/week). Black workers experienced the most significant quarter-over-quarter growth at 3.1%, rising to $810, a $24/week increase — but their earnings remain 2.9% below Q4 2023 levels. Hispanic workers also saw gains, with earnings up 2.9% ($12/week) to $788. White workers lost ground, dropping 1.5% ($16/week) to $1,064.

Meanwhile, women’s earnings declined for the second consecutive quarter, dropping 1.4% ($12/week) to $846, while men saw a 0.9% increase ($10/week) to $1,096. This disparity equates to women earning 77 cents for every dollar earned by men — resulting in the widest gender pay gap since 2022. Low-wage workers also experienced a setback, with earnings for the bottom quartile falling 0.1% to $599, declining for the third consecutive quarter.

“While median wage growth is encouraging, a closer examination reveals some alarming trends,” said LISEP Chairman Gene Ludwig. “Even though Black and Hispanic workers experienced wage gains, these increases were not sufficient to close the persistent income gap. Moreover, women and low-wage workers face declining earnings. Overall improvement does little for those who continue to lose ground in an otherwise strong economy.”

The overall TRU also improved in June, falling 0.1 percentage points to 24.5%, primarily due to easing pricing pressures. Black and Hispanic workers experienced TRU decreases of 1.2 and 2.1 percentage points, respectively, to 26.9% and 26.8%. The TRU for White workers rose 1.1 percentage points, to 23.8%. But unlike the TWE, the TRU for men increased 0.3 percentage points to 20.2%, while the rate for women improved, dropping 0.5 percentage points, to 29.4% — largely driven by a rising labor force participation rate for men and a declining participation rate for women. This month’s slight improvement diverges from the TRU’s rising trajectory since the beginning of the year.

“While we would like to see a silver lining in even modest improvements, more sustained progress needs to be made to reverse the worsening economic picture faced by low- and middle-income workers over the last year,” Ludwig said. “If we are to right the ship, we need a wholesale shift in how we manage the economy. And that begins with policymakers focusing economic stimulus efforts on those individuals, and communities, that need it the most.”

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Lawsuit Charges State Election Board with Meeting Illegally

Capitol Beat is a nonprofit news service operated by the Georgia Press Educational Foundation that provides coverage of state government to newspapers throughout Georgia. For more information visit capitol-beat.org.

A nonprofit nonpartisan watchdog group filed a lawsuit Friday charging the State Election Board with violating Georgia’s Open Meetings Act after meeting last week without legally required public notice or a quorum.

The three Republicans on the five-member board gave preliminary approval during a special meeting last Friday to rules changes that would require local election officials to post daily updates on their websites and inside polling places during early voting and give poll watchers greater access on election nights while votes are being processed.

Action on the two rules had been postponed from three days earlier when the board’s regularly scheduled meeting ran long.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Fulton County Superior Court by the group American Oversight, notice of the special meeting wasn’t posted until late the day before the meeting took place. Even then, the notice was posted outside the meeting room rather than on the board’s website, where meeting notices are usually posted.

Neither board Chairman John Fervier nor Sara Tindall Ghazal, the board’s lone Democrat, were available to attend the meeting, and one of the three Republican board members attended virtually, in violation of the Open Meetings Act, the suit charges.

“Three members of the State Election Board rammed through a last-minute meeting to consider controversial rule changes without notifying the public,” said Chioma Chukwu, American Oversight’s executive director.

“Georgia’s Open Meetings Act and others like it are vital to a functioning democracy by helping ensure official actions are conducted in full view of the public. Attempts to maneuver around it to advance changes to Georgia’s election rules are a clear violation of this law.”

The lawsuit seeks to have the rules changes voted on during the meeting declared null and void and the meeting itself declared invalid.

The board is expected to conduct a final vote Aug. 6 on the two rules changes as well as a proposal board members tentatively approved during the earlier regularly scheduled meeting that would make it easier for local elections officials to challenge the certification of election results.