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Eagle Star Chamber Founders Award
André Schnabl
Managing Partner
Grant Thornton
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André Schnabl is truly deserving of the 2008 Chamber Founder’s Award, which has been bestowed in recognition of his years of support and leadership for the Chamber, as well as his stature in the accounting profession and the business community.
He joined AICC in 1992 when the organization was founded. Since then, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He was the Chamber’s second Treasurer and later became Vice Chairman and Board Chairman from 2005-07. He has also chaired the Professional Committee, Nanotechnology Committee, and the Eagle Star Gala Committee. André has played a leadership role in every strategic planning process undertaken by AICC since 1995. In 1999, he led facilitation of the plan that elevated the Chamber to a new level of effectiveness.
André is the managing partner in the Atlanta office of Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global accounting, tax and business advisory organizations with member firms in more than 80 countries, including Israel, and 50 offices in the United States. Prior to moving to the Atlanta office in 1979, Schnabl began his career with Grant Thornton in the firm’s Zimbabwe office and also worked out of Grant Thornton’s Montreal office at one time.
With more than 30 years of public accounting experience, André specializes in serving a broad range of entrepreneurial companies. His industry expertise includes manufacturing/distribution and technology-oriented companies. His experience includes serving as audit partner on a broad range of public and privately held manufacturing/distribution and technology-oriented companies. He provides clients with business advice on domestic and international issues, including business planning and corporate financing; due diligence assistance to domestic and foreign companies in mergers and acquisitions; and as a member of the firm’s National Capital Markets Group, for which he assists clients in raising capital through both private placements and public offerings.
André serves on the board for Junior Achievement, is a past president of the Canadian American Society of the Southeastern United States, a founding trustee of the Atlanta International School, and a member of the advisory board of the M.I.T. Enterprise Forum.
André received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Geology from the University of London, with honors, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He, wife Denny Marcus, and son Elliot live in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. They are members of The Temple.
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Eagle Star Community Partner Award
Georgia Bio |
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Georgia Bio is truly deserving of the 2008 Community Partner Award for their role in working with American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, SE Region to support Israeli medical device and biotech companies.
The relationship began in 1993 when the two organizations discussed the idea of bringing a delegation of Israeli companies to Atlanta to meet medical technology companies in Georgia, resulting in Southeast-Israel Healthcare Informatics Business Exchange in 1994, the first such industry-specific matchmaker event that has proven to be the most effective mechanism ever created to bring together US and Israeli companies to pursue business relationships. Georgia Bio was also instrumental in supporting the Southeast-Israel Medical Technology Business Exchange held in Atlanta in 2002.
Georgia Bio has featured Israel and Israeli companies a number of times over the years through its educational events in conjunction with AICC. Videoconference events have brought audiences together in Atlanta and Tel Aviv through interactive presentations and discussions on sectors of mutual interest such as Cell & Tissue Therapy and Cardiology Innovations. Israel was featured with a special panel of companies at their premier annual event—the Georgia Life Sciences Summit.
Georgia has emerged as a major center of Israeli company activity through the partnership between the two organizations. Given Imaging, Mazor Surgical Technologies, Algotec, Alpha Omega Engineering, and dbMotion established US headquarters in the Atlanta area. The joint venture of Israel-based Proneuron with Shepherd Center, Cell Dynamics, and the Marcus Foundation was recognized as the 2004 Eagle Star “Deal of the Year.
Founded in 1989, Georgia Bio is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. Members include companies, universities, research institutions, government groups and other industry associations involved in discovery and application of life sciences products and related services that improve the health and well-being of people throughout the world.
Georgia Bio's mission is to foster an environment in which life sciences companies can succeed in Georgia. To accomplish this mission, GaBio conducts business and economic development activities; advocates on behalf of the industry on public policy matters; educates the public about the benefits of life sciences research and product development; and provides a network for the exchange of ideas, information and opportunities.
Georgia Bio is the state affiliate of the Washington, D.C.-based Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), making Georgia Bio members part of statewide, national and international promotional and advocacy networks for the life sciences industry.
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Keynote Speaker
Edward Bastian
President & CFO
Delta Air Lines
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Edward Bastian is president and Chief Financial Officer for Delta Air Lines at its world headquarters in Atlanta.
As president, Bastian and his team oversee and coordinate the Company's strategy from network planning and revenue management to sales, marketing and business development. In his role as CFO Bastian also served as the Company's Chief Restructuring Officer, leading Delta through one of the largest and most successful Chapter 11 restructuring processes in U.S. history, and doing so in 19 months. The solid business plan Bastian helped develop included $3 billion in annual financial improvements and garnered strong support from the company's creditors and employees. In addition to achieving an industry leading financial position, Delta's Plan of Reorganization included an innovative compensation program for Delta employees including stock, cash payouts and pay increases.
Bastian joined Delta in October 1998 as vice president of Finance and Controller and was promoted to senior vice president in February 2000. In that role, Bastian guided the company through profit improvement initiatives garnering $5 billion in cost savings and revenue benefits between 2002 and 2004.
Bastian left Delta in early 2005 to become senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer of Acuity Brands. He returned to Delta in July 2005 as CFO and was promoted to president in August 2007.
Bastian previously worked for PepsiCo where he served as Vice President of Finance for Pepsi Cola International. While at PepsiCo he had also served as Vice President of business processes reengineering for Frito-Lay and Vice President, Finance and Controller for Frito-Lay International. Prior to PepsiCo, Bastian was a partner in the New York audit practice of Price Waterhouse specializing in the entertainment, advertising and manufacturing sectors, and also served as the strategic planning partner for Price Waterhouse's New York Region.
A 1979 graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a BBA, Bastian currently serves on the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity and the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. Bastian lives in Atlanta with his wife, Anna, and their four children. |
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Emcee
Holly Firfer
Co Host
Atlanta & Company
WXIA - TV
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Holly Firfer is the co-host of WXIA-TV's Atlanta & Company. She started her career in television with CNN, where she worked for 15 years. During that time, she anchored CNN/US, CNN Headline News, and co-anchored live shows, such as Talkback Live.
Firfer also worked as a correspondent for CNN's Health Unit where she won numerous honors from health and medical organizations for stories she wrote and produced.
In 2004, she made the leap into radio first as co-host of "All Access with Barnes and Firfer" and most recently as DAVE-FM's (WZGC-FM) host of "Music Mornings with Holly Firfer."
Holly is a native of Chicago, Illinois. In her free time she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband Shawn, and being a "mom" to their many animals.
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