Team

Meet the Team 

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Tino J. Mantella
President
Technology Association of Georgia

Tino Mantella joined TAG in September, 2004 as the organization's new President.

Mantella, prior to joining TAG, had amassed over 20 years of related experience leading two of the nations more prestigious volunteer-driven organizations - National Arthritis Foundation and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

As President and CEO of two multifaceted and complex charities, he spearheaded agendas that led to the development of innovative new services, resulting in the facilitation of significant membership growth. In addition, Mantella’s track record reflects impressive results in fund raising, advocacy, and economic development. Since coming to TAG, Mantella has worked with a team of dedicated volunteers and staff to: build a prestigious board made up of 60 technology stakeholders; grow membership by more than 400%; and add a series of program and services that support TAG’s vision of educating, informing and uniting the technology community, while driving technology based economic development for Georgia.

Mantella serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Atlanta, and on the Executive Committee of Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), and is a past member of the Kellogg Board of Advisors.

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Melanie Brandt
Chief Operating Officer
Technology Association of Georgia

Melanie Brandt serves as TAG'S Chief Operating Officer.  In this role, she manages a select set of TAG's key strategic functions and provides direct and indirect leadership through and with TAG's professional staff and volunteer support.

Before joinging TAG, Brandt was part of the Gwinnett Chamber's Economic Development team, implementing the Partnership Gwinnett initiative as their Business Development Manager for Information Technology and Advanced Communication.  Prior to joining the Gwinnett Chamber, Brandt served as TAG's Director of Information and Community Resources where she lead the creation of TAG's first and second State of the Industry: Technology in Georgia reports, and assisted in the early development of the GRA/TAG Business Launch competition, now in its fourth year.  Her professional experiences includes several technology sales posistions including one as Manager of New Business and Market Development for Fiberlight, an Alpharetta-based advanced communications company.  Brandt is currently on the executive advisory board for the Atlanta Technology Professionals (ATP), where she served as president in 2004 and 2005, an executive advisory board member of Digitainment Georgia, an organization striving to make Georgia the premier destination for the creation and dissemination of digital entertainment content, and a founder and board member of StartupChicks, an organization dedicated to connecting and inspiring entrepreneurial women.

Brandt has a B.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and an MBA from The Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.

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Kimberly Wood
Director, Community & Information Resources
Technology Association of Georgia

Kimberly was named the Director of Community & Information Resources in October 2008. In this role, she is responsible for developing a series of programs and initiatives that will support TAG's goal of "connecting" the technology community. Kimberly will also oversee the creation of the annual "State of the Industry: Technology in Georgia" report as well as plan and execute the annual GRA/TAG Business Launch competition.

Kimberly joined the TAG team in Fall 2006 as the Office and Web Manager. In January 2008, she was promoted to Director of Office Operations and Web Development. She oversaw the organization’s web content and design as well as electronic mailings. Aside from her web duties, she also managed the daily operations of the TAG office. Kimberly was responsible for the launch of the new website – which features a new blog, calendar and easier user-navigation.

Her previous experience includes retail management and executive office administration. Kimberly is in the process of completing her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Georgia State University.

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Amanda Shook
Director of Professional Development
Technology Association of Georgia

Amanda Shook was named to Director of Professional Development for the Technology Association of Georgia in the fall of 2007. In this role, Amanda is responsible for TAG's educational programming initiatives as well as the planning and execution of the annual TAGit Golf Tournament. She also works as support on several other large events and is the staff liaison for TAG Marketing, TAG Consulting, TAG Healthcare and TAG Diversity.

Amanda joined TAG as a marketing intern in 2005 while she was a student at Georgia Institute of Technology. As an intern, she assisted the Membership Director and President in membership growth efforts and planning. Amanda graduated in May 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Management and certificates for her work in Accounting and Marketing.

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Barbara Martin
Director of Member Services
Technology Association of Georgia

Barbara Martin joined the TAG Team in Fall 2007. Her primary focus is on the needs of our Individual and Corporate Level 1 and 2 association members. Barbara also coordinates the Excalibur Awards and the Georgia Technology Summit.

Prior to joining TAG, Barbara developed association management experience as an Account Executive with The Association Group, Inc. In this role, she coordinated membership recruitment campaigns, board leadership meetings, association luncheons and special events for the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association, Harvard Business School Club of Atlanta, The Greater Atlanta Chapter of ASTD , Atlanta Southeastern Chapter of IAEE and the Atlanta Human Resources Leadership Forum.

