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Since its inception, the Atlanta CEO Council has been supported by limited exclusive partners, leaders in their industry who recognize the importance of cultivating exceptional business leaders and prioritize giving back to their community. Click each image below to get to know the people behind the logo.
Bennett Thrasher is the eighth-largest Atlanta-based full-service certified public accounting and consulting firm. What differentiates Bennett Thrasher from other accounting firms is the respect and regard we have for our clients and for each other. The firm creates significant value and a unique positive experience through collaboration- with and between clients, partners, associates and the community. Founded in 1980 by Rick Bennett and Ken Thrasher, today Bennett Thrasher boasts a dedicated, experienced team of 31 partners and more than 210 associates serving our clients in tax, financial reporting & assurance, valuation, litigation, client accounting services, international, personal financial services, state & local tax, dispute resolution & forensics, transfer pricing and wealth management.
Lindsey B. Sykes
Lindsey Sykes is a Partner and the service line leader for our Financial Reporting and Assurance department. Lindsey has over twenty fi ve years of business experience, having spent twelve years in public accounting with Arthur Andersen and six years as Chief Financial Offi cer of a publicly traded company prior to joining Bennett Thrasher in February of 2007. Lindsey has signifi cant experience in serving companies from the start-up/ development stage through large multi-national public companies. He has been involved with companies in the technology, manufacturing, distribution, real estate and service industries.
Vince Eget
Vince Eget is a Partner within Bennett Thrasher's Tax practice. He has signifi cant experience working with companies in technology, healthcare and service businesses, and in the areas of taxation of passthrough entities and mergers and acquisitions. Vince provides a broad array of tax consulting for entities ranging from formation and structural issues to succession and liquidity events as well as critical business and tax planning throughout their life cycle. He has considerable experience with advising clients through the acquisition and sale of their businesses. These have included asset sales, stock sales, IRC §338(h)(10) elections, ESOP transactions, management buy outs, recapitalizations, redemptions, and mergers.
Founded in 2004, Carabiner Communications is an Atlanta-based agency specializing in marketing, PR and sales lead generation. We custom-build a nimble team of B2B experts to partner with clients for as much or as little as they need. We're strategic, cost-effective, and very, very human. If you're helping to steer a start-up, a fast-growth company or an organization headed in a new direction and need branding, marketing, public relations, content development, social media or lead-gen assistance to get to the next level, then let's talk.
Peter Baron
Peter Baron serves as a senior-level consultant, offering advice to clients on product positioning, lead generation and nurturing, and digital marketing. Through more than two decades of technology marketing and PR experience, Peter has the skills to recognize new trends and opportunities, helping companies plan strategies accordingly. His client experience spans telecommunications, networking, healthcare technology, mobile computing and myriad software solutions. Peter received a bachelor's degree in Journalism and PR from the University of Utah.
Clarity Capital partners with entrepreneurs to prepare for an optimal exit. We identify key value drivers, create a defined exit plan, uncover potential buyers and run a competitive process to achieve an optimal exit.
John Stanier
Partner at Clarity Capital Advisors: – M&A, Exit Planning, Transaction Advisory
Steve Keaveney
Senior Executive with a track record of building Private Equity backed Companies through to exit.
Completed 100 M&A transactions involving capital formation in excess of $1BN.
• Senior Leadership
• European Experience
• Building and leading teams
• High Growth Businesses
• Restructuring
• Fundraising, Capital Markets
Mary Roberts
Clarity Capital Advisors, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, provides strategic advice to small and medium size businesses. We specialize in interim/fractional CFO solutions, M&A and general corporate finance advice. Our corporate finance professionals have transaction and industry experience to help businesses evaluate, navigate and successfully execute a full range of strategic alternatives.
Our team is client-focused and dedicated to providing senior level, quality advice to business owners, management and shareholders
Crowe Horwath is a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm with offices across the globe. Connecting deep industry and specialized knowledge with innovative technology, our dedicated professionals create value for our clients with integrity and objectivity. We accomplish this by listening to our clients – about their businesses, trends in their industries, and the challenges they face. We forge each relationship with the intention of delivering exceptional client service while upholding our core values and our industry's strong professional standards. Crowe invests in tomorrow because we know smart decisions build lasting value for our clients, people, and profession.
Mr. Parker has over 25 years of public accounting experience in providing tax consulting services to a broad range of clients in the manufacturing, distribution, technology and other industries. Professional and Industry Experience Mr. Parker works in many areas of taxation including; merger and acquisitions, S-corporation taxation, C-corporation taxation, partnership taxation, multi-state taxation, and individual tax. He has extensive experience in the following activities:
General Corporate Tax Planning
Personal Income Tax Planning
Buying and Selling of Businesses
Merger and Acquisitions
Multi-state Income Tax Compliance and Consulting
Internal Revenue Service Examinations
Georgia, Florida, Ohio CPA Societies
Bachelor of Science, Accountancy
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)| Georgia, Florida, Ohio
With more than 2,000 people, Dixon Hughes Goodman ranks among the nation's top 20 public accounting firms. Offering comprehensive assurance, tax and advisory services, DHG focuses on major industry lines and serves clients in all 50 states as well as internationally. Visit www.dhg.com for additional information.
Alpa Patel
Alpa serves as a tax partner with DHG, based in the firm's Atlanta office. Alpa joined the Atlanta office with DHG's predecessor firm, Crisp Hughes Evans, in 1997 after working in the corporate tax department of a local restaurant group. Throughout her career with the firm, Alpa has developed experience in several areas, including tax planning, business consultation, and transaction guidance, as well as tax research and compliance for corporations, partnerships, limited-liability entities, and individuals with high net worth. Her vast industry knowledge includes manufacturing and distribution, construction, agribusiness, service providers and insurance underwriters, and she serves clients ranging in size from private start-ups to large public companies.
Alpa strives to serve as a valued consultant to her clients, having successfully negotiated numerous client positions before the Internal Revenue Service, as well as various state and local jurisdictions. She has completed postgraduate work at New York University, and is a recognized guest lecturer for continuing professional education courses. Alpa is committed to the success of key programs within DHG, including the firm's Women Forward program, the Emerging Leaders Academy, and personnel recruitment and retention.
Billy Parker
Billy Parker leads DHG's Technology industry practice. He brings to DHG more than 30 years of experience with a Big Four firm focused in software (SaaS and Cloud), financial technology ("FinTech"), healthcare IT ("HealthTech"), technology manufacturing and services.
Billy serves as lead audit partner, client executive partner, and/or industry partner for public and private technology companies ranging from the Fortune 1000 to start-ups. As part of his commitment to excellent client service, Billy provides deep technical and business guidance, which includes extensive experience with revenue recognition accounting and business models, controls and process, SEC filings, stock compensation, financing and mergers and acquisitions.
Additionally, Billy works with private equity and venture capital (VC) growth companies assisting them through their development and establishment of policies and practices in areas such as initial public offerings (IPO), business combinations and revenue recognition.
Matt Whitmire
Matt Whitmire serves as a partner with the Dixon Hughes Goodman Atlanta region. His experience is concentrated in the areas of closely held, high growth and publicly traded companies within the manufacturing, technology, construction and financial services industries. In the delivery of audit services to technology and software companies, Matt has developed extensive experience in accounting revenue recognition, development costs, goodwill and stock compensation. Matt has also served in the Risk Services Practice, assisting non-audit clients in fulfillment of their responsibilities pertaining to evaluation of the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Matt has participated in numerous SEC reporting engagements, including the preparation and review of 10-K filings, 10-Q filings, earnings releases and secondary public offerings. He consults on various accounting and reporting issues including assistance with completeness, accuracy and timeliness of SEC filings. Matt assumes full responsibility for directing and managing client engagements, including identifying key business and audit risks and providing recommendations for process improvements and strategy for implementing such recommendations.
Chip Chambley
Chip Chambley began his career in 2007 and serves a Tax Partner in DHG's Atlanta office. His background includes reviewing income tax compliance and consulting projects for publicly-traded and privately-held corporations in a variety of industries including manufacturing, technology and logistics. He also has experience with various consulting engagements including international, merger and acquisition, due diligence, and federal and state income tax planning. His experience also includes inbound and outbound international tax as well as ASC 740 for publicly-traded and privately-held corporations. His background includes tax provision outsourcing, assisting clients with internally-prepared provisions, and preparation of tax provisions for clients with complex organizational structures including tiered consolidations with US and Foreign taxable and flow-through entities.
Sarah Beckner Weinberg
At Fifth Third Bank, we are always listening to new ideas so that we can strengthen our commitment to you and the communities we serve. Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Fifth Third Bank is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. M/F/D/V
Randy Koporc
Randy Koporc serves as president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank (Georgia). In this role, he is responsible for the growth and strategic alignment of our Commercial, Wealth & Asset Management and Consumer businesses to deliver distinctive value to our customers and community impact in the region.
Previously, Randy served as executive vice president and head of the Payments and Commerce Solutions Division, responsible for Credit Card, Debit Card, HSA, Treasury Management, Sales & Product Development, Currency Processing Solutions, Payment Innovation and Strategic Partnerships for the enterprise.
Prior to joining Fifth Third in 2010, Randy spent more than two decades in financial services, having worked in various roles with First Union National Bank, Wachovia and Wells Fargo, including president of the Greater Virginia region for Wells Fargo. In addition to consumer banking, wealth management and commercial banking, he delivered corporate banking and capital markets results throughout Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. Randy began his career as a commercial banker, in his hometown of Orlando, Florida.
Raymond M. S.
Whether leading teams or managing client relationships, I facilitate the banking products and services privately held companies and their owners need to execute their strategic plans.
I work with business owners in the commercial/middle-market segment, targeting companies between $20MM and $500MM in topline revenue. My clients typically borrow $5MM or more and rely heavily on our robust treasury platform for daily cash management needs. In addition, my team and I can help clients acquire real estate, finance working capital and capex, protect themselves from fraud, exit their business, acquire businesses, manage personal assets, mitigate interest rate risk, commodity, and foreign exchange risks, and streamline operations through industry-leading AR and AP optimization platforms.
Lindsey Puckett
Founders Legal (Bekiares Eliezer LLP) is a Corporate & Intellectual Property Law Firm based in Atlanta, Georgia USA, that focuses exclusively on complex matters in the areas of Intellectual Property, Corporate, Transactional, and Securities law.
We employ the services of highly skilled and experienced attorneys who are specialized in their unique areas of practice. Our team is dedicated to creating, utilizing, and continually iterating upon the latest software, technology, and processes to maximize efficiency and provide uncompromising value to its clients.
We are devoted to making the practice of law more efficient while improving the client experience and delivering uncompromising value. As a Founders Legal client, you will benefit from the Founders Legal Client Experience 2.0 — combining the newest technology and automation with a dedicated team of highly-skilled, practical, responsive, and results-oriented professionals to meet your legal needs. Our Practice Specialties include: Intellectual Property, Business Transactions, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Technology Law.
Founded in 1962 and a public company since 1983, Raymond James Financial, Inc. is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies engaged primarily in investment and financial planning, in addition to capital markets and asset management. The firm's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (RJF). Through its three broker/dealer subsidiaries, Raymond James Financial has approximately 8,400 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are $1.18 trillion (as of 9/30/2021). Raymond James has been recognized nationally for its community support and corporate philanthropy. The company has been ranked as one of the best in the country in customer service, as a great place to work and as a national leader in support of the arts.
Trey Haydon
As team leader, Trey has final responsibility for investment strategies, planning strategies and client care. He understands the tremendous value that services such as financial planning and tax strategies have and the significant role they play in the financial future of their clients.
Previously in his career, Trey was a financial advisor and vice president at Morgan Keegan when the firm was acquired by Raymond James in 2012. Earlier, he was a financial advisor at A.G. Edwards, and also held positions at Scientific Atlanta and Arris Technologies. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Washington and Lee University.
Trey grew up in Clearwater, Florida, and attended St Paul's Episcopal and Shorecrest Prep.
His wife, Chandler, is a Georgia native and well-known lobbyist. They have two children, Carter and Sara Elizabeth. Trey is a member of Northside Church and Cherokee Town and Country Club.
In his free time, Trey enjoys attempting to lower his golf score. He also enjoys duck hunting twice per year in South Carolina and Arkansas, and saltwater fishing for snook, tarpon and redfish, preferably in the skinny waters around Florida.
Tim Dorothy
We provide financial planning services to closely held business owners.
Our process begins with a Tax Mitigation Analysis (TMA) for the business owner considering a liquidity event.
Liquidity events can include a sale, a partial sale, a growth capital recap, or divestiture.
We work closely with multiple sell side advisory firms and can provide confidential introductions to evaluate options.
Family office services for families begin post liquidity event.
– Tax Planning
– Cash Flow Planning
– Private Banking and Lending (through Raymond James Bank)
– Risk Management (through a partnership with MARSH)
– Investment management (multiple custodial options)
– Direct private investing
– Family governance
At Humans Doing, we utilize our 50+ years of combined national technology-centric recruiting experience to pair great clients and candidates together. Our approach and experience ensure that both receive great value, growth, and appreciation for each other. We take pride in making sure both sides make great decisions that will have a lasting positive impact on their companies, careers, and families.
Joshua McAfee
In addition to being a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Measure Up: Mastering Your Career Search Like a Boss I'm also a three-time founder, entrepreneur, tech investor, board member and advisor to high growth companies. More importantly, I'm thankful to be a husband with a very patient wife & a new father who's in over my head.
I'm passionate about helping people make great hiring and career decisions so they can have the most fulfilled, abundant, and meaningful lives possible. I've spent almost 30 years in the recruiting and coaching world consulting with and placing thousands of leaders, sales, and tech-savvy people into high-growth companies. I've founded, built, and sold a national tech staffing company and have helped countless leaders of high-growth companies grow their teams with the right people to have a positive impact on their products, culture, and, ultimately, their customers. My experience has molded me into a leading expert in recruiting, hiring, employee retention, and career growth best practices.
James Pullen
Director of Sales and Business Development
Maurice Morgan, TAS
As a 20 year veteran in the discipline of Talent Acquisition, Recruiting, and Staffing Industries, I have found joy throughout my career in assisting individuals and organizations in achieving their highest potential. I have learned that the human experience is most meaningful when individual talent is self-actualized. Being a guide for others in their respective career search has come to be my "superpower". Equally, partnering with organizations I believe in, while strategically guiding those organizations to obtain the most talented individuals in their respective business arena is my passion as well. I believe as a collective, collaboration and growth through human capital is our greatest asset.
Since 1986, Insperity's mission has been to help businesses succeed so communities prosper. Offering the most comprehensive suite of scalable HR solutions available in the marketplace, Insperity is defined by an unrivaled breadth and depth of services and level of care. Through an optimal blend of premium HR service and technology, Insperity delivers the administrative relief, reduced liabilities and better benefit solutions that businesses need for sustained growth. With 2020 revenues of $4.3 billion and more than 80 offices throughout the U.S., Insperity is currently making a difference in thousands of businesses and communities nationwide.
Ashley Edwards Altman
I am passionate about working with small-medium sized businesses in the Atlanta community. I help business owners increase their bottom line by helping them focus on their business. I do this through streamlining efficiencies, mitigating risks, cost containing their employee benefits while providing the big company benefit options and offloading many of the areas that take focus away from growing their business.
Justin Otte, CBPA
District ManagerDistrict Manager
Catherine Hanson
Exceptional account manager and business development professional with a proven track record in prioritizing and balancing multiple facets of account development. Consistent top performer who exceeds revenue targets through building relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Qualifications include growing existing accounts and renewing multi-year contracts. Intuitive business acumen and professional presence with the ability to establish collaborative partnerships with C-Level executives.
Integgra Valuation & Advisory Services provides business valuation and financial advisory services. The scope of business valuation services and the methodologies applied therein can be unclear to many people. We differentiate ourselves by focusing on impeccable client service and by clearly and efficiently communicating valuation issues and defensible opinions while maintaining a high standard of technical excellence. The result is a higher level of client service and satisfaction.
The needs of each client and the nuances of each business are unique. We invest time in listening carefully to ensure that our analyses reflect that uniqueness.
We operate with cutting-edge technology. This enables us to exchange data efficiently with our clients and to provide current financial data and research in an efficient and cost-effective process. This results in high-quality valuation reports with a shorter turnaround time, which translates to reduced fees for our clients.
Gregg Ficery
Gregg Ficery is President of Integgra Advisory Services, which he founded in 2011. He has over 15 years of business valuation consulting experience and has valued hundreds of private companies. He also has over 10 years of industry experience in the technology, telecommunications, and financial services sectors in finance, accounting, and corporate development roles.
Prior to founding Integgra, Gregg held a Director position at SVB Analytics, a subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank, where he led over 150 valuation engagements advising early stage private technology companies for the purpose of determining stock option pricing for IRC 409A and SFAS 123R compliance. In this role, Gregg managed a global team of analysts and interfaced with C-level executives, Boards of Directors, attorneys and auditors throughout all phases of the valuation process. In addition, Gregg developed business with top audit and law firms, leading to sales of valuation and financial software services.
Prior to joining SVB Analytics, Gregg held a Senior Director position at Taylor Consulting Group, a boutique valuation consulting firm in Atlanta, where he was responsible for valuation analysis, financial and transaction advisory services covering public and closely held companies. In this role he developed and led engagements requiring valuation of companies for purposes including mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial reporting, tax compliance, and litigation support, including providing expert testimony. He served clients in a wide variety of industries, including technology, telecommunications, renewable energy, healthcare, food and beverage, financial services, retail, and manufacturing.
Morris, Manning & Martin is a full-service law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients' success. In order to provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity.
Our Firm and lawyers possess a keen understanding of our clients' businesses and the sectors in which they operate. Legal solutions are delivered by industry-focused, diverse, involved lawyers who are dedicated to their clients' success, whether in a transaction, in court or in the everyday course of business.
Lori C. Bibb
Lori C. Bibb is a partner in MMM's Atlanta office and a member of the Corporate Department. Ms. Bibb concentrates her practice on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, venture capital investments, joint ventures, complex business transactions and securities offerings.
Ms. Bibb also advises clients on corporate governance matters, as well as periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliance with NYSE and NASDAQ listing requirements.
Ms. Bibb graduated with a B.S. from Vanderbilt University in, of all things, Molecular Biology and Art History, and earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she served as Articles Editor of the Tennessee Law Review.
David M. Calhoun
David M. Calhoun is a partner in the firm's Corporate Securities, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Financial Technologies practices. Mr. Calhoun practices in the areas of corporate finance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He has significant experience in public and private securities and corporate finance, including representation of issuers, underwriters, and investors. Representative transactions include debt and equity offerings (public and private), going private transactions, venture capital financings, IPOs, secondary offerings of common and preferred securities, PIPEs (private investments in public equity), and tender offers. Mr. Calhoun has been active in mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies, including acting as counsel in transactions ranging in size from less than $100,000 to over $1 billion. Representative M&A transactions include representation of both buyers and sellers in mergers, asset sales, stock sales, international and cross-border transactions, and leveraged buy-outs. He has represented companies in numerous industries, including technology, financial technology, green tech, logistics/freight forwarding, medical devices, business process outsourcing, manufacturing, and financial institutions. Mr. Calhoun's practice also includes general corporate counseling, corporate governance, audit and special committee representation, and securities law compliance matters.
Nick Rueter
I am a member of the Corporate Law group and the chair of the International M&A practice with Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP. I represent domestic and international clients in a variety of corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity transactions, joint ventures, emerging company issues, fund formation, private placements, and franchise law. I also routinely serve as a general business and legal advisor to my clients, counseling on matters such as corporate governance, executive compensation, employment and partnership disputes, regulatory compliance and commercial contracts, coordinating, where appropriate, with other attorneys within my firm.
I help private equity funds and their portfolio companies with a variety of corporate transactions to help grow their businesses. This frequently includes platform acquisitions, bolt-on acquisitions, sell-side transactions and debt and equity financings. I also work with venture capital-backed and founder-owned businesses in transactions such as mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. My clients are in numerous and diverse industries, though I have significant experience in the software, technology and technology-enabled business services sector. I often serve as outside general for my clients, coordinating legal support across the organization and from other skilled attorneys within the firm.
Mr. Yates has practiced exclusively in the technology law field for 30 years. He chairs the Technology Group at Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, one of the leading law firms in the country. The firm represents private and public technology companies, entrepreneurs, and business services companies throughout the U.S. and globally.
Mr. Yates co-founded and has been a Board member of leading tech organizations, including the Southeastern Medical Device Association, Southeastern Software Association, Technology Association of Georgia, Technology Executives Roundtable, and Atlanta CEO Council. He serves on the Board of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, co-chairs its Technology Leadership Group, and chairs its political action committee.
Ann McDonald
Proven client-facing business leader with a record of driving multimillion-dollar sales growth… penetrating new markets…spearheading joint ventures…developing and executing revenue/growth strategies for both start-ups and a $1 billion company.
Specialties: Strategic business development expertise across multiple disciplines and in diverse industries. Includes Sales & Marketing/ General Management/ Business Development roles in professional services, business consulting, and pharmaceutical/healthcare distribution. Provides leadership in key account development, management and expansion, consistently broadening customer base and channels of product distribution.
Refactor Talent is an elite, women owned talent agency obsessed with delivering the right talent to enable you to achieve your desired outcomes. All teams, even the best ones, need to be refactored and augmented at times to improve performance.
The recruiting team at Refactor Talent has over 75 years of combined experience helping companies of all sizes, from all industries hire the best talent to grow, refine, and enhance their workforces. Let us help you do the same.
Renasant Corporation, a 118-year-old financial services institution, is the parent of Renasant Bank. Renasant has assets of approximately $16.9 billion and operates 196 banking, mortgage, financial services and insurance offices throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Savills is a global real estate services provider with a network of more than 39,000 people in over 600 offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. A FTSE 250 company (LON: SVS) headquartered in London, Savills advises corporate, institutional and private clients who are seeking to acquire, lease, develop or realise the value of residential and commercial property in the world's key locations.
SGR is a full service, International law firm that advises regional, national, and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm's 270 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.
Gregory J. Kirsch
Gregory J. Kirsch is a Partner and the Head of the Intellectual Property Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
Mr. Kirsch serves as patent counsel to clients ranging from large multinational corporations to small start-ups, as well as universities. His practice encompasses the entire range of patent law, including patent procurement, strategic patent portfolio development, patent opinions (infringement, validity and patentability), post grant proceedings, licensing, as well as patent litigation. He has served as a patent expert in a patent litigation matter, and has participated in patent opposition hearings at the European Patent Office. He has prepared and obtained many hundreds of patents during his career for a diverse clientele, for inventions spanning the full range of technologies, including software, business methods, computer technology, electronics, communications technology, analog and digital circuitry, medical technology, mechanics, electromechanics, plus many others. In addition to his US patent practice, Mr. Kirsch has extensive experience overseeing and pursuing on behalf of his clients patent protection in patent offices throughout the world, utilizing patent treaties (Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty), in coordination with foreign patent counsel.
In addition to his full-time legal practice, Mr. Kirsch has served as an Adjunct Professor of patent law at Emory University School of Law since 1997, and as an Adjunct Professor of intellectual property law at Washington University School of Law (St. Louis) since 2011. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences on various intellectual property topics, and has contributed chapters on patent law to two books.
Mr. Kirsch serves on the Board and on the Executive Committee of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce-Southeast, and is a past Chair of the State Bar of Georgia's Intellectual Property Law Section. He's also been active in the Intellectual Property Section of the American Bar Association, and is a past Chair of that section's Patent Policy Committee.
Mr. Kirsch received his B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iowa in 1987. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1990, where he was Notes & Comments Editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly. Mr. Kirsch is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Georgia, Virginia and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Brett Lockwood
Brett Lockwood is a Partner in the Corporate Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and chairs the Firm's Technology Law Practice Group.
Mr. Lockwood devotes a substantial portion of his practice to serving as principal outside counsel with his clients, advising on corporate, cybersecurity and technology issues as well as significant business transactions. His practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity and data privacy, technology transactions, licensing, strategic alliances and corporate finance matters.
He has published extensively on business and legal topics in many publications and has spoken widely about technology legal matters. Mr. Lockwood is AV Rated (top rating) from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer.
His current professional affiliations include serving as Co-Chair of the Atlanta Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society and as a member of the ACG's Capital Connection Planning Committee, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Technology Association of Georgia. He has previously served as a Board member and officer of the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals, the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia's Technology Law Section (former Chair), the Business & Technology Alliance, the Atlanta Electronic Commerce Forum, the Georgia Technology Forum, Literacy Volunteers of America (Metro Atlanta), and as the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgia Bar Journal.
Mr. Lockwood received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of North Florida, performed graduate studies at Columbia University's School of International Affairs and received his J.D. degree, with distinction, from Emory University School of Law. During law school he served as Executive Managing Editor of the Emory Law Journal and received the Laughlin Award for excellence in legal research and writing.
Talent 360 provides comprehensive staffing solutions for the Information Technology and Finance industries. With decades of experience within our chosen markets, our goal is to provide headache free staffing solutions. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client's needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients. Our vision is to provide our clients with excellence in the hiring process. We strive to handle each client with accountability and responsiveness, as if we were recruiting for our own business. Our mission is to take on the hiring headaches for our clients, by providing efficient cost-effective staffing solutions.
Kevin Raxter
Kevin Raxter is a 20 year veteran of the Staffing Industry here in Atlanta. In 2018, he founded his second staffing agency, Talent 360. Today, Talent 360 provides both permanent and staff augmentation services to both companies local to Atlanta and across the country. Talent 360 has a strong focus in IT and Accounting/Finance recruiting, with many clients asking them to help in additional areas of need.
Kevin is published author of, Staffing! Recruiting with New Tricks and Old Techniques and he focuses his attention on small to medium size companies, where the power of hiring the right person is truly magnified. He works closely with his clients to understand exactly what are seeking, both from a skill standpoint and personality/culture fit.
Matt Fox
Ricky Steele
Experienced C level executive with a demonstrated history of working across multiple industries. Strong business development professional skilled in Sales, Marketing, Networking and Public Relations/Branding. Passionate about making a difference in the community through relationship creation especially in the not for profit community.
Corey Baker
Trevelino/Keller is a nationally ranked reputation marketing agency with the industry's #1 retention. With a mission to build, launch and scale companies using an integrated suite of public relations, marketing and creative services, it's recognized for its outcome-driven approach. Highly successful across B2B and B2C, it is nationally and locally ranked in each of its practice areas including technology, healthcare, financial services, franchising, environment, government, food & beverage and lifestyle. Groovy Studios, its award-winning creative brand, delivers brand development, graphic design and web services. Headquartered in Atlanta, the firm has been ranked among the country's fastest-growing.  For more information, visit www.trevelinokeller.com.
Dean Trevelino
Specialties: Public Relations | Integrated Marketing | Creative Services. Industries: Technology | Franchising | Financial Services | Health | Government | Environment | Lifestyle | Food & Beverage
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gennakeller/
Genna Keller is cofounder and principal at Trevelino/Keller. She served in executive leadership positions with global public relations firms for 16 years before launching her own agency with longtime colleague Dean Trevelino in the early 2000s. Together they created a full-service digital public relations and marketing firm ranked as the fastest growing firm in Atlanta for 2020.
The Atlanta CEO Council has been an important part of the Atlanta business community fabric for almost 2 decades. It remains our great honor to partner with the Council as it uniquely serves the needs of top executives in some of the region's best companies & non-profits. There's not another organization quite like it in our rapidly growing city and region.
Peter Baron, Founder and Principal, Carabiner Communications
In just a few short months since joining the Atlanta CEO Council, I have developed relationships with countless individuals and companies. The CXO receptions and CEO dinners have provided unrivaled opportunities to meet some of the top leaders in Atlanta. The Atlanta CEO Council is unlike any networking group I have ever been a part of … no pressure, no selling, just the chance to meet new people. Looking forward to all the 2020 events lined up!
Kevin Raxter, Managing Partner, Talent 360 Solutions
Stone Soup Tech is a company offering a diverse suite of complementary technology, management, and marketing services.
Bradley Kirkland
Bradley Kirkland is the co-founder of Stone Soup Tech Solutions (SSTS), a company which has offices in the US, Romania, and Germany. SSTS focuses on custom complex software development, including AI, native mobile apps, and complex web systems. He has also founded or co-founded several companies in the software space, as a co-working space and accelerator.
Bradley is a managing partner of Stone Soup Holdings, LLC which focuses on early stage AI related companies. As an active angel for 6 years, he's invested in 12 software companies. Among his volunteer efforts, Bradley is active as a mentor for Startup Weekend, Founder Institute, Georgia Tech, VentureLab, ATDC, and the National Black MBA Association, as well as a shark for startup competitions in many cities world-wide.
Amanda (Richey) Dowis
Like many people, I was not sure what career I wanted to pursue. I went through some courses in the veterinary field, medical billing and coding, and microcomputer applications. I also worked in customer service and direct sales for several years.
While working as a receptionist, I was asked to build a custom database (I already did the website and technical maintenance anyway, so I liked the idea of taking on this project). That is when I discovered how much I loved coding! I ended up building a database for my office and one for a separate company. The databases increased productivity and reduced user errors tremendously by allowing hand-written forms to be populated electronically at the click of a button, as well as organized the large number of details needed for customers. I currently work as a Project Manager and assist on databases (MS Access, SQL) and websites (WordPress, HTML, CSS).
ATL CTO gathers the best and brightest product development tech leaders. Then, we bring them together to network and collaborate. We're all about learning from each other. Plain and simple. We bring great people together to exchange innovative ideas. We're united by our passion for building technology, right here in Atlanta.
Nandu Shah
I like to build. Software. Infrastructure that runs software. Teams that build software and run infrastructure. Organizations that deliver value through technical achievement. I like to build.
For over 20 years I have worked with engineering teams large and small, at companies large and small. Together we optimized MPLS networks with hundreds of nodes in real time, we automated the planning of $65M/yr of IP and voice capacity, we delivered self-service insurance claims to 40M mobile phone users, and we migrated petabytes of data and over 150M users to Google Cloud Platform.
I'm interested in truly agile approaches to getting things done and in continuously improving my product, my team, and my craft.
Jay Sandhaus
Jay Sandhaus is a technology executive with twenty years experience growing companies, building teams and delivering great software. He is hands-on and loves to code as well as manage and set technology direction.
Jay leads the technology organization at PriorAuthNow, an innovative health care technology company. Previously he was Sr. Vice President of Technology at Mobilewalla, a consumer intelligence company that specializes in data science and artificial intelligence, and CTO of PlayOn Sports and the NFHS Network. Before PlayOn, he was Senior Director of Content Management and Social Media at Turner, where he built the publishing platform for Turner's digital properties, including CNN.com, NBA.com, and NCAA.com. Jay wrote software for the Foreign Exchange desk at Goldman Sachs and led development of Emmy-award winning projects for the PGA Tour and NASCAR.com at Sportvision. He serves his community as the treasurer of the Freedom Park Conservancy and organized the Friends of Freedom Bridge. Jay received a MS in Computer Science from Columbia University.
Specialties: AWS, Video, Leadership, Building teams, Planning, Strategic vision, Product Development
Venture Atlanta is the region's largest venture conference gathering together more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, investors, leaders, and students for a high-caliber, 2-day conference.
We began 14 years ago with one mission – to connect companies to capital. Today, this mission has expanded beyond monetary capital to connect startups with the resources, network, clients, partnerships, and talent they need to grow. Venture Atlanta has played an important role in the tech ecosystem of the Southeast and is proud to be a part of so many success stories in the community.
Our network of 575 alumni companies have collectively achieved have led to $4.7B in funding raised and $14B in successful exits.
It takes a village to make an event as exceptional as Venture Atlanta a reality. Our incredible team of leaders and visionaries work throughout the year to recruit the best companies, investors and sponsors to bring the event to life.
Allyson Eman
Sales, Marketing and Business Development senior leader and executive with over 30 years of experience. I have what it takes to help a company, conference or organization grow and thrive! Extensive fundraising skills.
At SouthStar Funding, I was responsible for all marketing and communications during my 9 1/ 2 year tenure. SouthStar Funding grew to be one of the most reputable, respected and trusted wholesale mortgage lenders in the country. SouthStar received many accolades including A+ Employer, Fastest Growing Privately Held Company and was on Inc. 500's list of fasting growing privately held companies.
I am currently the CEO for Venture Atlanta. Venture Atlanta is the premier investor showcase in the Southeast. The conference brings the most innovative technology companies together with top-tier investors from around the country. It is an opportunity for anyone who works with emerging technology companies or investors to network, interact and make great connections.
Richard Fraim
Partner at Knoll Ventures


