Advisory Board

The advisory board for Total Technology Ventures consists of longtime successful Georgia business executives with deep roots in the community. The board is comprised of individuals who have proven track records of operating, advising, or investing in successful technology companies. The board's role is to enhance the firm's ability to build successful technology businesses.



Richard Anthony, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Synovus Financial Corp.

Richard Anthony is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Synovus Financial Corp. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1968 and earning his M.B.A. at the University of Virginia in 1971, Mr. Anthony began his career in the financial services industry with AmSouth Bank, N.A. in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1985, he left his Executive Vice President position with AmSouth Bank to become President of First Commercial Bancshares, Inc. and Chairman of the Board and CEO of First Commercial Bank in Birmingham. First Commercial Bancshares became a member of the Synovus family of companies in 1992. Mr. Anthony has participated in many community activities through leadership roles which include the following: Director, The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, 1995 - 2005; Director, Business Council of Alabama, 1995 - 2005; President, Birmingham Kiwanis Club, 1996-1997; Captain, Monday Morning Quarterback Club, 1993; President, Country Club of Birmingham, 1991; Alumnus, Leadership Alabama, 1998; Past Chairman, Capital Campaign, Boys & Girls Club of Central Alabama, 1996-1998; Co-Chairman, Capital Campaign, University of Alabama, 1992-1997; Past Chairman, North Central Region American Lung Association, 1995; Alumnus, Leadership Birmingham, 1992; President, Alabama Golf Association, 1985; Chairman, Lakeshore Hospital, 1982; Chairman, Chattahoochee Valley United Way Campaign, 2006.


James H. Blanchard, Retired Chairman of the Board, Synovus Financial Corp.

Mr. Blanchard was named Chairman of the Board for Synovus Financial Corp effective July 2005 and served until his retirement in October 2006. Before being named Chairman of the Board, Mr. Blanchard served as Chief Executive Officer of Synovus from 1971 to 2005. His tenure has spanned the periods of greatest growth and prosperity in the company's history, which dates back to 1888. Mr. Blanchard serves as a board member of Columbus Bank and Trust Company and Chairman of the Executive Committee and board member of TSYS. He also serves on several other corporate boards in Georgia, and has been active in state and local government, education, conservation, economic development, and the United Way. For his contributions, Mr. Blanchard was the first executive outside the greater Atlanta area chosen as Georgia Trend magazine's "Most Respected CEO" in the state for 1997. Georgia Trend magazine also honored him as "Georgian of the Year" for 2003. Also in 2005, U.S. Banker magazine named Mr. Blanchard one of the "25 Most Influential People in Financial Services."


John P. Imlay, Jr., Chairman, Imlay Investments, Inc.

Imlay Investments is a private investment firm that provides funding for very early stage technology companies. Mr. Imlay is the retired Chairman and CEO of Management Science America Inc. (MSA), which, until it was acquired by Dun and Bradstreet, was one of the top ten software companies in the world with 60 offices worldwide. Mr. Imlay serves on several business boards, including The Atlanta Falcons, IMS Health, Metromedia International Group, Gartner Group, System One Technical, Inc., and World Access. In 1994, he was inducted into the Technology Hall of Fame for Georgia and in 1997 received the Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.


William J. Todd, President, Georgia Cancer Coalition

Mr. Todd formerly served the Perdue administration as the executive director of the Commission for a New Georgia. The Commission is designed to infuse expertise from the private sector into the operations of state government to improve efficiency and effectiveness in a changed culture. Prior to joining the governor's office, Mr. Todd was the was formerly the President, CEO, and co-Founder of Encina Technology Ventures, a technology investment firm he started in early 2000 with Atlanta real estate developer Tom Cousins. Prior to Encina Technology Ventures, Mr. Todd was the founding President of the Georgia Research Alliance, a strategic partnership of the six research universities in Georgia, joined by the business community and state government, whose purpose is to grow and leverage the State's research capabilities into economic development results. Mr. Todd is particularly well known in the technology community in the Southeast and was inducted into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame in 2000. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, The Georgia Tech Foundation, and the Emory University Board of Visitors.


Phillip W. Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer, TSYS

Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer of TSYS, Mr. Tomlinson served as the company’s President. While serving in that role, Mr. Tomlinson directed the company’s strategy of technological growth and advancement. Mr. Tomlinson joined TSYS in 1983 after it was established as a spin off from Columbus Bank and Trust Company where he was a former employee. In addition to his role as CEO, Mr. Tomlinson is a member of the TSYS Board of Directors and on the Board’s Executive Committee. He also serves on the boards of directors for TSYS de Mexico, Vital Processing Services and GP Network Corporation.