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Aaron M, Steve A, Sarah W, Jeff W, Nathan W, & Emily R (Host)

Aaron Marks w/ Marks Law Group

Aaron Marks, founder of the Marks Law Group, is a personal injury attorney specializing in representing those who have been injured and killed through the negligent operation of non-emergency medical transportation. Non-Emergency Medical Transport is any transportation to and from medical treatment by a third party. Many people take non-emergency medical transportation to dialysis, to their doctor, and to and from a group home. These vans are so prevalent you’ve probably passed one going to work today.

Experience:

Aaron Marks has handled catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout Metro Atlanta against:

• Cities
• Municipalities
• National Retailers
• Police Departments
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Companies
• Physicians
• Insurance Companies

Cases and Claims:

• $240,000 for disputed negligence against non-emergency medical transportation company
• $600,000 for disputed slip and fall against national retailer
• $200,000 for automobile accident resulting in crushed heal
• $175,000 for family in disputed auto accident
• $150,000 for man assaulted by employee at national retailer
• $300,000 for disputed car accident resulting in cervical fusion

Organizations and Associations:

• State Bar of Georgia
• Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
• DeKalb Bar Association
• Atlanta Bar Association
• American Association for Justice

Publications:

• Georgia Biking Accidents 101: Why Biking Accidents are Different
• Five Things to Know if You Are Injured at Wal-Mart
• Georgia Trucking Accidents 101: Why Trucking Accidents are Different
• Georgia Drunk Driving Accidents 101: Why Drunk Driving Accidents are Different
• Who Is Driving the Van? A Look at Non-Emergency Medical Transport Accidents

Since graduating from Georgia State University College of Law Aaron has pursued his interest in public service by serving on the Oakhurst Community Garden’s Board of Directors, College Heights Learning Center’s Nutrition Committee and becoming an active member of the City of Decatur. Aaron is not just another lawyer – he’s a passionate advocate for his client. Aaron routinely visits clients at home and at the hospital, negotiates with doctors, treatment centers and insurance companies, and makes sure the client is at the center of every decision. Aaron became an attorney because he wanted to help people. In his law practice Aaron helps injured people become whole again and regain their previous lives.

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Stephen D. Apolinsky w/ Apolinsky & Associates, LLC.

Stephen D. Apolinsky, founder of Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, is a preeminent Atlanta injury lawyer with an established record of achieving results for his clients. During his career, Steve has successfully tried over 75 cases to verdict before juries. He has also successfully negotiated over 250 cases with more than 20 in the six-figure range.

A few examples of Steve’s professional accomplishments and honors include:

• Winning a $7.3 million verdict for a business owner against the City of Atlanta
• Named to 2012 edition of Top Rated Lawyers, a special, once-a-year stand-alone magazine appearing in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Wall Street Journal and Daily Report
• American Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Trial Lawyers
• Georgia Trend Magazine “Legal Elite: Georgia’s Most Effective Lawyers”
• Inducted as a life member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum; an honor awarded to trial attorneys winning million dollar verdicts and settlements
• Recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the state of Georgia by the American Trial Lawyers Association
• Earning an AV rating by his peers through Martindale-Hubbell
• Named a 2010 Super Lawyer

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Steve is a native of the south and a second-generation lawyer. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in 1983 and returned to the south to earn his Juris Doctorate at Emory University Law School in 1987.

Steve practices law in Georgia, Alabama and the District of Columbia. He is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Steve also serves on the Board of Directors of the DeKalb County Bar Association.

Steve’s areas of practice include car and truck accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, catastrophic injuries; he is an Atlanta wrongful death attorney. As a member of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLAmerica), Steve has particular interest and experience in the nuances of commercial truck accidents. Steve was recently elected for a third term to the Board of Directors for the Dekalb Bar Association and he was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Leadership Dekalb. He is also a Champion Member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

Outside the courtroom, Steve often teaches and serves as guest speaker for courses at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and DeKalb Perimeter College.

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Sarah R. Watchko, Esq. w/ Bettis, Hill & Vann, LLC.

