American-Israel Chamber of Commerce

Michael Venezia

Israel’s reputation as a producer of fine wines is growing, and took a leap forward in the Southeast with the announcement that United Distributors, one of Atlanta’s largest privately held companies and Georgia’s largest beverage alcohol distributor, is distributing Teperberg wines from the Judean hills near Jerusalem.  Founded commercially in 1870, Teperberg is a six-generation family operation producing 7 million bottles a year with exports to the UK, Canada, France, Australia, and the US. The wines are currently available at the Wine Shop at Parkaire, and are expected to be available soon at Tower, Green’s, Pop’s, Pearson’s, and Toco Giant in the metro Atlanta area.  United already distributes several varieties from the Golan Heights Winery in Alabama.

The relationship between the two companies was forged a year ago when Michael Venezia, United’s corporate director of education, participated in a wine tour of Israel as a guest of the Government of Israel Economic Mission in Houston and through the invitation of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, SE Region.  A 30-year veteran of the beverage alcohol industry specializing in the fine wine segment, he is nationally known for his expertise to industry professionals, interested consumers, and media outlets featuring editorial comments in the culinary field, and is called upon frequently to host wine dinners in Atlanta’s finest restaurant, private clubs, resorts and other venues specializing in food and wine related activities.

During the weeklong trip in February 2010, Venezia and other top wine experts from the Far East, Europe, and United States toured and met with about 40 Israeli wineries throughout the country and at the IsraelWineExpo event in Tel Aviv where the visiting oenophiles were based.  They were impressed with the diversity of the country where “New world wines from an old world place are making a name through the passion and commitment of an impressive group of 30 to 40 year olds.  It was an amazing experience, and you certainly don’t need to be Jewish to enjoy these fine wines!” Venezia said.

Bill Rogers SunTrust President	Ester Levanon Tel Aviv Stock Exchange CEO

Bill Rogers, President & COO of SunTrust Banks and Ester Levanon, CEO of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, will be the host and Israeli keynote speakers respectively at this year’s Eagle Star Awards Gala, the Chamber’s annual community flagship event that honors the people and companies who have contributed most to the Southeast-Israel economic relationship.  The event will be held on Monday, June 6, 2011, 6:00 to 9:00 PM at SunTrust’s corporate headquarters in downtown Atlanta.

“We’re very fortunate to have secured two of the leading executives whose companies are exemplars of the best from the Southeast and Israeli business communities that Eagle Star celebrates,” said Barry Sobel (DeutscheBank Alex.Brown), chair of the Eagle Star Gala Committee.

Levanon was appointed chief executive officer of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in 2006, and since then, it has been a top performing organization providing capital for Israel’s growing business sector.  She fully automated the Exchange, upgrading it to one of the most advanced stock exchanges as well as one of the very few that offers a fully automated trading in securities, bonds, T-bills and derivatives alongside fully automated – paperless clearing and settlement.  She joined the TASE in 1986, having previously established and managed the Computer Division of the Israeli Security Service.  She earned a M.Sc. in Mathematics from the Hebrew University, and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Rogers was named president of SunTrust Banks, Inc. in 2008 and additionally chief operating officer in 2010, having been corporate executive vice president in charge of SunTrust’s wholesale, mortgage, and wealth & investment management businesses.  He is responsible for the company’s geographic banking organization, retail operations, commercial business as well as corporate marketing.  Atlanta-based SunTrust enjoys leading positions in some of the most attractive markets in the United States and also serves clients in selected markets nationally.  It is one of the nation’s largest financial services holding companies.  Rogers earned an MBA from Georgia State University and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of North Carolina.

According to Sobel, nominations have now begun for “Israeli Company of the Year” and “Deal of the Year”, the event’s two major company awards recognitions.  For criteria and to nominate, click here.  Additionally, an individual will be recognized with the Chamber Founders Award and an organization with the Community Partner Award.

In addition to SunTrust Bank, sponsors to date include DeutscheBank Alex.Brown, The Coca-Cola Company, Grant Thornton, Sutherland, Atlanta Jewish Times, Smith Gambrell & Russell, Fish & Richardson, BDO, Verint, Jones Day, WebTech Services, Given Imaging, SRI Travel, Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, Baran Americas, CresaPartners, Dale M. Schwartz & Associates, and Veritas Venture Partners.  For information on sponsoring, contact Evan Remer (evan@aiccse.org).

SafeRise fuses three different technologies — facial recognition, voice recognition and behavior pattern identification — in a system that is close to being fully secure, since facial recognition system, alone, has been criticized as inaccurate or easy to defeat.  While the systems can cost up to $60,000, they represent the kind of security technology that many observers have predicted would become a reality someday.

“We have to find a new intelligent, convenient way to access buildings, and the fusion of technologies gives you very close to 99% positive identification.  When we put all three technologies together, we turn your body into a key to access buildings.  It’s very, very difficult to imitate this key,” said Aharon Zeevi Farkash, founder of FST21 who is a retired major general after spending 40 years in the Israeli Defense Forces, including time spent leading the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the prestigious Israel SIGINT National Unit (8200).

Ion 247 tested the system in its offices for three months before marketing SafeRise to others and installing it at Faush Metropolitan Manor.  Ed Welden, president of Ion 247, believes the technology is a natural extension of the interactive video security his firm already provides to commercial, multifamily and government customers, including the city of Birmingham.  Because Ion 247 is the first to deploy the system in the region, he thinks Birmingham is in a good position as its use grows, and said his firm is preparing to install the SafeRise system at facilities in Mobile, St. Petersburg and Houston.  “We want Birmingham to be the hub of the new technology,” Welden added.

According to Judy Ellsberry, community manager at Faush Metropolitan Manor, it took residents a little while to get used to the new system, but after just a few weeks, they have embraced it.  With elderly residents — many of whom use walkers or wheelchairs or may have bags of groceries after shopping — having to simply look at a camera to gain nearly instant access is like magic.  More than anything, it’s convenient and it’s safe, and there is no more fumbling for your keys,” she said.

Beyond retirement homes and villages and apartment and condo communities, Welden sees applications for the technology in office buildings, government offices, airports, schools, health care facilities, banks and prisons.  Homes are also likely in the future as the technology becomes more affordable, but commercial and multifamily properties often realize a savings by lowering traditional security guard costs.

Please join us to welcome the delegation of emerging companies from Israel and the corporate participants from throughout North America coming to Atlanta to explore business relationships at this unique matchmaker conference.