Welcome to BENS Southeast
Under the leadership of Bernard Marcus, Director Emeritus of The Home Depot, BENS Southeast has grown to include more than 100 distinguished business leaders. As a member-driven organization, our members set the direction and agenda for our activity throughout the region.
In addition to their involvement in BENS’ national activities, BENS Southeast members sponsor other projects and events dealing with homeland security and disaster response. Our activity calendar and contact information is provided below. Conrad (Connie) Busch serves the members as Director and Allison Cheatham as Deputy Director.
A major BENS Southeast initiative is the Georgia Business Force …a public-private partnership dedicated to strengthening the capacity of the state and business community to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disastrous events. For information about becoming part of the Georgia Business Force, contact Harry Ferris.
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Choose a link to follow headings or scroll down to learn more
about BENS Southeast:
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Regional Events Calendar
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Georgia Business Force
The Georgia Business Force is our regional homeland security partnership. Formed in 2006, the GABF has become a recognized leader in mobilizing the key infrastructure companies and the business community…across all industry segments…to support governmental response to disasters. Major projects include:
- GEMA Business Operations Center: Planned and implemented a 60 company and association response team to support GEMA in its operation of the State Emergency Operations Center in times of declared disaster. Operate the BOC under formal state charter from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
- Strategic National Stockpile: Coordinated CDC, public health and corporate activities in conducting a major anthrax vaccine distribution exercise, resulting adoption of a workable Point of Distribution (POD) protocol. For the Public Good
- Pandemic Flu: Facilitated key infrastructure company response to CDC and public health in planning for response to a potential influenza outbreak.
- Good Samaritan Law Amendment: Led a non-partisan coalition of business, state government, academic institutions, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to amend the Good Samaritan Law (OCGA 51-1-29.1) to protect corporations from liability when acting in good faith in response to declared emergencies.
Georgia Business Force Companies
Alston & Bird, LLP
AT&T
Southeast
Choice Point
CSX Transportation
The Coca-Cola Company
Data Path
Employbridge
Deloitte
and Touche LLP
Global Payments
Holder
Construction Company
IBM
Internet
Security Systems
Manhattan Associates
North Highland Company
Oldcastle Architectural, Inc.
PODS, Inc.
Southern Company
SunTrust
The Home Depot
Wachovia Corporation
The White Oak Group, Inc.
Georgia Business Force Government, Academic and Other Partners
The Governor
of Georgia
Director, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
Director, Georgia
Office of Homeland Security
Director, Georgia
Division of Public Health
Director, Georgia
Emergency Management Agency
TAG - Technology Association of Georgia
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Georgia
Department of Defense
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Office of Public Safety
Georgia Office
of the Attorney General
FEMA Region IV
Hands On Network
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News
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Mailing Address:
Southeast Region
Business Executives for National Security
191 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 1500
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1924
Contacts:
Conrad H. Busch, Jr., APR, Director, Southeast Region
Tel: (404) 220-1268
Fax: (404) 220-1263
cbusch@bens.org
Allison Cheatham, Deputy Director, Southeast Region
Tel: (404) 220-1135
Fax: (404) 220-1263
acheatham@bens.org
Harrison Ferris, Deputy Director, Southeast Region
Regional Partnerships
Tel: (404) 468-0262
Fax: (404) 220-1263
hferris@bens.org
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Regional Executive Committee
BENS is a "member-driven" organization. Region Executive
Committee members help guide and set priorities for BENS in Metro
Atlanta and the southeast.
Chairman: Bernard Marcus*, Chairman, The Marcus Foundation
Co-Chairman: Guy F. Budinscak*, Vice Chairman, Deloitte and Touche, LLP
Member: Thomas M. Holder, Chairman and CEO,
Holder Construction Co.
Member: Zenon S. Nie*, Chairman and CEO, C.E.O. Advisory Board
Member: Thomas E. Noonan, Former GM, IBM Internet Security
Systems, Inc.
*Also a member of the BENS Board of Directors
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Base Economic Development Advisory Group
Our Region Base Economic Development Advisory Group (BEDAG) helps
the military reduce overhead and costs in Georgia through the
application of private sector best business practices.
Chairman: Thomas B. Lamb, Former President and CEO, CP Kelco
Member: William Weiller, Chairman and CEO (Ret.), Purafil,
Inc.
Member: Peter Brookner, President, Redi-Floors, Inc.
Member: W. Millard Choate, President & CEO, Choate Construction Co.
Member: David H. Dorton, Vice President of Strategy, The Home Depot
Member: Gerry P. Harkins, General Manager, Southern Pan Services
Co.
Member: G. Roger Land, President, Land and Associates
Member: Robert D. Martin, Partner, Interlocken Group
Member: James B. McCurry, President & CEO, PRG Schultz
Member: Daniel D. Reardon, President and CEO, North Highland Company
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Regional Membership Committee
Develops and executes recruiting and retention plans for the
region.
Chairman: Edwin A. Wahlen, Jr., Managing Partner,
Cravey, Green,
and Wahlen, Inc.
Co-Chairman: Charles H. Robbins, Sr. VP, U.S. Commercial sales, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Member: John Corcia, Chairman, President and CEO Gulfstream USA, LLC
Member: David Dorton, Vice President Finance, Southern Region, The Home Depot
Member: Connie Engel, Partner, Childress Klein Properties
Member: William C. Lankford, Jr., Managing Member, Moore, Stephens,
Tiller, LLC
Member: Mylle Mangum, CEO, International Banking Technologies
Member: Christopher C. Melton, Managing Director, The White Oak Group, Inc.
Member: Nick Pierce, President, Nick Pierce and Associates, Inc.
Member: Daniel D. Reardon, President and CEO, North Highland Co.
Member: Frederick R. Schremp, CLU, President, Multiple Benefit/Services, Inc.
Member: Bryan Tate, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Digital Corporation
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Regional Communications Committee
Develops and executes communications plans in support of Classic
and GBF recruiting, retention and policy work.
Chairman: Mr. John S. Martin III,
Founder and Prinicpal, GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group
Member: Sam W. Austin, Partner, President & CEO, Event Streams
Member: Stephen Champness, President, Aero Marketing Service
Member: William A. Lobb, Managing
Director, Oppenheimer and Company, Inc.
Member: Christopher Melton, Managing Director, The White Oak Group, Inc.
Member: Jane Stout, Senior Vice President, Cookerly Public Relations
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