Being normal and making it through high school unscathed can be a big deal, and, for sixteen-year-old Tess, it's all she's ever wanted.
In Jennie Yabroff's debut young adult novel, If You Were Here, Yabroff shows the normal struggles of growing up combined with the confusion of dealing with a parent suffering from mental illness. If You Were Here follows Tess Block, a girl who relishes summer vacations where she can hide away in her grandmother's country cabin and not have to deal with high school or family. It means no contact with her best friend, Tabitha, because there's no cell service, but Tess enjoys the freedom of escaping NYC for a few months, and the freedom from what's going on at home with her mother.
Tess manages high school and a difficult home life thanks to these summer breaks and weekends spent with Tabitha watching and quoting Sixteen Candles. But Tess's semblance of 'normal' disappears when Tabitha decides she wants to be part of the popular group, leaving Tess behind. This abandonment marks the beginning of Tess' life spiraling out of control. When her mother's mental stability slips and Tess starts seeing strange visions, like being blamed for a tragic accident, she worries her own mental stability may be in question too.
The novel is told from Tess' perspective, beginning with the line "Once upon a time, I was normal," which sets the questioning tone, not only of Tess' narration, but of the book itself. What is "normal"? Is it better to be normal than to be yourself? If You Were Here asks readers to think about fitting in and what must be given up in order to do so. Tess' dry sarcasm and Grammar Police attitude add a lighter air to balance these tough questions.
If You Were Here has two main conflicts; one that carries the beginning of the story, and one that carries the latter half of the book. Tabitha's betrayal of her friendship with Tess drives the first conflict, with a slower beginning that allows readers to get to know Tess, her everyday school life, and the roll-out of Tabitha's new attitude. A tragic accident kicks the second half of the plot into motion. Tess is hurled into a whirlwind of trying to figure out what's happened, combined with her mother's declining mental state, all while hoping she isn't going crazy herself. She's pretty sure she didn't have anything to do with the tragedy, even though everyone else says she did. Both storylines pick up speed as the novel progresses, leaving readers unable to put it down until they come to the final page.
"For every problem there's a solution," Tess' father tells her, and she remembers his words throughout the book, refusing to give up and accept what everyone else blindly believes. Yabroff depicts an inspiring story that challenges readers' views on what it means to fit in and to be "crazy" in this debut novel that is half typical high school drama, and half mystery and suspense, with a hint of magical realism thrown in.
Caitlyn Averett is in her final year as a grad student in the English and Creative Writing MA program at Southern New Hampshire University. She has a BFA from the University of the Arts, and she spent Summer 2016 in NYC working with a literary agency, attending lectures with editors at the Association of Author's Representatives, and squeezing in some time to work on her novels.


