2024 Professional Women’s Conference
Agenda
| 8 a.m. | Arrival, Registration & Networking |
| 9 a.m. | Conference Opening Welcome from Terry College & Coca-Cola Emcee – Lori Wilson |
| 9:15 a.m. | Well-being at Work: Resilience, not Burnout Jen Fisher – Award winning author & speaker; first chief well-being officer Dr. Cree Scott – CEO, Serenity Psy Consulting |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | Lead Yourself to Lead Others Christine Roberts – CEO & Founder, Create Your Best Life |
| 11:45 a.m. | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Move Out of Your Own Way Dr. Cherry Collier – CEO, WhisperHer |
| 2:00 p.m. | Game Changers: Bulldogs in the Atlanta Sports Business Georgia O’Donoghue — Vice President, Operations, Mercedes-Benz Stadium Jori Palmer — Atlanta Braves: Director, Marketing & Advertising Bria Garner — Coca-Cola: Director, Marketing Activation FIFA World Cup 2026 |
| 3:00 p.m. | Conference Close |
2024 Speakers
Dr. Cherry Collier
In the fabric of modern leadership, few threads are as vibrant and transformative as the influence of Dr. Cherry Collier. A managing partner and master certified executive coach at Personality Matters known affectionately as the “CEO Whisperher,” Dr. Cherry doesn’t just understand the science of behavior; she lives and breathes the art of human connection. With a warm smile that puts any room at ease and a depth of knowledge that captivates the most seasoned executives, Dr. Cherry embodies the spirit of accessible, relatable, and impactful leadership.
Dr. Cherry’s leadership journey began with her story of transformation, where she moved out of her own way to reach new heights of personal and professional fulfillment — journeys she eloquently shares in her writings “Move Out of Your Own Way” and “The Science and Art Series.” Her work is not a mere transfer of knowledge but a shared experience of growth, inviting each person to rise with her, embracing their untapped potential.
Dr. Cherry helps you navigate the complexities of leadership. She speaks the language of CEOs and whispers wisdom that ignites personal and organizational transformation across all organizational levels. Dr. Cherry’s portfolio includes more than 22 books and publications, and her RISE-IQ (Relational, Interpersonal, Social, and Emotional Intelligence) has turned her into an architect of empowerment, shaping leaders who reach and redefine their goals.
Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in applied organizational social psychology from the University of Georgia, a master’s in applied social psychology from UGA, and a bachelor’s in psychology from Spelman College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Her approach to leadership development is a blend of academic rigor, practical wisdom, and the insightful nurturing of each individual’s leadership capacity. Engage with her and step into a world where leadership is synonymous with emotional intelligence, deep human understanding, and the capacity to build bridges that unite people and ideas. Her approach is not just about leading; it’s about bringing people together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Jen Fisher
Jen Fisher, the first chief well-being officer of a professional services organization, is a leading voice on well-being and human sustainability.
She’s the co-author of the bestselling, award-winning book, “Work Better Together: How to Cultivate Strong Relationships to Maximize Well-Being and Boost Bottom Lines,” the Human Sustainability Editor-at-Large for Thrive Global, and the host of the WorkWell podcast series.
As the inaugural chief well-being officer at Deloitte, Jen built and led the creation and execution of a pioneering holistic and inclusive well-being strategy that has received recognition from leading business media brands and associations.
Jen is passionate about sharing her breast cancer and burnout recovery journeys to help others. She’s shared her story and expertise at TEDx, SXSW, World Happiness Summit, Out & Equal Workplace Summit, Acumen Global Gathering, WorkHuman, The Atlantic Pursuit of Happiness event, and more. She’s also lectured at top universities nationwide, including Harvard, Wake Forest, Duke, and George Mason.
Jen is a frequent writer on workplace issues today, including the importance of mental health and social connection to workforce resilience, happiness, and productivity.
Bria Garner
Bria is the Director of Marketing Activation for FIFA World Cup 2026, hired to create a sustainable competitive advantage for the Coca-Cola system as part of the marketing activation team. In this role, she will lead the strategy, planning, and delivery of youth programs and soles and exclusives for three markets (US, Canada, Mexico) across 16 cities to maximize the return on investment for North America and Latin America during the largest sporting event in the world.
