Dara Albright/NowStreet

Dara Albright is the Founder of NowStreet Media, a leader in financial markets’ reform. Dara is a thought provoker and frequent speaker on topics relating to the private markets and crowdfunding. She is the author of the NowStreet Journal, a primary provider of analysis and insight into the private company marketplace as well as the legislation and innovation currently fueling it. Based on her original hypothesis that directly correlates advancements in mass communications with stock market growth, NowStreet highlights the dynamic economic impact of a purely growth marketplace rising during the most ground-breaking period of mass media and regulatory reform. Prior to founding NowStreet, Dara has held a distinguished 20 year career in investment banking, investor relations and institutional sales. She has organized and managed hundreds of road shows and conferences for Wall Street’s elite. She has worked closely with a number of institutional and accredited investors providing investment and trading strategies as well as restricted transaction services. Dara has helped raise financing for companies across the globe in a variety of industries at various phases and rollouts.  She is a graduate of the George Washington University and holds securities industry Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

Fred Rich/Cooper-Global Chauffeured Transportation

Fred Rich is the President of Cooper-Global Chauffeured Transportation.  Cooper-Global has been in existence since 2005 and in a very short amount of time has been ranked by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the number one limousine company in Atlanta.  Fred is a native of Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1975.  In his “first life” Fred owned an advertising agency in Atlanta called Rich/Gardner Advertising which he sold to monster.com in 2001.  He is an avid sports fan and has been a high school football referee for 14 years.  He has been married for 34 years to Dianne and has two daughters, Jessica and Andrea and grandson Micah.

Bob Sleppy/Nuçi’s Space

Bob Sleppy is a 2010 graduate of the Master of Business Administration Program at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. In addition to MBA coursework, Bob completed the requirements for a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations. The certificate included a directed study with a focus on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise. Prior to graduate studies, he completed a B.S. in Psychology (with a concentration in Organizational & Industrial Psychology) from the University of Georgia.

Bob has been the Executive Director of Nuçi’s Space in Athens, GA since 1999. Nuçi’s Space is a non-profit health and music resource center in Athens, GA. The aim of the organization is to prevent suicide by providing obstacle free treatment for musicians suffering from depression and other such disorders as well as to assist in the emotional, physical and professional well-being of musicians. The organization employs a diverse range of funding, including earned income, to meet financial goals. Nuçi’s Space is in the beginning stages of expanding the organization’s mission to include the Atlanta-area creative community.

In addition to his work with Nuçi’s Space, Bob is a part-time lecturer at the University of Georgia, teaching “Social Entrepreneurship” to graduate students in the Masters of Nonprofit Management Program. He is also a co- owner of a small manufacturing company, Pretty Road Cases LLC, which produces high-quality road cases for a variety of applications including sports equipment, medical equipment and professional music gear.

Bob Sleppy resides in Athens, GA with his wife Rachel and daughter Finley.

Andrea Borden/NAWBO

Andrea Borden is the President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), as well as Partner with Borden Schmidt Consulting.  Andrea has twenty years of sales management and business development experience with technology, media and consulting companies. Her diverse experience makes her uniquely qualified to provide sales consulting and sales coaching services.  Andrea has a proven track record of increasing sales rapidly within a wide range of companies such as Robert Half International, Spherion Staffing, Compaq Computer/HP and Ziff-Davis Media.

Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is the voice of America’s 10.6 million women-owned businesses and is the only dues-based national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from University of West Florida. She is an active member of Buckhead Church and enjoys mentoring at-risk children in Atlanta.

Join 200 Peachtree for an evening of live entertainment, complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, and networking with some of the brightest stars in Atlanta’s small business community!  September’s event happens on Thursday the 20th from 6pm-8pm.  CLICK HERE to register!