Noro-Moseley Partners, 2012 Conference Chairman

Spence McClelland joined NMP in 2010 and supports the firm’s investments in healthcare, software and tech-enabled services. Spence is focused on reviewing investment opportunities and on working with portfolio company management teams to develop and execute their strategic plans. Prior to joining NMP, Spence was a co-founder of RGC Advisors, a search firm in the home health industry. Previously, he worked in the corporate development group of Healthways, Inc., where he was responsible for identifying, evaluating and executing acquisitions and strategic partnerships for the company. In addition, he developed numerous business plans on potential new markets, channels and business models for the company’s solutions. Prior to joining Healthways, Spence was an associate with the private equity firm Willis Stein & Partners, where he supported investment decisions through extensive due diligence and analysis while also assisting portfolio company management teams with strategic planning. He has also held investment banking positions with J.C. Bradford & Co. and DLJ / Credit Suisse First Boston. Spence received a BA from Vanderbilt University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an MBA with distinction from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Technology Association of Georgia

Tino Mantella joined TAG in September 2004 as the organization's new President. Mantella, prior to joining TAG, had amassed over 20 years of related experience leading two of the nations more prestigious volunteer-driven organizations - National Arthritis Foundation and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. As President and CEO of two multifaceted and complex charities, he spearheaded agendas that led to the development of innovative new services, resulting in the facilitation of significant membership growth. In addition, Mantella’s track record reflects impressive results in fund raising, advocacy, and economic development. Since coming to TAG, Mantella has worked with a team of dedicated volunteers and staff to: build a prestigious board made up of 60 technology stakeholders; grown membership by more than 500%; and added a series of programs and services that support TAG’s vision of educating, informing and uniting the technology community. Mantella is a member of the boards of Venture Atlanta Coalition Inc., TAG Education Collaborative, and Catholic Charities.

Intersouth Partners

Intersouth Partners is one of the most active and experienced early-stage venture funds in the Southeast region with more than 90 investments in private companies over the last 25 years. Intersouth manages more than $750 million in seven venture capital limited partnerships, the most recent of which was established in May 2006 and totals $275 million. John’s work covers all aspects of venture investment and portfolio management.  He has led multiple venture financings and he has managed a number of successful liquidity events.  He is an active member of the entrepreneurial community, serving on the boards of the North Carolina Council for Entrepreneurial Development, the Atlanta Venture Forum and the Florida Venture Forum.  He also serves on the advisory boards of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of the Southeast, Southeast TechInventures and the Georgia Research Alliance.  He teaches as an Adjunct Professor at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North   Carolina.  He speaks frequently at North Carolina State University and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke  University where he is an Entrepreneur Affiliate.  John serves as President of the Engineering Alumni Council at the School of Engineering at Duke.  Prior to Intersouth, John worked as an engineer and consultant in the information technology and aerospace industries.  His previous experience includes software development, telecommunications engineering, data communications research and strategic market consulting.  He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke, an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern  University.

Pardot, Hannon Hill, ClickSpace, Rigor

David has been an entrepreneur for more than 10 years. A technology enthusiast, David’s articles have been published on O'Reilly's XML.com and OnJava.com, in addition to popular web development sites such as SitePoint.com. He has presented at Emory University, Duke University, and the Technology Association of Georgia. Hannon Hill was recognized as the 247th fastest growing company in the U.S. by Inc. magazine as part of the Inc. 500 awards. Pardot was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the fastest growing technology company in 2010 and the third fastest growing company in all of Atlanta that same year. David serves on the board of the Atlanta chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization and won the TiE Top Up and Coming Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, David earned a bachelor of science degree in economics from Duke University and studied at the London School of Economics.

Vice President, Imlay Investments

Melanie Bialko Leeth, Vice President of Imlay Investments, Inc. has been with the company since 1991. Imlay Investments is the personal investment company of John P. Imlay, Jr., former Chairman of Dun & Bradstreet Software (formerly Management Science America). Leeth has worked on the management of Mr. Imlay’s investment portfolio on both the public and the private venture capital markets. She has sat on the board of a number of Imlay’s early-stage portfolio companies. Leeth also serves as a Director of the Imlay Foundation and the Atlanta Technology Angels.

Prior to joining Imlay Investments, Leeth was Vice President with MG-First Boston, a start-up venture between Metellgesellshaft AG and First Boston Corporation (Credit Suisse) in New York. She was also an investment banker with Citicorp/Citibank (now Citigroup).

Leeth is originally from Miami, Florida and has her Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics and Spanish from Vanderbilt University.

President, CEO, Digital Assent

Andrew Ibbotson currently serves as President and CEO of Digital Assent, a fast growing digital media and marketing company based in Atlanta, GA. The company’s wireless touch-screen PatientPad® solution delivers targeted health information and advertising to consumers in physician waiting rooms and at home. Digital Assent was selected by Forbes Magazine as a finalist for its “2011 List of America's Most Promising Companies" and the PatientPad® was previously recognized with the "2010 Cool Technology of the Year Award" presented by TechAmerica and TAG.

Prior to Digital Assent, Andrew served as President and CEO of Synthis Corporation from 1999 until 2009, where he oversaw the development and launch of an interactive advertising and selling solution that grew to over half-a-billion dollars per month in sales transactions before being acquired by a multi-billion dollar, market-leading software company. Andrew holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech where he graduated with high honors and was elected to the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

Away from the office, Andrew has a passion for adventure sports. He is an accomplished distance runner, mountain biker, Ironman triathlete, and scratch golfer. In 2005, Andrew had the honor of racing with the number one ranked adventure racing team in the country and is a past winner of the Nissan Xterra Southeast Region Off-Road Triathlon Series.

Metro Atlanta Chamber

Larry most recently served as the Assistant Director of International Trade & Economic Development with the Washington Department of Commerce in State of Washington. He also worked in economic development in the State of North Carolina with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, in Raleigh. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University. He and his wife Pamela are natives of North Carolina and Virginia.

Larry comes to us with:

• strong sales and marketing experience - history of strong leadership and management of statewide economic development strategies, marketing and branding
• results-oriented track record - extensive experience in economic & business development, domestic and international marketing, company relocation project management, and closing deals that created thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in North Carolina & State of Washington, including technology companies and jobs
• great interpersonal and communications skills - successful history of building and managing partnerships and coalitions with local and state economic development agencies, institutions of higher education and research universities, industry trade associations and the private sector
• understanding of tech sector - clear understanding of what it takes to attract and grow a technology industry cluster including capital, workforce, incentives policies, and marketing with specific experience in aerospace, life sciences and information technology
• proven experience in building a pipeline of prospects with a strong network of relationships, including national and international site selection consultants, corporate location decision makers and national commercial real estate brokers, among others
• strong understanding and experience in executing best practices in international trade and marketing and helping small businesses connect to business opportunities abroad, including China, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and South Korea
• experience in public policy – dealing with state legislative body and lobbying for economic development funding and programs

Managing Director, Bluefish Capital, LLC

More than 15 years experience in Finance and Wealth Management, currently serves as an Investment Advisor and Investment Committee member of Gray Ghost Ventures, a social venture fund. Serves on the Boards of Atlanta CEO High-Tech Council and TiE Atlanta.