Sarah R. Watchko, Esq. is Of Counsel with Bettis, Hill & Vann, LLC.  Mrs. Watchko’s major practice areas include elder law, Medicaid and Veterans Administration benefits planning, special needs planning, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (“CELA”) by the National Elder Law Foundation, the only national certifying program for elder law and special needs attorneys. The purpose of the certification program is to identify those lawyers who have the enhanced knowledge, skills, experience, and proficiency to be properly identified to the public as a certified elder law attorney. CELAs must complete a rigorous full-day examination and demonstrate that their law practice is focused on special needs and elder law. Once certified, a CELA must continue to practice primarily in elder law and special needs, and complete continuing education credits specifically targeted to advanced practitioners. Most of the leading figures in the elder law and special needs field today hold the CELA certification.

Mrs. Watchko obtained her undergraduate degrees in 2005 from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, where she graduated magna cum laude with B.A. degrees in Psychology and Philosophy.  She continued on to Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as a Full Merit Scholarship Recipient and returned to the Atlanta area upon her graduation from Wake Forest in 2008.  

Mrs. Watchko is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is accredited by the Veterans Administration. She is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the Atlanta Bar Association’s Estate Planning and Probate Section, and served as Chair of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Elder Law Section for the 2012-2013 year.  Her pro bono activities include the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline; DeKalb Volunteer Lawyer Foundation; DeKalb County Probate Information Center; and Fulton County Probate Information Center.

While Mrs. Watchko’s clients come in all ages, she is especially passionate about working with the elderly.  She promotes education for seniors and their loved ones through her speaking engagements as well as her blog, the Elder Law Update (www.elderlawupdate.net).

An Atlanta native, Mrs. Watchko lives in the Brookhaven area with her husband Jeff, son Will, and their loving mutt, Jack.  She and her brother William attended Marist School in Brookhaven, and her husband attended Roswell High School.  Both her brother and husband were collegiate athletes at Georgia Tech who went on to play professional sports (the former playing football and the latter, baseball), and both families remain avid Georgia Tech fans.

Website     LinkedIn     Facebook     Twitter     Elder Law Update

Jeffrey S. Warncke w/ Evans, Scholz, Williams & Warncke, LLC.

Mr. Warncke received his Bachelor of Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, at Georgia State University in 1988. He graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law Cum Laude in 1991. While in law school, Mr. Warncke was selected as one of three students to represent UGA Law School in the American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition. The three member team took second place overall nationwide in brief writing. The team also advanced to the quarter finals in the national oral argument competition in New York, New York.

Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Warncke began working as an associate at Dietrick, Evans, Scholz & Williams, and became partner on January 1, 1998. In 2011, Mr. Warncke became a name partner in Evans, Scholz, Williams & Warncke, LLC.

Mr. Warncke has developed a niche specialty fighting abuses by insurers in the long term disability, life insurance, and health insurance arenas, under both federal ERISA law and under Georgia state bad faith insurance law. Since 2006 Mr. Warncke has recovered more than 25 million dollars in insurance benefits, all on claims that insurance companies attempted to deny.

Mr. Warncke’s practice also includes representing seriously injured and disabled persons in actions arising from work-related accidents, automobile collisions, and tractor trailer collisions.

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Nathan Woody, Corales & Woody

Nathan Woody specializes in representing injured workers in Georgia. Respected by opponents and peers alike, his only goal is to fight for his clients in a way that is effective, efficient, and professional. Whether filing a claim, arguing in court, or negotiating a settlement agreement, Nathan’s focus is on answering his clients’ questions, zealously representing their interests, and helping guide his clients toward a recovery and an improvement of their lives.

Nathan graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina before earning his Juris Doctor degree from Georgia State University. After graduation, Nathan spent several years representing employers and insurance companies in worker’s compensation cases, developing an impressive expertise in this area of law. In addition, this experience gave him a deep knowledge of how employers and insurance companies view and handle these types of cases; knowledge that he now uses to successfully represent injured workers and maximize their benefits and recoveries. If you want to meet with Nathan to discuss your case, there is no fee for a consultation regarding your work injury. In fact, there are no fees at all until you receive your compensation.