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Niagara West, on
Political Affiliation: Conservative Party of Canada
Photo credit : Glen Bylsma
Photo credit : Kim Anderson
Grimsby is 395 kilometres from Parliament Hill.
Public transportation options include Niagara Region Transit and GO Transit.
Towns such as Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland, Smithville, and Fonthill are included in the riding's boundaries.
Ball's Falls Conservation Area is home to thousands of plant species, including wild ginger and St. John's Wort.
Short Hills Provincial Park, partially in the riding, contains coyotes, white-tailed deer, and the meadow vole.
About 13% of the riding's population are immigrants, with some of the largest populations born in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Dutch, Italian, and German are the most common non-official mother tongues in the riding.
A major part of Ontario's wine country is in this riding, with a number of local wineries — such as Cave Springs Cellars, Magnotta, Organized Crime — earning regional and international awards.
Smithville's annual PoultryFest includes duck races and judged exhibitions.
Kevin Hearn, the keyboardist of the Barenaked Ladies, and Del Lord, director of over 30 Three Stooges films, both grew up in Grimsby.
Tony Dekker, member of indie folk band Great Lake Swimmers, grew up in Wainfleet.
Located in the Niagara fruit belt, the region has a thriving agricultural industry — growing cherries peaches, apples, pears, apricots, raspberries, and grapes.
Manufacturing and health care/social assistance are the two top economic sectors.
Only 7% of households live below the low-income measure line, one of the lowest rates among Ontario ridings.
West Lincoln's 77-turbine wind farm, controversial among local residents, is one of North America's largest, with the capacity to power 70,000 homes.
Dils Lake, a 10-hectare man-made reservoir, is home to a variety of fish, including large mouth bass, crappie and carp.
Pelham is home to the headwaters of the Coyle and Twelve Mile creeks that flow respectively into the Welland River and Lake Ontario.
Canada's oldest Mennonite congregation is found at Vineland's First Mennonite Church (1801).
The Comfort Maple tree in Pelham is estimated to be Canada's oldest surviving sugar maple at between 400 to 500 years old.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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< Back to Practices & Industries
Professionals >
Crowell & Moring's Tax practice represents health care industry clients with respect to federal and state tax matters in business transactions, controversies, and litigation. Our practice encompasses all U.S. tax aspects of business dealings and all administrative and litigation forums.
We have extensive experience advising charitable and social welfare health care organizations that are recognized as tax-exempt under Code section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(9) (Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Associations) on whether proposed activities are consistent with their exempt status, structuring and ongoing administration and compliance issues (including formation, best practices, policies and procedures), unrelated business income issues, and issues arising from participation in partnerships, LLCs, and joint ventures. We also provide counseling on application of Code section 501(m) and a range of issues affecting trade and professional associations exempt under Code section 501(c)(6).
In the transactional area, we counsel health care organizations on the tax aspects of mergers, stock and asset acquisitions, joint ventures, and debt and equity financings. We have drafted numerous executive compensation arrangements, including option and stock plans, for health care clients, and advise on the application of Code sections 162(m)(6), 280G, and 409A. We also work with clients on state tax law matters, including, when applicable, federal preemption of state tax obligations.
We also have extensive experience advising our health care industry clients on all aspects of ERISA and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the complex compliance and reporting requirements under Code section 4980H (also known as employer shared responsibility or "pay or play") as well as regulatory and compliance issues concerning HSA's, HRA's, FSA's and other health and welfare benefit plans.
Recent engagements for health care clients include:
$440 million stock acquisition of a health management company by a NYSE-listed insurance company.
$165 million merger acquisition of a medical diagnostic company by a NASDAQ corporation.
Joint venture establishing a high-volume specialty pharmacy business between two NYSE-listed corporations.
Advised an integrated health care delivery network in consideration of application for tax-exempt status.
Advised on structure, establishment and administration of Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Associations under Code Section 501(c)(9).
Provided advice regarding application of the Code and ERISA to health insurers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM's) with respect to the application of prohibited transaction rules and fiduciary compliance issues regarding health and welfare plans.
Provided advice regarding High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs), HSA's, FSA's, HRA's and related tax issues.
Advised health insurance issuers on application to state governmental entities regarding state law requirements applicable to group Medicare Part D prescription drug plans offered to retirees.
Counseled managed care organization in developing tax-qualified travel reimbursement program for employees.
Advised tax-exempt health plan in connection with tax consequences of joint marketing agreement.
Counseled for-profit health plans and other health care delivery entities in structuring joint ventures with tax-exempt entities.
Counseled integrated delivery network in consideration of application for tax-exempt status.
Advised hospice in structuring compensation arrangements to doctors.
Advised university health system in creation of new fund entities to invest corporate and pension assets.
Counseled private equity sponsor in connection with its acquisition of several dermatology businesses.
Advised health insurance issuer in resolving Code section 4980H compliance issues, including tax reporting and employee classification issues.
"Green Energy Tax Incentives to Advance American Infrastructure," Crowell & Moring Webinar (January 13, 2022). Speakers: David B. Blair, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Irina Pisareva, and Eric Su.
Despite Stalled Budget Bill, Lawyers Expect 'Clean Hydrogen' Tax Breaks — Inside EPA (January 13, 2022)
Transition Tax Campaign Expected To Fuel Further Disputes — Law360 (December 10, 2021)
"Supply Chain Considerations for Government Contractors," Crowell & Moring's Supply Chain Webinar Series (December 9, 2021). Speakers: Adelicia R. Cliffe, Stephanie L. Crawford, Lyndsay A. Gorton, and M. Yuan Zhou.
"Overview of the Tax Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Tax Alert (November 15, 2021). Contacts: David B. Blair, Irina Pisareva, Anthony G. Provenzano
Client Alert/Newsletter
"Developments at the Independent Office of Appeals," Crowell & Moring's Managing Tax Audits and Appeals Seminar 2021 (October 8, 2021). Speakers: Andy Keyso, David J. Fischer, and Eleanor Moran McWaters.
"LB&I Update: Emerging from the COVID-19 Pandemic," Crowell & Moring's Managing Tax Audits and Appeals Seminar 2021 (October 7, 2021). Speakers: Nikole C. Flax, David B. Blair, and Carina C. Federico.
"Advance Pricing Agreements and Competent Authority," Crowell & Moring's Managing Tax Audits and Appeals Seminar 2021 (October 7, 2021). Speakers: John C.C Hughes, David J. Fischer, and Eleanor Moran McWaters.
"Update from the IRS Office of Chief Counsel," Crowell & Moring's Managing Tax Audits and Appeals Seminar 2021 (October 7, 2021). Speakers: Drita Tonuzi and David B. Blair.
To view more News & Events for this area, please go to our desktop site.


