Tony Jeff

Bio: Tony Jeff serves as the president and CEO for the Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA). Most recently, he served as MTA vice-president and COO and the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation where he coordinated MTA’s work with entrepreneurs to bring their innovations successfully to market

. In this position, he coached more than 400 entrepreneurial ventures and consulted with companies that successfully raised more than $125 million in private equity financing. Previously, he held the positions of director of the Mississippi Alternative Energy Enterprise and director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi (MEP.ms). Prior to joining MTA in 2002, Tony had corporate experience leading teams in finance, sales, engineering and operations. While working for Florida Power & Light, General Motors and Delphi Automotive Systems, Tony successfully led a variety of cross-disciplinary teams in finance and sales for a multi-billion dollar product line. He also successfully negotiated new business contracts in excess of $1 billion. When he was promoted to finance manager for North American Programs at age 30, he was the youngest senior manager in the $4.3 billion, 140,000 employee division. Tony left that position in 2002 to return to his home state of Mississippi and accept a position with the Mississippi Technology Alliance. In addition to his corporate experience, Tony has started two businesses – one around a patent he co-invented and successfully brought to market. He was also a student of Japanese language and a member of the Foreign Teaching Staff of AEON Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Tony earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Mississippi State University. He received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Masters of Engineering from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University through the Masters of Management and Manufacturing Program. Tony is a technology evangelist who speaks regularly on emerging trends and strategies in technology and innovation commercialization. Tony is married to the former Sheila Kalka, a family medicine physician. They reside in Madison with their son, James.

Scott Hamilton

Bio: The 11 reasons why I’m a business coach 1. Small businesses are the backbone of America. They provide most of the innovation and jobs. 2. Especially now, we need businesses that are profitable, growing and employing more people. 3. I believe that commerce and profit are a source of good. 4. Every dollar that is given to charity comes from a business’ profits, taxes or wages. 5. Business owners work too hard and risk too much to not be successful. 6. Financial distress is the leading cause of marital troubles leading to broken families. 7. I believe that with the right knowledge and encouragement, people can achieve far more than they imagine. 8. I believe everyone deserves to have success in their lives. 9. Too many small business struggle due to lack of knowledge. 10. I care deeply about people, and their wishes, hopes and dreams. 11. The ActionCOACH vision says it well… “World abundance through business re-education.” ActionCOACH is the world\'s number 1 business coaching firm. It has more than 1,000 offices worldwide and operates in 32 countries. ActionCOACH offers business coaching, business training, executive coaching, seminars and workshops for the small to medium sized business community. Specialties business coach, mentoring, accountability coaching, executive coaching, business consultant, executive leadership coach, Business help, Small business coaching. Business and personal assessment, writing and communications, crisis communications, leadership, creativity, reputation management

Joe Donovan

Bio: Director for Entrepreneurial Programs, Else School of Management at Millsaps College Currently responsible for development, implementation and coordination of a new core focus on entrepreneurship within the Undergraduate and Graduate business programs at Millsaps College; with eventual inclusion within additional Departments in the College. This includes curriculum, co-op experience and partnerships with private equity firms along with Community, State and Federal governmental agencies. Joe Donovan is a man of many talents. He has worked in every area of the business world, for companies large and small, and has invaluable business experience and knowledge.

Anne Turner

Bio: Anne Turner practices in the area of intellectual property, corporate transactional and tax law for clients with domestic and international interests. Her intellectual property experience encompasses a wide variety of matters and includes trademark and copyright counseling, registration and maintenance and the negotiation of domestic and international patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret license agreements. Ms. Turner\'s transactional experience also has an intellectual property flavor, and she has been involved in negotiating and advising on product development, research, material and technology transfer agreements, in domain name transfers and in providing general legal advice to start-up and development-stage companies whose intellectual property comprises their core assets. Her general transactional practice also includes work for established private and public companies in the areas of debt and equity financing, mergers and divestitures, domestic and international distributorship arrangements, franchising and securities law compliance. Corporate and partnership tax planning and controversy work rounds out Ms. Turner’s practice. Membership/Affiliations: State Bar of California American Bar Association, Business Law Section and Taxation Section The Mississippi Bar EDUCATION: University of San Diego School of Law, LL.M., cum laude, in Taxation, 2001 University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., 1995 University of California, San Diego, B.A., in Economics and Political Science, 1987 SERVICE AREAS: Business and Finance Intellectual Property Tax

