'Chief Impossibility Officer' Coming to Powder Springs

Georgia’s own CIO will be in Powder Springs on Tuesday.

No, Joe M. Turner isn’t a chief investment officer—he’s the Chief Impossibility Officer.

A speaker, mentalist and “sleight-of-hand expert,” Turner owns his own business, Turner Magic Entertainment. He’ll be talking at the Powder Springs Business Association’s monthly luncheon mainly about successful ways to market small businesses.

“As a speaker, I still use magic in my presentation, generally instead of PowerPoint. I will use some type of illusion to make the next point,” 41-year-old Turner said. “My speaking engagements do include magic, but they’re not a ‘magic show.’”

Some of his subtopics are effectiveness, positively responding to change, social networking, and memory improvement. This will be his third time speaking at an association meeting.

“We had Joe come last year, and the response was very positive,” Association President Tom Hatch said. “He has an unusual talent that is both entertaining and beneficial from a business standpoint.”

On the surface, Turner’s business of speaking and entertaining might seem unlike most other small businesses.

But, he said, small businesses have “similar obstacles to overcome; we just think we don’t. We think, ‘Oh my business is nothing like that’ … There are a lot of commonalities that small business owners face.”

Turner lives in the New Hope community in Paulding County but spends a great deal of time in Cobb. He’s a member of in Powder Springs.

He has served as a magic consultant and a writer and director for theater, film and cause-related promotional projects on a national scale, his website says. He has entertained elected officials, sports figures, corporate leaders and other celebrities.

He has been featured in numerous television, radio and print appearances, including Good Morning America, Nightline and CNN Headline News.

When Turner started his business 11 years ago, it was mainly centered around magic and entertainment. But when people began to notice his effective marketing, they asked if he would share some tips, he said.

“If they come, they’ll be amazed by the skill that they see … but they’ll also leave with some ideas that they can take and apply to their own businesses,” he said.

Tuesday's luncheon is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. at the Coach Ford Center's . The cost is $10 for business association members. For non-member, it’s $15, and anyone is welcome to attend. If you’re a first-time guest, lunch is free.

“We have members that are in public service, such as politicians, doctors, financial and insurance professionals and so forth that could easily mean a source for referrals and an exchange of ideas,” Hatch said. “Also, we have positions available they could serve on to participate in the growth and development of the association.”