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Layoffs Watch '13: Comac Capital
The UK firm's decision to cut 1/3 of its staff is said to be part of a "strategic" plan to stop losing money.
London-based hedge-fund Comac Capital LLP laid off a third of its employees, its executives said, after almost two years of investment losses that led some investors to pull money from the firm. Comac managed $4.8 billion at the end of September 2012, according to a person familiar with the firm. It now manages about $2.2 billion, the executives said on Friday. Comac expanded quickly after a strong performance in 2008 but has struggled of late. The firm lost 9% last year, when rival firms were flat, on average, according to research firm HFR. This year, it was down almost 5% through early September. The firm laid off 18 employees in August, said Chief Executive Hopewell Wood. The layoffs were a "strategic decision" to bring the firm's investment team back to the smaller size that had previously been successful, Ms. Wood said.
"I don't think our performance is where I expect it to be, and it's not where I expect it to be in the future," Comac founder Colm O'Shea said on Friday. He said that in the context of his more than 20-year career as an investor, he didn't view the firm's losses this year as "very material."
[WSJ]
LayoffsHedge Funds
Layoffs Watch '13: Lazard Capital
Layoffs Watch '13: SocGen
Layoffs Watch '13: Gleacher & Co
Layoffs Watch '13: Goldman Sachs
The House of Lloyd is said to be doing its annual cut of the bottom 5 percent and then some later this week.
Layoffs Watch '13: Citadel
Layoffs Watch '13: BNP
The French have suggested everyone gird their loins for big-ish cuts.
Layoffs Watch '13: RBS
Layoffs Watch '13: Barclays
Earlier this week Barlcays promised not to dawdle when it comes to canning the 2,000 employees slated to be cut. Today employees in Asia got to experience that follow-through in action!


Providing for your own future is now more important than ever. However, funding, managing and growing your pension portfolio is a fine balancing act and needs a steady hand. Let us show you how to make the most of your pension.


Seann Walsh has said that his ex-partner was "right" to speak out about him after it was revealed he had cheated on her with Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones.
Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell has said there is no secret to her relationship with Joe Sugg, because they have "such a great connection".
Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley has denied her boyfriend was jealous of her partnership with Kevin Clifton on the show – saying the personal trainer was a "dream".
Debbie McGee – who rose to fame alongside magician husband Paul Daniels – has revealed she has had surgery to treat breast cancer.
Debbie McGee – who rose to fame alongside magician husband Paul Daniels – has reportedly been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Stacey Dooley has said she is "not OK" with people telling her what decisions to make in her career, although she does not mind a bit of criticism.
Investigations into a nightclub assault on Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard and his brother Curtis are continuing, police said.
AJ Pritchard has joked that his Strictly Come Dancing partner Lauren Steadman can be his bodyguard when they head out on the programme's tour together.
Strictly Come Dancing's AJ Pritchard says he is now wary of receiving attention from fans in a crowd after he was attacked in a nightclub.
Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley has shared a heartfelt message to her fans to thank them for their support a week after lifting the glitterball trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse has said Cheryl should take part in the series to give viewers a chance to see "another side" of her.
Alan Carr has said he has been offered the chance to appear on Strictly Come Dancing and he would like to take part.
Strictly Come Dancing stars Stacey Dooley and Joe Sugg will host BBC One's New Year's Eve concert.
Ashley Roberts has broken down in tears on the eve of the Strictly Come Dancing final.
Tess Daly has joked that being a parent helped prepare her to keep the judges in order on Strictly Come Dancing.
The ex-partner of Seann Walsh has said she is glad that pictures of him kissing his Strictly Come Dancing co-star were made public, because it made her realise she was "not crazy".
Lauren Steadman has said she was disappointed to be eliminated from Strictly because being an athlete means she is always after the gold.
Bruno Tonioli has hit back at Craig Revel Horwood after his fellow Strictly judge labelled him an "attention seeker".
Charles Venn has been ousted from Strictly Come Dancing after one of the most-feared dance routines – the rumba – put him in the dreaded dance-off with Ashley Roberts.
Shirley Ballas has hailed Stacey Dooley for dancing a "passionate" paso doble on last week's Strictly Come Dancing.
Karen Clifton reacted with a "great sense of humour" after being referred to with the wrong name on last week's Strictly Come Dancing, head judge Shirley Ballas has said.
Charles Venn will face one of the most-feared routines in this Saturday's musicals week episode of Strictly Come Dancing – a rumba.
Graeme Swann has denied "tiresome" claims that he took a swipe at Ashley Roberts during the Strictly Come Dancing results show.


Estás regresando a tu casa después de un largo día en la escuela. Sin embargo, la que debería ser tu casa no es tu casa, sino una taquería (deliciosa taquería, o por lo menos eso es lo que la concurrida clientela indica); y a media cuadra, en la que debería ser una casa extraña, descubres a tu padre regando plácidamente unas macetas. ¿La única explicación? ¡Estás en un Universo Paralelo!
5.0 out of 5 stars¡Esos pies de página! Those footer notes!
For someone that would like a comedy with some geekness sci-fi taint, this is the book for you. You can practice your Spanish and have a good laugh. It contains one or another Mexican terms (soft slang), but there are not as many to keep you out of the loop, I am not Mexican and I had no problem with it.
The pace is very well done, and you can keep reading all the way if you tend to drag yourself within the story. The main character is very likable and will make you facepalm from time to time, specially when you feel identified with him.
Go for it! Totally recommended!


Trail users over the age of 18 who regularly frequent the trail and wish to volunteer for a minimum of 8 hours a month from April through October are eligible to become Schuylkill River Trail Ambassadors. The Trail Ambassador program was established in an effort to provide information and assistance to other trail users. All ambassadors receive training and are issued red identifying shirts (see photo left), and a backpack with maps and first aid supplies.
Fill out an online trail ambassador application today!
Contact srtambassador@gmail.com to learn more about our Trail Ambassador Program, or call Sarah at 484-945-0200.


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Apple is expected to deliver an iPad Pro with an M2 processor this fall
Apple last upgraded the iPad Pro in 2018, including a softer-edged design, an edge-to-edge display, and a USB-C connector.
in Apple, Featured, News-Curated, Tech
According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple is hoping to introduce an iPad Pro with the rumored M2 CPU between September and November of this year.
Gurman thinks Apple will make a significant update to the next generation of iPad Pros, including MagSafe charging.
As Gurman points out, Apple last upgraded the iPad Pro in 2018, including a softer-edged design, an edge-to-edge display, and a USB-C connector.
This improvement has come over a year and a half after Apple debuted the iPad Pro 10.5 in 2017.
According to Apple tracker Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple aims to ship an iPad Pro with the rumored M2 processor between September and November of this year. Gurman anticipates Apple to release a significant upgrade for the next generation of iPad Pros, which will reportedly feature MagSafe charging capabilities. As Gurman notes, Apple last updated the iPad Pro in 2018, when the company launched a design with softer edges, an edge-to-edge display, and a USB-C port. This upgrade arrived almost a year and a half after the iPad Pro 10.5 was released in 2017.
This year, Apple is on pace to follow the same trend, with the latest generation of M1-equipped iPad Pros scheduled to ship in May 2021. With an anticipated September to November 2022 debut date, Apple will spend between one year and four months and one year and six months preparing for the next model.
Earlier this month, Apple showcased the latest iPad Air during its "Peak Performance" presentation but omitted an upgraded iPad Pro. Gurman predicted that the iPad Pro would include wireless charging and a glass back last year. Although 9to5Mac confirms this allegation, its sources indicate that Apple may have abandoned the glass back design in favor of aluminum since with a glass Apple logo.
There has also been little information on the speculated M2 processor, which Apple has yet to confirm. Gurman believes the chip's CPU will be somewhat quicker than its predecessor and retain the same eight-core design. He also expects Apple to use the M2 in the upcoming iPad Pro and the reported 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and 24-inch iMac. Predictions regarding the revamped MacBook Air's M2 processor are divided — Gurman believes it will feature the speculated chip, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes it will use the M1.
Apple's transition to ARM Chips:
Apple is virtually finished transitioning to its chips. At the company's recent spring presentation, the Mac Studio and its M1 Ultra CPU — its most powerful chip — were unveiled. However, it suggested a possible future for Apple's computers. For the first time, Apple's whole chipset is available.
The first critical point is that Apple is now a chipmaking powerhouse to be reckoned with (if it wasn't previously). The overwhelmingly favorable response to the initial wave of M1 machines and the relative success of the company's M1 Pro and M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro laptops last year cemented the company's credentials. However, with the M1 Ultra, Apple unleashed its most powerful CPU to date, touting it as the "world's most powerful chip for a personal computer."
These chips are already a point of differentiation for computers. Purchasing a Mac is no longer just about acquiring Apple's software or aesthetic design – it's about getting performance and battery life that no one else can match.
Apple aimed at Intel's top-tier CPU, the Core i9-12900K, claiming a 90% boost in multi-threaded performance over the M1 Ultra at the same power level and the ability to match Intel's most excellent stats while using 100W less power. Apple made a similar victory lap over Nvidia's RTX 3090 GPU, which the firm says outperforms while consuming 200W less power. (Of course, we'll be verifying those statistics in the following days and weeks). Apple's Silicon shift is no longer an experiment; it is Apple's future and one that PC makers will have to consider in the future.
Top Cryptocurrency Trading Apps in India in 2022


London-based real estate advisory Savills has acquired the Middle East operations of London-based real estate advisory Cluttons. Savills will gain its first offices in the Middle East, absorbing Cluttons' UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia offices, along with the firm's 190 employees.
Despite real estate prices dropping in step with lower oil prices, the real estate market in the Middle East is forecast to grow in a major way in the next decade. JLL, a commercial real estate investment management firm, predicts that a major hike in private debt will help grow the market. Cultural beliefs, a lack of transparency, and a dearth of mortgage and bankruptcy laws have thus far led to relatively low levels of debt in the region.
However, the transformation programmes of various states in the region are introducing more transparency and regulations favourable to investment – like bankruptcy laws – which will make private debt more palatable. A big beneficiary of increased private debt will be the real estate market.
Banking on this, as well as stabilising oil prices, global real estate advisory firm Savills has expanded into the Middle East with the acquisition of the Middle East operations of Cluttons – also a global real estate consultancy. Cluttons Middle East's UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia offices, along with its 190 staff, will be rebranded as Savills – giving the firm a strong presence in the Middle East. As a result of its physical expansion into MENA, Savills will be dissolving its various local partnerships with other firms in the region. Headquartered in London, Savills has over 30,000 employees and posted revenues of £1.6 billion last year. Also headquartered in London, Cluttons has 450 employees working throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, South Africa, India, and until now, the Middle East. The acquisition helps strengthen Savills global network, which previously lacked offices in the Middle East. The staff of Cluttons Middle East will bring their regional expertise in the provision of agency, management, and consulting advice to the Savills brand.
Cluttons Middle East is the most established real estate consultancy in the region, having moved into the Middle East over 40 years ago. In that time, the firm has built up a strong reputation supporting marquis residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Its clients span from the public sector to multinational corporations and family businesses.
"We are confident that the new consolidated offering will enable Savills to become a market leader in the region from the outset and we look forward to introducing the new brand to our clients and the wider market in the Gulf," concluded Morgan. The sale of its Middle East operations will allow Cluttons to focus more on the UK market. The real estate consultancy was bought out by Rcapital last year, leading to corporate restructuring and the closure of some UK offices.
In other regional real estate news, the Dubai government is planning to roll out a digital real estate platform by 2020 that will reduce the need for pure brokerage services. With the slumping real estate market expected to decline further this year, the government has sought to encourage greater investment by reducing bureaucracy in real estate.
Based on blockchain technology, Real Estate Self Transaction (REST) will digitally manage real estate transactions while reducing brokering procedures. As such, the digital platform will pose a threat to real estate middlemen like brokers and agents, who will have to prove they can get a better deal than the digital alternative.
"While the new smart system has been positively received by the market, it could have a negative impact on the residential brokerage industry, reducing demand for agency services and even the number of agents in the market," Mat Green, the head of research and consulting for property managers and real estate advisory CBRE Middle East commented.


