The other day I spent some time volunteering to teach the kids down at Wheeler High School’s Magnet program. What fun! Of course, as I walked down the hallway toward the office to sign in, I couldn’t help but feel like my life had come full circle. 20+ years later, and there I was, back in the principal’s office. Ha! Thankfully, schools have done away with paddling, otherwise, I’d have had to resort to my old trick about wearing sweat pants under my jeans. Yes, I was a mischievous kid – big surprise – But I digress.

The focus of the class was on “business networking”, and I taught it twice that day, one for each of the Magnet groups. Business networking is a topic that I have become increasingly passionate about over the years, in no small part to my good friends Ricky Steele and Mike Blake. Trying to relate a dry topic such as “business networking” to a group of high school seniors was challenging, but I think I pulled it off.

It was especially rewarding for me, given my recent post about Sam Eisen. It brought some sense of closure for me, as I walked the halls and talked to the kids.

Good kids, great teacher, and a good program down there. Some observations:

• I covered the basic tenets of business networking, how to do it right, how NOT to do it, and tossed in a ton of real-life anecdotes and stories.
• We took an informal survey of the kids in the room, and what their desired post-college careers were. The biggest concentration was in the educational field – a lot of these super bright kids wanted to be teachers or counselors. That brought a smile to my face.
• One kid in each group said they wanted to be an “entrepreneur” – very cool. I invited them to attend our next StartupLounge.com Capital Connections event as an observer – nothing like mingling with other entrepreneurs and investors to get the juices flowing. It would be a great experience for them – seeing the process in action.
• One girl had the best, and probably the most honest answer of them all – “I simply want to be rich.” Getting rich takes hard work, and a plan to succeed, but hey, at least she knows what drives her. Hopefully, she will become an entrepreneur and create the next Home Depot or ISS.
• One girl was an aspiring artist – a very talented one at that – I gave her my card and told her to drop me a line – we use outside artists all the time at PlayMotion. Business networking at its core!
• I don’t have many regrets in life, but boy, it sure would be great if I could go back then, knowing what I know now!

At any rate – it was good fun. Thanks to Dr. Adams and the folks at Wheeler for having me down. I encourage other entrepreneurs and business leaders in the community to give their time to schools as well. Helping to shape these kids for tomorrow’s workforce can be a rewarding affair.

Cheers.

Columbus, Georgia, the place of my birth and upbringing, is a small town on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, nestled quietly along the border with Alabama. It was a sleepy sort of place – a town full of textile mills, pickup trucks, country fairs, and RC Cola; certainly not the kind of place where you would expect to find a wealth of opportunities for a budding young computer programmer. Nevertheless, this is where I found myself, and I was bound and determined to make a run of it.

Even though I was born and raised in Columbus, I had no personal network to speak of there, at least as it pertained to the professional level. I had no Rolodex of business contacts which I could leverage to find such a career opportunity. This was due in large part to my age (I was in my early 20s at the time, and had no professional work experience). No sir, this was going to be an exercise in finding a job the old-fashioned way – low tech and high drag.

Each day I scoured that great bastion of international news and fine arts, the Columbus Ledger Enquirer; my eyes anxiously seeking a glance of a good entry-level opportunity. The kitchen in my little garage apartment became a veritable command center. The counters were covered with marked-up newspapers and legal pads, all funneling critical information into my latest “plan of attack.”

I was up at the crack of dawn each Monday morning, ready to take on the world, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and donning the only suit I owned. That’s the way it was in those days. Monday was the big day for job seekers, because it was the first business day after the big classified run on Sunday. If you weren’t out there bright and early, you might very well miss the boat. As I poured myself into my brown 1974 Chevrolet Vega (they told me it was a hot color back then), I quickly reviewed my hit list for the day. As my dad would say, there was a really fantastic opportunity for me out there somewhere. I simply had to go out and find it.

My resume was a scant single page affair, offering little more than my name and address. It was also of the hand-typed, Smith-Corona variety. Some of you probably remember those days all too well. “Xerox’ing”, as it was exclusively called back then, was nearly prohibitively expensive. I can remember making changes to that resume using white-out on every single copy!

I would spend the day driving all over town, stopping at various businesses, handing out copies of my resume, hoping to entice someone into taking a chance on me. This was during a time where probably only 1% of businesses actually had any computers at all, so you can imagine the looks that I got from some of these folks. This was a small southern town, and computers were still widely regarded as “fandangled wizmah’bangs” that didn’t do “much o’ diddly-squat”. It was also a time when many computer manufacturers would give the best software available away for free, provided you bought their hardware. My how the times have changed. Nonetheless, you can imagine that my approach was something akin to trying to find a needle in a haystack. If I had been connected with even a bare-bones network of colleagues, I would have at least had a small path through that haystack.

It took a while, but eventually I found the opportunity that I so desperately sought, buried within the recesses of the classified section of the aforementioned newspaper. Yes, that’s right, Virginia, I said the newspaper. I landed a job as an entry-level programmer with a young but growing firm with a focus on providing banking and credit transaction services. That company was Total System Services, Inc., or “TSYS”. That company has since grown to become one of the most well respected companies in the world, handling billions of dollars in transactions each year, employing thousands of great folks, and providing good corporate citizenship to the Columbus community. Not a bad find. Who says the classified section is only for free puppies and yard sale announcements?

But that was then, and this is now. The other day I tried to imagine being in the same situation today – what would be like today, in 2006, to find a job as a young, entry-level computer programmer, without having a personal network of contacts to leverage?

I am simply unable to imagine a young twenty-something getting in their car and driving door-to-door poking around for a professional job. I’m not saying this to knock their work ethic, or to downplay any contribution that they might make to the workforce. They simply were brought up in a different world; a better world, at least as far as technology enablement goes. They are exponentially more “plugged in” than we ever were. The concept of “plugging in” to my generation generally referred to sticking something into an electrical outlet (and I’m really not THAT old).

The “world” as they know it, is a much smaller, more crowded place. That 1% of businesses that actually had computers in the 1980s are now in the majority. If you don’t have an army of computers on your side in today’s business environment, then you’ve been under a rock for the better part of two decades. Tele-working or tele-commuting has grown rapidly in acceptance. It is not uncommon now to have entire teams of people located in disparate physical locations working together in unison, utilizing technology to facilitate communication. All of this equates to a lot more doors on which this person would have to knock if they did it the old fashioned way.

Instead, I imagine that this modern young employee-to-be would use a laptop computer and a word processing program to manage her electronic credentials, and would publish digital versions of her résumé on one or more of the thousands of available job-related web sites. She would check her email inbox each morning, responding to any recruiters who stumbled across her credentials in cyberspace.

She could login to fellow Atlanta entrepreneur Warren Bare’s latest twist in online job-matching, JobKabob (jobkabob.com). There, she could publish her professional “DNA”, allowing companies to better match up with her skills and interests. She might also take advantage of the “killer app” of the 1990s, electronic mail, to send her resume directly to thousands of industry recruiters and hiring managers.

But the fun doesn’t stop there, kids. She would be able to respond in real-time to instant messages and notifications on her PDA, and take a job interview call on her cell phone while sitting on the beach. Assuming the hiring company had significant interest, she would use NetMeeting or Web-Ex on her CDMA or Wi-Fi connected mobile computer to remotely walk them through a digital portfolio of her capabilities, credentials, and accomplishments, all while driving across country in her hybrid car, which gets 60 miles to the gallon. Oh, and did I mention that she’s listening to a 6 hour jazz marathon, because she has every album that Miles Davis ever recorded stored on her portable MP3 player?

If she’s really hip, she’s out there blogging on the issues her profession faces – getting her mindshare out there for hiring managers and recruiters to digest.

Once she negotiated and accepted the position, she would use online social networks to form virtual “connections” with her friends, colleagues, and schoolmates, and use sophisticated search tools to mine those contacts for business opportunities. She would manage her email, calendar, and warehouse inventories all from her next-generation cell phone/PDA. In other words, technology will enable her to be more agile, less constrained, and better connected than previous generations.

Over the years, I have been blessed by a variety of professional opportunities that have taken me all over the country. I went on to explore the business side of the IT equation, consult for some of the biggest companies in the world, and work with the hottest technologies. Along the way, I have had the privilege to meet some truly amazing individuals. I take great pride in my professional network of contacts and associates, and I know that the good will and trust that I have established with them over the years serves me in good stead. But that network was not built overnight – it took a lot of hard work, a lot of learning from my mistakes, and a lot of unrewarded favors.

However, because of the meteoric rise in the adoption rate of online social networking platforms, business networks of the future may indeed begin to flourish in a fraction of the time it took to build them the old fashioned way. But what will these networks look like? How strong will they be? How reliable will they become? How much more efficient will they allow us to be? Or will they?

Clearly, the successful networker of the future will be the person who can both harness technology to introduce efficiencies and use person-to-person networking skills to nurture their relationships – online or offline. The journey to discover effective strategies and tools for accomplishing this is what we’re hoping to make easier for everyone with our new venture. Details coming soon!

Cheers.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases. And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them remain active for some time after the original posting!

Michael Halbert over at Northridge Systems let me know that they are looking hot and heavy for some good .NET developers. They are also looking for a more senior level person to come on board and help run the practice.

My buddy Jeff “Big Money, Big Prizes” Clement, Managing Director here at Spherion in Atlanta informed me that he was on the prowl for someone to step into the role of Senior Information Architect. If you are a stud in a variety of technologies, and would thrive in an environment where you have to pull a bunch of disparate environments together, let me know! Ideally, this person is someone emerging into this role – not someone with years and years of senior integration architect experience. Contact JeffClement AT Spherion DOT com for more info!

Tug Technologies is seeking a couple of Senior Accountants with JD Edwards Manufacturing experience. Check ‘em out at www.TugTech.com.

If you are a solid sound engineer that wants to get involved in a fairly visible podcasting effort here in Atlanta, let me know. Specifically, this outfit desires to have a discussion with someone about helping them with the recording, mixing (production), and mastering of a new weekly or monthly IT/business podcast.

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I am routinely in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way. No, I am not a recruiter. No, I don’t want to be a recruiter, so please don’t ask. And no, I don’t charge a fee for referring someone.

Cheers.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases. And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them remain active for some time after the original posting!

I heard that Atlanta-based information security company Stonesoft is hiring sales folks (and some other roles).

A new exclusive business class airline in Las Vegas is hiring a CIO. If you have significant airline IT experience, along with startup experience, and would love to live in sunny Las Vegas, let me know and I’d be happy to forward you along.

A well-funded startup company in Chattanooga is seeking a CFO. They have capital, but would like to raise an additional $10M in the next 36 months. This person should have experience with all aspects of financial strategies, as they relate to start-ups. They should also be well versed in dealing with angel investors. Any industry experience in transportation, mobile communications, software, or IT is a plus.  The company has a controller to do the books, but an accounting background is probably a must for the CFO.  The CFO needs to have experience as a financial strategist for start-up company, along with experience in cash flow optimization, debt restructuring, etc.

A new Atlanta-based startup in the Web 2.0 market intelligence space is seeking $2.5M in a series-A round. Angels welcome. Let me know if you’d like an intro!

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I am routinely in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way. No, I am not a recruiter. No, I don’t want to be a recruiter, so please don’t ask. And no, I don’t charge a fee for referring someone.

Cheers.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases. And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them remain active for some time after the original posting!

My friend Stephen Fleming, the Chief Commercialization Officer down at Georgia Tech, let me know that one of his portfolio companies, XCOR, is looking for some talented project managers, senior mechanical engineers, and expert machinists. If you want to live in the Mojave desert and take part in something extraordinary, let me know. XCOR is doing amazing things in rocket propulsion and space transportation.

If you are an aggressive tech sales/account manager, there is a software company here in Atlanta that could use you. Total compensation up to $120K. Let me know if you are interested and I’d be happy to forward you on to the recruiter on this deal.

I heard that Noro-Moseley’s proposed Georgia Venture Capital event has been postponed indefinitely. I am unclear as to why, but that is definitely a disappointment. Something like this is sorely needed here in Georgia. It was originally slated for this fall (2006). I am putting this here in the “networking leads” post because perhaps someone else will step up and take the lead in the short-term.

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I am routinely in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way. No, I am not a recruiter. No, I don’t want to be a recruiter, so please don’t ask. And no, I don’t charge a fee for referring someone.

Cheers.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases! And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them remain active for some time after the original posting!

First and foremost, a reminder that yours truly is seeking a new opportunity. While I am always open to new ideas, I am currently focusing my search for a CIO/CTO/Tech VP opportunity within either a well-capitalized startup or a mid-size firm. I invite you to visit my online bio and if you have any leads, I would welcome an intro!

If you are an Oracle database guru with experience in some form of business intelligence (BI) (e.g. business objects, Cognos, Microstrategy, etc.), and you are looking for a new challenge, let me know! Junior level position paying $85K. I am happy to forward you along if you are interested.

Are you an AJAX stud? Do you stay awake at night counting XMLHttpRequest objects jumping over little fences in your mind? Would you love to work for a fantastic digital media company in Norcross? Drop me your resume, and I’d be happy to forward you along to the CTO.

A promising young Atlanta startup focusing on market/business intelligence is seeking investors. Let me know if you’d like an intro.

Andy Monin and the crew at VendorMate have a really compelling solution for providing business “credentialing” services. Want to know if your suppliers or vendors are who they claim they are? You will be amazed at the data they can pull for you. I had a chance to spend some time with them the other day, and they are getting traction. A great new play entering the ATDC. I expect great things from this one …

If you are an Atlanta-based technology company, or if you provide technology-related services, you owe it to yourself to register for TechLINKS Exchange, an up-and-coming B2B marketplace for corporate technology buyers here in Georgia.

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I routinely am in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way.

Cheers.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases! And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them are still active!

First and foremost, a reminder that yours truly is seeking a new opportunity. While I am always open to new ideas, I am currently focusing my search for a CIO/CTO/Tech VP opportunity within either a well-capitalized startup or a mid-size firm. I invite you to visit my online bio and if you have any leads, I would welcome an intro!

My good friend and former Equifax CIO, Armando Cuevas has teamed up with his fellow ex-Gartner colleague, Wally Gramling to form a new firm, ArcMP. ArcMP’s flagship product is called Parsanon, and is billed as an enterprise architecture management platform. Deisnged by CIOs, for CIOs. I had the pleasure of seeing the demo of this thing the other day. If you are responsible for managing enterprise architecture, you owe it to yourself to contact them. This is a must-see demo. Their web site is currently in a “state of transition”, but it should be available soon.

Atlanta networking guru, Susan Knox at Corporate Connections, has launched her new and improved web site. Check it out! If your firm wants to accelerate your revenues by gaining key corporate relationships, you need to get thy rear end to the nearest telephone and call Susan Knox. Or better, watch her new online video and see the value firsthand.

If you are struggling with managing your IT security capabilities, contact the good folks at RBTi (Red Bull Technologies, Inc.). They work with dozens of product companies to put together a solution that meets your specific needs. These guys are experts, folks. Big boy football here – this isn’t the Pop Warner stuff.

I met an interesting fellow the other day. Leslie Hermitt has teamed up with Hunter Barrow for form Huntforce. Their focus is outsourced IT governance and PMO management. I had a riveting conversation with Leslie relative to their capabilities. Give ‘em a go.

Are you in transition? Contact Ruthie Powell to take advantage of her wonderful service called “Ruthie’s list.” She’ll email your resume out to her personal network of recruiters and HR directors. Not bad! She can be reached via email at “ruthiep AT bellsouth DOT net”.

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I routinely am in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases! And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them are still active!

First and foremost, a reminder that yours truly is seeking a new opportunity. While I am always open to new ideas, I am currently focusing my search for a CIO/CTO/Tech VP opportunity within either a well-capitalized startup or a mid-size firm. I invite you to visit my online bio and if you have any leads, I would welcome an intro!

Two great C-level positions have opened up in and around Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A CIO in a banking industry firm, and a CTO in a financial services firm. If you are interested, let me know and I’d be happy to forward you along.

A very unique (and impressive) Atlanta “web 2.0″ startup is seeking investors. Let me know if you’d like an intro.

A new Atlanta-based startup providing an innovative digital document delivery service is seeking a network operations director. If you are interested in an intro to their CEO, let me know!

If your business is in need of a serious marketing copy professional, your only call needs to be to Krishna Avva, the Master Storyteller. His unique “storytelling” approach is really something to behold! Whatever you do, ask him to tell you the story of how and why he founded his company – brilliant! Check him out at www.thebizstoryteller.com.

A really interesting Atlanta-based startup is taking used Linksys routers and loading them up with custom versions of Linux and blogging software. The end result? A “blogging appliance for the people”. If you are interested in beta testing, or potentially participating as an investor – let me know and I’ll be happy to forward you along.

If your current IT initiatives have you living in fear, and you need some serious help, then dial up Len O’Neill and the crew over at Paalam. Len is a former Army engineer, and I always enjoy swapping Army stories with him. I think he’s a great guy, and so will you.

A position has opened up for a Region Managed Care Director within a national public home healthcare company. They are currently in an aggressive organic and inorganic growth mode. Base and bonus is approximately $100K with great benefits. This person will drive revenue growth within the payer community for our home care nursing, home medical equipment and respiratory therapy divisions. Must have substantial healthcare background (home health care industry preferred) and specific experience in dealing with insurers such as Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc. The position will cover GA, FL, AL and IL. They prefer that they live in one of the states, but it is not necessary. Let me know if interested!

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I routinely am in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases! And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them are still active!

First and foremost, a reminder that yours truly is seeking a new opportunity. While I am always open to new ideas, I am currently focusing my search for a CIO/CTO/Tech VP opportunity within either a well-capitalized startup or a mid-size firm. I invite you to visit my online bio and if you have any leads, I would welcome an intro!

