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 are provided below. Conrad (Connie) Busch serves the members as Director and Sarah Rossetti as Deputy Director.
The BENS Southeast members have established and maintain an active liaison with numerous public sector agencies engaged in disaster planning and response 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
600 Galleria Parkway
Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30339-8108
Contacts:
Conrad H. Busch, Jr., APR, Director, Southeast Region
Tel: (770) 506-8201
Fax: (770) 506-0527
cbusch@bens.org
Sarah Rossetti, Deputy Director, Southeast Region
Tel: (404) 509-1160
Fax: (404) 806-9226
srossetti@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 the eight-state Southeast.
Co - Chairman: Mr. Christopher C. Melton Sr., Chairman and CEO, The White Oak Group, Inc.
Co - Chairman: Edwin A. Wahlen Jr., Managing Partner, CGW Southeast Partners
Member: Michael R. Cote, VP, Dell SecureWorks, Inc.
Member: H.R. Elliott, VP of Public Safety and Envoronment, CSX Transportation, Inc.
Member: David J. Grain, Founder and CEO, Grain Communications Group
Member: Thomas M. Holder, Chairman and CEO, Holder Construction Company
Member: J. Brian Johnstone, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
Member: Nicholas J. Pierce, President, Nick Pierce & Associates, Inc.
Member: Dan Reardon, CEO, North Highland
Member: Joel A. Schleicher
Member: Stan W. Stavro, SVP and Senior Business Continuity Manager, Bank of America
Member: Jane Stout, Senior VP, Cookerly Public Relations
Member: Carol B. Tomé, CFO and EVP for Corporate Services, The Home Depot
Member: James M. Wells, Executive Chairman of the Board, Sun Trust Banks, Inc.
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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.
Leader: Daniel D. Reardon, CEO, North Highland Company
Member: J. L. Abernathy, Jr., Therapist and Psychophysiologist, Powers Ferry Psychological Association, LLC
Representative: Larry Ahlers
Member: Peter B. Brooker, Chairman and CEO, Redi-Floors, Inc.
Member: W. Millard Choate, President & CEO, Choate Construction Co.
Member: David A. Crow, Managing Partner, Westbourne Partners LLC
Representative: David Dorton
Member: Brian R. Esher, Chairman and CEO, Storm Consulting, LLC
Member: G. Roger Land, President, Land and Associates
Member: John F. McGovern, Former CFO, Georgia Pacific Corporation
Member: Jeffery C. McWey, CEO, GBS Enterprises/GBS Warranty Services
Representative: Dori Miller
Member: Douglass M. Tatum, Chairman and CEO, The Co-Investment Partnership
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Regional Membership Committee
Develops and executes recruiting and retention plans for the
region.
Chairman: Ezra S. Field, Managing Director, Roark Capital Group
Member: John T. Corcia, Chairman, President and CEO, Gulfstream USA, LLC
Member: Hon. R. Keegan Federal, Jr., Attorney at Law, Founder and Senior Partner, Federal and Hasson, LLP
Member: Mylle Mangum, CEO, IBT Enterprises
Member: Christopher C. Melton, Sr., Chairman and CEO, The White Oak Group, Inc.
Member: Nicholas J. Pierce, Presidnet, Nick Pierce & Associates, Inc.
Member: Bryan C.W. Tate, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Digital Corporation
Member: Edwin A. Wahlen, Jr., Managing Partner, CGW Southeast Partners
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Regional Communications Committee
Develops and executes communications plans in support of the region's recruiting, retention and policy work.
Chairman: Jane Stout, Senior VP, Cookerly Public Relations
Member: J. L. Abernathy, Jr., Therapist and Psychophysiologist, Powers Ferry Psychological Association, LLC
Member: Jonathan Lucenay, President and CEO, Summit Resources
Member: Charlie Mann, CEO and Founder, The Mann Group, Inc.
Member: Edward U. Miller, Senior VP of Investments, Senior Portfolio Manager, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Member: Joel Schleicher
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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 Aeronautics Company
Member: J. L. Abernathy, Jr., Therapist and Psychophysiologist, Powers Ferry Psychological Association, LLC
Member: James Angleton, Jr., President, AEGIS FinServ Corporation
Member: Hon. R. Keegan Federal, Jr., Attorney at Law, Founder and Senior Partner, Federal and Hasson, LLP
Member: P. Alexander Fraser, President, Turner Properties
Member: E. Alex Gregory, Chairman, President and CEO, YKK Corporation of America
Member: Stephen R. Hennessy, Hennessy Automobile Companies
Member: D. Robert Martin, VP, Global Channels, VCE Inc.
Member: Joel Schleicher
Member: Dante S. Stephensen, President and CEO, Dante’s Down the Hatch
Member: Maj. Gen. Thomas A. Wessels, USAR (Ret.), First Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch