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Documents for Heritage
Municipal Heritage Inventory August 31, 2018
Municipal Heritage Places - Bridgetown August 31, 2018
Municipal Heritage Places - Greenbushes August 31, 2018
Municipal Heritage Places - Rural August 31, 2018
In 2000 Bridgetown was granted Historic Town Status, listed by the National Trust, only the eighth in the state to be so. Greenbushes and Bridgetown work very hard to retain the integrity of their architectural heritage and this is recognised on a state as well as national level. "Bridgetown has retained places of significance from each phase of 138 years of European Development" (Reference from Trust News 2001).
"Geegelup" was the name by which the area was well known before the name "Bridgetown" was adopted. (The name was probably taken from the local Aboriginal term for the fresh water crustaceans found in the local brook. The local tribe called these "guglies" and incorporated them into their diet. Other people changed this term to "gilgies"). The town was proclaimed on 4th June 1868 as "Geegelup". Because the barque "Bridgetown" loaded some of the town's wool at Bunbury and due to the bridge across the Blackwood River, pioneer John Allnutt wrote to the colony's authorities requesting that the town, henceforth be called "Bridgetown". This was carried out and the name stuck by the early 1870's.
Bridgetown is the oldest town in the South-West. The first settlers to the Bridgetown area were E. Hester and John Blechynden in 1857. The township of Bridgetown was built on land then owned by John Blechynden and gazetted in 1868. In 1861 convicts formed and maintained the section of road from Donnybrook to Bridgetown, opening up the region and encouraging settlers and the development of the tourist trade to Bridgetown in 1898.
In the period between 1850 and 1885 the township saw the building of many of the buildings still standing today including our current Post Office and two of the town's hotels. During the gold boom days and federation, Bridgetown prospered "and saw a considerable increase in settlement of the region. This vibrant period saw the construction of a number of significant civic, commercial and industrial buildings, including the Police station and Lockup Keepers Quarters" (reference from Trust News 2001)circa 1907, which was granted conservation funds in 1999-2000 as part of the historical precinct.
The Bridgetown Historic Society has produced a 'Self Guided Walk Guide' to heritage buildings and landmarks within the town. It is available for purchase from the Bridgetown Visitor Information Centre.
The Bridgetown Agricultural Society came into being in the year of 1885 as Bridgetown's agricultural production was well established and flourishing. It was formed to provide support, education and a forum for farmers to share information, both practical and scientific. It supported new ideas in agricultural and horticultural practices and provided the premises to buy and sell goods, stock and display their produce.
During these periods Bridgetown developed into a prime producer of sheep, cattle, dairy products, timber, fruit and nuts. The apple industry came into its own around 1905 when the first production orchard trees came to maturity, this product in its own right helped put Bridgetown on the agricultural map. The Agricultural Society played an important role in the convincing the Government of the day to extend the railway down to Bridgetown in 1889 thus facilitating the expansion of rural produce particularly fruit markets and the growing timber industry.
Other areas of community support came from the society and the showgrounds as a venue for field days (the society sponsoring the first soil erosion field day in 1949), sporting events, public meetings and the annual Agricultural show. The show holds a tremendous amount of historical reference as it was the only public meeting place in the Bridgetown area till the building of the Bridgetown Civic Centre and Town Hall in the 1930s. The showground was also provided as a military base in WW2 and the society raised funds for the war effort.
The show-grounds have also been the venue for trotting (established in 1927), soccer, football, cricket and hockey. Public entertainment events such as The Apple Festival, rodeos, circus, Lions events, shearing fundraisers, bike racing, cadets and now the Blues at Bridgetown and the Australian Day Breakfast are held at the grounds.
Greenbushes
Rather different from its boom times when it had a population of over 3000, Greenbushes now has a rustic charm. The town gets its name from the Green Bushes Well, located south of where the town now stands. The well was a watering place on the Bunbury – Bridgetown road and was so named because of the bright green bushes that grew in the area.
In 1886, a surveyor reported that the area near the well, contained tin in alluvial deposits. In 1888 David William Stinton found half a pound of tin in a gully resulting in an influx of miners and prospectors.
The town's prosperity has always depended upon the timber industry and tin mining but more recently lithium and tantalum mining. Along with farming, both industries play a significant economic role in the town.
There is an enormous amount of history and natural beauty in Greenbushes and evidence still remains of the town's past glories


One of these is Theo Bos, chief rubber footwear designer of the Dutch Bata organisation at Best, who will be with British Bata for a couple of months under the direction of the Company's chief designer, Oscar Hautler.
This is Theo Bos's third visit to British Bata. He made previous visits in 1951 and 1953 and told Bata Record that although he had only been at East Tilbury for a few days this time, he had noticed a number of very interesting developments in rubber footwear manufacture and he felt sure he would learn a number of others during his stay.
In the rubber factory is Max Canon, who has come from the French factory at Vernon, where he is at present taking a course in rubber manipulation. He hopes to be at East Tilbury for 12 months. He flew to England, with his wife, on Monday.
Max's observations will be thorough and comprehensive, including, in addition to production, planning, costing and administration. Although this is only his first week here, he has formed a high opinion of British Bata and its methods and enthusiastic workpeople.
"The equipment is fine," he told Bata Record, "and rate of production is remarkable. I work in the manipulation department at Vernon, so am specially interested in the manipulation sections of your rubber factory, where I am this week.
In his sixth year with the Bata organisation, Max worked for a short while in the Bata Factory in Saigon, Indo-China. When he left school, he worked in a bank in Paris. But he was really interested in industry, and started with Bata soon after he left the French army.
He is a Bataman of 15 years' standing and spent more than four years at the Dutch Bata Technical College and, after a thorough grounding in footwear manufacture and afterwards specialising in designing, eventually rising to become the chief rubber footwear designer at Best, where they have two separate designing rooms, one in the leather factory and another in the rubber factory.
Commenting on the weather, he said it was much colder in Holland when he left for Britain and a few days ago it was so cold that motor cars, even with anti-freeze in their radiators, were frozen and the factory buses were unable to run.
A number of taxis still on the road ran a shuttle service to get the workers home. He had difficulty in getting to he home in Eindhoven, a few miles from the factory at Best.
From all parts of the world Batamen come to British Bata, at East Tilbury, to learn the latest developments in shoemaking and, recently, two more overseas Batamen have arrived at East Tilbury.


LANSING, Mich. (WILX) -- One person was killed and two others were injured in a crash involving a Captial Area Transportation Authority bus, a car, and an SUV.
The crash happened around 7:25 p.m. on Waverly Road near Bridgeport Road Friday.
Police say two men were traveling in a car when it rear-ended the bus. Lansing police say the two men in that car suffered life-threatening injuries.
In a statement, CATA confirmed one person was killed in the crash.
"We are deeply saddened by news of the fatality"Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement officers on the scene as they investigate the accident. Our bus operator is currently under the care of a physician," CATA CEO Bradley Funkhouser said in a statement Friday evening.
An SUV was also involved in the crash which is still under investigation.
Lansing police say no other injuries were reported.
The crash closed a section of Waverly Road for hours Friday night while police investigated the crash.
Lansing police say more information regarding the crash is expected to be released sometime over the weekend.


One of the ways Switchback helps young men to live life differently on release is to build up their confidence and skills so that they're able to move into employment. This is a big deal for a lot of Trainees, as many have never had a job before. As well as spending time working in a training environment, we make sure that our Trainees get an insight into different jobs and workplaces, with trips to our employer partners.
This month, Switchback Trainees Raihan, Ersan and Michael went to visit a branch of Leon on Tottenham Court Road. Store manager John introduced the Trainees to the business, including the 'naturally fast food' they prepare. The Trainees were told about the different roles in store, and then had a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchens, where they had a go at making some of the signature Leon wraps (and got to taste the results!).
John made the Trainees feel really welcome, taking the time to talk to each of them about their time at Switchback and their hopes for the future.
Trips like this offer Trainees a real insight into work, raising their aspirations and opening their eyes to the range of jobs they can apply for after they've completed the Switchback programme.