In her previous role as senior manager of sports marketing at Coca-Cola, Bria spearheaded MLS and U.S. Soccer partnerships and oversaw FIFA programs tailored to North America. Her work involved leveraging collaborative business strategies and consumer insights to optimize soccer assets and support Frontline/Bottler teams through local soccer initiatives. Bria played a pivotal role in negotiating the U.S. Soccer agreement and renewing the MLS contract, while also leading efforts to refine Coca-Cola North American soccer strategy.
Before joining Coca-Cola, Bria served as a partnerships manager at Atlanta United Football Club LLC. She oversaw 23 partners from various industries, acting as a marketing consultant. Her responsibilities included devising strategies to enhance engagement, align partner goals with those of Atlanta United, and optimize ROI for partner initiatives.
Bria attended the University of Georgia, where she played soccer and earned her bachelor’s degree. She later completed her MBA at Kennesaw State University. Bria and her husband are based in Atlanta, where she enjoys traveling, relaxing at Lake Oconee, spending time with family and friends, and attending a variety of sporting events in her free time.
Christine Roberts
Christine is CEO and founder of Create Your Best Life (CYBL) at home and work, which provides executive/leadership/life coaching as a holistic approach for high-achieving leaders. She is an author, coach, and speaker for motivational talks and a facilitator of various personal development topics.
In addition to working with two of the leading authorities in leadership and culture, Disney Institute and The John Maxwell Company, she also leverages over 25 years of corporate experience with various positions in her career managing multimillion-dollar territories delivering high-performance results.
Christine has worked with organizations from Fortune 500 entities, middle market and small private companies, franchises, health care, and government agencies.
Dedicated to community service and mentorship, Christine serves as the board chair for BMore Learning and a mentor for MentorMe North Georgia, organizations that guide educational initiatives and support emerging leaders. Christine has participated in two mission trips to Central America with GlobalX and volunteers at Browns Bridge Church.
She loves to inspire big dreams in like-minded individuals to believe that “IT” is possible, whatever “IT” is — a healthier mindset, improved family relationships, the next promotion, purpose, etc. — and drive the highest level of ROI personally and professionally.
In her own life, she’s embraced the mindset: Why not me? It’s given her the courage and freedom to run the NYC Marathon twice, sky dive, gain her Executive MBA without an undergraduate degree, complete a sprint triathlon, travel America for a year in an RV with her husband and children (while working), start her own company, and help countless businesses and leaders grow and thrive.
Georgia O’Donoghue
Georgia O’Donoghue was named Vice President, Operations for Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS) in October 2024 having previously served as Vice President, Business Operations for Atlanta United and overseeing strategy for the club since February 2020. With this move O’Donoghue returns to MBS where she first served in 2017 as Manager and then as Director of Fan Experience for Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In her current role, O’Donoghue works as both the VP Operations for MBS as well as COO of the Atlanta 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee in partnership with the Atlanta Sports Council. She manages and oversees a variety of critical components for FIFA World Cup 2026 including sponsor activations, FIFA Fan Fest, transportation logistics, safety and security, and other evolving responsibilities.
In her role as Vice President, Business Operations for Atlanta United, O’Donoghue led the day-to-day business functions for Atlanta United and Atlanta United 2, including overseeing matchday operations, broadcast, content creation, social media, marketing, community relations, as well as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground utilization and special projects. She also served on the Board of the AMB Family Fund and as a leader on the AMBSE Senior Leadership Team.
Prior to joining Atlanta United, O’Donoghue spent three years improving the fan journey and managing fan-focused operations, playing a vital role in cross-functional projects including installing automated ticket scanners, refining the secure entry process, and launching MBS as the first cashless professional sports stadium. During her tenure, MBS was named the 2019 Sports Facility of the Year at the Sports Business Journal’s Sports Business Awards and received Sports Breakthrough of the Year in 2018 for the Fan First Pricing food & beverage program.
Born and raised in Atlanta with two degrees from The University of Georgia, Georgia is proud to remain a native living in Buckhead with her husband Brendan, and children Michael, Sutton, & Conor.
Jori Palmer
Jori Palmer is the Director of Marketing and Advertising for the Atlanta Braves. She oversees all traditional and digital media planning and buying for the organization, and manages email strategy and automation, experiential marketing, giveaways, and promotions. She enjoys brainstorming new bobblehead ideas and leading the execution of the Braves Country Road Trip, which included a 151-stop World Champions Trophy Tour covering seven states and bringing the 2021 Commissioner’s Trophy to more than 80,000 fans across the Southeast.
She worked for seven years at Turner Broadcasting in digital ad sales and digital media planning divisions for TNT’s NBA sports properties and NCAA college basketball’s March Madness.
Jori graduated from the University of Georgia Terry Business of College (Go Dawgs!) with a degree in finance and a minor in Spanish. She is a proud alumna of UGA’s Institute for Leadership Advancement and mentoring program. Jori lives in Roswell, where she is a member of Christ Fellowship Church and serves on her daughter’s elementary school foundation. She enjoys spending each day with her wonderful husband, who is active in the Navy Reserves, and playing with her three children, ages 7, 5, and 3.
Dr. Cree Scott
As founder and CEO of Serenity Psy Consulting, Dr. Scott brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in consulting, coaching, and leadership development. Her expertise incorporates strategy and change management solutions, making her a sought-after consultant and executive coach. With a unique blend of clinical expertise and leadership development as a foundation, Dr. Scott fosters personal and professional growth in her clients.
At Serenity Psy, Dr. Scott provides customized leadership development workshops for all career levels. Her workshops prioritize individuals’ well-being, growth and potential, nurturing their ability to inspire, motivate, and engage their teams, leading to higher trust, collaboration Serenity Psy Consulting and overall performance.
As a facilitator, Dr. Scott partners with her clients by utilizing evidenced-based adult learning practices to help participants stay fully engaged, discover new perspectives, and illuminate insights that drive high performance. She is known for her ability to connect with her audience and turn complex concepts into digestible, actionable strategies that support behavior change.
As an ICF-certified executive coach and Forbes Coaches Council member, Dr. Scott uses a strengths-based approach grounded in cognitive-behavioral and positive psychology. She takes time to understand her clients’ specific needs, including their organizational culture and the unique expectations equating to success.
Before founding Serenity, Dr. Scott dedicated over 12 years to consulting, focusing on strategy, change management, and leadership development. Her work has included executive-level succession planning, large-scale program management, and organizational strategy implementation engagements.
Dr. Scott holds a doctorate in psychology and an MBA certification from Xavier University. She is certified in DISC, the Predictive Index, Hogan’s Personality and 360, and Zenger Folkman 360 assessments. She also holds a certification as a Project Management Professional.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Scott enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in experiences, and exploring new ideas.
Lori Wilson
Lori Wilson joined the WSB-TV Channel 2 in 2017. She helps Georgians get ready for their day as the anchor for Channel 2 Action News This Morning from 4:30 a.m. – 7 a.m. Lori has covered everything from Hurricane Irma and the coronavirus pandemic to the passing of several legendary civil rights leaders here in Atlanta. Her most memorable moment was covering protests in Atlanta following the death of George Floyd. Lori is an Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter. She graduated from Indiana University. Before joining WSB-TV, Lori worked in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Shreveport, Louisiana. She is a children’s book author, a member of National Association of Black Journalists and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
2023 Professional Women’s Conference
Agenda
8 a.m. — Arrival, Registration & Networking
9 a.m. — Conference Opening
Emcee — Lori Wilson
Welcome from Terry College & Coca-Cola
Mary Virginia Terry Scholarship Presentation
9:15 a.m. — Culture Keepers: Putting Servant Leadership at the Heart of an Organization
Allison Ausband — EVP & Chief Customer Experience Officer, Delta Airlines
10:15 a.m. — Explore Your Strengths to Build Community and Generate Momentum in Your Career and Life
Kishshana Palmer — Strength Finder Assessment, Kishshana & Co, International Speaker, Trainer & Coach
11:45 a.m. — Networking Lunch
1 p.m. — Entrepreneurship Panel
Vanessa Sachs — Founder of SWAKE
Kristen Dunning — Founder of Gently Soap
Moderated by Lori Wilson — WSB
2 p.m. — The Great American Comeback
Stephanie Stuckey — CEO, Stuckey’s Corporation
3 p.m. — Conference Closing
Speakers
Allison Ausband
EVP & Chief Customer Experience Officer, Delta Air LinesAllison Ausband is EVP and chief customer experience officer for Delta Air Lines. In this role, she oversees the end-to-end customer experience and the 65,000 team members in Delta’s Customer Experience Design, Airport Customer Service, In-Flight Service, and Reservations and Customer Care divisions who deliver those experiences.
She and her team have continued to combine industry-leading innovation with a people-first approach to customer service to create a more seamless, personalized and elevated experience for every customer. As a result, Delta served nearly 200 million customers in 2022 and was named the top U.S. airline by the Wall Street Journal for the second year in a row.
Previously, she led Delta’s 20,000+ flight attendants as senior vice president of in-flight service. Under her leadership, the team achieved all-time high customer satisfaction scores. She has also served as vice president — reservation sales and customer care, where she was responsible for more than 37 million customer contacts each year across 10 engagement centers in four countries. During her tenure, Delta’s engagement centers achieved J.D. Power certification — a first for a U.S. airline.
Allison began her career at Delta in May 1985 as a flight attendant after graduating with a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. She is currently Delta’s executive sponsor for human trafficking and chair of the University of Georgia Board of Trustees. She also serves on the board of directors for Delta Community Credit Union and the board of trustees for the William R. and Sara Babb Smith Foundation.
Stephanie Stuckey
CEO, Stuckey’s CorporationStephanie Stuckey is CEO of Stuckey’s, known for generations as a highway oasis serving up pecan log rolls and kitschy souvenirs. Founded in 1937 by her grandfather, W.S. Stuckey Sr., in Eastman, Georgia, Stuckey’s grew into over 350 stores nationwide by its peak in the 1970s. The company was sold in 1964 and sadly declined for decades under a series of corporate owners. Fortunately, Stuckey’s is now back in family hands: Stephanie purchased the company in November 2019.
Along with her business partner, R.G. Lamar Jr., who serves as president, the company acquired a pecan snack and candy plant in Wrens, Georgia, in January 2021. They are now scaling production of the Stuckey’s branded snacks and sweets — including the iconic pecan log roll — to be sold in almost 5,000 retail stores nationwide. Stuckey’s also operates a distribution center, a fundraising business, a corporate gift program, and has an online store.
Stephanie received undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. She worked as a trial lawyer, was elected to seven terms as a state representative, ran an environmental law firm, served as director of sustainability for Atlanta, and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia School of Law. Stephanie’s achievements include being named one of the Most Admired CEOs of 2022 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend and a graduate of Leadership Atlanta. She serves on the corporate board for Bealls, a Florida-based retailer with more than 550 stores.
The Stuckey’s story has been featured in The New York Times Sunday business section, the TODAY Show, and The Washington Post. When she’s not running Stuckey’s, Stephanie enjoys traveling by car to explore the back roads of America and pulling over at every boiled peanut stand and World’s Largest Ball of Twine.
Lori Wilson
Lori Wilson joined the WSB-TV Channel 2 in 2017. She helps Georgians get ready for their day as the anchor for Channel 2 Action News This Morning from 4:30 a.m. – 7 a.m. Lori has covered everything from Hurricane Irma and the coronavirus pandemic to the passing of several legendary civil rights leaders here in Atlanta. Her most memorable moment was covering protests in Atlanta following the death of George Floyd. Lori is an Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter. She graduated from Indiana University. Before joining WSB-TV, Lori worked in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Shreveport, Louisiana. She is a children’s book author, a member of National Association of Black Journalists and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Kishshana Palmer
Kishshana Palmer is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with a 20+ year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management who helps leaders create high performing teams.
Kishshana is CEO of Kishshana & Co., an organizational development firm focused on helping everyday leaders live well and lead well. Her firm’s work centers on equity and social justice and practical solutions for today’s organizations. She is the founder of The Rooted Collaborative — a global community focused on the growth and development of women leaders of color in the social sector. She’s the host of the podcast “Let’s Take This Offline”, an adjunct professor at Baruch College, a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer (CGT), A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, a Q3LC Certified Coach and an AFP Master Trainer. When an organization wants to grow, find and retain people on their team, raise money, and more she is the fairy godmother they have on speed dial. Her work isn’t limited to organizations, she also coaches high performing leaders.
Kishshana is a NYC girl and mother of one wonderful teenage daughter. Kishshana is the epitome of your classic 90’s Queens homegirl and quintessential corner office executive. She is your daily dose of Claire Huxtable with a side of Blanche Devereaux.
Vanessa Sachs
When SWAKE Cosmetics was founded in 2022, Founder and CEO Vanessa Sachs had a specific consumer in mind – “the lifelete.” Defined on SWAKE’s website as an “always-on achiever who feels the pressure to look good regardless of their environment,” the lifelete is who inspired Sachs to create a cosmetics company built with sweat in mind.
