Harbormaster & executive director

Dr. Miki Edwards

Dr. Miki Edwards is thrilled to serve as the inaugural Executive Director of The Madison Wheelhouse. Building on the foundation laid by a dedicated Board of Directors, Miki is passionate about fostering deeper connections between entrepreneurs and mentors, while enhancing The Wheelhouse’s role as a cornerstone for innovation and entrepreneurial support within the community.

Before retiring, she proudly led Morgan County High School as principal/CEO of its Georgia College and Career Academy.

pilot

Brooks Pennington, IV

Brooks Pennington IV is a Madison-Morgan County native, serial entrepreneur, seasoned investor, and Fire Chief.

He graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Finance from Terry College of Business, earned a Certificate in Leadership & Service in Cape Town, South Africa, and attained his MBA at Mercer University’s Stetson School of Business. 

Some of the companies he has founded include: 

● Pennington and Pennington. LLC, an entity management company 

● Outguided Inc., an online platform for booking guided outdoor adventures 

● Perco Equipment Rentals, LLC, a relationship-driven equipment rental business servicing the midstream oil and gas, environmental remediation, natural disaster response, and utility industries 

● Performance Polarized, LLC, a specialized, custom eyewear supplier & holding company whose subsidiaries include Redfin Polarized, LLC and Birdi, LLC

In addition to serving as Fire Chief of the Madison Fire Department, Brooks is actively involved in his community. He is a Lay Leader at his church, regularly attends and hosts two Bible study groups, serves on the board of the Georgia Forestry Association and has founded multiple non-profits.

Lighthouse

Annie Hunt Burriss

Annie Hunt Burriss, CEcD, EdD, President AHB Solutions LLC, has been named as an Honorary Life Member by the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA)

She is an Innovative leader with a track record for success from boardrooms to start-ups. Annie develops strong relationships quickly.

She creates effective linkages connecting academia, business, government, and philanthropic leaders manifesting in strong public-private partnerships and returns on investments.

Trusted by multiple governors, corporate, and academic leaders. Successfully launched four non-profits, including two technology associations that have successfully grown in continuous operation for more than two decades.

chief engineer

Stan Ashley

Stan Ashley has specialized in acquisitions/dispositions, finance, and joint ventures for commercial properties throughout the Southeast.  He is responsible for billions in closed transactions over his career and has received prestigious awards from the Atlanta Board of Realtors and others. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and has served on their Board of Visitors. 

Stan is a true visionary, seeing things that could happen and bringing the pieces together. He is convinced that there is never a deal that cannot be done.

Stan’s vision for The Wheelhouse, Madison is to create a financially sustainable, no-debt, village of innovators and mentors.  This village will inspire and scale existing opportunities and bring new jobs to Madison.  This is, unabashedly, an effort to entice people, businesses, and their families to stay right here!

purser

Jake Lindsey

Jake Lindsey is a Morgan County native, who graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Agricultural Engineering and a BBA in Banking and Finance.

After more than ten years in operations management in the manufacturing industry, Jake transitioned to the financial services industry as a wealth advisor to individuals, families, and small businesses.

Through his experiences, Jake is able to guide aspiring entrepreneurs as they analyze their business ideas and see them through to the end.

Jake is also a member of the Rotary Club of Athens and holds leadership roles several non-profits.

skipper

Jim Malanowski

Jim Malanowski is an educator who has a passion for kids, and it shows. As Vice President of the Southeastern United States and a member of the national training staff for Performance Learning Systems (PLS), Jim trained teachers for instructional improvement, delivered keynote addresses, presented motivational workshops, and served as a staff development consultant.

Jim's 45-year career in education has provided him opportunities to see education from many different perspectives. He has been a department chair, attendance officer, assistant principal, secondary supervisor, curriculum director, director of personnel and community relations, AP Coordinator, headmaster, and principal.

Jim completed his career as principal of Morgan County High School in Madison where he helped students pass Caleb's Law, a Georgia anti-texting while driving law.

Under his leadership, the school system was awarded a $1.3M grant to develop a College and Career Academy on the high school campus.

Also, in Jim’s last year as principal, MCHS was selected as the Most Positive High School in Georgia by the Hines Ward Positive Athlete Foundation.

Jim has served on the Board of the State YMCA of Georgia.

recruiter

Bob Mackey

President and CEO, Boys and Girls Club of North Central Georgia, Bob Mackey is an inspired filmmaker, inventor, Shark Tank entrepreneur, author, executive, and storyteller.  He calls himself an “educated dropout”, the only child out of his six siblings to drop out of high school and the only sibling to graduate from college.  

Bob has since become a youth advocate whose mission is to improve the lives of others. Mackey has developed and implemented successful academic and character-building programs for schools and community organizations, The Power of the Knot and The Power of the Purse. He has been credited for providing academic scholarships, increasing graduation rates, and decreasing school discipline referrals and juvenile delinquency rates in the North Central Georgia/Atlanta area.

Bob is also the founding inventor behind the product, Yono Clip, winning recognition from the number one business show in America, Shark Tank.

He has partnered with Facebook, Inc. and the Novelis Corporation to improve access to technology for the underserved by designing state-of-the-art technology labs in many Georgia counties.

anchor

Carrie Peters-Reid

Carrie Peters-Reid is a City Councilwoman, entrepreneur, ordained pastor, and founder of Spread Love of Georgia, Inc., a non-profit corporation providing mental health care services to anyone who needs help. 

Carrie is an accomplished leader serving for ten years as a Madison City Councilwoman. She serves as a liaison between the city of Madison and the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce.

Carrie has just been appointed to the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Board for the State of Georgia.  Carrie is also a  licensed cosmetologist and salon owner.

Carrie is a natural mentor, especially to young women seeking work.  Once a single mom and sole breadwinner for her two girls, she has experienced firsthand the challenges of building her own successful businesses and counsels about all the hurdles she has learned to overcome.

Carrie attributes her strong desire to lead and to make her community better to the experience of motherhood. “Raising kids is being a leader. We are their mentors each day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Reid.

radar specialist

Sherry Terrell

Sherry Terrell is a long-time well-recognized licensed realtor and associate real estate broker serving clients throughout our region. She currently serves as vice chairman of the City of Madison Planning and Zoning Commission, is a member of the Morgan Memorial Hospital Authority, is a board member for the Morgan County High School Career and College Academy, and is the founder and volunteer director for the Madison-Morgan Food Pantry.

communications bridge

Becky Thompson is a draftsman, a creative, an educator, a reader, a designer, a website manager, a volunteer, an organizer of entrepreneurs, and a doer of things that need to be done.