Jim Poole

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Committee

TIM MILAM

Tim is a 7th generation Metro-Atlantan and a graduate of Woodward Academy (1984) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (1989). Professionally, Tim worked as an electrical engineer in the building construction industry and retired as the former president of Jordan & Skala Engineers. In memory of his dear friend Jim Poole and in honor of all those suffering from ALS, Tim is proud of their fundraising efforts toward finding a cure.

Barry Gold

I went to one year of college and decided it wasn’t for me so I set my sites on working and making money! My first job was with The Home Depot in 1980 after they opened their third store. I started as a salesperson in the flooring department and quickly rose up the management ranks and at the age of 21 was named the youngest store manager in their chain. After traveling across the country and becoming a regional manager I knew I wanted more and wanted to control my own destiny. That’s when the true entrepreneurial spirit came out.
The last 35 years I have owned multiple businesses that included retail furniture stores and restaurants, which led me to my passion of developing, managing and leasing commercial properties. Jim and Kim were my neighbors for over 20 years. When Jim retired from baseball I approached him with the idea of building an indoor baseball/softball facility which became Grand Slam Sports Center in Johns Creek. We had such a great time, especially being able to share it with our kids, and it was an instant success in the community! Owning Grand Slam Sports Center with The Poole’s is a memory I will cherish forever!

Andrew Somoza

Andrew Somoza is an experienced executive sales leader with a proven strong track record of achieving results at both established and early-stage technology companies. He is a passionate entrepreneur who leads teams to success through strategy, direct sales, revenue generation, business development, and maximizing human capital. With 20+ years of experience in domestic and international SaaS-based and Enterprise solution sales, Andrew brings an exceptional knowledge and experience base with which to grow revenue, lead teams, and close business. Most recently, Andrew served as Executive Vice President/Chief Revenue Officer for fusionZone Automotive. A few of his accomplishments include: hiring/training/developing a direct sales strategy, standardizing pricing, leading go to market initiatives, implementing revenue generating technologies to drive results, forming partnerships with leading partners (dealerships/OEMs/third parties). Andrew’s sales leadership roles include the following: he was the Co-Founder/Vice President of Sales for Vendormate, a healthcare vendor management software provider, and grew sales from inception to over $18M in ARR with 100% year-over-year growth and 2,000 hospital clients in less than 5 years. Andrew is a former student-athlete (baseball) and graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS in Management and a minor in Economics and Marketing. He is also proud to have served as a Board Member for both for profit and not for profit organizations. Andrew lives in Atlanta with his wife, Jessie, and three daughters.

Kyle Schmidt​

Kyle has spent the last 12+ years serving families to help them simplify their complex financial lives. He and Jim developed and built the Baseball Division at BIP Wealth to better serve baseball players and their complex financial lives. Having played professional baseball for 5 years with the Orioles and collegiate baseball before that at Georgia Tech, he loves continuing to help the baseball community. While away from the baseball field or the office, Kyle spends his time chasing around the 4 girls in his household. Having three little girls and an active wife, you can usually catch him at soccer games, volleyball, lacrosse, or dance studios. Being an active family, Kyle needs to make sure they’re well fed and spends too much time around a smoker or open pit barbecue. He’s also leading Bible studies and doing mentorship programs through his family’s church, North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA along with being on the board of directors for the 70×7 Path to Forgiveness foundation as its Finance Director. Kyle currently lives in the Roswell area with his wife, 3 daughters, and a couple of dogs to round out his family.

Dave Abrahamson

Established in 1986, PSI has supported large and small businesses for over 35 years. We are a world-class 3PL, specializing in B2C eCommerce order fulfillment. Our passion is to deliver care, commitment, expertise and integrity to our customers through our services. We pride ourselves on handling the complexities of picking, packing, shipping and storing your products, so you can focus on growing your business.

PSI is also the Southeast’s largest optical disc manufacturer. Replicating, printing and packaging millions of CDs and DVDs each year.

Scott Jennings

Scott is President at Moeller Purcell Construction Company, a Design/Build construction firm based in Alpharetta, GA and holds general contractor licenses in Georgia and Florida. He is Past Co-Chair of the School of Building Construction Industry Advisory Board and has served as a Visiting Team member for the American Council of Construction Education (ACCE), the accreditation agency for the Schools of Construction. Scott is a part-time lecturer at the Georgia Tech School of Building Constriction, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses. Scott’s civic involvement includes past service on the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees and Executive Board, Alumni representative on the Strategic Planning Committee that developed the Grand Challenges Living/Learning Community at Georgia Tech, The Rotary Club of Dunwoody (President in 2014-2015) and he has held numerous committee and leadership position in organizations supporting the commercial real estate and construction industries. Scott was in the Cooperative Work Program at Georgia Tech received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from there in 1989.

Hayden Poole

Business Development and Technology Solutions Executive based out of Atlanta, GA. Consults and advises his Executive network across all Industry Verticals, assisting with Technical Initiatives, Projects, Managed Solutions, Staff Augmentation, Operational and Internal Budget Management, etc. “When my Dad was diagnosed with ALS, our family quickly became aware and involved with the ALS community. Most recently, I have participated and volunteered at various ALS events across the country, many of them included a Baseball or Golf component, passions which my Dad and I shared a close bond. While ALS is something you never want to have a personal tie with, it’s the most passionate and close-knit community to witness and be apart of. We are all so thankful for their support, as well as all of the generous families and friends who participate in the Jim Poole Memorial event in the years to come.” Attended Georgia State University on an Athletic Scholarship, signing with their NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Golf program, as well as Academic Scholarship via Georgia State’s Honors College program. Graduated in May of 2018.

Lara Dolan

Lara Dolan grew up in Minnesota, spent 10 years in southern California, and has been in Georgia since 1995. Now living in Milton, GA, Lara runs a successful residential real estate business as founder of The Dolan Group, part of Ansley Real Estate | Christie’s International. Active in the community, she is part of the Milton Business Council, prior board member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and past-President of the Alpharetta Business Association. An avid fundraiser, she is a founding co-chair of Alpharetta’s landmark Shamrockin’ for a Cure benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a founding board member of Southern Magnolia Charities which distributes proceeds of its annual Milton Tour of Homes to local charities. In recognition for her community service, Lara was a Top Ten Finalist in the National Realtor Association’s “Good Neighbor Award” representing Realtor’s across the entire country (2017). Other recognitions include: being named one of North Fulton’s Savvy & Successful Women by Atlanta’s Points North Magazine (2014), a recipient of Appen Newspapers “Best of North Fulton (2018, 2019, 2020, 2024), a finalist for the March of Dimes “Women of Distinction” (2018), and the GNFCC’s 2022 & 2023 “Women Influencing Business” Awards.

Lara and her husband Brian have two daughters: Olivia recently graduated UIC Law and now works for the Public Defender’s office in Cook County Chicago; Carly is a Georgia State University grad now working for The Ritz Carlton managing events and banquets. When not working, find Lara on the golf course, travelling, or spending as much time as possible at their vacation homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains and on 30A in the Florida panhandle.

Rob Beistline

Rob played for the 1985 Georgia Tech ACC Championship Team with Jim.  Their paths crossed a few years before Tech, as both were PA natives following their baseball dreams in the summers.   Rob also enjoyed growing a friendship with Kim and Jim while watching their courtship grow while on the flats.  After graduating from Tech, Rob moved to Lagrange to work for Milliken & Company.  He has spent time in many different capacities during his 40 year career (retiring fall 2025), first starting out in the Automotive Division in production management, and then joined the Flooring Division as a product manager, and then customer service, sales manager, and North America Sales Director for the residential carpet business.

The last 17 years have been spent as the Organizational Change Management Lead, transitioning the Milliken associates in their 40+ locations around the world to their new platforms and systems, and also onboarding associates from new acquisitions.  He possessed a skilled for being able to communicate and make people feel at ease during a change, while also being able to coach and lead senior leaders.  Rob mentioned, transitioning people through major changes, and knowing you made a difference, and your inspiration made a difference, is the most rewarding thing anyone can ask for during a career.

Rob and his family reside in Lagrange where they enjoy spending time on West Point Lake with his family, and fur babies.  Rob will be coordinating the involvement of the 1985 GT Team in support of their beloved teammate.

Gregg Olson

Gregg graduated from Auburn in interdisciplinary studies and went on to have a successful 14-year Major League Baseball career. During his time in the MLB, he played alongside Jim on Team USA in both 1987 and 1988, as well as in Baltimore and Cleveland. Currently, he is a broadcaster for ESPN and serves as an adjunct professor at Auburn University.

Paul Assenmacher

Paul is a left handed relief pitcher in the Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons on five teams. He played in two World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 1995 and 1997. He played college baseball at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mi., graduating with a degree in Bus. Admin. He signed on as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves in 1983. Paul had the most games pitched by a left handed pitcher in the 1990’s (644). Following his retirement from professional baseball, Paul spent 10 seasons as pitching coach for the St. Pius X Catholic high school baseball team. Paul and his wife Maggie are parents to 5 adult children, two sons and three daughters, and currently they reside in Peachtree Corners.

Kim Poole

Georgia Tech ’88 ISyE, Retired

COURTNEY POOLE

Jim Poole Memorial Event Coordinator

Courtney is a dedicated committee member with a strong background in medical device sales. She has transitioned from the corporate sector to ministry, where she now focuses on faith-based service and outreach. In addition to her professional work, she serves on the board of Heaven Is True, a nonprofit organization committed to spreading the gospel, hope and love. She is deeply passionate about supporting ALS organizations through volunteering and fundraising efforts.

NICOLE SHEFRIN

CEO OF HOP ON A CURE

Nic Shefrin is a nonprofit executive with nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, event planning, and community building. She has built an incredibly successful career driven by a desire to help others and lead passionately with purpose. Prior to joining our team, she was CEO and Founder of Fostering Hope Ohio, a group dedicated to enriching the lives of children living in foster care.

RUSS ANDERTON

JIM POOLE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

Russ recently retired from a 30+ year career in the enterprise software and consulting service market. He held executive management and individual contributor roles in Business Development and Consulting services at IBM, Coca-Cola Company, Intergraph, Bentley/Cohesive Solutions and two start-up technology organizations. Russ graduated with highest honors from Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His time at Georgia Tech overlapped with Jim and Kim Poole’s years at GT. Russ was blessed with Jim’s friendship and has a passion for helping raise funds to support both Jim’s legacy via the Georgia Tech Athletic Association Endowment scholarship and a cure for the disease which took him from us (ALS). Russ has been instrumental in working with the Poole family to help organize the inaugural Jim Poole Memorial Golf Tournament in 2024 which included facilitating partnerships with two 501c-3 organizations – Georgia Tech Athletic Association and Hop On A Cure. When he is not working to help advance the annual Jim Poole Memorial Tournament, Russ enjoys traveling extensively with his wife and family, golfing, biking, hiking, working out, reading, and investing.
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