To succeed in this rapidly evolving environment, it is crucial for women entrepreneurs to embrace adaptability and flexibility. This summit will emphasize the importance of embracing change, seizing opportunities, and continuously evolving strategies and business models to stay relevant and thrive in the face of uncertainty. We will emphasize women who have harnessed the power of change to make themselves successful and have transcended the status quo to become forces in their professional and personal lives.
Through inspiring keynote speeches, engaging panel discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities, participants will leave equipped with the tools, insights, and confidence to not just adapt to change, but to be the change-makers shaping the future.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
$20 off registration fee
We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support of this program.
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
Ande has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, specializing in personal finance and wealth building. She is a renowned speaker and thought leader in the financial services industry. With a background in leadership positions, including running a multi-million dollar fintech company, Ande is now a partner at Peachtree Planning of North Georgia, a premier financial services firm. She is widely recognized as a specialist in behavioral finance and frequently appears on national media outlets to discuss women and finance. Ande has received numerous accolades for her career accomplishments and is an Amazon bestselling author, “Fin(anci)ally Free! 11 Conversations People Need to Have with Yourself about Life, Money, and Worth”.
Toni Hannah is the North DeKalb Area Manager in Region External Affairs. Her responsibilities include overseeing operations, sales, customer service, and community development for Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Chamblee, and Doraville. Before this role, she directed customer assistance at Georgia Power, where she began as a Sr. Corporate Recruiter in 2001. During her 23-year tenure with the company, she held various positions, including HR Consultant, Talent Management Consultant, Business Services & Information Manager, and External Affairs Manager for Northwest Georgia. Toni holds a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Western Carolina University and is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb, Leadership Rome, and Leadership Rockdale.
Cindy Vice is a Holistic nurse with 43 years of experience in nursing. Throughout her career, she has worked in various healthcare settings, including Labor and Delivery, Home Health, Primary Care, Community Health, Hospice, and Outpatient Services. Currently, she serves as the Wellness Program Leader at Atrium Health Floyd in Rome, GA, where she oversees well-being programs and activities for a team of 3,700. Additionally, Cindy represents the Floyd market on the Enterprise Mental Health and Workplace Violence Councils.
Daniela Perry is the Vice President of the Georgia Chamber Foundation, leading strategic efforts including external grant projects, policy initiatives, and research and data analysis. Perry's previous roles include Senior Director of Public Policy and Federal Affairs Manager for the Georgia Chamber, as well as a Field Representative for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. Perry also served as the Business and Operations Manager for the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. Perry graduated with an A.B. in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis on Public Policy from the University of Georgia.
Christie Welch Carroll is the broker and owner of Prestige Home Brokers, a recently launched real estate firm based in Rome, Georgia. With over twenty years of experience in the Metro Atlanta and Northwest Georgia real estate markets, Christie has built a solid reputation for herself. As the lead agent for the number four Century 21 team in the world in 2016 and the number one team in the Southeast region for three consecutive years, she has consistently been at the top of the Georgia real estate industry. Christie is known locally for her creative video marketing techniques that showcase Northwest Georgia and educate home buyers and sellers. She is a licensed real estate broker and REALTOR®, with additional certifications as a Distressed Property Expert and a Real Estate Probate Specialist.
Kasey is the founder of EmpowHer Rome, a platform dedicated to helping women achieve their professional and personal goals. With over 15 years of experience in recruiting, Kasey is an expert in talent acquisition and leading teams. She holds a BA in Mass Communications from the University of Georgia and a Master's degree in Management and Leadership.
LaDonna Collins graduated from Columbus State University and holds a Master Certified Community Health Education Specialist (M.C.H.E.S.) certification from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). Currently, she is the Sr. Training and Standards Implementation Manager for the National Family Support Network, which serves as the national coordinating body for Family Resource Centers in the United States & Canada. Before joining the National Family Support Network, LaDonna served as the Executive Director of Rome Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth for 6 years. LaDonna is the owner of Pinnacle Developmental Services, specializing in youth development and mentoring, with contracts from the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice and other state-funded agencies.