Nick Landau

Bio: Nicholas J. Landau, Ph.D. Associate Nicholas Landau is an associate in the Intellectual Property group of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

. He is experienced in the procurement, protection, and litigation of patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property. Dr. Landau has drafted, prosecuted, and successfully appealed dozens of patent applications. He has worked with patents in a broad array of technological disciplines and has extensive knowledge in the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and environmental technology. Dr. Landau studied environmental microbiology at the doctoral level, earning a Ph.D. from Rutgers University. His graduate research analyzed the bacterial metabolism of hydrocarbon pollutants (bioremediation), and the metabolism of organisms in extreme environments such as volcanoes and deep-ocean hydrothermal vents. He has taught college-level and graduate-level classes in genetics and microbiology. Dr. Landau also earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland's program in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science. His research there addressed the genetics and mechanisms of bacterial adhesion to surfaces. Dr. Landau is experienced in environmental law, having served for three years in the Chief Counsel’s Office at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. At the Corps he focused on environmental permitting matters and intellectual property on matters of national and regional importance. Dr. Landau graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal. Prior to Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Dr. Landau has served as in-house counsel for a major agri-business in southern Florida, and was an associate in the Intellectual Property group of a major Florida law firm. PUBLICATIONS 2/2011 Biotechnology in the Courts Subcommittee Report: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University v. Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. American Intellectual Property Law Association Biotechnology Committee 10/12/2010 The F.T.C. Proposes New Guidance on “Green” Claims Environmental Update 8/2010 Bilski vs. Kappos: The United States Supreme Court Speaks on Software and Business Method Patents Intellectual Property News 3/2010 USPTO Adopts Policy Of Granting Longer Patent Terms In Cases Of Delay Intellectual Property News 8/2009 The Changing Landscape for Software Patents Intellectual Property News MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS American Association for the Advancement of Science American Society for Microbiology American Bar Association American Intellectual Property Law Association American Intellectual Property Law Association, Biotechnology Committee YOU MAY NOT KNOW Nick Landau provides volunteer legal services to veterans of the United States armed forces in obtaining veterans benefits and other matters. He is also a active member of the Biotechnology Subcommittee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. He uses his microbiology expertise in the kitchen in his hobby as an amateur brewer.

Ashby Foote

Bio: A native of Jackson, MS, Ashby received a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy in 1974. Ashby served as an Artillery Officer in the Army until he exiting the service in 1980 as a Captain. He then returned to Jackson to work as a retail securities broker with the firm of McLarty & Duddleston. In 1984, he left the firm to be the Trust Officer at Sunburst Bank. During his four year tenure with Sunburst, Pensions & Investment Age\'s Performance & Evaluation Report ranked the Sunburst Fixed Income Fund first for the 12 month period, second for the 36 month period, and third for the 60 month period ending September 30, 1987, from a universe of over 300 banks and investment companies tracked by the magazine. In 1988, Ashby founded Vector Money Management and has served as President and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) since. As CIO, Ashby is responsible for formulating investment strategy, portfolio management, and asset allocation - managing the investment portfolios of individuals, foundations and institutions. Currently, Ashby serves on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Technology Alliance, the Institute of Technology Development, and the MBFC-CDE. In the past, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Business Finanace Corporation and the Mississippi Development Bank.

