Tom Black, Co-Chairman of the Board

Tom's career is noted for taking new financial services ventures to the top by building exceptional national sales organizations. In 1991, he co-founded Private Business, Inc., a firm that packages marketing, software and processing services to assist community banks in arranging accounts receivable financing for small businesses. As CEO of the Brentwood, Tennessee-based corporation, he took the company public in 1999.

Tom and a partner purchased Tecniflex, Inc., in 1999 and formed Imagic Corporation as a sister company. Serving the community bank market nationally, Tecniflex sells mission-critical equipment and maintenance service, while Imagic Corporation develops and supports check-imaging systems. As CEO for Tecniflex and Imagic, Tom dramatically expanded both companies from regional providers to national sales organizations. In December 2001, Imagic Corporation was sold to Open Solutions, Inc. He remains Chairman of the Board of Tecniflex.

John R. Cherry, III, Founder & Co-Chairman of the Board

Mark Schwartz, President & CEO

Mark runs NFATR with exceptional organizational and sales skills honed by more than 15 years experience as a sales executive in the insurance, financial services and banking industries. He was senior vice president of sales for Pay Systems of America before coming to NFATR, and he more than doubled sales volume during his final year in that position.

With Private Business, Inc., for more than seven years, Mark regularly achieved honors such as managing the highest revenue-producing region and developing the highest customer retention rate in the organization.
His track record of successful relationship-building coupled with superior sales ability is of particular benefit as NFATR develops Affiliate relationships and a nationwide sales organization.

Michael D. Reader, Director of Affiliate Relations

Michael catapulted his meeting planning company into the ranks of the 50 fastest-growing companies in Middle Tennessee for three years in a row by developing and marketing online technology solutions for meeting planners. Acquiring the rights for Meetings.com in 1999 and optimizing that Web presence allowed his Bellwether Group consulting firm to jump to #6 on that Middle Tennessee hot list.

In 2002, Bellwether Group was acquired by Conferon, Inc. After working for Conferon to transition the acquisition, Michael returned to his entrepreneurial roots with two start-up companies anchored in high-tech, online planning and marketing solutions. His experience in developing successful affiliations for online enterprises and optimizing a Web presence is a great asset for the NFATR team.

Carla Hall, Media Relations

Before returning to Nashville as a marketing communications consultant in 2003, Carla headed product public relations for Captaris, Inc., a communications software manufacturer marketing internationally. In the positions of managing director for Wendt Public Relations in Montana and public relations director for Carden & Cherry Advertising in Nashville, Tennessee, she has successfully promoted a wide range of products and services.

Carla developed expertise in working with media nationally as she planned and executed publicity for Carden & Cherry’s Ernest (Hey, Vern!) commercial campaigns during the first six years of the advertising phenomenon.