An outfit here in Atlanta has created a patented process by which VOIP E911 calls can be delivered to the correct municipality effectly. They are seeking to sell the process and patent outright, and consult on the implementation. Perhaps some of you soon-to-be ex-Bellsouthers should get together, buy this patent, and launch a new company! If you are interested in an intro, let me know …

A 600 person, venture-backed healthcare revenue recovery management company, providing eligibility and billing services to over 170 regional and super-regional hospitals across the U.S. is hiring a Corporate Controller. The Controller position will report to the CFO and manage a small staff of 5 folks. The targeted compensation range is $100-$120k, plus bonus oppty of 15%, plus stock options (not material) and customary/standard benefits (health, 401(k), vacation/holidays, etc.). Want an intro? Let me know!

Have a great idea for a new venture, but need help on your business plan? Looking to raise capital between $250K to $5M? Do yourself a favor and call my pal Greg Albright at Galt Capital. Greg is new to Atlanta, but has a number of capital connections in place and is ready to give you aspiring entrepreneurs a hand! 770-677-9788.

A large financial services firm here in Atlanta is hiring a VP of Software Development – diversity candidates welcome. Let me know if you’d like an intro.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Procuri has allegedly just departed … perhaps they are in need a new one? Hint, hint, cough cough.

Do you have a jacked-up mortgage and need to get your house in order? You need to call Herman Winston at Global Mortgage Group. 678-993-2400.

I met a great fellow by the name of Bob Barnes. Bob operates an outfit called EventsXL. They provide assistance and support for meetings, executive retreats, major events, destination management, and onsite staffing. Need to get that special client a good seat at the Super Bowl? Want to make sure your top-performers don’t miss out on a nice trip to the Masters next year? Go check ‘em out at www.eventsxl.com.

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I routinely am in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way.

Despite my recent rant on the venture capital scene in Georgia, this week contains a bevvy of startup and early-stage news.

And of course, the proverbial ground rules: For certain leads, I must be careful not to disclose too much information – I want to be respectful of the confidentiality and trust I have established with people. In those instances, I realize that I may need to act as a conduit for interested parties, in order to protect the anonymity of certain of these leads. However, I will aspire to provide as much information as possible here in the text, so that you can contact each other directly (I really *don’t* want to get into the habit of playing middleman, other than passing along contact information as needed).

If you have something that you would feel to be of merit for this new section of the Pothole, by all means, let me know (spammers and open solicitors need not apply). Remember that the idea here is to provide visibility into “hidden” opportunities or news that is not widely known already – so don’t send press releases! And don’t forget to browse some of the past networking leads – many of them are still active!

First and foremost, a reminder that yours truly is seeking a new opportunity. While I am always open to new ideas, I am currently focusing my search for a CIO/CTO/Tech VP opportunity within either a well-capitalized startup or a mid-size firm. I invite you to visit my online bio and if you have any leads, I would welcome an intro!

A large publicly-traded company is looking to hire a Director of e-Commerce Software Development. Superstars only, with heavy B2C experience. Let me know if you are interested in an intro.

Atlanta hasn’t been completely void of startups lately. A very unique play within the human resources segment of the trucking industry is now in motion in “stealth” mode. I know, I know. It doesn’t sounds sexy, but I’ve heard their pitch – it has promise – their target market seems very lucrative. They are currently on the prowl for a $1M seed round. They have a great deal of interest in Atlanta as well as Chattanooga. If you are interested in an intro, let me know.

An Atlanta-based technology startup firm playing in the Web 2.0 sandbox is seeking some seed investors. This is a play within the business intelligence and business networking spaces. Let me know if you’d like an intro.

Remember that little bird that has a nasty habit of flying into my window? He told me that Atlanta-based retail-tech play, Quantisense, recently covertly raised a round of funding.

Speaking of retail-technology plays, another Atlanta-based retail tech play is seeking to close out a bridge round of $1-2M. Great technology – I’ve seen their pitch as well. Some great marquis initial clients as well (Saks Fifth Avenue, Giorgio Armani, Polo/Ralph Lauren, etc.) Again, let me know if you’d like an intro.

Word on the street has it that Proctor and Gamble is potentially investing in several Atlanta-area startups. This has to do with their “Tremor” operation, which has something to do with “teen word-of-marketing.”

Finally, as a reminder, if your Atlanta-based firm is in need of executive talent, let me know. I routinely am in contact with many talented executives (C-level, VPs, Directors) that are in transition and are anxious to dig into new and exciting opportunities. I am always happy to send referrals your way.