John Brandon

Bio: As Associate Manager Senior for the Entrepreneur Center, a new small business resource within the Existing Industry and Business Division of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), John Brandon offers to his client’s helpful advice on current business thought. With it comes over 30 years of experience in a variety of retail-oriented business environments including corporate and store management, retail buying, consulting and teaching on the university level. Mr. Brandon received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi and a Masters of Business Administration from Delta State University. In addition to his work with MDA, John serves on the adjunct faculty of Mississippi College where he teaches in the School of Business. He also serves on the Incubation Steering Committee for the Appalachian Regional Commission. John received the 1992 President\'s Award from the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce and the 1996 Star Performer Award from the National Association of Small Business Development Centers. Married to his college sweetheart, Lea Anne, the Brandon\'s have one son, Jay, who has recently graduated and moved out of the house to Spokane, Washington to pursue a career in writing.

Sunny Webb

Bio: Sunny Webb is the Executive Director at The Accelerator, a $30mil technology incubator at the University of Southern Mississippi. She positions promising materials science technology companies towards success. After opening The Accelerator in March 2010, she recruited 10 technology companies, acquired $2.5M in contracts, reduced energy use by 25%, and led the successful recruitment of an international pharmaceutical technology firm. Sunny and her team support early-stage materials science companies located in The Accelerator through access to capital, business and educational resources, and advanced scientific equipment. She is known for developing commercial partnership opportunities, connecting early-stage companies with critical supportive resources, and building creative and high performing teams. In 2010, she was selected as a leading female in technology by Women in America. She serves on Women in America\'s finance, governance, and alumnae committees. She has a B.S. in management information systems from Penn State University and a M.S. in economic development from The University of Southern Mississippi. She’s an international marathoner, has an adopted greyhound, and volunteers tutoring Mississippi’s inner-city children.

David Pharr

Bio: David K. Pharr Partner David Pharr practices with the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, focusing on commercial litigation, including insurance coverage disputes and intellectual property litigation. David also has significant experience handling litigation involving personal injury, construction, employment disputes, real estate, and environmental matters. He has developed extensive knowledge in all phases of civil litigation. David\'s diverse trial and pre-trial work includes representation of clients sued under state and federal commercial statutes and common law theories of negligence and fraud. He has won cases by dispositive motion and/or been a member of successful trial teams in employment, highway construction, and negligence cases. David has litigated procedural issues related to jurisdiction, removal of cases to federal court, and judicial recusal. He has also represented clients in a variety of mass tort cases.

Matt McLaughlin

Bio: Matthew McLaughlin is a partner in the Jackson office of Balch & Bingham LLP and concentrates much of his practice addressing federal and state tax issues in the context of business formation, planning, capitalization and operation. He also regularly advises clients in all facets of federal, state and local economic development incentives and non-traditional sources of funding in the areas of energy, technology, manufacturing, affordable housing and community development. In addition, Matthew works extensively with state and local governmental units advising them of financing options for the construction, development or redevelopment of public structures and works. He also concentrates a significant portion of his practice to representing small business star-ups and investors. Matthew is actively engaged in the formation of business entities and in advising clients in a wide variety of corporate transactions, corporate financings, securities laws and corporate compliance matters. Matthew received his B.A., cum laude, from Millsaps College, his J.D. from the Mississippi College of Law, and his LL.M. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Wendy R. Mullins

Bio: WENDY R. MULLINS Counsel, Jackson Email wmullins@babc.com After graduating from the Mississippi College School of Law in 1994 with a J.D

