19 minute read
LEADERS OF COBB
Since its establishment more than 180 years ago, Cobb County has been defined by its people. Some of these individuals have made their mark by becoming pioneers of business, captains of industry and heads of state.
And if you’re reading this, you likely know why Cobb is attractive to so many. It hosts exceptional schools, is within close reach to the world’s busiest airport, has all of the convenience of proximity to the big city and is fertile ground for entrepreneurship. The list goes on, but it always comes back to the people who have built this county into what it is.
On the following pages we have profiled individuals who are among Cobb’s premier leaders. We wanted to find out about their job, delve into their personal lives, and gain some words of wisdom. And of course, we asked: Why have you picked Cobb County?
Arnold Huffman
CEO, Yalo!
THE STORY: I’m from northeast Ohio, outside of Cleveland. I went to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and was recently the Alumni Board president. I was a basketball player and a chemical engineer, but never did engineering. I went right into management consulting (Accenture), then to software, then to a large marketing agency, to founding and owning a full-service creative marketing agency, which is a long way from being a chemical engineer.
I don’t know that I picked my profession so much as I think my experiences presented me with valuable opportunities and choices. I would say my career has been more leapfrogging from frond to frond and that everything I have learned along the way has put me in this fortunate position. I am a believer that you have to do what you love. I used to do a speech to new hires at Accenture where I used Curly from the “City Slickers” movie as an example in the scene when Billy Crystal’s character asks Curly the secret of life, and Curly holds up his index finger. Billy asks, “Your finger?,” to which Curly’s response is find that one thing that motivates you and the rest doesn’t mean squat. So when I founded Yalo!, I knew I wanted to do marketing. I knew I wanted to do it in a way that leveraged my passions. We have a whole methodology and approach where we use film, art, music, and sports for inspiration and drive creativity for our clients. WHY I CHOSE TO WORK IN COBB: One of the key voices for us being in Cobb is Wayne Dodd! If you don’t know Wayne, you don’t know Cobb.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR
JOB? It’s the opportunity to go to work every day with the incredibly talented and committed team that we have built here at Yalo!. It’s those exciting moments when we thoroughly thrill our clients and see their surprise, gratitude, and pride in what our team has created for them. The combination of these two things motivates me every day. LEISURE TIME: I read a book a month, mostly non-fiction books about musicians and bands. I am a raging music fan, concert goer and a vinyl collector. Music is at the center of Yalo!: how we work, how we think, how we succeed. The history and stories are fascinating. I run 4-5 times a week; it gives me time to think through things, clear my head, and calm my vibe each day. Also, I hang with my wife and three kids doing anything we can think of outdoors. BEST ADVICE: Effort, focus, and perseverance. These are all qualities that you can possess that don’t require skill, talent, or knowledge and can be applied to your advantage in anything you do professionally or personally. WHAT’S NEXT? Continue to grow Yalo! through M&A. Hire the most talented, hard-working, diverse marketing individuals that we can. Thrill our clients, solve their problems, and build great partnerships with them. Lastly, I have committed Yalo! to The A Pledge here in Atlanta. The A Pledge is a call to Atlanta advertising and marketing agencies to come together in a committed effort to create inclusive opportunities within our industry. Yalo! will be on the front line in this important initiative to drive change in our industry.
SETH A. YELLIN, MD, FACS is celebrating his 10th anniversary as founder and director of Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery, Laser & Aesthetics Center. As one of Atlanta’s most well-respected facial plastic surgeons, he has treated thousands of patients during his 25 years in practice with the goal of making every patient happy and more confident. Dr. Yellin is a facial aesthetic expert and creator of Injecta-Lift™. He is nationally renowned for creating a natural look when reshaping the face with injectable fillers and performing cosmetic and reconstructive facial plastic surgery. He believes that the ultimate test of a great plastic surgeon is the naturally beautiful appearance of the patient. He also believes that aesthetic success leaves the patient more beautiful without telegraphing that work has been done. Prior to moving his residence and practice to Marietta, Dr. Yellin was Director of the Emory Facial Center and Chief of Facial Plastic Surgery at Emory Healthcare. As an educator, he taught the art and science of facial plastic surgery at Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Yellin received his undergraduate degree (Phi Beta Kappa) from Emory University and his medical degree (Alpha Omega Alpha) from New York University School of Medicine. He completed six years of general surgical and head and neck surgical training in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and MemorialSloan Kettering Cancer Center. He then was selected for a prestigious fellowship in facial plastic surgery, under the directorship of Richard T. Farrior, MD, a world authority in the field of facial plastic surgery, through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). He is double board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS). Currently, he is a Fellow of the AAFPRS, the American College of Surgeons, and has been an oral board examiner for the ABFPRS.
Maximizing his patients’ happiness is the driving force for Dr. Yellin professionally. To make this point, he relayed a story that perfectly encapsulated the impact facial aesthetic surgery can have on one’s confidence. Recently, Dr. Yellin ran into one of his patients and her family while eating at a local restaurant. The patient’s mother shared with him how beautiful her daughter’s nose looked after the rhinoplasty he performed several months earlier, and most importantly, how happy and confident it made her feel. The patient’s mother also said that her daughter’s nose looked so natural, they kept forgetting to schedule her follow-up appointment. That was high praise indeed. Because the daughter was so happy, the parents were genuinely appreciative. Now that is a lot of good vibrations from one rhinoplasty. Dr. Yellin’s best advice is to become an informed patient and to remain open-minded to novel aesthetic solutions. To that end, he has done a series of webinars covering a variety of facial aesthetic topics to elevate his patients’ knowledge prior to sitting down with them for a personalized consultation. If you want to look your best and feel more confident in your appearance, call 770.425.7575 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Yellin.
Seth A. Yellin, MD, FACS Founder and Director Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery, Laser & Aesthetics Center
Hometown Law Firm with Million-Dollar Results
When Wesley Starrett and Kevin Harris opened their firm in early 2020, they focused on uncovering every stone for their clients’ cases.
By Lindsay Field Penticuff
Many might not think that Wesley Starrett and Kevin Harris took the traditional route to becoming attorneys. In fact, they took a bit of a different path altogether, and one they both believe helps them fight for justice and protect the little guy — or girl.
Starrett and Harris were law enforcement officers for nearly a decade before they each decided to go to law school. Starrett worked for the Douglasville Police Department, while Harris spent time at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Reserve.
“My background is very similar to Wesley’s, and I think that’s why we get along so well,” Harris says. “We were actually raised just one street over from one another, too.”
For Starrett, however, it all started with a tragedy in his family while he was a police officer. “My wife’s father was killed on Interstate 285,” he shares. “I went through the process with her in finding attorneys and getting somebody to represent her family to go after the driver of the [tractor trailer] truck.”
After that experience, Starrett switched gears and started law school. At first, he attended school at night while still working at the police department. He then later went to school fulltime. “I’ve got 10 years of law enforcement experience, and during that time I worked a lot of traffic wrecks and fatalities,” Starrett adds. “This was kind of a natural fit for me to go into representing people who are injured in car crashes.”
It was a similar path for Harris. And working in law enforcement is where they both discovered their love for the practice of law, in addition to learning and understanding the importance of empathizing with their clients, showing compassion in someone’s most dire time of need.
Establishing a partnership
Starrett and Harris knew each other before starting their practice, but it wasn’t until they became attorneys that they really began crossing paths more often. After graduating from law school, Starrett worked for the Douglas County Solicitor-General Office before joining a private plaintiff’s firm. He already had started his own law firm in 2019 — Starrett Law — when he ran into Harris, who was at a defense firm at the time. The pair soon began conversations about becoming partners at a new firm.
“Whether it was in law enforcement or with the prosecutor’s office, we have always been victims’ advocates,” Starrett says. “Both Kevin and I are Plaintiff’s attorneys at heart.” “So, it worked out that when Kevin and I met up again and I explained that I needed some help in my firm after running it for a year, it seemed like a perfect fit.”
Harris joined the practice in January 2020, when they officially established Starrett and Harris Law, LLC. But it wasn’t exactly what they expected at first. The firm was making great traction the first three months of 2020, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As personal injury attorneys, including motor vehicle accidents, cases that may involve dog bites or worker’s compensation, their clients weren’t on the roads or at work any longer due to the shelter-in-place orders.
“It was just awesome, and business was looking great,” Starrett recalls. “Then, March
[2020] hit and we didn’t have a single new case until July [2020].”
Harris and Starrett didn’t let that damper their moods, or their business. As soon as the courts started opening back up, cases started flowing once again. “We have weathered the storm since about August,” Harris says, “then things have been going as good, if not better, than it was when we started.”
Going above and beyond
The firm, which serves clients across Georgia, is dedicated to its clients. And Harris and Starrett always are willing to navigate the road less taken when it comes to the men and women they represent during litigation.
Some of their more recent, unique cases involve an employee at an oil refinery where there was an explosion, a wrongful death case for the mother of a 24-year-old who was killed in a motorcycle accident, and a patron who was allegedly shot by a security officer at an Atlanta nightclub.
“Our backgrounds have made a huge difference in cases like these,” says Harris. For example, they typically go out to the location of an accident when they can, will take their own pictures, and try to get an idea of what happened. “We’ll also go out and look at the vehicles in the tow yard, and that’s something we know how to do because of our backgrounds,” he adds.
Doing their own investigation is helpful. “We start fresh, taking a look at the police report, but that’s not it,” Starrett says. “We work with some of the best accident reconstruction specialists in Georgia, and we use the latest and greatest technology, including drone footage, 3D mapping of the scene, and ‘black box’ downloads on vehicles.”
Clients first, settlements second
Determination and perseverance are the hallmarks of the Starrett and Harris Law approach. It’s a key component of business that the pair agreed upon when they started their partnership a little over a year ago. “We want to look at people not just as a case number. So, every time I sit down in front of a client, I think, ‘If this was my brother or sister sitting there, what type of service would I give them?’” Harris says. “We try to treat them like we would treat our own families.”
Clients are often coming to Harris and Starrett at their weakest and darkest times, many facing terrible, traumatic injuries. “We have a responsibility to give them our best,” Harris continues. “If we take on a client, we are going to give them 110 percent.”
As a hometown firm, their job is to uncover every stone and take on the giant insurance companies for their clients and client families, getting millions of dollars in results. But winning isn’t just about large payouts. “It’s not always about money,” Starrett confirms. “For example, in a recent case, the prosecutor didn’t even want to prosecute in a hit and run case, but that was so important for the family. They wanted some measure of justice for their loved one.”
Starrett and Harris Law, LLC
Owners: Wesley Starrett, Partner, Kevin Harris, Partner
Location: Threadmill Complex, 5000 Austell Powder Springs Road SW, Suite 251 Austell, GA 30106
Website: injurylawpros.com
It felt good for Starrett and Harris to be a part of that, because they wanted to help make sure the driver was held accountable for his actions. “For a lot of these individuals, they are also just looking for their story to be heard,” Harris adds. “It’s important for them to know about what can often be a lifechanging event. We try to be a voice for those who don’t have a voice.”
Clients have been incredibly pleased with the outcomes, too. “Oftentimes, the last time you’ll see a client is when you give them their money,” Starrett says. “But that’s not always the case for our clients. They become like family. We get to know them and keep in touch.”
It’s all about getting families through to the other side. “Making sure they are getting the financial and emotional support they need — and deserve — is the most rewarding thing in the world to us,” concludes Starrett. n
Credit Union of Georgia’s Kathy Winiarczyk Raises Most Donations for Communities In Schools in Marietta/Cobb County Jail & Bail Fundraiser
This past spring, Kathy Winiarczyk, business development officer for Credit Union of Georgia, was honored as the winner of a friendly competition to raise money for the Communities In Schools Georgia in Marietta/Cobb County (CIS) Jail & Bail Fundraiser. Winiarczyk raised $2,539.23 for the cause.
The fundraiser raised a total of $18,064.18 for at-risk youth in Marietta and Cobb County. Winiarczyk not only participated on behalf of the Credit Union of Georgia, but the Credit Union also donated to the fundraiser. Executive Director of CIS, Natalie Rutledge shared, “We are so thankful for Kathy’s support and efforts to help make our first CIS Jail & Bail: Guilty for Caring for Kids a huge success! Kathy is a tireless servant leader and is always ready to give her time, talents, and resources to support the Cobb County community. With her sincere generosity and big smile, no job is too little or challenge too big. We are thankful for Kathy and the Credit Union of Georgia’s partnership with Communities In Schools and together we are #Allinforkids!”
Communities In Schools (cisga. org) is the nation’s leading dropout prevention and intervention organization. Improving graduation rates and addressing academic and non-academic challenges is important for at-risk youth — eight of 10 high school dropouts end up in the criminal justice system, CIS reports, and last year, six of 10 found guilty in Cobb County Superior Court were high school dropouts.
With the Credit Union of Georgia being founded by educators in Marietta and Cobb County, the Credit Union has a strong passion for giving back to the schools and programs that support education. When asked what she loves most about serving the community through the Credit Union,
Winiarczyk stated, “I am proud to be part of an organization that prioritizes the community.
My favorite part is getting to be hands-on in the community, whether that is actively fundraising or volunteering.
Getting out there and meeting those we help is the best!” Credit Union of Georgia supports CIS and the community of Marietta and
Cobb County. To learn more about the Credit Union of
Georgia and its fundraising efforts for local charities visit,
CUofGA.org.
As we first presented in the May/June issue, local businesses award thousands of dollars in scholarships every year to Cobb County students. Since May, news of more scholarships has reached our desks, so we wanted to share the information with you. Congratulations to these students; they persevered through an incredibly tough school year.
Credit Union of Georgia Awards $1,000 Scholarship to Marietta High School Student
In May, Credit Union of Georgia awarded Sophie Edwards at $1,000 scholarship in connection with the Marietta Schools Foundation for her essay on “How #DoYouCU making a difference?”
When creating a scholarship for the Marietta Schools Foundation the Credit Union wanted to award a student who cares about their community and is making a difference in the future. Edwards received raving recommendations from her teachers, possessed great grades throughout her high school career, but what stuck out most was her desire to help children and end chronic hunger in the community. Sophie Edwards
Edwards began working to end chronic childhood hunger in kindergarten when she learned a classmate was participating in the free and reduced lunch program. From then on, she dedicated her time to the cause by providing more than 3,000 meals for summer lunch programs, raising more than $10,000 through five bake sales, speaking at multiple fundraising events, volunteering over 2,100 hours, forming the Square Meal Project when she was only eight years old, and recently repurposing a retired school bus to create a mobile food pantry and summer meal delivery service with Marietta City Schools.
“I love to help children reach their fullest potential,” wrote Edwards in her “How #DoYouCU making a difference?” essay. With a desire to help others, she has decided to pursue a career in medicine to serve underserved communities. Edwards will be attending the University of Georgia in the fall to begin her journey towards her dream.
Osborne High School Student Earns Scholarships & Will Attend Chattahoochee Tech This Fall
Osborne High School student Jared Mendoza is a firstgeneration college student attending Chattahoochee Technical College this fall. Her mother and 5th-grade sister were at Osborne when Mendoza learned she was the recipient of a $1,000 Cobb Schools Foundation scholarship, as well as a $3,272 scholarship recognizing her overall success and perseverance.
During Mendoza’s scholarship interview, she attributed her success to her mother and her Spanish teacher at Osborne, Kerae Joonsar. She shared that her teacher inspired her to continue learning and striving for the next level of success because she was capable of continuing her success. “My Spanish teacher always told me I could do more,” Mendoza said.
The Cobb Schools Foundation spent the last week of the school year recognizing and awarding scholarships to exceptional students, like Mendoza. An independent scholarship committee that works out of the Cobb Schools Foundation Board spends hundreds of hours reviewing, scoring, interviewing, and selecting up to two scholarship recipients from each of Cobb’s 17 high schools. They also review and score finalists from several other donor-funded scholarships as well.
In addition to the Cobb Schools Foundation scholarship, Jared also earned the special Perseverance Scholarship Award, funded by Dr. Jaha Howard, who set the objective to find a student who displayed grit and the will to persevere despite life’s curveballs. “We all have moments in life that can determine our next steps for the better or worse. This scholarship was designed to award an outstanding student who really has the grit to keep going,” Dr. Howard shared. Another scholarship awarded by Dr. Howard went to Chibuzo Ibuoffor of South Cobb High School. He is the first recipient of the Spanish-speaking Future Teacher Scholarship worth $4,909 and is attending Georgia Tech this summer. “We are always so grateful to our community of supporters who believe in our students. We want our students to know that people in our community care about them and their achievements and are willing to support them in big ways,” said Felicia Wagner, executive director of the Cobb Schools Foundation.
Marissa Salett of Pebblebrook High School and Achusim Nnyagu of South Cobb High School each earned $500 in college scholarship funds from the South Cobb Business Association (SCBA). The SCBA developed its scholarship program five years ago to provide scholarships to students at these two schools. Each year, one student from each school is awarded a scholarship to assist with their college tuition. Salett maintained a 4.19 GPA and will be attending Marissa Salett Bard College this fall. Nnyagu earned a 3.7 GPA and will be attending Kennesaw State University.
The Powder Springs Business Group awarded two, $500 Workforce Scholarships to graduating seniors from McEachern and Hillgrove High Schools. These students, Oje Addeh (McEachern) and Zachary Martin (Hillgrove) have committed to attending a Technical College System of Georgia school. n
