David Ames
Chief Executive Officer
Green Energy Development, Inc.
Mr. Ames brings a valuable combination of corporate and entrepreneurial business experience. His 35 years of diverse professional experience incorporates pioneering work in two renewable energy businesses, as well as the cable modem industry, Internet/data, home technology services, entertainment, multimedia, telecommunications and computer industries.
Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Global Energy Holdings Group at the request of Investment Bankers. At Global, he successfully repositioned the publicly-traded company from Ethanol to Waste to Energy. Considered an expert in all forms of Alternate Energy, he is a member of ACORE (American Council on Renewable Energy) and its CEO Council.
David was co-founder and Chairman/CEO of Alterna Energy LLC which advanced technology in alternative energy processes and services. In 1994, he founded and served as Chairman, President and CEO of Convergence.com, which was the first company to launch and manage high-speed cable modem broadband Internet access over cable systems throughout the world.
David also has an extensive background in advertising, television and film. He helped develop and manage the Film Division of the Image Bank, leading to the company’s acquisition by Eastman Kodak. Earlier, at NW Ayer Advertising, he supervised the AT&T corporate broadcast account, overseeing marketing and supervising the Bell System Family Theater of award- winning productions that received Emmy, Peabody, Humanitas and Gabriel Awards. David was appointed to AT&T’s global divestiture committee. In addition at Benton & Bowles advertising he completed their marketing / advertising MBA program in association with Columbia University and the Wharton Business School.
David also serves on the Board of Trustees of Ithaca College and is a member of the Park School of Communications National Advisory Board. Together with his wife, David founded the Tomorrow Foundation, which establishes film libraries for patients in hospitals and other non-profit organizations.
Brett Butler
Manager, Arizona Diamondbacks AAA Reno Aces
Mr. Butler is currently in his fifth year of managing the AAA League teams of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2011 he was named as a coach in the All-Star Futures game before the Major League All Star Game.
Brett enjoyed a 17 year career as an All Star Centerfielder before coaching and has played for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants (where he played in the “Earthquake” World Series), New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was the team captain for several years and also the player representative for the team.
Brett’s leadership skills, work ethic, speed, and mastery in hitting have given him the opportunity to share his experience with the many talented aspiring professional athletes whom he coaches.
Historically, Brett ranks among the highest in his profession as a lead off hitter. His mastery of the bunt and infield hitting led to a .290 lifetime batting average. He has compiled over 2000 hits and has over 550 stolen bases.
Many consider him to be one of the best lead off hitters of the 1980s and early 1990s, due to his high on-base percentage, speed and dynamic bunting.
In May 1996, Butler learned that he was suffering from Squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils, a type of cancer which only rarely involves the tonsils. Following an operation to remove the tumor, and intensive treatment to combat the disease, he returned to the Dodgers’ lineup in September of the same year—defying the predictions of those who had speculated he would never be able to play again. Butler finished the 1996 season with the Dodgers and played with them for one more year, participating in his final game on September 28, 1997.
His honors include finishing 7th in MVP voting in 1991, 1991 All- Star Team, National League Player of the month in June 1992, receiving the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1996, and named as a coach in the All-Star Futures game before the 2011Major League All Star Game. Brett is also in demand as a highly popular Motivational and Christian Inspirational Speaker in the off season.
Jeff Foxworthy
Comedian
Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country. He is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee and best selling author of more than 26 books. Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes well beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature, a style that has been compared to Mark Twain’s.
Foxworthy is currently hosting the hit show Are Your Smarter Than A 5th Grader, which airs on FOX. He is also currently developing an animated show for FOX centered on a dysfunctional family set in the world of NASCAR. Prior to that he executive produced and starred in, Foxworthy’s Big Night Out. Foxworthy had also starred in and executive produced the television series, Blue Collar TV, which he created for the WB network. Blue Collar TV came about due to the success of Blue Collar Comedy Tour, The Movie and the concert tour of the same name. The movie premiered on Comedy Central and was the highest rated movie in the channel’s history. To date the movie has sold more than 4 million units. The soundtrack for this movie has been RIAA certified gold (more than 500,000 units).
Jeff is also an accomplished author, including 3 children’s book, Dirt On My Shirt, Silly Street, and Hide which have become New York Times Best Sellers. He also released the New York Times Best Seller, How to Really Stink at Golf this year and shares his invaluable tips for a lifetime of horrible drives and putts.
In the story of his life experiences, you will hear how Mr. Foxworthy has learned to rely on his relationship with Jesus Christ for strength and direction.
Derek Schiller
Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing
Atlanta Braves
As Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Derek Schiller is responsible for the management of all baseball-related revenues and related operations such as ticket sales, corporate partnerships, broadcasting, licensing and merchandising, community relations, public relations and the overall marketing strategy for the franchise.
Working closely with Chairman Terry McGuirk and President John Schuerholz, Schiller, has played a key role in guiding the Braves staff to further increase sales and visibility while increasing customer service using many new technologies.
He has worked on many technical developments including special content on braves.com, social marketing enhancements and a Customer Relationship Management system that will help further enhance customer service and data management for both corporate partners and ticket holders.
Schiller, who joined the Braves in 2003, manages the Braves television relationships with FS South, SportSouth and Peachtree TV and the radio relationship with Dickey Broadcasting Company that includes 150 affiliates across the Southeast, the largest affiliate network in all professional sports. Schiller also oversees all aspects of the Braves marketing outreach with fans, including braves.com and all promotional and advertising campaigns.
Schiller came to the Braves after having served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team since 1998. In that position, he led the development of the Thrashers as an expansion franchise in the National Hockey League including the management of all business operations and marketing. During his tenure the Thrashers set an NHL expansion attendance record for their inaugural 1999-2000 season. He was instrumental in the creation of the Thrashers logo and brand identity as well as negotiating the team’s first television and radio agreements.
Before joining the Thrashers, Schiller served as Vice President of Business Development for the New York Yankees from 1996-97. While there, he was responsible for all revenue-producing and related functions, including sponsorship sales, marketing, ticket and suite sales, publications, concessions and merchandising, fan services and licensing. He was instrumental in putting together one of the largest sponsorship deals in sports between the Yankees and Adidas.
Prior to joining the Yankees, Schiller was the Executive Director of Atlanta’s International Sports Plaza (ISP). He developed the first-ever private press center serving non-accredited press organizations during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and managed the hospitality venue during the Games in partnership with several Olympic sponsors.
Schiller earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Vanderbilt University. He is an executive board member of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, a board member of the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation and the Atlanta Sports Council, an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta and serves in a variety of roles for a few MLB committees and supports a number of metro Atlanta charities. Schiller and his wife Kristin and their two children, Luke and Carson, reside in Norcross.
John J. (“Jeff”) Scroggin J.D., LL.M., AEP
Scroggin & Company, P.C.
Mr. Scroggin has practiced as a business, tax and estate planning attorney in Atlanta for 30 years. His practice is devoted to tax planning, estate planning, business representations, business succession and sales of businesses. He is co-creator of the “Family Incentive Trust” and creator of the “The Family Love Letter.” He is known for his ability to convert complex, technical information into practical, useable forms.
Mr. Scroggin received the following degrees from the University of Florida: B.S.B.A. (Accounting), 1974; Juris Doctorate, 1977; Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.), 1979. Mr. Scroggin has taught tax law at the University of Florida Law School and College of Business and serves on the University of Florida Levin Law School Center Board of Trustees (2011-2016). He was a CPA with Arthur Andersen’s nationwide estate planning group. He is a Nationally Accredited Estate Planner and has received the coveted “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell. Since 2006, Mr. Scroggin has served as Founding Editor-in-Chief of the NAEPC Journal of Estate and Tax Planning (one of the largest circulation estate planning Journals in the US). Mr. Scroggin was a Co-Editor of Commerce Clearing House’s Journal of Practical Estate Planning from 2004-2006.
Mr. Scroggin’s professional affiliations include: The State Bar of Georgia, the Florida Bar, American Revenues Society, American Tax Token Society, Atlanta Estate Planning Council, Buckhead Study Group, Georgia Planned Giving Council, and the North Georgia Estate Planning Council (President, 2002-2005). He was Chairman of the North Fulton Community Foundation and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (2002-present) where he is Co-Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee and Chairman of the Publications Committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau (2004-present), and is a member of the Roswell Rotary Club, where has been a member of its charity committee for 4 years. He serves as Chairman of the Friends of Barrington Hall. He is owner of the one of the largest private collections of tax memorabilia in the US.
Mr. Scroggin is the author of over 200 published articles and columns. Among the publications are: Estate Planning, Taxes, Financial and Estate Planning, Practical Tax Strategies, ABA Property and Probate, ABA Practical Tax Lawyer, ABA Practical Lawyer, AICPA Tax Advisor, Journal of Estates and Trusts, Trusts and Estates, Journal of Financial Services Professionals, Journal of Financial Planning, Financial Services Professionals Newsletter, CCH Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Advisor Today, Financial Planning, Georgia Society of CPAs Bottom Line, Broker World, Life Association News, The Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, National Underwriter, Insights and Strategies, Bank Investment Marketing, NAILBA Magazine, Financial Services Advisor, Business Valuation, Utah Society of CPAs Journal, the Atlanta Bar Journal and the Georgia Bar Journal. He is a Columnist for Advisor Today Magazine (1997-present) and is a Contributing Writer to National Underwriter. He has written three books and was recognized by the CFP Board of Examiners for writing one of the best planning articles for the year 2000 .