Expats & Experts 2025: People, Policy and the Global Talent Puzzle

Dr. T. Cuneyt Evirgen serves as Senior Academic Professional at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University. Cuneyt is also a faculty member at the Institute of International Business and the Faculty Director for GSU-CIBER. Cuneyt is a seasoned executive, educator, scholar, mentor in international business and executive education. He is an independent board member with experience and expertise in marketing and retailing strategy.

Cuneyt holds BSc degrees both in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics and MBA degree from Bosphorous University in Istanbul, and PhD degree in Marketing and International Business from Michigan State University. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award given by the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.

Matt is a German and U.S. lawyer, holding a U.S. Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Georgia School of Law. He obtained both his German and his U.S. law license (NY) in 2015. In 2019, Matt was also sworn into the Georgia Bar.

Matt focuses his legal services on supporting foreign-owned business entities and individuals investing in the U.S. in the areas of immigration, corporate, and employment law. He supports companies’ global immigration needs through both U.S. immigration and non-immigration visa processing for businesses and families (temporary work visas and green cards). He has established himself as an esteemed member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has become a welcome speaker at various conferences.

Matt served as a board member of the Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Inc. (“Stonewall”) for many years and supports the organization. Stonewall is a professional association of attorneys, judges, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals who support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and who oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Matt also serves as the co-chair supporting the LGBTQ Professionals Subcommittee of AGG’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee.

Matt is also the chair of the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission after serving as the Atlanta-Nuremberg Sister Cities Commission chair for many years. The City of Atlanta fosters 17 sister-city relationships with communities across the globe. The Atlanta Sister Cities Commission has continued to expand its programming by promoting mutually beneficial cultural, educational, economic, and community development exchanges. Under Mayor Andre Dickens’ leadership, the Commission has positioned itself to enhance its efforts through increased marketing, a charitable foundation, and increased staff support from the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs.

Maia is the founder of the Puttogo Global Group, a real estate firm based in Dunwoody, GA and offering full-service, creative real estate solutions in the metro-Atlanta area. The Puttogo Global Group brings a fresh perspective when working with real estate clients from all over the world and services clients in English, French and Spanish.

She considers herself a multilingual global citizen having lived in 3 continents (Africa, Europe and now America). Because of her background, she has a keen understanding of how to mitigate stress when it comes to relocation, and her clients greatly benefit from her unique global perspective in real estate.

She has 15 years’ experience in corporate marketing and communications, a Master’s in Strategic Public Relations and two undergraduate degrees. Before launching Puttogo Global Group in 2021, she was a top producing single agent in the North Metro Atlanta office, under Keller Williams Atlanta Perimeter. She moved from France to Atlanta in 2008, where she has lived ever since with her husband and two daughters. When she is not working, you can find her reading, traveling or enjoying exotic food somewhere around the globe.

A native of Siberia, Russia, Dina Khismatulina is an LLM graduate of Emory University School of Law. She earned her first law degree in 1999 from Tomsk State University, one of the top law schools in Russia. After graduation, Dina worked as an in-house counsel for an Internet mass media company in Siberia. From 1999 to 2002 she worked as in-house counsel for one of the subsidiaries of Gazprom JSC, the top natural gas producer in Russia and one of the largest companies in the world, where she focused on contract, corporate, and antitrust matters.

Prior to moving to the U.S., Dina also worked in Moscow, handling civil litigation and bankruptcy cases. After moving to Atlanta in 2003, she worked as a paralegal concentrating on personal injury, immigration, civil litigation, and family law. Dina became a U.S. Citizen in 2008, and in 2013 she graduated from Emory University School of Law with an LLM degree. While at Emory, Dina was an active member of both the Student Body Association and International Law Society. She joined The Manely Firm, P.C. in November 2014 after successfully passing the Bar.

Dina is fluent in English and Russian, and she is a member of the American Society of International Law as well as its Women in International Law section.

Dina lives in Sandy Springs with her husband and children. She is an avid tennis player and a member of ALTA and USTA. Dina is admitted to practice law in Russia as well as here in Georgia where she has been admitted to Georgia State and Superior Courts, as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals. 

Dina and the Lawrenceville team were proudly recognized by Gwinnett Magazine as 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023’s Best of Gwinnett’s “Best Family Law Attorney.”

Dina is active in her professional community and served as Co-President of the Gwinnett County Bar Family Law Section for three years. She continues to actively help lead and support Gwinnett Bar events. Dina is currently serving as VP of the Atlanta Bar Association’s International Family Law Section and is an active partner with Global Atlanta in support and service of Georgia’s consulate community. She has also been a featured speaker with the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce on International Family Law matters. She has been selected as one of the 2020-2025 Super Lawyers and was highlighted nationally in Super Lawyers Magazine’s article ‘Catching the American Dream,’ which features her professionalism and international experiences. Dina was also proudly recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 Women Georgia Super Lawyers for 2024-2025 and one of the Top 100 Georgia Super Lawyers for 2025.

Dina now acts as a Partner Managing Attorney for The Manely Firm, P.C. in Atlanta.

Committed to creating globally-minded students poised to shape the 21st century, Kevin’s vocation and calling is international education. His career in education includes leadership and teaching positions in South and West Africa, Central and North America, and Central Asia. Prior to joining Atlanta International School, Kevin was Director of Tashkent International School in Uzbekistan for five years.
Kevin serves on various local, national and international Boards, including the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE), the Academy for International School Heads (AISH), the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE), Horizons Atlanta, the Atlanta Area Association in Independent Schools (AAAIS) and the Buckhead Coalition.
Kevin has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Framingham State College (USA), a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Biology and Chemistry from Cambridge University (UK), and a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Degree in Bacteriology and Virology from Manchester University (UK).  
Kevin is married to Stefani, a career diplomat currently on family leave from the German Foreign Service. They have three children all of whom attend AIS, in the German language program.

Michael Todd Shinholster is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Culture Bridge, LLC, specializing in executive coaching, global leadership, international teams, and intercultural communication. Born in Macon, Georgia to an American mother and Austrian father, Todd blends Southern and European influences in both life and work. He holds an M.B.A. in International Business from Kennesaw State University and a B.A. in German from Georgia State University. A certified ICQ Global DISC Master Trainer and Intercultural Development Inventory Administrator, Todd has supported clients across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including Audi, BMW, Coca-Cola, and Siemens. He has worked with Delta Air Lines, the 1996 Olympic Games, and the 2004 G-8 Summit. As an Instructor of Management at Kennesaw State University, he teaches international business and leadership. A past President of IACET, he is also a member of Phi Beta Delta, SIETAR, and the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.

With 20 years of experience in human resources, Kerry leads Smith + Howard’s talent and recruiting strategy, supporting the firm’s long-term development and growth.

Kerry joined Smith + Howard in 2021 as the firm’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the firm, specifically in the areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, training and development, and compensation.

Kerry is a strategic human resource leader with almost 20 years of experience leading human resource organizations and efforts in large global companies. She is specifically skilled in recruiting, training, labor relations, compliance and performance management.

Kerry and her husband moved to the United States from Johannesburg, South Africa in 2009. They live in Vinings with their two highly energetic Labrador Retrievers.