Sachs pursued a Master’s degree in consumer analytics at the University of Georgia, and first came up with the concept for SWAKE when her family moved to Naples, Florida. The hot weather in the city caused her makeup to sweat off.
After researching the cosmetics market for products similar to her concept, Sachs found a gap in the availability of makeup meant to endure sweat while also protecting the skin.
Kristen Dunning
Kristen Dunning is an award-winning medicinal plant and agricultural researcher, eczema warrior, and the founder of Gently Soap – an herbal-infused bath product line for sensitive skin. Rooted in the agricultural legacy of her grandparents, Dunning dreams of bringing joyful relief to millions of homes across the nation and empowering them to celebrate their sensitive skin.
2022 Professional Women’s Conference
Agenda
8 a.m. — Arrival, Registration & Networking
9 a.m. — Conference Opening
9:15 a.m. — Championship Leadership Mindset
DeRetta Rhodes, PhD
EVP and Chief Culture Officer, The Atlanta Braves
10:15 a.m. — Fireside Chat
Hanna Jon Lewis — Inside Sales Associate, The Coca-Cola Company
Courtney Stout — Chief Privacy Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
12:15 p.m. — Networking Lunch
1:30 p.m. — You Can Have it All, Just Not All at the Same Time
Julie Moran
Journalist — Television Host & Sportscaster
with Special Guest Loran Smith, the Voice of the Georgia Bulldogs
2:30 p.m. — The Business Of Beauty & Influencer Marketing
Jennifer Duvall — Professional Makeup Artist, Founder, JennySueMakeup.com
Beth Djalali — Founder, Style at a Certain Age
3:30 p.m. — Conference Close
Speakers
DeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Culture Officer, Atlanta BravesDeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D., is EVP and chief culture officer of the Atlanta Braves, overseeing people capital initiatives, communications and community affairs for the Braves, The Battery Atlanta, and the team’s Spring Training facility operations.
Before joining the Braves, Rhodes was the EVP and chief human resources officer of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, VP of human resources at First Data, VP of human resources for Turner Broadcasting, and held leadership positions at Ernst & Young, ADP, HomeGrocer.com and YUM Brand.
Rhodes received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, her MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and her Ph.D. in adult education from the University of Georgia. She is a certified facilitator for the Benchmark 360 assessment by the Center for Creative Leadership, DISC coach and facilitator, qualified facilitator for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and a qualified coach for the HOGAN Assessment and HOGAN 360.
Rhodes completed her Ted Talk (TEDxUGA) in 2018 and was recognized as a Women of Excellence (2018) and 100 Women of Influence (2020, 2021) by Atlanta Business Chronicle, a Distinguished Alumni (2020) in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at UGA, Oncon Icon Award Top 100 Human Resources Professionals (2021, 2022), Sports Inclusion Conference Top 100 Women in Sports (2021), and National Diversity & Leadership Top 100 HR Professionals (2022).
She is a board member of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, vice chair of Goodwill of North Georgia, executive board member and board chair of board effectiveness of 21st Century Leaders, trustee member, governing board member and HR and compensation chair of the Woodruff Arts Center, strategic advisor of The Goodwin Group, board member of the American Heart Association, advisory member of HR Exchange Network, DEI advisory member of HR.Com, board member of University of Georgia Alumni Board, and past alumni board president of the UGA College of Family Consumer Sciences.
Dr. Rhodes lives in Atlanta with her husband, Leon, and has three sons: Cole, Austin and Jordan.
Elizabeth Freedman
Head of Consulting, BTS BostonElizabeth Freedman leads the global consulting practice at Bates, a BTS company, which includes a team of highly experienced, senior-level leaders known for guiding executives to achieve extraordinary results through the people side of strategy execution. She is a member of the BTS Boston leadership team and an executive advisor and consultant, where she partners with C-level leaders and teams at some of the most recognized companies in the world. Elizabeth is valued for her ability to develop trusted partnerships with senior leaders who want practical, concrete strategies that are easy to apply and help them accelerate results, grow their people, and make a positive difference in the world.
Before joining Bates, Elizabeth was a member of global consulting firms Accenture and USWeb. She is certified in Bates proprietary coaching and consulting methodologies, including the Bates ExPITM and the Bates LTPITM — which are research-based, validated assessments of individual and team behaviors across multiple dimensions. She authored Learning the Ropes of the Workplace Without Hanging Yourself (Penguin Random House) and is a contributor to Forbes, where she writes regularly on leadership strategies for C-suite executives. She is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), earning its highest-level designation worldwide. Elizabeth holds an MBA from the Arizona State Thunderbird School of Global Management and is a former Peace Corps volunteer.