Kelly Biggs is a highly accomplished business owner and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing. She is the owner of WSI Biggs, a digital marketing agency that helps businesses achieve their marketing goals through branding, messaging, digital marketing, social media, SEO, and advertising. Additionally, Kelly recently launched "A Healthier Vend," a vending machine business. With an MBA from Emory University and a rich background working with Fortune 100 companies and startups, Kelly brings a unique combination of strategic thinking and practical expertise to every marketing challenge.
Lori Leonard, with over 30 years of healthcare experience, has a strong understanding and passion for addressing the needs of individuals with mood symptoms. She believes that every person deserves to be heard and understood, approaching each case empathetically and with an open mind. Recognizing that mood symptoms can vary from person to person, Lori takes an integrative approach, combining evidence-based practices with personalized, alternative treatments. With advanced degrees in psychiatry and adult gerontology, Lori works closely with her patients to develop individualized treatment plans, which may include medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and complementary therapies. She believes in a holistic treatment model that focuses on healing both the mind and body, considering factors like lifestyle, diet, exercise, and spiritual practices.
Pam Powers-Smith is the President of the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce after serving several years in Alabama in a variety of roles including Chamber work, Downtown Development, Tourism and projects with Auburn University. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and stays active in professional organizations which has fostered her dedication to working with groups for the greater good of all. She has Public Relations, Political Science and Business degrees from Auburn University.
Bridget Joy, a USAF Veteran and founder of Design Show, combines healthcare management experience with design and communications expertise. She is passionate about healthcare literacy, focusing on underserved communities and supporting social and civic organizations. With her background in surgery coordination, private practice administration, and direct patient care, Bridget creates impactful strategies that align healthcare innovation with community needs. She actively develops marketing strategies to educate underserved populations, bridging gaps in healthcare knowledge and access. Bridget holds a degree in Marketing from UNC Charlotte. She currently serves on the Executive Board of The Healthcare Plug and is a board member of 4SYT Industries. Bridget envisions merging healthcare innovation with educational outreach to positively impact government-owned businesses and the broader community.
Lisa Morgan is a graduate of Berry College and has 34 years of experience in the banking industry. She started as a Teller at South Carolina Federal and worked her way up to specialize in Government Guaranteed Lending, particularly SBA lending. Throughout her career, Lisa has worked with several community banks in South Georgia and a local Certified Development Company in Savannah, Georgia. She has helped small businesses in the Southeast United States obtain SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, handling the entire process from origination to servicing and liquidation. Lisa is a passionate advocate for the SBA programs and their benefits to small businesses.
Aundi Lesley serves as the Downtown Development Director for Rome, GA. During her tenure, 75 new businesses have opened, 277 jobs created, and over $81 million in public-private investment has been made in Downtown Rome. Lesley holds an MPA from Jacksonville State University and currently serves as Vice President of the Georgia Downtown Association.
Robbie Parks is a Business Consultant at the UGA SBDC in Gainesville. In this role, she leverages her 20+ years of experience to teach entrepreneurs how to launch, manage and grow their businesses. Her areas of expertise include marketing (traditional and digital), communications, graphic design, brand design and management, process analysis, CRM implementation and administration, and search engine optimization. Robbie holds a dual certification as a Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) | AMA Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) from the Digital Marketing Institute and American Marketing Association and obtained a certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management.
Amy Duke serves as the Assistant Vice President and Banking Center Manager at Bank OZK, a leading financial institution with over $36 billion in assets and 240 offices across nine states, including 70 in Georgia. With more than 15 years in banking, Duke oversees the Rome, GA branch, focusing on daily operations, client relations, and community engagement. She leads her team to ensure exceptional customer service, a hallmark of Bank OZK. Before banking, Duke worked in insurance, holding licenses in personal, life, and health insurance. She is a Campbell High School graduate and attended West Georgia University and Georgia Highlands College.
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Lisa Rackley is the area director of the UGA SBDC in Macon. She has worked with the SBDC since 2007 serving small business owners focusing on human resources. Before joining the SBDC, she worked in HR for a global manufacturing facility specializing in recruiting and project management. She has extensive experience working with employee benefits consulting firms. Lisa has a BS in human resources management from Florida State University and earned her MBA from Georgia College and State University. She is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management as a Senior Certified Professional.
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All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762
