Executive Forum
The executive forum is a quarterly program for executives and business leaders in the Milledgeville-Baldwin community. Each quarter, business executives come to speak about their area and topics of interest to our community. Membership is by invitation only and limited to 50 individuals or 25 companies. Each forum consists of a beer and wine networking hour, meal, and presentation. Executive forums typically take place on Monday evenings from 5-8pm. Presentations vary based on business community interest and needs.
2025 Speakers
October 6: Kristina Turner, Deputy State AUditor, georgia department of audits and accounts
Kristina Turner is the first woman to be appointed to the role of Deputy State Auditor in the State of Georgia, and was appointed in 2019. In this role, she initially managed the financial work performed by the Department at both the State and Local levels. In 2022, her focused changed to fostering a culture that values individuals, public service, and innovation at a department level. Over her 25 years at DOAA, Kristina has contributed to numerous areas of the department’s mission. Her work has included: technology integration into financial audits and leading data analysis efforts as well as spearheading development and research initiatives.
Kristina is a GCSU Alumna, with her Bachelor's degree in Accounting, and Master's degree in Management Information Systems. She holds certifications as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
*To pay manually by check, please utilize this form.
November 17: Small Business Marketing Masterclass: Scalable frameworks to tailor to your business with Lou Childs, nick goebel & lauren Goebel
Join us for a conversation about marketing alongside Lou Childs, Co-Founder of SlumberPods and SharkTank participant, Nick Goebel, technical director at Goebel Media, and Lauren Goebel, creative director at Goebel Media.
Lou Childs is co-founder of Slumberpods. She has 25+ years of marketing and communications experience with small financial services software and Fortune 500 companies. Childs has presented on SharkTank and brings a wealth of knowledge about the marketing industry to campus. Lou Childs and her daughter are co-founders of SlumberPod, a baby products company dedicated to helping parents and children sleep better so everyone can enjoy more of what life has to offer. Their appearance on ABC Network's hit show Shark Tank in 2020 resulted in an on-air deal with shark Barbara Corcoran. Together they grew the business to $10M in revenues by the end of their third year in business. The successful mother-daughter had a successful exit in April 2022 with an acquisition by Artica, Inc. With more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, and operations, Lou Childs brought extensive expertise to her work with financial services software firms and Fortune 500 companies before co-inventing SlumberPod. Lou earned her bachelor's degree in corporate communications from Auburn University in 1997 and obtained her master's in business communications in 2012. Currently, she gives back by serving as a mentor and consultant to entrepreneurs and other startups, and sits on several Boards including the Board of Trustees at GCSU.
Nick Goebel is the Technical Director at Goebel Media. With over 20 years of experience, he brings deep expertise in digital marketing, web development, and leading complex technical projects. His background as a developer gives him a unique edge in understanding the full digital ecosystem—from backend infrastructure to frontend experience and performance. Nick helps guide digital strategy with a focus on functionality, scalability, and results. He collaborates closely with both creative and marketing teams to ensure seamless execution across platforms.
Lauren Goebel is the Creative Director at Goebel Media. With more than 20 years of experience in design, branding, and frontend applications, she blends strategic thinking with strong visual direction to lead creative projects that drive results. Her work spans everything from brand identity and storytelling to campaign design and digital marketing. Lauren is passionate about building clear, effective experiences that connect with audiences and elevate brands. She leads her team with vision, creativity, and a sharp eye for detail—ensuring every project is impactful and aligned with the brand’s goals.
Previous Presentations:
January 27, 2025: "An AI Road Map for Business Leaders"
Kevin Neary, CEO, Orcawise
Kevin Neary is the co-founder and CEO of Orcawise. He works with AI developers and compliance leaders from large corporations, tech companies, and startups, providing them with responsible AI services, tools, and training.
Kevin is actively involved in the AI community. He is a member of the industry steering board at CeADAR, Europe’s leading Digital Innovation Hub, and sits on the board of the AI Lab at Georgia College & State University. He also shares his expertise as a guest lecturer at several international universities.
In addition to his speaking engagements, Kevin is the author of the OrcaPulse newsletter, which reaches 35,000 readers with updates and insights on responsible AI and technological excellence.
March 3: "From Blight to Bright: A Blueprint for Community Rejuvenation in Central Georgia"
Mike Ciabattoni, Managing Partner, CW Holdings LLC
CW Development Holdings was co-founded by Mike Ciabattoni to pursue the acquisition & development of a 22.5-acre parcel in downtown Macon, Georgia. Mike moved to Macon as his wife was attending a medical residency program at Mercer University, and instantly saw the potential of a city that was experiencing a revival. Recognizing a need for wholesome family entertainment, the low-cost basis and upward trend of downtown provided the motivation to acquire the property and begin phase 1 of this project; The Yard.
Mike has spent thirteen years as a commercial pilot, and four years as an investment advisor for a NY based firm. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from West Chester University.