Rebecca (Becky) Blalock

Becky Blalock served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information officer of Southern Company for 9 years. In this role she directed information technology strategy and operations across the 120,000 square miles and nine subsidiaries of Southern Company. She lead more than 1,100 employees in information technology delivery to one of America’s most respected companies.

Under her leadership, Southern Company delivered over a billion dollars in new technology initiatives and was recognized as one of the 100 Most Innovative Companies by CIO Magazine and one of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT by Computerworld Magazine. She is nationally and regionally recognized as an expert in corporate information technology.

Since beginning her career at Georgia Power in 1978, Blalock has provided broad leadership in many positions including accounting, finance, marketing, corporate communication, external affairs, the office of the CEO, and customer service.

Blalock serves on the boards of Computers for Youth, Emory Healthcare, the Georgia Health Sciences University and the business school of Mercer University. A graduate of Leadership Atlanta and Leadership Georgia, she was named a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation in 2001.

Blalock has received a host of honors including 2011 Legacy award from the Women in Technology and Honorary Lifetime Achievement award from the Georgia CIO Leadership Association. In 2009 she was named CIO of the Year in the electric utility industry by Energy Biz Magazine and in 2003 she was named the CIO of the year by the Georgia CIO Leadership Association. She is listed among the Who's Who in Science and Engineering. In 2006, she was named one of Computerworld Magazine’s Premier 100 IT Leaders, Power Woman by Atlanta Woman Magazine, and the Shining Star Award recipient from the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. In 2005, she was inducted into the Atlanta YWCA Academy of Women Achievers. She successfully completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard University. She holds a master’s degree with honors in business administration from Mercer University and an undergraduate degree in business administration from State University of West Georgia.

Jim Stratigos

Jim Stratigos, is president of Broadband Strategies and is an active angel investor, mentor and advisor to a variety of early-stage technology companies. He brings more than 35 years of experience as a successful technology entrepreneur and industry leader. At Broadband Strategies, Jim has advised private companies and venture capital firms in the telecom, wireless, semiconductor and energy industries.

Jim’s career includes CEO, executive management, marketing, and engineering positions in semiconductor, wireless and satellite technology companies, including JMD, Echostar, AT&T and Motorola. During his career, he has founded three technology companies, two of which were sold and remain as successful operating units of public companies.

Most recently Jim was the CEO of Jacket Micro Devices (JMD), a pioneer in the development of embedded passive technology for wireless semiconductors. Before joining JMD in 2004, Jim was an advisor and fellow at Georgia Tech’s Venture Lab, where he evaluated commercialization opportunities for research created at Georgia Tech. Venture Lab is a component of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech, the longest running and most successful university technology incubator in the country.

In 1995, Jim founded Media4, a pioneer in the development of Internet over satellite technology. After managing a successful acquisition by Echostar in 1999, he remained with the company as vice president and general manager of Echostar Data Networks where he led Echostar’s efforts in broadband satellite networks and advanced set-top development.

In 1983, Jim co-founded Tridom Corporation, an early developer of interactive satellite technology, which was sold to AT&T in 1988. He remained with AT&T, serving in various executive positions until 1993.

Jim has also held senior development and management positions at Scientific-Atlanta, Georgia Tech Research Institute and Motorola.

Jim is active in the Atlanta high tech community and is a founding member of Atlanta Technology Angels, an Atlanta-based, early stage investment group. He also serves on the advisory boards of several portfolio companies and is past chairman of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Jim earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1974, and a master's degree in electrical engineering, also from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1980. Jim is a member of the IEEE, the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Advisory Board and a member of the Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni.

Virginia V. Persons

Virginia Persons is the President of Collaborative Advisors LLC, which serves as an intermediary between individuals and families seeking investment and financial advice, and those entities that provide such services.

Virginia is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds Series 7, 24, 27, 63 and 65 securities licenses. Virginia worked as a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Atlanta from 2004 through 2010 serving the needs of individuals, families, foundations, endowments, and nonprofit organizations in all areas of investment management.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Virginia worked for INVESCO Retirement, Inc. (a.k.a. AMVESCAP Retirement) where she rose to the level of Senior Vice President responsible for the Individual Retirement Group. Virginia also served as Director of Corporate Development reporting to the Chairman of INVESCO Retirement. Virginia initially joined INVESCO Retirement in 1997 as Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services. While at INVESCO, Virginia also served as President of INVESCO Services, Inc., a registered broker/ dealer, and served on the board of INVESCO National Trust Company, where she was a member of the Investment Committee and served as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Virginia began her career working for Deloitte in both Atlanta, Georgia and Paris, France, serving privately held and emerging growth companies, and multi-national companies involved in both inbound and out-bound investment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Denver University, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois.

Virginia is currently Chair of the Atlanta Chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum and is a member of Atlanta Technology Angels. She speaks, reads, and writes fluent French, is an aspiring amateur pianist, an avid runner (qualified for Boston Marathon- 2010, 2011), and enjoys skiing, hiking, travel and exploring new restaurants in her free time. She is married with one child.