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BENS Southeast


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 Elayne Powell as Deputy Director.

The BENS Southeast members have established and maintain an active liaison with numerous public sector agencies engaged in disaster planning and homeland security within the State of Georgia.  Through its Disaster Planning & Response Task Group, BENS SE members continue bring best private sector practices to bear on these issues.  This is accomplished through providing subject matter experts and advisory assistance on an as-requested basis.

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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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News

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Mailing Address:
Southeast Region

Business Executives for National Security
Atlantic Station
201 Seventeenth Street, NW
Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30363-1191

Contacts:

Conrad H. Busch, Jr., APR, Director, Southeast Region

Tel: (770) 506-8201
Fax: (770) 506-0527
cbusch@bens.org

Elayne Powell, Deputy Director, Southeast Region

Tel: (404) 509-1160
Fax: (404) 806-9226
epowell@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.

Co-Chairman: Daniel D. Reardon, President and CEO, North Highland Company
Member: Peter Brookner, President, Redi-Floors, Inc.
Member: W. Millard Choate, President & CEO, Choate Construction Co.
Member: G. Roger Land, President, Land and Associates
Member: James B. McCurry, President & CEO, Pediatric Services of America


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Regional Membership Committee

Develops and executes recruiting and retention plans for the region.

Chairman: Nick Pierce, President, Nick Pierce and Associates, Inc.
Member: John Corcia, Chairman, President and CEO Gulfstream USA, LLC
Member: Keegan Federal, Attorney at Law, Founder and Senior Partner, Federal and Hasson, LLP
Member: Mylle Mangum, CEO, International Banking Technologies
Member: Christopher C. Melton, Managing Director, The White Oak Group, Inc.
Member: Ryan Parent, Managing Director, Veridicus Ventures, LLC
Member: Edwin A. Wahlen, Jr., Managing Partner, Cravey, Green, and Wahlen, 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: Jane Stout, Chairman, Cookerly Public Relations

Member: Connie Engel, Partner-Office Division, Childress Klein Properties
Member: Jonathan Lucenay, President and CEO, Summit Resources
Member: Charlie Mann, CEO and Founder, The Mann Group, Inc.
Member: Ryan C. Parent, Managing Director, Veridicus Ventures, LLC

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Regional Events Committee

Develops and executives regional event plans for the region.

Chairman:  Brian Johnstone, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Lockheed Martin
Member: Jim Balkcom, Founding Partner, Council Ventures, L.P.
Member: Alex Gregory, President and CEO, YKK Corporation of America
Member: Steve Hennessy, President, Hennessy Automobile Companies
Member: Dante Stephensen, President and CEO, Dante’s Down the Hatch
Member: Tom Wessels, Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch