Event Details

Leading with Wisdom, Succeeding with Purpose!


"The Bridge"


The Atlanta Business League (ABL) Bridge Program is a pivotal event that brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and stakeholders dedicated to fostering economic empowerment and business growth.


Why Attend?

  • Access Valuable Business Resources โ€“ Discover funding opportunities and business development tools to support small businesses.
  • Expand Your Network โ€“ Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, business leaders, and decision-makers to explore collaborations and new opportunities.
  • Gain Expert Insights โ€“ Participate in engaging panel discussions by industry experts covering essential topics such as funding strategies, marketing tactics, and business growth challenges.

Whether launching a startup, growing an existing business, or seeking to expand your network, this event equips you with the knowledge, connections, and resources to thrive!

Agenda

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
NETWORKING & REFRESHMENTS
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
ROUNDTABLE

Speakers

  • Andrella Kenner (Founder/CEO of CIยฒ Aviation, Inc.)

    Andrella Kenner

    Founder/CEO of CIยฒ Aviation, Inc.

    https://ci2.com/

    Ms. Andrella Kenner is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CI² Aviation Inc., an award-winning Aerospace, Engineering, and Information Technology provider, delivering a full range of aviation, technology, management, and administrative support services to a global audience of public and private agencies. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with multiple offices throughout the U.S., CI² Aviation is the nation’s only minority-owned, woman-owned business engaged in the provisioning of Air Traffic Control Tower services to the Federal Government.

    Ms. Kenner has over 38 years of comprehensive senior-level management experience in Finance, Marketing, Sales, and Information Technology. She has maintained the same steadfast work ethic contributing to CI² Aviation’s continued success as an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP). Since 1997 CI² Aviation has managed and operated Airport Traffic Control Towers in support of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Federal Contract Tower Program (FCT) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U. S. Military- supporting weather reconnaissance and Coast Guard operations. CI² Aviation is currently responsible for 22 Airport Air Traffic Control Towers at airports in the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. To date, CI² Aviation’s most outstanding accomplishment has been and continues to be over 45 million aircraft operations over 25 years with no fatalities due to controller error.

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  • Geoffrey Loften (Equitable Economic Development Program Manger at Decide DeKalb Development Authority)

    Geoffrey Loften

    Equitable Economic Development Program Manger at Decide DeKalb Development Authority

    https://www.decidedekalb.com

    Geoffrey Loften is a proven servant leader and mobilizer. Holding fast to his core values of gratitude, grace, and generosity, Geoffrey has made lasting impacts at every level, contributing to the growth, development, and innovation of individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.

    Growing up in Crestview, Florida, his parents, George and Balon Loften instilled in him a commitment to service at a young age with the family mantra “Seek to serve others before you serve yourself.” Geoffrey has carried this value with him throughout his life and career.

    After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2015 with degrees in Political Science and Economics, Geoffrey spent 6 years as a Program Coordinator and Business Advisor with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center where he worked directly with small businesses, assisting them in all areas of owning, managing and operating a small business. He led efforts in establishing partnerships with local organizations to bring the full resource of training and consulting services to the small businesses in the territories he covered.

    In 2022, Geoffrey Loften took on the role of Equitable Economic Development Program Manager with Decide DeKalb. This role is the first of its kind in Georgia and only one of two such roles in the United States. As an innovative problem solver, he has built the foundation for this role and others like it as one that focuses to bridge the gap in access to information, resources and capital for businesses located in the under-served and underdeveloped areas of DeKalb County. He has accomplished this through initiatives such as the South DeKalb Pop-Up Business Incubator, a program that will be replicated across the state of Georgia and beyond, and the Advocate DeKalb Community Group. Geoffrey was also instrumental in developing and securing the funding for DeKalb County’s first Small Business Revolving Loan Fund and Technical Assistance Program and has been the leading voice in amplifying DeKalb County's first-ever Black Business Guide.

    Geoffrey serves his community through membership in the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals, currently serving as Vice President, of the University of Georgia Black Alumni Leadership Council, and as an Elder at the New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia.

    His commitment to service and generosity has led to recognitions such as the 2018 University of Georgia Small Business Development Center Support Staff Person of the Year, a nomination to the University of Georgia Vivian H. Fisher Leadership Academy in 2019, and the 2022 Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals New Member of the Year. Geoffrey is also a 2017 alumnus of the Georgia Young Gamechangers, 2023 alumnus of the National Urban League Congressional Advocacy Program, 2023 alumnus of the National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program and a member of the 2025 class of LEAD Atlanta.

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  • Kamau

    Kamau "Kofi" Smith

    CEO of Keystone Management

    https://www.keystoneatl.com

    Dr. Smith served as President & CEO of the Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company (AATC) from October 2010 to December 2020, leading the strategic direction and management of all building operations and facility maintenance responsibilities for the World’s Most Traveled Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. During his tenure, he managed more than $945M in operations and approximately $650M in capital improvement construction projects. AATC was recognized as one of the Top 20 “Best Places to Work” in Atlanta and Dr. Smith was recognized as one of “Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs”.

    On October 1, 2020, Dr. Smith launched his company, Keystone Management, LLC., a fully integrated facility management, construction management, program, and property management company. Since 2020, Keystone has grown from 2 employees to a contracted complement of 80 employees with operations in 5 cities across 5 states. In April of 2024, Keystone received the Pacesetter’s Award and was ranked #31 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of Atlanta’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies.

    Dr. Smith also serves as a lecturer in the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), where he teaches three courses: Leadership and Communication in Building Construction, Entrepreneurship in Construction, and Leadership and Culture in the Professional Masters Occupational Safety and Health Program.

    Educational Background:

    • Doctorate in Business Administration from the J. Mack Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University. Dr. Smith’s dissertation, “The Impact of Airport Servicescape on Passengers Satisfaction”, served as the roadmap to enhance the restrooms at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which garnered national attention within the aviation industry.
    • Master's in Business Administration in Global Business from the Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Bachelor's in Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology

    Dr. Smith serves on the boards of Goodwill of North Georgia (Immediate Past-Chair), the National Black Child Development Institute (Chairman), Goodwill Industries International, Inc., the Board of Trustees for Leadership Atlanta, the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, the Georgia Tech Building Construction Advisory Board, the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Advisory Board, a Trustee for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, and a Trustee for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta where he serves as a Trustee for the Youth Service Fund Foundation.

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Community

Connect with 26 people attending this event

KDDP

Tickets

ABL Member
Primary Member Price Complimentary
NON ABL Member
Standard Price Complimentary

Venue

Atlanta Technical College

1560 Metropolitan Parkway, SW
Cleveland Dennard Conference Center

Atlanta, Georgia

If you have any questions please contact Terrisita Terry

Contact Organizer

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