Nathan is a frequent presenter at professional education programs for law schools and industry seminars. He is an active member of the Georgia and Atlanta Bar Associations and a volunteer with the Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program of Georgia, benefiting the children of parents who are killed on the job. He is admitted to practice in the State of Georgia and the Federal Districts of Northern and Middle Georgia and Northern Florida.

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Damon Elmore, Eileen Gray, & Emily Rowell (Host)

Damon Elmore w/ Nowell Sparks, LLC

Damon is a Member of Nowell Sparks, LLC in Atlanta. His work and practice areas focus on matters involving HR and Employment Law for non-profit, local government and small business clients. He has over 18 years experience representing public and private sector clients.

He has significant experience as an in-house corporate lawyer, advising corporate subsidiaries and divisions and successfully representing his clients in disciplinary actions and review grievances filed by employees and bargaining units. He is also a former Vice President of Human Resources for a Fortune^® 250 company, responsible for rebuilding and leading the human resources function for the manufacturing, import parts and transportation divisions of the company in the U.S. and Canada. His responsibilities included providing strategic oversight, guidance and direction for many functions, including general human resources controls, employee relations, compensation guidelines, workforce planning, investigations, compliance, recruitment and crisis management.

Damon is a native of Savannah, Georgia and fan of community related activities. He is the current president of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Legal Services Program (2014-2015); a member of the Board for the WDM Community Center in College Park, GA, and; he serves as the HR Liaison for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Out of his business attire, he is currently in the middle of a personal initiative to bike in every Georgia County (159) to raise money and awareness for GLSP.

Website     LinkedIn     Facebook     Twitter     Bike GA Web

Bike GA Twitter

Eileen Gray w/ Gray & Associates

Eileen Gray, SPHR provides consulting services in the areas of:

• Organizational Effectiveness
• Training and Facilitation
• Executive Coaching
• Culture Change
• Diversity
• Recruitment

Key Capabilities and Experience

Eileen has over 25 years of business experience as an entrepreneur, sales executive, human resource leader, and trainer. She has worked with organizations of all sizes and industries helping them implement solutions that drive strategic organizational results by leveraging the talents and engagement of its human capital.

As a sales executive, Eileen led business development in the Southeast for Development Dimensions International (DDI), one of the largest global talent development and assessment firms, consistently exceeding million dollar sales goals through her ability to translate client needs into solutions and build relationships with senior corporate executives. Eileen was responsible for closing numerous high profile accounts with Fortune 500 and was responsible for overseeing the account and managing client relationships.

Prior to spending 10 years in sales, Eileen spent several years in human resources where she progressed though various levels of Human Resource management positions within ALCOA, Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Contel, and ADVO.

More recently Eileen has used her expertise in talent development and human resources as a consultant, trainer, and coach.

Eileen has engaged extensively with Cox Communications managing projects related to workforce planning, selection system design and implementation, executive search, and the development of strategic partnerships to meet diversity recruitment objectives.  She also customized competency models for better alignment with the selection process and led RFP processes to select and implement assessment tools for sales positions.

Eileen also delivers training and facilitation in leadership, diversity, performance management, personal branding, trust, conflict resolution, change, team building, customer service, and interviewing skills.

Throughout her career, Eileen has helped others address their individual strengths and developmental areas in order to achieve the strategic goals of the organization including interpretation of assessment results and the development of action plans.

Eileen has training certifications from DDI, as well as Stephen Covey’s Speed of Trust, and Employment Learning International’s (ELI) Civil Treatment Series.

Eileen is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She has a bachelor’s degree in Personnel and Labor Relations from the University of Maryland and certificate in Human Resources Management from Kennesaw State University.

Eileen is a member of SHRM Atlanta, held various leadership positions in the Atlanta Human Resources Association and is the current president of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources.

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Shalamar Parham, Steven Parker, Beth Garrett, Emily Rowell (Host)

Shalamar Parham w/ Parham Law Firm, LLC

Shalamar Parham, a native of Atlanta, is a community oriented divorce and family law attorney.  Shalamar is managing principal of Parham Law Firm, LLC, a family law boutique in Atlanta.  Shalamar tirelessly represents her clients in divorce, child support, legitimation, and child custody matters. Shalamar obtained her juris doctorate degree from John Marshall Law School.

