True influence isn’t measured by visibility—it’s measured by impact.
In this Gentlemen of Influence feature, we highlight four men whose leadership is shaping the fabric of the Smyrna community. Through business, service, and a deep sense of responsibility to those around them, each is leaving a meaningful mark in his own way.
Keith Zgonc
Police Chief, City of Smyrna
There’s a steady, grounded presence about Keith Zgonc—the kind that doesn’t seek the spotlight, but quietly earns trust over time.
Keith’s path into law enforcement wasn’t shaped by a single defining moment. Instead, it was a calling that lingered from an early age and came into clearer focus during his college years, when working alongside first responders reignited his interest. What began as curiosity grew into something deeper—a commitment to service, to people, and to being part of something that truly matters.
Years later, that same sense of purpose still drives him—but his focus has evolved.
As Chief, Keith doesn’t define leadership by rank or authority. Instead, he sees it as a responsibility to the people around him—starting with his own team. “I see my primary role as serving the men and women of the police department,” he shares. It’s a perspective rooted in trust and investment—ensuring that every officer has the training, tools, and support needed to serve Smyrna well.
Because in a city like Smyrna, relationships matter.
Under Keith’s leadership, the Smyrna Police Department has continued to strengthen its connection with the community—not through grand gestures, but through consistency. Showing up at local events. Engaging in honest conversations. Being present, approachable, and visible in the everyday rhythms of the city.
It’s not about checking a box. It’s about building something lasting.
Keith is quick to point out that this connection is a two-way street. He describes Smyrna as a place where people are deeply invested—in their neighbors, their schools, and the safety of the community as a whole. That kind of engagement creates a strong foundation, one that allows the department to grow, evolve, and better serve—whether through strengthened relationships or advancements in technology.
Still, leadership doesn’t come without its challenges. It requires humility, collaboration, and a willingness to pour into others. “Leadership is hard work,” Keith says simply. And perhaps that’s what defines his approach most—an understanding that success is never a solo effort. Developing leaders within the department isn’t just a priority; it’s essential.
Outside of work, Keith finds balance in the simple things—time with family, a round of golf, or a run to clear his head. It’s in those quieter moments that perspective is restored.
And if he could leave the Smyrna community with one message, it’s one of genuine gratitude. The support they show the department, he says, truly makes a difference.
For Keith, influence isn’t about authority—it’s about service, consistency, and showing up, day after day, for the people who call Smyrna home.
Rickey Oglesby, Jr.
City Council Member, City of Smyrna | Owner, Indigo Room
Rickey Oglesby Jr. doesn’t talk about service like it’s something he chose—it’s something that’s been part of his story from the very beginning.
Raised in South Carolina by a young mother whose resilience shaped his understanding of perseverance, and influenced by a father whose military service modeled discipline and duty, Rickey grew up with a clear sense of responsibility to something beyond himself. That perspective has carried him through every chapter—from the Georgia National Guard to a career in private banking—and now into both business ownership and public service as a Smyrna City Council member.
These days, his mornings begin with gratitude, followed quickly by responsibility—checking city emails, connecting with his team, and moving between the demands of leadership and daily operations. Much of that time is spent inside The Indigo Room, the jazz restaurant he opened in December 2025 after more than two decades of imagining what it could be. But whether he’s there or at City Hall, the throughline is the same: taking care of his family, supporting his team, and showing up fully for the community he serves.
After more than 15 years in Smyrna, Rickey speaks about the city with both pride and conviction. He sees it as a place where people from all walks of life come together—where strong schools, youth sports, and local businesses create a sense of connection that feels genuine and lasting. It’s also what fuels his commitment to give back. From coaching with the Smyrna Elite Jr. Spartans track team to supporting local initiatives, service isn’t something he schedules—it’s something he lives.
That same mindset carries into the spaces he creates. The Indigo Room isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an extension of his values. Inspired by his travels and rooted in his South Carolina upbringing, the space was designed to bring people together through music, conversation, and shared experience. Every detail, from the menu to the atmosphere, is intentional.
“When you walk through the doors,” he says, “I want whatever you’re carrying with you to feel a little lighter.”
Looking ahead, Rickey is focused on ensuring Smyrna continues to grow in a way that reflects that same spirit—thoughtful, inclusive, and connected. He speaks candidly about the importance of attainable housing and stronger connectivity across the city, with a vision that allows longtime residents and future generations alike to feel at home here.
For Rickey, influence shows up in the doing—in the way he leads, the way he serves, and the way he creates space for others.
And in a community like Smyrna, that kind of leadership doesn’t demand attention—it shows up, day after day, in the people it lifts and the community it helps shape.
Tarun Ganeriwal
President & CEO, KBH Solutions | Founder, Chess2Children
For Tarun Ganeriwal, success didn’t arrive all at once. It was built—slowly, deliberately, and always with people at the center.
