Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce The Carver Companies’ Chief Executive Officer, Joel Carver and Chief Development Officer, Charlene Carter as 2022 Georgia Titan 100’s. The Titan 100 program recognizes Georgia’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively the 2022 Georgia Titan 100 and their companies employ upwards of 240,000 individuals and generate over $66 billion dollars in annual revenues. This year’s honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book and profiled exclusively online. They will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 12th, 2022, and will be given the opportunity to interact and connect multiple times throughout the year with their fellow Titans.
“The Titan 100 are shaping the future of the Georgia business community by building a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled and preeminent in their field. We proudly recognize the Titan 100 for their successes and contributions. We know that they will have a profound impact that makes an extraordinary difference for their customers and clients across the nation.” says Jaime Zawmon, President of Titan CEO.
Prior to founding The Carver Companies, Joel served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for CSM Corporation, Minneapolis, MN. At CSM he oversaw all corporate and property marketing, sales, revenue management, eCommerce and public relations efforts.
Joel’s honors and awards include:
- Named one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing”
- HSMAI – Americas Board of Directors 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Twin Cities Business Journal Diversity in Business Honoree
- 2013 Founded Carver Hotel Group
- 2015 Named one of the “Top Startups in Georgia”
- 2016 Acquired Olson Hospitality Services
- 2018 Named one of the “Fastest Growing – Privately Held Corporations in Atlanta” – Pacesetter Award Recipient
- Named to the INC 5000 – Fastest Growing Privately Held Corporations in America
Joel’s 35 years of sales management experience encompasses work with both franchise and Fortune 500 companies including: Westin, Hilton, Omni, Wyndham Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Leading Hotels of the World. While at CSM, Joel initiated a share shifting program to maximize sales efforts and increase RevPAR index company wide.
Well known as a dynamic and powerful speaker, Joel provides keynote, human resources and sales training speeches and presentations throughout the industry.
While serving the hospitality industry in a number of key leadership roles, Joel also found the time to sit on the Board of Directors for Virginia Hospitality and Tourism Association; as well as maintain the positions of President for the Northern Virginia Chapter and as Co-Chair of the Association Marketing Committee. Additional key relationships include: National Business Travel Association, International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) and as an honorary board member for the Association of Starwood Franchisees and Owners – North America.
Mr. Carver is also co-author of: “Marketing For the Year 2000, TODAY!”, “Marketing for the Next Millennium”, and “The People Effect: Find, Grow and Retain the Best of the Best” published in March, 2019, available through amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
A classically trained organist and choral conductor, Joel continues to participate in the arts as demands of The Carver Companies and speaking engagements allow. A member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, he and husband Van (Dr. Millin – an Emory physician) make their home on Piney Woods Lake in LaGrange, GA with their two rescue dogs, Beau and Pippa.
Charlene Carter hospitality industry guru, is listed as one of the prominent “Who’s Who of Executive Business Women in Hospitality,” Charley has dedicated more than 30 years servicing all facets of the hospitality industry. Her career began as a hostess at an Inter-Continental property in Atlanta, Georgia. Her talents expound making her one of the youngest minority hotel leaders in the region. During Charley’s vast career, she has mastered best-practices in every position from entry level management to corporate executive levels.
Her objective for the Carver Companies is to “Maximize revenue growth and enhance company visibility.” Charley’s uses the “We don’t do things differently, just BETTER” approach.
Charley’s hotel portfolio consists of the following brands: Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental Hotel Group, Hyatt, Omni, Wyndham Worldwide and a host of Independent Boutique and Luxury Hotels. She attended Fort Valley State University, Armstrong State University and South College (Hotel Management), all located in Georgia.
Charley’s honors, awards and charities include:
- Who’s Who of Executive Business Women in Hospitality
- 2013 Co-Founder of Carver Hotel Group
- 2016 Recipient of “In the Spirit Awards”
- 2018 Who’s Who in Black Atlanta
- 2019 Hotel Management – Woman in the Market Place
- 2020 Founder of Eleanor-Monroe Foundation
- 2022 Atlanta’s People You Need to Know
During Charley’s spare time, she enjoys working out, consignment shopping, reading, frequenting wineries, and laughing hysterically with her millennial young adult children, Savannah and Chatham and gloating on her granddaughter.
Joel and Charlene will be honored at the Titan 100 awards on May 12th, 2022, at Zoo Atlanta: Savanna Hall. One of the city’s most treasured historic buildings the 1921 building has been revitalized by Zoo Atlanta for its new life today. As home of the Atlanta Cyclorama for more than 90 years, the building is famous for its grand scale and neoclassical architecture. This unique cocktail-style awards event will gather 100 Titans of Industry and their guests for an evening unlike anything that exists in the Georgia business community.
“On behalf of all the partners and associates at Wipfli we congratulate all the Titan100 winners. It’s an honor to recognize this diverse group of leaders in the Atlanta community. We appreciate the lasting impact each leader has made, and continues to make, in building organizations of significance both in Atlanta and abroad. Your ingenuity and creativity have set you apart, and the honor of being seen as an industry Titan is richly deserved,” says Bill Boucher, Partner at Wipfli.
