Mrs. Rose Procter serves as the Director of the BB&T Center for Ethical Leadership within the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia (UNG). Leadership and entrepreneurship have always been Mrs. Procter’s passion. As an entrepreneur herself having been co-owner of Crisis Management Solutions, Inc. since 2001 and Cleveland MMA & Fitness since 2013, Rose understands not only the challenges of starting a small business, but the importance of ethical leadership. She truly believes in the Center’s mission to create value in developing ethical leaders and strives to create value in building ethical organizational cultures. She has been in higher education for over 17 years, and in the University System of Georgia since 2007. Before joining UNG, she served the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Kennesaw State University (KSU) as the Operations Manager. Mrs. Procter was selected to become the Director of Community Relations and Administration for the first and only PhD program at KSU awarded by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in the field of International Conflict Management. She helped launch the program into success at her departure with over 40 doctoral students, 12 program faculty and staff, and over 25 domestic and international strategic partners. Prior to her career with KSU, Mrs. Procter worked at the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC) serving as the Executive Director for the International Center for Psychosocial Trauma (ICPT) at the UMC School of Medicine. In her role as Executive Director for the UMC-ICPT Mrs. Procter helped establish the Center, assisted in launching numerous new sustainable initiatives both academically and community-based and helped lead over 30 domestic and international humanitarian projects in countries like: Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Chechnya, Turkey, Jordan,
Iraq, Rwanda, Palestine, and the United States. Mrs. Procter graduated with honors from Park University, Kansas City, Missouri with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Organizational Social Psychology and received her Masters of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia. Rose is married to the love of her life, Mr. Dustin Procter, whom she has known since she was fourteen (14) years of age. They have four beautiful children: daughter Lana, son Jack, daughter Allie (twin of Riley), and daughter Riley (twin of Allie). They live in Lumpkin County, north of Dahlonega.
Kyle Jarrard is an nationally acclaimed comedy magician and variety entertainer. Aside from being a prominent and successful magician since the age of 15, he is also an accomplished and award winning banjo player and musician. His zany approach to magic is very unique and refreshing. He's performed across the United States for a huge array of varying events and functions. Kyle has been featured as a cover story for the "Linking Ring" magazine -The official magazine of the International Brotherhood of Magicians which is subscribed to by magicians and entertainers worldwide. He's also taken part in the achievement of a banjo related "Guinness World Record", and received the title of "Georgia State Banjo Champion" through a fierce musical competition. His southern charm and style of performing is all delivered in a smooth, laid back, and relate-able approach. He is a natural at what he does, and never fails to make an impressive connection with his audiences. As for his history in the business, it all started with a young, small town, mountain boy from Demorest, GA who had no major interests or hobbies. About the age of 9, Kyle received a few simple magic tricks from a teacher friend at school in order to peak his interest in something...little did either of them know, these few tricks would set off a wildfire in Kyle's desire to perform and entertain! He had been bitten by the "magic bug" and immediately began perfecting his skills by showing his tricks to anyone he could. At age 12 he began performing shows for local birthday parties and church functions. The years to follow proved to be quite an adventure as he built up his company ( Kyle Jarrard Entertainment) and his entertainment reputation from a small town performer in Georgia, to a National Act. Kyle enjoys every minute in front of an audience and always feels relaxed and comfortable when on the stage or speaking publicly.
It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's the impetus of motivation - Mr. Make It Happen Bob doing his thing. A guy who has dedicated every moment to motivate and inspire the youth to do it right the first time. Bob's knows first-hand how to captivate the minds of young people while providing opportunities that enhance their well-being. With a focus on education and youth development. Bob lives to Bring Out The Best! If you're ready to walk away empowered and willing to give it nothing less than 110% with an understanding that everyone doesn't get a trophy. Bob's message is for you!
Growing up, Bob's positive attitude didn't seem to be strong enough to remove him from his daunting environment. Mackey soon realized that the odds were stacked against him. Like many at-risk youth, Bob was in danger of becoming a dropout statistic and that he did. Despite being placed in an academic program for gifted students at an early age, Bob spent much of his school days in in-school suspension. By the age of 15, Bob was well on his way
down the road to failure, affiliating with the wrong crowd and neglecting his once-promising educational future. But failure was not an option! Bob attended Clarke Central High School and became the first and only child out of his six siblings not to graduate high school which fueled his passion to become the only sibling to graduate from college, receiving his Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice.
Mackey has spoken before over 60,000 youth and adults internationally, implementing successful academic and character building programs he develops for schools and community organizations. Mackey has worked with many notable community leaders: Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10), City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; former DeKalb District Attorney J. Tom Morgan; Alicia Phillips, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta; David Johns of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, Former Vice Chair of Georgia Board of Regents Felton Jenkins, Jim Clark; President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America,
Bob has also been recognized on many local and national media platforms. He has earned the endorsement of ESPN Reporter/Author Mark Schlabach, Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation, NBA Professional Basketball Player Dwight Howard, and many others.
Sonja McLendon is the Chief of Operational Excellence at Northeast Georgia Health System. In this role she leads the organization’s lean transformation, performance improvement, patient safety, quality, patient experience, and infection prevention activities, and facilitates strategy deployment throughout the enterprise. She also is serving as the Interim President for NGMC Lumpkin and NGMC Barrow and is an adjunct professor at Brenau University.
Prior to this role, Sonja served as the Vice President of Professional Services at NGHS, Vice President of Ancillary and Outpatient Services at ValleyCare Health System in Pleasanton, CA and as a Vice President at Tuomey Healthcare System in Sumter, SC. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina; a Master's in Education & Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia, and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. Sonja is also a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Sonja is an active member of the Rotary Club of Hall County (current President), member of the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives, sustainer in the Sumter Junior Welfare League, and member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Sonja and her husband, Scott, have a daughter, Molly, and a golden retriever, Tullis, and live in Gainesville, GA. Sonja enjoys yoga, hiking, travel, and collecting funny stories that may end up in her next presentation (or that book she keeps threatening to write).