An engineer by training, Tarun began his career after graduating from Virginia Tech, stepping into a nearly two-decade tenure with General Electric. There, he gained a deep understanding of large-scale operations, strategic growth, and the kind of leadership required to sustain both. After earning his MBA from the University of Georgia, he continued that upward trajectory, ultimately stepping into a senior leadership role at Williams Industrial.
By all accounts, it was a career many would have stayed in.
But even as his career was building, so was his investment in the Smyrna community.
In 2008, while serving on a school board at Nickajack Elementary in Smyrna, he recognized a gap—students who needed more opportunities to engage, to think differently, to grow. When efforts to bring in an outside chess program didn’t come together, he didn’t let the idea fade. Instead, he worked with teachers to build something from the ground up.
That effort became Chess2Children.
What began as a small school-based club has grown into a meaningful community program reaching hundreds of students across the Smyrna area. Through chess, children learn patience, strategy, and how to think several moves ahead—but just as importantly, they gain confidence and a sense of possibility.
“We just believed it mattered,” he says.
That mindset—investing in people without expectation—became a quiet foundation in his life, and a defining part of his connection to the community he calls home.
So when the time came, years later, to step away from corporate leadership, the decision wasn’t impulsive. It was prepared for. In 2018, Tarun launched KBH Solutions, bringing with him decades of experience and a clear sense of what kind of company—and leader—he wanted to be.
The growth that followed has been significant. What began as a small team has expanded to more than 150 employees, supporting complex industries like energy, power, and construction. But for Tarun, the numbers only tell part of the story.
“Your employees are your internal customers,” he says. “When they feel valued and trusted, that shows up in everything they do.”
It’s a philosophy rooted in trust, consistency, and care—values that shape not only how he leads, but how he shows up in Smyrna.
That commitment is continuing to take shape in a very tangible way. Tarun recently purchased the downtown building at 1295 W. Spring Street, where he plans to relocate KBH’s headquarters while also thoughtfully curating tenants who align with his vision for a vibrant, connected Smyrna.
Because for Tarun, influence isn’t about position or recognition. It’s about presence—investing in people, supporting the next generation, and strengthening the community around you.
And in Smyrna, that kind of leadership doesn’t just grow a business—it helps shape what the community becomes.
Hal Simpson
Executive Director, Georgia Blind Sports Association
Some of the most meaningful work doesn’t begin with a grand plan—it begins with a need. For Hal Simpson, that need was deeply personal.
A longtime Cobb County resident, business owner, and devoted father, Hal has always been grounded in family and community. He credits his time at The Citadel with shaping his sense of discipline and teamwork—values that would later define not only his career, but the way he shows up for others.
But it was fatherhood that changed everything.
When his son Matt was diagnosed at a young age with a degenerative retinal disease, Hal was faced with a new reality—one filled with questions about what life, and opportunity, would look like moving forward. What he found, instead, was a calling.
Hal didn’t set out to build an organization. He set out to make sure his son had a chance to play.
That journey began with a single introduction to goalball and a phone call that led to an unexpected role as a coach. More than two decades later, that moment has grown into the Georgia Blind Sports Association, but at its core, Hal’s focus has never shifted.
“I want others to have the same opportunities Matt had,” he says.
Over the years, Hal has coached athletes of all ages, witnessing firsthand the quiet transformations that happen when someone discovers what they’re capable of. He’s seen hesitation turn into confidence, uncertainty give way to independence, and individuals become teammates, competitors, and leaders.
One moment that stands out didn’t happen on a medal stand, but on the water—when a woman, after kayaking for the first time, described it as the most freedom she had ever experienced. It’s those moments, Hal says, that stay with him.
Of course, there have been extraordinary milestones, too. Sitting in the stands at the Paralympic Games, watching his son represent Team USA and earn a silver medal, remains one of the most meaningful experiences of his life—a full-circle moment that speaks not just to perseverance, but to possibility.
Through it all, Hal has gained a perspective that continues to shape his work.
“They don’t focus on what they’ve lost,” he says. “They focus on what’s possible—and go after it with everything they have.”
That mindset—steady, optimistic, and grounded in action—is what defines Hal as both a coach and a leader.
Looking ahead, his focus remains simple: to continue expanding access, opportunity, and awareness so that more individuals and families can experience the same sense of belonging and growth.
Because for Hal, the goal has never been recognition.
It’s been making sure that every person he reaches knows they are capable of more than they imagined.
Individually, their stories are compelling. Together, they paint a broader picture of what it means to lead with intention.
And in Smyrna, that kind of leadership continues to shape the community we’re proud to call home.
Pull quotes:
Keith Zgonc: “Leadership isn’t about being seen—it’s about showing up, doing the work, and earning trust day by day.”
Rickey Oglesby, Jr.: “Community isn’t just where you live—it’s what you build, invest in, and show up for every day.”
Tarun Ganeriwal: “If you invest in people—truly invest in them—everything else has a way of falling into place.”
Hal Simpson: “Everyone deserves the chance to compete, to belong, and to discover what they’re capable of.”