This summit will focus on the power of reinvention—how embracing change, transforming setbacks into opportunities, and continuously adapting can drive success. We will spotlight speakers who have turned challenges into triumphs, breaking through barriers and redefining what’s possible in their professional and personal lives.
Through motivational and informative speakers, insightful panel conversations, and valuable networking opportunities, participants will walk away with the tools, inspiration, and confidence to not only embrace change, but to drive it—reinventing themselves and their businesses as true forces for future success.
This event is open to everyone interested in learning about entrepreneurship regardless of sex.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
We would like to thank State Farm for their generous support of this program.
Peter Matthews is the Area Director for the UGA SBDC in Rome. Peter has fifteen years of experience with the UGA SBDC. His expertise includes financial packaging, financial analysis, and business management. He has experience in designing and implementing business plans, store layout, site selection and staffing in retail environments.
Peter has over fourteen years of experience working with business customers in credit administration performing credit underwriting for commercial and mortgage credits including financial analysis, loan packaging, and risk grading.
Peter received his MBA in finance from Tulane University and BBA in finance from Emory University.
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”.
Internationally acclaimed entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, and life coach Steve Dennis has shared the stage with personal development icons John Maxwell and Jack Canfield. A founding member and Executive Director of The John Maxwell Team, Steve also graduated from Jack Canfield’s “Train the Trainer” program and holds a Doctorate of Biblical Studies from Ministry International Institute. As a Certified Life Mastery Coach with the Brave Thinking Institute, he helps individuals build their dreams and accelerate results. Passionate about empowering others, Steve has inspired audiences of over 20,000 leaders across Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay.
Lori Leonard MSN, PMHNP-BC, AGNP-BC is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner with nearly 30 years of healthcare experience and the founder of Mindset & Body Reset in Rome, GA. She holds two master’s degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham one in Adult Gerontology and one in Psychiatric Mental Health. Honored as the 2025 Behavioral Healthcare Provider of the Year by the Rome Floyd Chamber, Lori combines psychiatry, nutrition, and functional medicine to uncover and treat the root causes of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. In addition to direct patient care, she partners with local employers to deliver corporate wellness solutions designed to improve mental health and reduce healthcare costs. Lori’s mission is simple yet bold to change lives by healing the mind so the body can follow.
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.
Kacie Proctor, FNP-C, FMACP, IBDA-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Functional Medicine Practitioner dedicated to helping families heal from the inside out. Through root-cause medicine, she supports gut, hormone, thyroid, and metabolic health for children, men, and women alike. Her personalized telemedicine care blends advanced lab testing with natural, evidence-based solutions to restore energy, balance, and vitality. Kacie believes true healing happens when the whole person and family is supported in mind, body, and spirit.
Jessica Rivelli is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and community leader with a two-decade commitment to advancing women in business. Over the last 20 years, she has designed and delivered more than 5,000 hours of professional development programming focused on leadership, business strategy, and networking. She is the founder of the Working Women Foundation, which provides seed funding and support to women-owned startups, and she continues to mentor and connect women through impactful events and partnerships. Currently in the Master's Program at Berry College, Jessica is passionate about social enterprise, community impact, and helping women grow and succeed with confidence.
LaDonna Collins serves as the Child and Family Well-Being Director and Strategic Partner for Georgia CASA, where she works to strengthen relationships among volunteers, staff, and communities to improve outcomes for children and families statewide. With more than 20 years of service in Northwest Georgia, her career includes roles as a Public Health Educator at the Floyd County Health Department, Middle and High School Educator, and Lead GED Director at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. She later served six years as Executive Director of the Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth, where she earned the Rome-Floyd Chamber’s inaugural Nonprofit of the Year Award and the Heart of the Community Award.
LaDonna holds a degree from Columbus State University and the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (M.C.H.E.S.) credential. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Sarah Hightower Regional Library Board and on the boards of the Community Foundation for Greater Rome, the Rome-Floyd Land Bank Authority, and the Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministry. In addition to her work with Georgia CASA, LaDonna is the owner of Pinnacle Developmental Services, supporting youth development and mentoring through state-funded programs.
This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is supported by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, you certify that you are legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations.
All programs 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.
The UGA SBDC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
All SBDC services are provided in a nondiscriminatory way to all legal residents and citizens in the United States. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
The UGA SBDC is an accredited member of America’s SBDC.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762