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Woodpeckers in North Carolina
Woodpeckers in North Carolina: 8 Charismatic State Species
Many birders find woodpeckers captivating with their unpredictable behavior. Everything about these birds seems interesting, from their seasonal migration to moving from one habitat to another, yet some people know little about them.
Maybe, you're wondering if there are woodpeckers in North Carolina, eating from a suet feeder or busy drumming on trees in the woods.
These birds can be elusive.
You may only have a quick glimpse before they go out of sight behind a tree trunk.
Therefore, please read on and learn more about these charismatic species around the state.
The Diversity Of Woodpecker Species In North Carolina
1. Downy Woodpecker
2. Pileated Woodpecker
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Northern Flicker
5. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
6. Red-Headed Woodpecker
7. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
8. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
How many species of woodpecker are in North Carolina?
What's the biggest woodpecker in North Carolina?
Is the pileated woodpecker rare?
There are about eight woodpecker species you can find exploiting feeders or hear their loud drumming in North Carolina. You might notice most of these woodpeckers share generic features, but no two birds are entirely identical.
This handy guide aims to describe these eight species of woodpeckers you are likely to encounter around the state. Hopefully, it will give you an excellent start to understanding the birdlife in the area. Here are the most familiar woodpeckers in North Carolina:
The downy woodpecker is our tiny, sociable feathered friend that you probably notice visiting the orchards and feeders. Most people recognize this bird as a natural biological controller of the oak borer beetle, a non-native pest that can wreck forests.
You can recognize an adult downy woodpecker with its large, boldly patterned head in black and white, with a small bill and white underparts. Males sport a red patch on their napes, a feature that females lack. Its diet includes berries and insects in tree barks and trees' small twigs.
Downy woodpeckers are the most undersized woodpeckers in North Carolina and among the ten smallest woodpeckers worldwide.
It prefers habitats with low canopies, exceptionally moist bottomlands, aspen groves, riparian, and open deciduous woodlands. These downy woodpeckers can adapt well to developed areas, like neighborhoods and national parks.
This bird's typical call note sounds like a single, sharp pitch with increasing loudness or rapid, uneven notes during courtship. Its drumming has a uniform sound across this woodpecker's geographic range.
You will likely hear its drumming from ripped-out canopies, deep bark flakes, or stems throughout the year, but more consistently in winter. Further, the downy is well-known for following the pileated woodpecker, obtaining its leftover foods from extensive excavations.
Do you ever wonder about that enormous bird with a vividly red crest that halts you in your tracks no matter how often you encounter it? If that bird also has a black body, white chin, sizable black bill, and a scarlet mustache, that's the pileated woodpecker.
This woodpecker is as large as a crow and almost double the size of other North American woodpeckers.
Its gigantic size is why most people surmise this bird's mythical status; others even use their scalps as currency. A pileated is known to the Karuk tribe as the dollar bird because they can trade its red plumages on the head for a dollar.
Moreover, the pileated woodpecker is among the most persistent tree climbers than any other woodpecker you'd see scuffing hastily around tree trunks. It roosts in an abandoned cavity tree and inhabits a coniferous forest or a riparian habitat with strewed, large snags.
Pileated woodpeckers even populate broad forests or anywhere there's downed wood or a dead tree. Its call is a loud, laughing series of notes, while drumming is also noisy but relatively slow. This bird's diet includes wood-boring beetle larvae, carpenter ants, and other insects.
Hairy woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers look so much alike; they only differ in the sizable, thicker bill belonging to the hairy woodpecker. Not to mention, that bill is also twice as long. This bird is also as widespread in the North as its relative, the downy woodpecker.
A hairy woodpecker is among the familiar visitors at bird feeders filled with suet, but likewise, it is a regular habitant of wooded suburban surroundings.
Adult male birds of this species have primarily black wings and bright red bands across the center of their napes that females lack. Sometimes, a black stripe divides this red band into two smaller bands or patches.
You will recognize its call with a trilling, high-pitched sound like a loud ringing rattle on a single pitch. On the other hand, the drum rolls are rapid and slow down at the end.
While it naturally controls forest beetles, this bird would occasionally feed on spiders and caterpillars, even conifer seeds, acorns, and berries too. It is hardly surprising to encounter this bird drilling its nest in dead trees.
Moreover, this bird is a permanent resident throughout its range; you can find them year-round across the state. Aside from the typical woodpecker habitat, you may also find this feathered friend pecking holes in large, dead snags and branches or drumming in springtime.
If you fancy enticing this woodpecker into your yard, you may try hanging feeders with peanuts and sunflower seeds. Likewise, this creature would find it hard to resist if you place large dead trees or snags between your feeders and the woodlot.
The quickest way to identify a Northern flicker is with its large, long tail and brown and black streaks across the back. It has buff with some black spots underneath, a brown-colored head with some gray from the head to the nape.
Due to geographical variation, Northern flickers from the east have yellowish underwings, while those from the west have reddish.
Also known as the "yellowhammer," this bird displays a fondness for excavating a nest cavity in large ponderosa pine trees. Furthermore, it is a prevalent North American woodpecker, visible in North and South Carolina, and an abundant migrant throughout their range.
In terms of preferred habitats, these birds mostly occupy oak and riparian woodlands, suburbs, and swamps, populating urban and suburban environments in winter.
The flicker is pretty vocal; its call has a loud, piercing sound, sometimes recurrently drumming its bill at things. Its drumming can be pretty challenging to recognize from hairy and downy woodpeckers.
If you're into observing this bird, you should also know that the yellowhammer is a ground forager feeding on spiders, termites, nuts, and seeds. Therefore, it is not unusual to see the Northern flicker frequenting a backyard feeder.
Red-bellied woodpeckers are familiar birds that are opportunistic and well-adapted to various habitats. It mainly enjoys dwelling in mixed woodlands rich in oak-hickory and pine-oak trees, parks, urban areas with mature trees and snags, orchards, savannahs, and plantations.
Contrary to its name, you will not see this species with a red belly; in fact, many would mistake it for the red-headed woodpecker.
This confusion is due to the male's red shade from its forehead, crown, and down to the nape, while the female only has a scarlet nape.
Aside from these features, the redbelly has a black-colored back and wings with white streaks, also known as the "zebra back." You will notice a pale white wing patch in contrast with its dark outer wing when this woodpecker is in-flight.
It is not outlandish for a landowner to hear this bird's territorial drumming; it hammers hard surfaces, like downspouts and chimneys with its bills. Readily accessible food sources, such as fruits, some nuts, acorns, and seeds, attract their kind to a bird feeder.
However, this type of bird is also well-known for its predatory behavior, like stealing and consuming nestling songbirds. Besides feeding a tufted titmouse fledgling, some birdwatchers witnessed the redbelly consuming the eggs of an Acadian flycatcher and an Eastern bluebird.
Many birders find the redbelly's voice disarming. Its call sounds like an explosive nasal note, while you might hear its low-pitched voice in winter.
The Orton Plantation in Brunswick County provides new birders an excellent opportunity to observe the redbelly around that area during its breeding season.
If ever you hear a distinct pecking on your tin roof, that's a merry red-headed woodpecker feeling musical. However, you may not see it this way if you hear that loud drumming sound on your window at the break of dawn.
At most times, these woodpeckers stop drumming once they have already established territory.
You can distinguish this redhead with its crimson shade from the head down to its breast. It's pure white underneath and has glossy bluish-black wings, tails, and upperparts.
Further, this eye-catching bird spends more time in the air, living its fame as the master hunter of flying insects.
Another thing you'd notice is how the redhead stores its food and even uses pieces of wood and bark as a protective covering. Its preferred food ranges from insects to berries, sometimes ground foraging, collecting, or flycatching accessible food sources.
Redbellies prefer to nest and do their flycatching in open deciduous woodlands, while they like clear underwood when ground foraging. These birds also move from dense forests to woodland edges during their breeding season.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are among the few North American migrating woodpeckers, with females moving farther south than males. A bird of its kind exhibits unique plumage variation; they're all different, whether male or female, young and old, regardless of the season.
These sapsuckers have striking red, black, and white plumages with a soft yellow wash underneath, forked tails, and heavy streaks on their backs.
During the winter, suet can be one of the most effective ways to lure backyard birds, such as this one. Landowners don't mind if yellow-bellied sapsuckers visit their suet cages to feed. Like the red-breasted and red-naped sapsuckers, this bird also drills holes in trees to drink its sap.
It drums with distinctive rhythms, beginning with the typical drum roll, halts, and adding some unhurried strikes. You could expect to hear another sapsucker drumming back in reply. Its call is easy to recognize with its nasal sound that varies when mating, threatened, and during flight.
The yellow-bellied prefer breeding in mixed forests abundant in maple, birch, and aspen trees, sometimes inhabiting riparian and coniferous woods, even swampy habitats at forest edges.
It generally favors a half-plant, half-animal diet, omnivorous at times, with a diet comprising sap and some arthropods.
Typically, the red-cockaded woodpecker lives in longleaf pine forests. You will mostly find it inhabiting the NC Sandhills region around Southern Pines, the lower Coastal Plain, Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, and Croatan National Forest.
The bird has black and white barred plumage on its back; it's drab white underneath and has a noticeable black stripe at the lower side of the neck. It's a woodpecker that cooperatively breeds its young in pairs, often scaling pine trees to forage invertebrates like ants or conifer seeds.
Unfortunately, it is an endangered woodpecker affected by the harsh effects of climate change, like frequent storms leading to habitat destruction.
Before its shutdown, Camp Lejeune, in partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, successfully recovered endangered species such as this woodpecker through nature conservancy.
Combat training is not the only thing that preoccupates the marines; they saved 173 clusters of these woodpeckers under the Endangered Species Act. Thankfully, these woodpeckers won't end up like the ivory-billed woodpecker, now extinct in North Carolina.
North Carolina is home to eight species of woodpeckers. They are well-known birds for their habitual tree bark probing or nest hole chiseling. All these birds are under the federal protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You can spot these woodpeckers in their preferred habitats at specific times of the year.
In this video, you'll learn more about one of North Carolina's woodpeckers, the Pileated Woodpecker:
The Pileated is the largest and most active North Carolina woodpecker, measuring 18 inches long. Their sizable bodies are typical identifiers, aside from their red-crested heads and bold white stripes from their mouths to their necks.
It's also not hard to see this enormous bird within the city limits of Western North Carolina. These birds are natural homebuilders of the forests, so you will likely spot them hammering into dead trees to create a home for other birds.
It's barely possible not to notice pileated woodpeckers claiming territories with their clamorous drumming calls, but yes, sadly, they are starting to become increasingly rare. The prevalent logging activities in eastern North America rid these birds of their breeding, roosting, and feeding spots.
In summary, learning about the various profiles of these woodpeckers leads to better identification of unique species, making your birding experience more enjoyable.
Aside from the top birding spots across the state mentioned in this article, you may also check out different birding trails for other birding opportunities. The Cedar Point Tideland Trail, for instance, offers excellent chances to view different kinds of woodpeckers.
It is hardly surprising that many places in North Carolina can host visiting birders worldwide. After all, the state is well-known for its geographical diversity, which supports resident breeders and seasonal visitors alike.


I am a wedding photographer based near Cambridge in the UK, but I'm always happy to travel for a great wedding. I love to photograph at the beautiful Cambridge colleges and the many great venues across Cambridgeshire.
I am also available as a wedding videographer. I create short , timeless films that capture the story and romance of your wedding day.
I like to take pictures that are relaxed, stylish and romantic. I love the quietness of Edward Hopper paintings, grainy black and white photographs, and the warmth of colour film.