Elizabeth has advised executives and teams in a wide range of organizations, including Dow, State Street, Disney, Infosys, ABB, Stryker and more.
Courtney Stout
Chief Privacy Officer, The Coca-Cola CompanyCourtney Stout leads the company’s global legal privacy strategy and is the legal counsel for the cyber incident response team. Courtney’s has a proven track record in creating transformational change and implementing privacy controls on a global scale to meet rapidly changing regulations. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Digital Trust framework committee, and was recently selected by the Global Data Review for their “2022 Women in Data” award which spotlights women at the cutting edge of global data, technology, and regulation.
During her time at UGA as a Terry College and Honors student, Courtney received the President’s Award for the Terry College of Business, served as President of the Society for Management Information Systems and was awarded a PGA scholarship for Community Service, Servant Leadership, Academic Excellence — while her golfing ability contributed to receiving this distinguished award — she confesses that her golf ability did not qualify for the UGA golf team. She also worked her way through school as a cooperative student with IBM and the Terry College computer lab.
Julie Moran
Journalist, Television Host, and SportscasterAmerican journalist, television host, and sportscaster. She was the first female solo host for Wide World of Sports, following the first woman co-anchor Becky Dixon. She was weekend anchor and co-host for Entertainment Tonight from 1994 to 2001 and hosted the Academy Awards pre-show in 2001.
After leaving Entertainment Tonight in 2001, Moran began spending time raising her daughters and working seasonally as a host for special events. In 2001, she co-hosted the prestigious 73rd Academy Awards pre-show for ABC with Chris Connelly and Jim Moret. She co-hosted the Grammy Awards pre-show for CBS in 1999 with Ellen DeGeneres. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, Moran hosted the Miss Universe pageant, Miss USA pageant, and the Miss Teen USA pageant. In 2002, she co-hosted the Miss America pageant again with Wayne Brady. Moran created, produced, and hosted The Insider’s List with Julie Moran starting in 2004. The weekly series aired on the Fine Living network. She hosted the pre-show for the AFI Life Achievement Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California, in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The show’s honorees were Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. In 2012, Moran became a special correspondent for Access Hollywood. She began hosting Lifetime’s morning show, The Balancing Act, in 2013.
Jennifer Duvall
Professional Makeup Artist, CEO & Founder of JennySueMakeup.comJennifer Duvall started her own LLC and blog by the same name, JennySueMakeup.com, in 2008. The blog was initially created as a way to share her makeup knowledge so future clients could see it and feel comfortable booking her.
Like many young girls, Duvall grew up watching her mother do her makeup. She was fascinated by the transformation her mother took with her many steps and products, and how glamorous her mother looked when she was done. She became a ballet dancer and applied her mother’s advice to her makeup for performances throughout her childhood and teenage years. She realized she enjoyed applying the dramatic on-stage makeup looks (so the audience could see her face better) almost more than the actual dancing.
Right out of college, Duvall started on the cosmetics floor at a Nordstrom in Atlanta in 2000. After leaving the retail world for the wholesale fashion industry, she continued to book freelance makeup jobs and weddings on the side for extra money. Once she and her husband, Scott, moved out of Atlanta and back to Athens (where they met at college), she decided to take her love of makeup artistry to the next level and start her own business.
Beth Djalali
Founder, Style at a Certain AgeAfter staying home for 26 years to raise my brood of three boys, it was time to figure out what came next. Can a 50-something with a gap in their résumé re-enter the workforce? Was reinvention a foregone conclusion? Then I noticed 20-somethings were posting “outfits of the day” on blogs and Instagram. That’s it! So what if I have gray hair, my figure isn’t as slim as it was, and there are wrinkles splattered across my face? I love fashion too! That’s how Style at a Certain Age was born. Besides style inspiration, Style at a Certain Age is dedicated to aging with grace, strength, and beauty.
Aging is a privilege, but as Bette Davis famously claimed, “it’s not for sissies.” Once we hit 50, changes begin with our hair, skin, and bodies. It’s up to us to keep fit both mentally and physically. It’s not about looking younger; it’s about looking our best. At Style at a Certain Age, you’ll find beauty, health & wellness, skincare, and more. Reinvention doesn’t mean turning into someone else. Reinvention is finding the grace and space to be who you are at 42, 62, or 82. While we can’t age backward like Benjamin Button, we can lead a healthy and vibrant life after 50 and beyond.
