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2025 ABL CEO LUNCHEON AWARDRECIPIENTSBIOSBIOSEntrepreneur Of The YearERNEST ELLISDistinguished ServiceROBERT E. HOPEVisions of ExcellenceDR. VICTORIA SEALS
7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Building 11, Suite 201 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 404.601.7611 P http://www.FS 360.com ERNEST L. ELLIS President, CEO FS 360, LLC Ernest is the President & CEO of FS 360, LLC, one of the largest and most financially sound minority construction management and general contracting companies in the Atlanta marketplace. The company has provided services for a broad range of markets, including the aviation, corporate, government, higher education, healthcare, industrial, K-12 and retail sectors. These clients include many of the premier “brands” in the city’s marketplace: Coca-Cola, Chase Bank, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power, Lockheed Martin, the City of Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and several others. FS 360 has been a member of the National Association of Minority Contractors of Georgia since 2015 and is an active proponent of minority business inclusive and construction industry diversity initiatives. Ernest has assembled an outstanding team of construction professionals, representing over 200 years of work history and industry experience. With 30 + professional employees in his Atlanta, GA office, FS 360’s construction expertise, systems and tools deliver safer, more productive work environments that benefit all stakeholders. Over the past 6 years, FS 360’s Dallas, TX office has continually grown its presence to win contracts with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, DFW Airport, the City of Allen, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and others. Due to the team’s value proposition, FS 360 has successfully partnered with multiple prime contractors to win nearly $1 billion in construction projects. AWARDS 2015 • Associated Builders & Contractors. GOLD STEP Award (Safety Training Evaluation Process).• Delta Air Lines. Star Award Nomination.• Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. Class III Supplier of the Year Nomination2016 • Associated Builders & Contractors. DIAMOND STEP Award• ATLNEXT (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Subcontractor Management Safety Award.2017 • Associated Builders & Contractors. GOLD STEP Award• Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. Class III Supplier of the Year Award• Inc. Magazine. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies• National Association of Minority Contractors of Georgia. Contractor of the Year Award2018
7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Building 11, Suite 201 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 404.601.7611 P http://www.FS 360.com • Associated Builders & Contractors. DIAMOND STEP Award 2019 • Associated Builders & Contractors. DIAMOND STEP Award • Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. MBE Advocate of the Year Award • Associated General Contractors Build Georgia Award. Awarded: $5 - $20 million Category 2020 • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATLNEXT. Awarded: Maynard H. Jackson Leadership Award • Associated General Contractors. Awarded: Safety Excellence Award 2021 • Associated General Contractors. Awarded: Safety Excellence Award 2022 • Associated General Contractors. Awarded: Safety Excellence Award Ernest currently serves as President of the National Association of Minority Contractors Atlanta chapter. Ernest most recently served on the Associated Builders & Contractors’ Political Affairs Committee. In addition, he served on the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council’s (GMSDC) Board of Directors and as Chair of the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) from 2016 - 2019. FS 360 is a member of the Associated General Contractors, the Atlanta Business League and the Council for Quality Growth. Prior to founding FS 360, Ernest successfully launched and/or grew multiple companies in the telecommunications industry. Most recently, Ernest served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Telecom Compliance Services, LLC (TCS). In 2006, TCS was purchased by Thomson Reuters’ Tax and Accounting Division and Ernest assumed the role of Vice President, Business Integration where he was responsible for the successful integration of acquired companies into the Thomson organization.
Bob Hope Robert E. (Bob) Hope is a veteran of the public relations and event marketing business. He is co-owner and chairman of Hope Beckham Espinosa, an independent agency based in Atlanta. Hope and longtime friend Paul Beckham started Hope-Beckham 30 years ago. He is active in the community and serves on several boards: • Founder and on the board of HAVE Foundation (Honduras Agalta Valley Education) • Board of Honduras Outreach Inc. • Board of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau • Board of Councilors of the Carter Center • Board of the Georgia Music Accord • Investigative Committee of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church • Board of Covenant House Georgia He has served on the boards of the Atlanta Braves and Ottawa Senators. Bob Hope has a lifetime of remarkable experiences and friends. He started working for the Atlanta Braves while in college and became the team’s director of public relations and promotions at age 24. He managed the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at age 25. And he was with Hank Aaron during the chase to break the all-time home run record of Babe Ruth. When Ted Turner bought the team, he was promoted to vice president at age 29 and worked not only for the Braves but also the Turner-owned Atlanta Hawks and for Turner’s TV business, handling marketing for the Braves and the TV.
Bob is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta. He was vice chairman and emcee of the Rotary International Convention, which hosted 40,000 attendees in Atlanta in 2017. He is the recipient of the Rotary International “Service Above Self Award,” the highest honor bestowed by the board of Rotary International. He has been Rotarian of the Year in the district and is the only member in the history of the Rotary Club of Atlanta to receive four of its top awards – hospitality, community service, international service, and service to Rotary. In the community, he has received an assortment of honors: • Hospitality Hall of Fame by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, • Father of the Year by the American Diabetes Association, • Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, • 100 Most Influential Atlantans by the Atlanta Business Chronicle • 500 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend • 500 Most Powerful Atlanta Leaders by Atlanta Magazine • George Goodwin Award for Community Service from the Public Relations Society of America He was married for 46 years to Susan, who died of cancer in 2017 and has two adult daughters and four grandchildren. He lives in Decatur.
Victoria Seals, Ed. D. President Atlanta Technical College Dr. Victoria Seals is the sixth president of Atlanta Technical College. Under her leadership, the College has launched several student success initiatives, established effective industry partnerships, and continues to grow in enrollment and student achievement—boasting a 100 percent job placement rate. Additionally, the College was recently named the 2023 Bellwether Award Winner for Workforce Development! Dr. Seals has more than 25 years of experience in higher education and 20 years of experience in higher education leadership. She has garnered several awards and recognitions that highlight her leadership, including the Georgia Trend Top 500 Influential Leaders for 2024 and 2023, the 2022 Women of Influence Award, the 2020 ACCT Southern Region CEO Award, and the Atlanta Business League’s Top 100 Women of Influence for the last six years. Before attaining the presidency at Atlanta Technical College, Dr. Seals served several years at Gwinnett Technical College. She advanced from an instructor to division director, dean, and, ultimately to vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Seals is a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute Class of 2019, Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2018, Leadership Gwinnett’s Class of 2011, as well as the 2013 class of the Technical College System of Georgia’s Executive Leadership Academy. She is an active member of the American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community College Trustees, Technology Association of Georgia, Women in Educational Leadership, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation, the Georgia Public Defender Council, the Learn for Life Leadership Council, the ATL Airport Chamber, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Horizons Atlanta, the Aerotropolis Atlanta, and Work Source Atlanta. In addition to Advisory Board service with Hands on Atlanta, she has also facilitated the Hands on Atlanta MLK Sunday Supper.
Atlanta Magazine named Dr. Seals as one of the “Top 500” Influential Leaders for 2021 through 2025, and The Atlanta Business Chronicle featured Dr. Seals as one of the 2022 Women of Influence, one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs in 2020, and listed her among “Who’s Who in Education” in 2017 and 2020. Dr. Seals was named Educator of the Year in 2017 by the South Fulton Chamber and was recognized by Year Up Atlanta that same year with the Urban Empowerment Award. Dr. Seals was also honored by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta at its 56th Equal Opportunity Day (2017). Dr. Seals received a B. S. in mathematics from Spelman College. She continued her studies at the University of Georgia where she received an M.A. in mathematics, an Ed.S. in mathematics education, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and watching sports.
2025 ABL CEO LUNCHEON AWARDRECIPIENTSBIOSBIOSEntrepreneur Of The YearERNEST ELLISDistinguished ServiceROBERT E. HOPEVisions of ExcellenceDR. VICTORIA SEALS