Let's Create Together

Darryl A. Hicks joined Equity Service, Inc. under Apogee Financial Partners in April 2022. Darryl worked for Mass Mutual, Capstone Agency for 9 years and Morgan Stanley for almost 3 years before building on a distinguished career in both public service and the private sector. In 2010, he ran for Labor Commissioner for the state of Georgia, attracting over 1 million votes in the general elections. Prior to the election, he served as the chief of staff to the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the largest county in Georgia. Mr. Hicks also spent more than 20 years on the management team of AGL Resources, the parent company of Atlanta Gas Light Company.

Mr. Hicks was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp to the Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission and the Georgia Board of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers. In addition, he is currently on the board of the Fayette County Development Authority (chair), Fayette County Board of Elections, and Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Drug Divergent Program. He also co-founder a non-profit organization called He Ain’t Heavy Pretrial Diversion Program (for young males with low offenses) and serves on the board. He former chaired the board of directors of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and was a trustee of Young Harris College.

He served on the Atlanta Metropolitan College Foundation, where he served five years as its chairman, advisory council of Habitat for Humanity of Atlanta, the boards of Atlanta-based Mutual Savings Credit Union, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta, Future Foundation, Center for the Visually Impaired of Atlanta, and the Butler Street YMCA. He also was a member of the Atlanta Junior League Advisory Committee and has chaired the South Metro March of Dimes annual drive. President George W. Bush honored Darryl as the “Outstanding Volunteer of Georgia” in 2002.

In 2003, Hicks earned an M.B.A. in executive management from Georgia State University’s J.Mack Robinson College of Business—while working full time at AGL Resources. The school honored him with the Brook’s Community Award for his exemplary record in the field of community service and business ethics. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia. He has earned his FINRA series 7, 66, and 31 licenses, as well as licenses to sell Life Insurance, Accident & Sickness Insurance, and Variable Annuity products. He also has a Property and Casualty license.

He and his wife Shirelle have three children and lives in Fayetteville, GA.

Pat Hinchey, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, serving clients primarily on the south side of Atlanta. Pat is the founder and director of Integrated Financial Partners (formerly Hinchey Financial Group). Pat and his team provide comprehensive financial planning services to individuals and small businesses.

Pat and his wife, Kim, have lived in both Henry and Fayette Counties since 1991, and they have two children, Halie and Sean. Pat graduated from Georgetown University in 1978, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.

Pat is also a founding member of Integrated Financial Group, a consortium of independent financial planners serving over 50 member firms throughout the southeast. IFG is dedicated to making it possible for independent planners to offer world class services and expertise while maintaining objective independence.

Though a New York native, Sameera Tillman has been a self-proclaimed “Georgia Peach” for over 13 years and a resident of Fayette County for the past 10 years.  Sameera earned her BSocSc with a concentration in International Studies from New York University in 2006.  Founded in 2010, Sameera and her husband, Dwayne, own a roadside assistance company that provides services to motorists throughout the Southeast region of the country.    Sameera and Dwayne are the proud parents of two young boys.  

Edward Johnson has been a Fayetteville elected official since Jan. 2012, serving first as a city councilman. He has served as Mayor since January 2016. He has lived in Fayetteville since 1994.

He graduated from L.B. Landry High School in 1973 and obtained his post-secondary education from Dillard University of New Orleans graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology.

After graduating from Dillard University he was selected to attend the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Officers’ Candidate School and upon graduating was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy.  He served in many capacities as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer obtaining the rank of Commander.  He served in many positions culminating his twenty-two year navy career as Executive Officer onboard the USS Santa Barbara (AE-28) and eventually XO of the Georgia Tech / Morehouse College Navy ROTC Program.  While in the U.S. Navy he attended the U.S. Naval War College and Salve Regina University obtaining two Master of Science Degrees.  He has been awarded several U.S. Navy awards and personal commendations for his service while in the navy.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Johnson is a retired U.S. Navy commander and educator who now serves as full-time pastor of Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Fayetteville area. He and his wife Dr. Vanessa O. Johnson have two sons and three granddaughters.

Johnson says he moved to Fayetteville to put his sons into an excellent school system. He says he is encouraged by the city’s growing sense of community as it encounters well-managed development and growth.

Mr. Braun is a management consultant working in the aviation industry where he serves clients through a range of engagements, including master plan studies, economic impact analyses, organizational change initiatives, and financial planning efforts.  A native of Virginia, he and his family set down roots in Peachtree City in 2017. Mr. Braun holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University. As a member of the FCDA, he represents the Peachtree City Airport Authority, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board. 

Dr. Luis Matta was born in Buffalo, NY to Rev. Luis and Carmen Matta.  He credits his parents for inspiring him to serve and help his community.  This inspiration has led him to serve in several capacities within different ministries in Staten Island, NY; Brooklyn, NY; Buffalo, NY; Erie, PA; and Fayetteville, GA.

Dr. Matta works as a Principal Consultant  focused on technology adoption for organizations.  As a consultant Dr. Matta has led several technology initiatives for organizations in the following industries: Federal and Local Government, Healthcare, Energy, Fintech, Retail and Hospitality, Manufacturing, Insurance, and Marketing.  These initiatives involved design and implementation of Disaster Recovery Strategies; Business Continuity; Implementation of Public Safety Technical Solutions including CCTV and Analytics Systems; Design Implementation and Support of Messaging and Collaboration tools for enterprises; Private and Public Cloud Migrations; Business Technology Roadmaps; and Technology Integration strategies linked with Business Goals.

Dr. Matta has also served as an Adjunct Business Professor at Strayer University in Columbus, GA.  He has been a guest lecturer at Strayer University Augusta; Argosy University's Atlanta Campus; and regularly speaks at the Georgia College and State University's MBA Orientation.  Dr. Matta is also a published author as part of the Award-winning Anthology "The Refractive Thinker".  Dr. Matta's research interests include Leadership, Technology, Local Government Organizational Culture, and Business Strategy.

Dr. Matta holds several accredited degrees including a Master of Management Information Systems; a Master of Business Administration from Georgia College and State University; and a Doctor of Business Administration with a focus on International Business from Argosy University.  

Dr. Matta is President of The Matta Group, Inc., a Minority Certified consulting firm.  Through The Matta Group, Dr. Matta has been able to work with The City of Atlanta and The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority to reduce costs through business process improvements, and new technology implementations focused around technology virtualization; storage consolidation; and knowledge management.  These new technologies encompass Enterprise Resource Planning; Messaging; and Backup and Recovery solutions.  

Dr. Luis Matta and his wife Rosie have three children and reside in Fayetteville, GA. 

Jim Kuo is the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Operations of Hoshizaki America, Inc. Jim is currently responsible for the manufacturing operations of two factories in Georgia. Before this assignment, Jim was an expat serving as the president and a board member of a Hoshizaki group company in Brazil for six years. Jim has experience in product design, manufacturing processes, management, and strategic development. Jim has joined Hoshizaki America and resided in Fayette County since 1998. 

Jim had moved to the US from Taiwan in 1990 to pursuit post-graduation educations. He earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and an EMBA from Georgia State University.