Speaker and Networking Breakfast May 3
Mark your calendars for the next Academy Connect Atlanta Speaker and Networking Breakfast.
Join us May 3, 2011 at 7:15 a.m. at the City Club of Buckhead in the Atlanta Financial Center. Jim Balkcom (USMA ’67) will be the featured speaker. Space is limited so register early (last event quickly reached capacity).
Jim Balkcom is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and attended Georgia Institute of Technology before his appointment to the United States Military Academy. After graduating in 1967 he was commissioned as a Signal Corps Officer and successfully completed Airborne and Ranger schools. While serving in Germany with the 3rd Armored Division he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. While serving in Vietnam, Jim was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Vietnamese Distinguished Service Medal.
After leaving the military at the rank of Captain, Jim graduated from the Harvard Business School with a Masters of Business Administration and was awarded the Hay Associates Management Fellowship.
From 1976 to 1994, Jim was Chief Executive Officer and principal shareholder of Techsonic Industries, Inc., a privately held leading global marine electronics company that innovated a number of product categories in marine electronics with well-known brands such as Humminbirdâ„¢ (e.g., FishFinder and DepthFinder). From the time he became CEO until he left the company, sales grew from under $1 million to over $125 million in annual revenue creating over $100 million of shareholder value. After selling and exiting Techsonic, he became CEO of Pameco, a $600 million revenue HVAC distribution company, where he led a turnaround and a $185 million refinancing/re-capitalization of the company. Throughout his distinguished business career, he has also been chairman of the board and/or board member of 11 boards of directors including CommerceSouth Bank, a publicly traded $350 million bank holding company, Century South Bank, a $1.6 billion bank holding company , and technology startups iKobo and EVault. Most recently, Jim has been involved as a founding partner of Council Ventures, a venture capital group and has served as an executive consultant at Equifax. He also serves as an Advisory Board Chairman of TalentQuest.
Throughout his business career, Jim has never lost his love for the military and West Point. He currently serves as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Georgia, which he was appointed to in 2002. He also serves as Chairman of the Georgia Military Affairs Committee, which Governor Sonny Perdue appointed him to in 2008, and is an Executive Board member of the USO Council of Georgia.
Check-in, buffet breakfast, and networking begins at 7:15 a.m. The speaker program will commence at 8:00 a.m. The program will conclude promptly at 9:00 a.m.
Cost is $30. Space is limited; register now! Cost includes parking validation.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Drew Leppert, USNA ’97, at drew.leppert@gmail.com or 678-982-8347.