Hanna Jon Lewis
Inside Sales Associate, The Coca-Cola CompanyHanna Jon Lewis is an Inside Sales Associate supporting the Subway Global Account Team at the Coca-Cola Company. She is a proud UGA Double Dawg with a BBA in Digital Marketing from the Terry College of Business and a Master of Science in Financial Planning from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Hanna Jon is a member of the Terry College Young Alumni Board, serves on the UGA Coca-Cola Corporate Chapter Board, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Advisory Board, the Darlington School Young Alumni Council and serves as a mentor through the UGA Mentor Program.
2021 Professional Women’s Conference
Agenda
8 a.m. — Registration & Networking
8:30 a.m. — Conference Opening
Andrea Pearson — Conference Chair
Presenting Sponsor — Chubb
8:45 a.m. — The Magic of Resiliency
Christine McCarthy — CFO, The Walt Disney Company
9:45 a.m. — The Courage to Advance
Bonnie Hagemann — Author and C-Suite Leadership Advisor
10:45 a.m. — The Audacity to Believe in You
Deborah Roberts — ABC News
11:45 a.m. — Break for lunch
12:10 p.m. — Awards Presentation
Presented by Danette Beck
Presenting Sponsor USI
12:20 p.m. — Panel Discussion: The Picture of Health – Personal, Financial and Physical Wellbeing
Laura Soscia — Leadership Development Expert
Robin Sterneck — Financial Planning Coach
Marla-Deen Brooks — Healthy Lifestyle Mentor
1:20 p.m. — Worthy of Grace…How Am I Still Here?
Laura Martella — Clean Food Expert
2:20 p.m. — Fireside Chat: Corporate Governance, Social Responsibility & Diversity
Allison Hill & Carol Yancey
Diversity & Social Responsibility — Roark Capital
CFO — Genuine Parts Company
3:20 p.m. — Enneagram Assessment
Sue Bates — Director of Women’s Groups & Leadership Coach
4:20 p.m. — Conference Close
Speakers
Deborah Roberts
ABC News Senior National Affairs CorrespondentDeborah Roberts is an award-winning ABC News senior national affairs correspondent for “20/20,” “Nightline,” “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight with David Muir.” She has served as a substitute anchor for “Good Morning America,” “World News Weekend” and “20/20,” as well as a guest co-host on “The View.” Roberts has been awarded multiple Emmy® Awards for her coverage of national and international events. In 2021, Roberts was awarded a Peabody Award for the “20/20” special “Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor.” Roberts is the author of Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times, a book written with her husband, Al Roker. She resides in New York City with her husband and two children.
Christine McCarthy
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Walt Disney CompanyChristine M. McCarthy is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company and oversees the company’s worldwide finance organization. Prior to becoming CFO, Ms. McCarthy served as the company’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Real Estate, Alliances and Treasurer. Ms. McCarthy has received numerous awards and has been named to Treasury & Risk’s “100 Most Influential People in Finance,” the Top 100 Irish American Business Leaders and Business Insider’s “15 Most Influential Women in Finance.” In 2015, she was the recipient of Treasury Today’s Adam Smith “Woman of the Year” award. In 2016, she received the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Executive of the Year” award and was honored as one of the Entertainment Diversity Council’s “Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment.”
Bonnie Hagemann
CEO, EDABonnie Hagemann is the CEO of EDA, Inc., a consulting firm known around the world for its C-Suite capabilities in executive development and research. Shifting to advancing the state of the industry rather than one company at a time, EDA is taking its 37-year history as a thought leader in the space and using it to create a powerful HR Tech platform called SurveySaurus, designed to make culture visible to the leaders, the board and the investors. Bonnie is a published and well-known leadership strategist who advises public and large company CEOs and is often called upon as a subject matter expert for the media, including Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, U.S. News and World Report and many more.
Sue Bates
Sue Bates serves as a longtime leadership coach, strategist and pastor. An avid reader and lover of resources, she cares deeply about using a variety of tools, frameworks and assessments to help people grow by taking healthy, consistent steps.
Marla-Deen Brooks
AttorneyMarla-Deen Brooks is a UGA graduate and practicing attorney living in Atlanta. The mother of three grown sons, she has been working her “side hustle” in the fitness space for 30 years. Marla-Deen is a certified health and life coach, speaker and blogger. She inspires clients to not only “move” but also to “move forward.” Having faced considerable loss and grief in her life, Marla-Deen is focused on resilience and positive energy. She loves coaching women to embrace new seasons and to navigate what life throws at you. She is also happy to say she is a work in progress and is enjoying the journey.
Allison Hill
Senior Executive, Roark CapitalAllison Hill serves as Senior Executive for Roark Capital, a private equity firm based in Atlanta with $20 billion of assets under management. Since inception, affiliates of Roark have invested in 90 franchise/multi-unit brands, such as Dunkin’ and OrangeTheory Fitness, which generate approximately $54 billion in annual system revenues from 63,000 locations in 50 states and 89 countries. She is the Head of Diversity & Social Responsibility, developing and leading Roark’s initiatives related to diversity and inclusion, philanthropic giving and community service, as well as a member of Roark’s ESG committee. Allison earned her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Cornell University. She has been married to her college sweetheart for 26 years, and has two daughters and three dogs.
Laura Martella
Clean Food ExpertAtlanta native Laura Martella is the creative director, producer and author of Gentleman Norman — How to Be a Man, a coffee table book about style and manners. During her two year book tour, Laura realized meeting fans and connecting with people on a personal level gave her the courage and the confidence to reveal more of herself to the public. This led to her short film titled, If You are Still Breathing depicting her battle with alcoholism and bulimia. The film went on to be featured in film festivals. Today, Laura is 21 years sober and recognized as L.A.’s leading Clean Food Expert. Her food philosophy is “Everything we eat is either fighting disease or feeding it, choose wisely”. Laura’s mission is to educate and empower individuals and corporations to develop healthy lifestyles, a strong dependable workforce and reduce illness.
Laura Soscia
Founder, Accelerated Leadership GroupLaura Soscia is the founder of Accelerated Leadership Group (ALG). Since founding ALG in 2007, Laura has built the firm from a fledgling training consultancy to a recognized leader in crafting customized strategies to effectively address leadership, performance management, team development and training issues. Laura has led leadership development and change initiative efforts for top corporations, including Coca-Cola, Newell Rubbermaid, Sunovion, AT&T, Biogen Idec and Discover. After graduating from UGA with a degree in microbiology, Laura launched a successful sales and training career with Pfizer. As part of the company’s Learning & Development Department’s senior leadership team, the organization was named Training Magazine’s “Top Training Organization” a record three times and named to the publication’s elite Hall of Fame.
Robin Sterneck
Sterneck Capital ManagementRobin Sterneck is a seasoned executive and board director who brings 35 years of business and leadership experience to her financial planning services and executive leadership keynotes, workshops, roundtables, coaching sessions and storytelling. Robin’s work as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and her roles in Financial Services at GE and Swiss Re arm her with a broad breadth of firsthand experience and strategies. Today, she enables others to optimize their financial lives and professional careers through her work at Sterneck Capital Management and in executive leadership. As the co-facilitator of the Emerging Leaders Program at the Central Exchange, lecturer for the Women’s Leadership Forum at Washington University and an executive coach, she has helped advance the careers of many high potential leaders internationally.
Carol Yancey
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Genuine Parts CompanyCarol Yancey is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Genuine Parts Company, a Fortune 200 company with approximately $17 billion in annual sales and over 50,000 employees. Carol has been with the company 30 years in a variety of key financial positions. She has served as Executive Vice President and CFO for the past eight years. She was the first female corporate officer and is currently the most senior female corporate officer. In her role as EVP and CFO, Carol serves on the company’s Executive Leadership Team and Capital Allocation and Investment Committee. In 2020, Carol was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the “Public Company CFO of the Year.”
2019 Professional Women’s Conference
Agenda
8 a.m. — Registration & Networking
8:30 a.m. — Conference Opening
8:45 a.m. — Fireside Chat with Becky Blalock
Build Your Confidence by Reaching Outside of Your Comfort Zone
Becky Blalock — Author of “Dare – Straight Talk on Confidence, Courage and Career for Women in Charge”
9:45 a.m. — Networking Break
10 a.m. — Plenary Panel
Ignite Your Intention: How to Become More Intentional With your Time
Jhenielle Brown — Manager of Marketing – Merchandise, The Home Depot
Tricia Dempsey — CEO, Thrive-her
Jane Vaden Thacher — President, Vaden Automotive Group
Moderated by Kiz Adams — