Board of directors
| Freda Kalina I'm a passionate leader who brings people together—whether it's through high-impact local events, strategic business networking, or real estate solutions that change lives. As President of the Buford Business Alliance, I create and manage community festivals, vendor markets, and networking mixers that help businesses grow and thrive. With over 30 years as a licensed Real Estate Agent, with Virtual Properties Realty, I specialize in helping seniors downsize, sellers maximize their home's value, and buyers relocate with confidence. I'm also the author of Triple Your Income with Events a cozy murder mystery series inspired by my own journey.
Let’s connect if you’re interested in collaborating on events, growing your business, or making your next move! 770-596-8178 |
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President, Buford Business Alliance | Real Estate Agent | Author | Event Strategist | Community Connector
Ed Rodriguez- Vice President | Financial Advisor at The Piedmont Group
I am committed to fostering lasting relationships with my clients and helping them achieve their personal and financial goals. As a Financial Advisor, I deliver tailored strategies to address a wide range of needs, including investment planning, retirement strategies, life and long-term care insurance, and comprehensive wealth management. Originally from New York, I relocated to Georgia in 1996 with my wife, Kristin, of 25 years. We are proud parents to two —Gabriel, an engineering major at the University of Tennessee, and Ava, a soccer player and junior at Buford High School—as well as two beloved dogs, Murphy (a golden doodle) and Toby (a tree walker hound). I have served as HOA President, been a member of the executive board for Atlanta Fire United Youth Soccer Club, and mentored young adults through YearUp United. I am also actively involved with the Buford School District through sponsorships, fundraisers, and financial literacy workshops. I'm also an avid runner and scuba diver. 678-895-4522 - EdRodriguez@financialguide.com |
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| Linda Gober - Treasurer | Owner and Account at LDG Accounting Services Linda earned her Bachelor's degree in Accounting from California State University Dominguez Hills in 1991. She spent her first three years working in an accounting firm where she gained firsthand knowledge of accounting for small businesses. She then went into the management side of accounting, working for businesses with anywhere from 5 to over 100 million in revenue. Her longest tenure of 12 years was with the PGA TOUR which is one of the biggest nonprofits in the country. She went out on her own over 6 years ago as her passion is for small businesses and especially nonprofits. 678-568-1900 - Linda@ldgaccountingservices.com |
Alicia Payne - Secretary | Inside Buford I’m Alicia Payne, a proud Buford native and the owner of Inside Buford, an online newspaper dedicated to serving the residents of our community. My involvement with the Buford Business Alliance began in 2017, when I was serving as Editor for the North Gwinnett Voice. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of contributing in different roles, including Member at Large, and I’m honored to now serve as Secretary. In addition to running Inside Buford, I’ve recently started working in real estate with fellow BBA member Nation One Realty Group, Inc., a company that specializes in corporate-owned homes. I also use my background in media to further the Alliance’s goals by producing our quarterly newsletter and handling press releases sent to local media outlets. I love seeing our members and their businesses thrive, and I’m proud of the support the Alliance provides to local non-profits and school groups. Supporting our community is at the heart of what we do, and I am always happy to assist our members in any way I can—so please don’t hesitate to reach out. 404-453-5261 - insidebuford@gmail.com |
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| Kevin Morrison - Member at Large | Agent/Counselor at Weathers Insurance, Inc. Kevin Morrison, prior to being an insurance agent/counselor with Weathers Insurance for the past 38 years, he handled claims for all insurance lines (workers comp, property, liability, crime, etc). Let him take a look at your insurance program to make sure it is providing you the maximum coverage for your money. 770-448-9700 - kmorrison@weathersinsurance.com |
Jeff Lee - Member at Large | Financial Advisor at Edward Jones Hi, my name is Jeff Lee. I have lived in the North Atlanta are for most of my life and have called Buford home for the last 25 years. Edward Jones is a different kind of investment firm. To us, face time and think time make sense. We meet with you to learn your individual needs so we can develop a strategy to help you achieve your long-term financial goals. So, whether you want to plan for retirement, save for college, reduce your tax bills or ensure you have income to cover your expenses, you can expect personalized service and long-term investing strategies instead of the latest investment fads. Join the nearly 7 million investors who know. Contact me today to help develop an investment strategy that makes sense for you. I am honored to serve as Member at Large for Buford Business Alliance and look forward to working on growing the footprint of the Buford Business Alliance. 770-889-8925 - Jeff.Lee2@edwardjones.com |
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| Jeff Martin - Member at Large | Owner of Heavens Best Carpet Cleaning in Lawrenceville, Georgia Hi, my name is Jeff Martin. I am originally from Roanoke, Virginia and moved to Georgia from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. n 2011. I am the owner of Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning serving Gwinnett, Hall, Forsyth, Barrow and Jackson counties. We specialize in low-moisture carpet cleaning that dries in one hour and leaves no residue. We also provide hardwood, tile and grout and upholstery cleaning. I started my business in 2013 after serving 16 years in the hotel industry as a regional manager and was director of operations in the restaurant industry prior to that. I have been honored to serve on the board of Buford Business Alliance since early 2021, which has been a period of significant growth. It is my experience that networking works. I also serve as vice president of Greater Gwinnett Referral Partners. I strongly believe that building relationships, supporting our community and having strong trade and business partners to refer to our clients and friends is of great importance both personally and professionally. 678-882-1558 - j.martin@heavensbest.com |