Shalamar serves the community through her positions with various community and professional organizations.  Shalamar serves as Executive Policy Officer for Atlanta West Economic Development, as a Board Secretary for Youth Connections and formerly as board member of Cherokee County Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children.  Shalamar also serves as a volunteer attorney for Clayton County Pro Bono Project and Georgia Legal Services Program.  Shalamar is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Law School Outreach Committee, a member of Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association, a member of Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, a member of Gate City Bar Association, and is an avid speaker on community panels related to divorce and child custody issues. Shalamar is also an alumni of the 2012 State Bar of Georgia YLD Leadership Academy.

Shalamar was selected for SuperLawyers Georgia Rising Star in 2013 and 2014 in recognition for her work in family law. She has been admitted to practice law before the Georgia Supreme Court, the United States District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and all magistrate, probate, juvenile, state and superior courts in Georgia. In her free time, Attorney Parham enjoys golf and scrapbooking.

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Steven Parker w/ Team Serve 1st @ Keller Williams First Atlanta

At TEAM SERVE 1st it is our Mission and our Ministry to be Real Estate professionals who are Living in the Continual Pursuit of Building Successful Relationships while being Committed to Giving Greater Value every day!
We Believe Our Highest Purpose here on Earth is to Serve People by Adding Value to THEIR Life!
We are Family Serving Families! 2015 promises to be an exciting year of growth and development as we continue to SERVE 1st!

Steven Parker is also Operating Board Member of Visions Anew Institute

Steven Parker of Team Serve 1st is honored to serve with the foremost authority on Divorce Recovery–Visions Anew Institute. Unfortunately, divorce is an incredibly emotional process. As such… effective, short and long term decision making is very difficult. Team SERVE 1st recognizes that there is one defining factor in a divorce… there will be 2 addresses.
We add value to our clients lives by providing free information, resources, tools, workshops, and empowerment for their future. Not only for their decisions on real estate, but for their total well being- and THAT is how you SERVE 1st !

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Beth Garrett JD, CPA, CVA w/ Frazier & Deeter

As a Partner in the Divorce Litigation Support Practice at Frazier & Deeter, Beth Garrett primarily assists high net-worth individuals and corporate executives with divorce, tax and accounting issues. She helps with the division of financial and real estate assets through mediation and works with family practice attorneys through all financial aspects of divorce and child support matters.

Beth is frequently involved in cases to uncover hidden assets and income and assists with the preparation of reports to be used in settlement negotiations and at trial. She works with attorneys and clients to prepare business valuations, trace separate property, value complex retirement assets, and assist with budget preparation. She also prepares individual, partnership and fiduciary tax returns, specializing in divorce taxation.

Beth has testified in the metro Atlanta area and in other counties in Georgia in both bench and jury trials in divorce litigation matters. Beth has also spoken at continuing education seminars and authored several articles focusing on the tax laws surrounding divorce.

Beth is active in the community, serving as treasurer for the Dekalb Bar Association and frequently volunteering with several organizations, including the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program through the IRS.

Education

Juris Doctorate, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, 2006.
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Furman University, Greenville, SC, 2003.

Professional and Civic Organizations

Georgia Bar Association, 2006 – present, Family Law Section
Atlanta Bar Association, 2007 – present, Family Law Section
Dekalb Bar Association, 2009 – present, Family Law Section
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts 2013 – present
AICPA 2008- present
Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, 2008 – present
Cumberland Law Review, Associate Article Editor, 2004 – 2006
Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, 2009- 2012
Visions Anew, Board of Directors, 2009
Published legal article – Civil Procedure – Habeas Corpus – Direct Custodian is the Only Proper Respondent in a Petition by Detainee for Writ of Habeas Corpus. Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 124 S. Ct. 2711 (2004), 35 Cumb. L. Rev. 705
Buckhead Church Member, Singles Leader, 2006 – present

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Randy Kessler, Emily Rowell, Joe Habachy, Johnna Lee, & Josey Crews

Joe S. Habachy, Habachy Law

Joe S. Habachy is an accomplished and well-respected Georgia trial lawyer.  He has been privately practicing Criminal Defense and Entertainment Law in and around Atlanta, Georgia for more than 15 years.  His principal office is in Atlanta, but he represents clients in State Courts in every part of Georgia and Federal Courts nationwide.  Joe has aggressively defended and won criminal cases in the metro areas of Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, Athens, Columbus, Rome, Gainesville, and numerous other counties in Georgia. He was born in Georgia, and has practiced law in Georgia his entire career.

