Our Advisors
Our advisory board has decades of experience starting and running dozens of successful companies. With one Ph.D. and others trained in finance, law, and business, they regularly provide us with needed advice and direction as we seek to serve clients better. From running CEO groups to advising dozens of entrepreneurial clients, we are proud to have a team of experienced business advisors supporting us as we grow. We are also excited to connect our community to their work and passion for business.
Tom Lutz
While planting several churches in the Baltimore area, Tom became involved in a small startup information services company that serviced the construction industry. Over the next 20 years, as Tom filled various senior roles including divisional President, the company grew to $120 million with 1600 employees in 18 countries. After the sale of CMD Group, Tom launched Vision Planners, LLC, a consultancy designed to assist visionaries in finding, planning, and executing their vision. Tom currently facilitates two Convene peer-advisory groups in the Atlanta area, including one where Ambactus is a member. With his unique background, Tom helps guide our company in the development of strategic plans and implementation designed to ensure the realization of our visions.
Patrick Sneed
Partner
Davis, Pickren, Seydel & Sneed, LLP
Patrick is the managing partner of Davis, Pickren, Seydel & Sneed, LLP. He has considerable experience in the litigation, dispute resolution and trial advocacy practice areas, with emphasis and significant experience in commercial, construction, health care, catastrophic personal injury and real estate litigation. He also provides general corporate and business counsel for his clients with a broad range of experience in business formation and strategic planning, closely-held business issues, and other various commercial, transactional and business matters.
Ben Johnson, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Decision Science
Coca-Cola
Ben is an engineer by training and a people person at heart. He brings us a unique perspective on economic development at the intersection of engineering and business. Trained as a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech, Ben translates technical expertise into general business understanding both in his work at Coca-Cola and as a board member for Ambactus.
Melanie Zeman
President
North Georgia CFOs
Melanie has over 25 years of successful leadership as a financial executive. Her experience as a high-level Controller and CFO has made her a strategic visionary with sound technical skills, strong analytical ability, and sharp operational focus. She has a diverse background from working in various industries such as service, manufacturing, distribution, and construction. She has been instrumental in the development of many corporations’ business plans and programs as a strategic partner, a role she actively fills with Ambactus as our CFO.
John Thomas
Founder and Global Ambassador
Living Hope
John Thomas is the Executive Director and Chairperson for Living Hope, a non-profit organization whose vision is to reach people for Christ, Bringing Hope and Breaking the Despair of poverty and disease. He was previously Senior Pastor of King of Kings Baptist Church in Fish Hoek for over 30 years and was also Living Hope’s founder and first executive chairperson back in 2000. Pastor John brings us a unique perspective on supporting Living Hope as well as a wealth of business experience and vision for growing that impact.
Lori Chambers
Regional Representative
HOPE International
Lori holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has worked 15+ years in banking before becoming a regional representative for HOPE International. She is responsible for growing the vision of HOPE’s work in the Southeastern United States by increasing, strengthening, and diversifying HOPE’s funding sources in the region. She is also manager of HOPE Global Investments, HOPE’s impacting investing entity.