Women's Business Summit Albany

Nema Etheridge

Nema Etheridge is the area director of the UGA SBDC in Albany. She joined the UGA SBDC with more than 15 years experience working with Georgia small businesses. Prior to joining the SBDC, she served as the marketing director for a Georgia-based coffee company that serves customers in wholesale, e-commerce and brick-and-mortar settings. She has worked in a variety of roles in small business, gaining experience in branding, communications, digital marketing, restaurant hospitality and management, sales, and strategic planning. She is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier Atlanta, is fluent in French and speaks conversational Spanish.

Susan McBrayer

Tonita McKnight

Tonita McKnight is a Georgia native with roots in North and Southwest GA. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College with a major in Theater. She has held various positions in personal banking, property management, program management, grant administration and economic development.  

She has worked with Albany Community Together, Inc. for the last nine years, where she helped entrepreneurs in Southwest Georgia with coaching, connections and access to capital. She is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional through NDC and a certified Business Incubator Manager through InBIA.

Cynthia Corgan

Cindy is a business advisor who has been with the UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University since 2015, initially as a program coordinator, and presently as a business advisor serving the Valdosta and Brunswick areas.

Cindy has taught courses on customer service, business etiquette, marketing, and other various classes pertaining to Microsoft Suite. She enjoys assisting upcoming entrepreneurs on their path to becoming a business owner.

Yakima Price

Panelist. Yakima Price is the Executive Assistant to the President/CEO of Albany Community Together, Inc. A graduate of Albany State University with over 20 years of experience in mortgage and small business lending, combining a strong understanding of financial products, risk assessment, and client relationship management. Yakima is adept at developing strategic solutions that meet diverse client needs. She is dedicated to fostering organizational excellence, optimizing internal processes, and supporting the communities Albany Community Together, Inc. serves.

Rachel Mansfield

Speaker. Rachel Mansfield is the co-owner of Brocksfield Design Company, a website and design company based in Albany, Georgia.  Rachel is a Writer and Marketing Strategist whose work at Brocksfield is primarily focused on helping businesses reach more customers by centering the customers’ needs in their marketing copy and strategies. As a trained StoryBrand Marketing Guide and seasoned Copywriter, Rachel has helped countless local businesses and entrepreneurs find success through simplifying their brand’s messaging and implementing strategic websites that convert leads into sales.

Grace Fricks

Keynote Speaker. Grace Fricks founded award-winning ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, Inc., a Georgia CDFI that helps under-resourced business owners grow their businesses whom other institutions can’t – or won’t – serve. Fricks launched the organization in the small Northeast Georgia town of Cleveland, and her ambitions for ACE soon led to an expansion into the Atlanta area and it’s only grown since then. ACE has now provided more than $200 million in loans, assisted more than 2,600 small businesses, and impacted over 21,000 jobs throughout the state.  The organization recently opened a local office in Tifton to expand its outreach to entrepreneurs in South Georgia.

Robin Major

Speaker. Robin Major is the president and co-founder of SoftDev Incorporated, a woman-owned and HUBZone certified company that provides information technology services to federal and commercial clients. With over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Robin oversees the daily operations, business development, contracts management, accounting systems, and budgeting of SoftDev.  Robin's mission is to deliver high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective IT solutions that meet the needs and expectations of SoftDev's customers. Robin specializes in health informatics, digital services development and support, and enterprise data analytics and visualizations, and has successfully led and delivered multiple projects for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other commercial clients.  Robin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Georgia Southwestern State University.

Barbara Holmes

Moderator. Bárbara Rivera Holmes is the President and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, which she has elevated to elite status nationwide, earning Five-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber. Bárbara leads initiatives to strengthen the economy, champion businesses, and develop a modern workforce. She is a member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and co-chaired the Rural Initiatives Subcommittee of the Lt. Gov.'s Georgia Innovates Task Force. A former journalist, Holmes has received multiple awards for excellence in journalism. Recognized multiple times as one of Georgia’s “50 Most Influential Latinos” and a “Notable Georgian,” Bárbara is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Georgia and a 2023 graduate of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management. She is bilingual and a native of Puerto Rico, and holds degrees in journalism and Spanish from Florida Southern College. 

Mary Beth Brownlee

Facilitator. Mary Beth Brownlee is the director of One Valdosta-Lowndes, a development foundation that brings together business and civic stakeholders in Lowndes County for positive economic and civic growth. Previously Mary Beth worked with the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) supporting such issues as community and economic development, broadband deployment, and leadership development. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the One Sumter Economic Development Foundation, managing a $2.2 million investment in community priorities such as broadband, education, and downtown revitalization. Mary Beth also worked at the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, overseeing the GeorgiaLEADS initiative. She has experience as the Economic Development Director for the City of Perry, where she led key projects like the Perry Main Street Program and the Perry Leadership Institute. Mary Beth holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina.

Beka Shiver

Panelist. Beka Shiver is the Economic Development Planner for the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission with 15+ years in community and economic development, Beka has experience in owning her own business, serving as a Program Manager for Main Street, and participating in Rural Planning. She specializes in federal grant writing, strategic planning, and economic resource management. Beka currently leads the Economic Development Administration’s district planning grant and the Southwest Georgia Ecosystem Building project under the Georgia AIM grant. She also administers revolving loan funds for small businesses. A Georgia Southern University graduate, Beka is pursuing certification as a Georgia economic developer through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Susana Torres

Panelist. Susana Torres is the owner and operator of Rocco’s Food Truck and the upcoming Rocco’s at the Theater in Moultrie, GA. A Southwest Georgia native, Susana has spent her entire career in the restaurant industry, gaining extensive experience in front-of-house roles. In 2019, she and her husband, Alan Torres, who comes from a family of restaurateurs, launched Rocco’s Food Truck to test demand before committing to a brick-and-mortar location. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they successfully grew their food truck and catering business. In January 2024, they acquired the historic Moultrie Theater to bring their vision to life—Rocco’s at the Theater, a full-service restaurant and event space. Susana and Alan live in Moultrie with their three children and are dedicated to serving their community through their passion for food and hospitality.

Jamye Jaycox-Spence

Panelist. Jamye Jaycox-Spence is a passionate leader who has devoted her professional life to helping others secure home ownership as well as quality education. She is the owner of Spence Early Learning Center where she leads a dynamic team of educators who drive exceptional care for all children.  Jamye began her career at Solid Rock Academy in Riverdale, GA, where she was a Kindergarten Teacher, a 1st Grade Teacher and Teacher Coordinator.  She also served as the State Director of Georgia Math Corps for 5 years and helped hundreds of elementary school children strengthen their Math skills.  Jamye has been a licensed Realtor for 20 years and worked with hundreds of families to realize the dream of homeownership.  She is married to James T Spence and the mother of Jasmine, Liberty. Ivy and Louis.  Jamye is a member of Mt Zion Baptist Church where she sings on the Praise Team.  She is also a member of the Delta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  Jamye taught former NFL quarterback Cam Newton while at Solid Rock Academy and she started watching SEC football when he played for Auburn.  She is now a true SEC fan and is not to be disturbed when her favorite team is playing!  

Tommie Beth Willis

Panelist. Tommie Beth Willis, South Georgia Director of ACE – Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, was born and raised in Colquitt County and resides in Moultrie, GA. Prior to joining ACE, she served as President/CEO of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce from 2016-2023. In addition to her work in community development, Willis has 30+ years of marketing experience and 20 years of business management experience. Tommie Beth serves on the Boys & Girls Club Moultrie-Colquitt County Board of Directors, Southern Regional Technical College Marketing Program Advisory Committee, and represents Colquitt County on the Southwest Georgia Workforce Development Board. She is also an Alumni of South Georgia LEADS and the South Georgia Women's Leadership Initiative.

Julian Bailey

Panelist. Julian Bailey serves as the Small Business and Supplier Diversity Manager for the State of Georgia’s Purchasing Division under the Department of Administrative Services.  Through the introduction of new training programs, such as the Georgia DOAS Procurement Connect Informational Series, Bailey continues to champion training opportunities for businesses interested in state contracting opportunities. In partnership with the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center’s Multicultural Business Division, the Georgia Small Business Procurement Readiness Workshop series was established in 2021. Bailey is an integral part of this program which was honored as a finalist through the National Association of State Procurement Officers’ Georgia Cronin Award program. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Management from Troy University.

Tulu Kaifee

Tulu Kaifee is the Procurement and Finance Specialist at the UGA SBDC. She joined the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center’s Multicultural Business Division in October 2023 as a procurement and finance specialist. Tulu has spent over 20 years in the financial services industry with experience in the consumer, small business and commercial lending segments serving entrepreneurs across Georgia. Tulu’s passion to serve multicultural and underrepresented communities gives her a unique edge incorporating Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategies to attract and retain talent in a competitive environment.

Allison Edwards

Panelist. As a Relationship Banker with AB&T, Alli Edwards serves as a trusted financial advisor, striving to meet the banking and finance needs of both consumer and commercial clients by forging deep, meaningful relationships. A native of Lee County, Alli has worked in business and finance for several years, including seven with the City of Albany and Albany Utilities. Alli joined AB&T in 2019, where she worked as a Universal Banker in the Main Office before transitioning to her current role. She is a 2022 graduate of the ABA’s consumer lending school and is a certified personal banker.

Matielyn Jones

Panelist. The Greater Women's Business Council is proudly celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year.  Matielyn Jones is the Director of Operations for the GWBC where she manages the Certification Team and certification process, along with internal people operations, and certification-related outreach.  She is focused on maximizing resources and continuously improve GWBC's capacity to serve women business leaders through well-coordinated, data-driven, and strategic operations across the organization.  She has spent her career in a variety of mission-driven roles including political consulting, teaching, ministry, program management, and corporate training.  A graduate of Georgia State University with degrees in Political Science and Education, she is passionate about driving social impact initiatives through civic leadership and professional development.  Matielyn is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She resides in Gwinnett County, Georgia with her husband and their two handsome sons.