. with Special Distinction, Wendy has continuously practiced with either a regional law firm or served as in-house counsel for a wireless technology company. In January of 2010, Wendy joined the Jackson office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP as Special Counsel in the Corporate and Securities group as part of the firm’s commitment to the establishment of a vibrant business practice in Mississippi. At the firm Wendy devotes her time to assisting companies as they develop and commercialize their intellectual property assets through the negotiation and drafting of software development and licensing agreements, service agreements and the protection of those assets with confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Wendy’s work in this area compliments her corporate practice which focuses on helping companies with their business transaction projects including mergers, stock transactions and asset sales or purchases, as well as the peripheral tasks associated with such transactions including lease renegotiations, vendor transition issues and due diligence activities. Wendy’s clients call upon her to assist with a broad range of contract negotiation & drafting projects as well as to provide guidance on entity formation, organization & governance issues. MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS • The American Bar Association, Business Law Section, which includes the Technology/IP, Closely Held Businesses, Emerging Companies, and Ethics & Governance subsections • The Mississippi Bar, Business Law and Intellectual Property Sections • The Capital Area Bar Association, Membership Committee • The Mississippi Women Lawyers’ Association • The Women’s Fund of Mississippi, Board of Directors and Development Committee • Mississippi Technology Alliance, Entrepreneurial Service Provider • CIT.ms organization, Board of Directors • Venture Incubator of Jackson, Volunteer Service Provider DISTINCTIONS • Named as a Top 50 Businesswomen in Mississippi for 2011 by the Mississippi Business Journal. • Served as a Judge in the 2011 New Venture Challenge competition hosted annually by the Mississippi Technology Alliance. ARTICLES • Presented Trademark Issues in Social Media at a seminar hosted in Jackson, Mississippi on January 17, 2012 titled Issues in the Cyber World for Businesses. • Authored an article titled Seven Deadly Sins of Entrepreneurs which was published in the Summer 2011 edition of Pointe Innovation magazine, a publication of the Mississippi Technology Alliance. • Co-authored A Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney's Introduction to Chapter 11 and the "363 Sale" published in the Spring 2009 edition of the Mississippi Business Law Section's Quarterly Newsletter. YOU MAY NOT KNOW Wendy grew up on the east coast of North Carolina (Go Heels!) but has called Mississippi home for nearly twenty years. She is married to a trial lawyer and they have one son. Sports are big at the Mullins home so most weekends you will find Wendy either courtside or on the sideline cheering for both Coach Mullins and Player Mullins. PRACTICE AREAS Corporate and Securities Emerging Growth Companies Team Business Formation and Counseling Mergers and Acquisitions Intellectual Property EDUCATION J.D., Mississippi College School of Law, 1994, with distinction B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1991 COURT ADMISSIONS United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit Mississippi Supreme Court United States District Court, Northern District of Mississippi United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi Mississippi State Bar

Bruce Deer

Bio: Bruce Deer: President & CEO at Neopolis Technology Currently provides executive support and guidance to various startup/mid-size companies as one of the principals of management and technology consulting firm. · Over 30 years of experience in communications industry in a variety of roles in Engineering, IT, Operations, Sales & Customer Support. · Executive experience as COO and CEO in nationwide wireless network company. · Broad and varied background provides knowledge in all aspects of operational requirements and required processes for operating communications companies. · Extensive experience in deploying and operating robust systems for support of highly available and robust communications networks, back office and support systems.

Rob Burnham

Bio: Rob Burnham serves as the Executive Director of Venture Incubator, Mississippi’s virtual incubator, based in Jackson, MS. Rob has over 30 years experience in starting and managing a variety of companies in different industries including manufacturing, retail, wholesale and food service. Rob\'s experience in training began in 1976 when he developed and implemented operator, supervisor and management training for Garan, Inc. before moving into plant management. Since that time, Rob has led strategic planning sessions, taught continuing education classes, has been a facilitator for the Kaufman Operation Jump Start program and a presenter in the Kaufman FastTrac program for aspiring entrepreneurs. He is also a productivity coach and business coach. Rob started his first business in 1980 and has founded and sold several businesses over the years. He has made and executed many business plans and designed effective sales and production systems for his own companies as well as those owned by others. Rob has an Industrial Engineering degree from Mississippi State University. Venture Incubator works through sponsoring organizations to build a local network of service providers and supporters to develop a program for that specific community. The VI organization then develops that network of supporters to ensure that the Incubator’s mission of “helping Mississippi entrepreneurs get into business and stay in business” is realized in each sponsor’s community.

Adrian Jones

Bio: Adrian Jones, CEO – Technically sophisticated IT Project management professional with a strong background planning and directing projects across multiple platforms and systems. Proven success managing worldwide IT / logistics development project teams utilizing excellent analytical, communication, leadership and organizational skills. Capable leader able to relate highly technical information across learning levels, accurately evaluate issues and develop appropriate solutions to ensure prompt resolution. Offer valuable experience forging strategic partnerships and building consensus across multiple organizational levels to achieve project goals.