Joe regularly represents celebrities, athletes, and other high profile clients on a variety of criminal matters. He is a regular panelist at continuing legal education seminars pertaining to the representation of high profile clients and is sensitive to the specific needs of clients in the public eye.

Joe has represented thousands of criminal defendants on diverse criminal matters ranging from D.U.I. to Drug Trafficking. He has successfully litigated innumerable cases. He regularly obtains Not Guilty Verdicts in State and Superior Court. He has extensive DUI experience and is certified in the administration of Field Sobriety tests and the Intoxilyzer 5000. He has successfully challenged numerous DUI arrests and roadside tests. Further, he has tried cases of all calibers, including homicide, rape, aggravated assault and Drug Trafficking. He has litigated innumerable search and seizure issues. Joe has also appealed various issues and set legal precedent in the State of Georgia.

Joe is also well-known in the field of Entertainment Law and has represented clountless celebrity clients on entertainment and criminal matters. He has successfully drafted, red-lined, and negotiated innumerable contracts for Musicians, Artists, Recording Companies, Music Publishers, Producers, Actors, Reality Shows, Reality Show Participants, Indie Film Producers/Directors, Television Shows, Radio and even Ringtone Artists. Contracts have included production agreements, management agreements, agency agreements, publishing agreements, various licenses, sampling agreements, site agreements, partnership agreements, and recording agreements. He also has extensive Trademark and Copyright experience. His Entertainment client list includes numerous well-known musicians and film/television personalities. He is a member of the Georgia Entertainment Bar and volunteers for the Georgia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

Joe is often asked to speak at Continuing Education and Trial Practice seminars (both Criminal and Entertainment) to share his knowledge and experience with other lawyers in Georgia. Joe is a regular speaker on various Radio shows, a regular guest at Law School Seminars, and a regular visiting judge for national and international mock trial competitions.

Joe graduated cum laude from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in only two years. After working as an IT consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers for two years, Joe returned to University of Georgia School of Law, where he served as Vice President of the Entertainment Law Association and competed nationally on UGA’s successful Mock Trial Team.

Joe is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia Court of Appeals. He is also a member of several Federal Courts, most importantly, the Northern District of Georgia. Joe is currently the Vice President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL).

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Johnna Lee, Cohen, Cooper, Estep & Allen, LLC

Johnna A. Lee is an associate at the Atlanta, GA based law firm, Cohen, Cooper, Estep & Allen, LLC, where her practice focuses on transactional Entertainment Law and Criminal Defense. Her entertainment practice includes representation of recording artists, songwriters, recording companies, music publishers, on-camera meteorologists, models, and reality show participants. She also handles trademark and copyright matters. Johnna also represents clients facing criminal charges, many of whom are members of the entertainment industry.

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Randall Kessler, Kessler & Solomiany, LLC.

Founding partner of the 13 lawyer, Atlanta family law firm – KS Family Law.

Practiced family law for over 25 years.

Frequently represents high profile individuals, particularly Athletes and Entertainers.

Former Chair of the Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association, GA Bar and Atlanta Bar.

Authored Family Law books including:

Divorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future (www.divorceprotect.com).

Georgia Library of Family Law Forms.

Has taught the Domestic Relations course at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta since 2005.
Editor of NEXT Magazine, a magazine to help people survive divorce (see it online at www.nextdivorce.com).
Editor Emeritus of the Family Law Review, the official magazine of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of GA.
Media: Often quoted in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, People Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated.
Guest commentator for CNN, HLN, NBC Today Show, ESPN, FoxBusiness.com and others.
LinkedIn “Influencer” with over 135,000 followers.

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Josey Crews, Josey Agency 

View his full bio here:

BIOGRAPHY

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