Barbara earned her B.B.A. with a concentration in Hospitality from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business - Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at Georgia State University in 2004.

She is a proud member of Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) and ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. Along with serving on the ASAE's Young Professional's Committee, Barbara is a volunteer on the Association of the Future initiative and pursuing the Certified Association Executive (CAE) accreditation.

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Kaylyn Seawell
Director, Government and Public Affiars
Technology Association of Georgia

Kaylyn Seawell joined TAG in July 2008 as the Director of Government and Public Relations. In this capacity, Kaylyn's primary focus is to work with elected officials and industry organizations to promote sound public polices that will transform the science and technology community, as well as, grow Georgia's economic development. Additionally, she is responsible for TAG's Featured Speakers Series, Breakfast Series Programs and three of TAG's 22 professional societies.

Prior to joining TAG, Kaylyn served as a Government Relations Representative for WellStar Health System, a non-profit, community healthcare system based in Marietta, Georgia. In this role, she was responsible for monitoring and researching changes in healthcare policy on the state and federal level.

Kaylyn graduated from Auburn University in December 2006 with a B.A. in Political Science.

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Rachel Sevin
Director of Corporate Membership
Technology Association of Georgia

Rachel Sevin joined TAG in April of 2009, serving as the Director of Corporate Membership. In this role, she is responsible for seeking out and fostering relationships with new corporate members, as well as aiding in the education of existing corporate members.  Additionally, she is responsible for several TAG societies, and committees. 

 

Originally from Franklin, TN, Rachel moved to Atlanta in 2007after graduating from Auburn University with a B.S. in Apparel Design.  At Auburn, Rachel was a member of various campus activities, including Auburn’s University Crew Team, and Silver Wings, a national organization, in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force, dedicated to creating proactive civic leaders through community service and education about national defense.

 

Prior to joining TAG, Rachel worked as a sales consultant at a high end, full service bridal store. She has also worked with Auburn’s Office of Development, assisting in the planning of events for Auburn’s major donors.

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Era Carroll
Director, Corporate Relations and Retention
Technology Association of Georgia

Era Carroll joined TAG in December 2009, serving as the Director of Corporate Relations and Retention.  In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of member relations and retention, developing member benefit programs, and managing seravl TAG events and societies.

Prior to joining TAG, Era held several key leadership roles including Sales Manager for Multicast Media Networks faith division, Streaming Faith, the largest online provider of Internet broadcast solutions to the faith-based community; and Director of Sales and Marketing (faith-based initiatives) for the start up cable network Black Family Channel.  In addition, she is a member of Destiny Metropolitan Worship Church where she serves on the communications team.

Era holds a B.S. in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and an M.B.A. in Marketing with distinction from Keller Graduate School of Management.

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Michael Bosarge
Director, eCommunications and Office Operations
Technology Association of Georgia 

Michael Bosarge joined TAG in October 2009 as the Director of eCommunications and Office Operations.  In this role, he manages the organization's web content and design as well as the creation of email communications that are sent to our TAG database.  Michael also manages the daily operations of the TAG office and serves as the staff liaison for TAG Content Management, TAG Corporate Development, and TAG Entertainment.

Prior to joining TAG, Michael worked as a Technology Systems Consultant in the Health Information Technology industry.  He graduated from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor's Degree in Operations and Systems Management.

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John Hurlbut
Executive Director
Technology Association of Georgia Education Collaborative (TEC)

John Hurlbut joined the TAG Foundation in September, 2008 as the organization's Director of Program Services.

Hurlbut has served the Atlanta non-profit community for more than 14 years, primarily as the Chief Financial Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Inc., a position he held for 12 years. During his time at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta the organization doubled its membership, added seven new club sites and introduced several new programs that enhanced the club experience for its members. In this regard, Hurlbut spearheaded several education initiatives that had a significant impact on the member's school performance.

Hurlbut has been honored with multiple awards for outstanding contributions to the community, including the 2000 Distinguished Level Award from the Professional Association of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the 2005 Glenn Pelham Award from Emory University.

Prior to Boys & Girls Clubs, Hurlbut spent almost 20 years in finance as a Certified Financial Planner, Corporate Controller and public accountant in Atlanta and New York City. He is a graduate of Fordham University in New York where he met his wife, Lourdes. They have been married for 36 years and have two grown children, Greg and Kathy. Prior to entering college, Hurlbut served in the United States Army, including a one year tour in Vietnam. Hurlbut and his wife live in East Cobb and are members of Holy Family Catholic Church.