Detroit born & raised, Dennis McKinley leads the Atlanta-based branding company Detroit Equities, which runs the Atlanta-based businesses Cru Hookah Lounge and the Original Hot Dog Factory. He’s also the owner of NYAK Cognac, which is now the fastest- growing cognac brand in U.S. history with an unprecedented 1,000% annual growth rate.

Currently, he helps entrepreneurs and small businesses build their brands through strategic investments and some of his previous experience also includes real estate, e-commerce and product development. He is a graduate of University of Michigan.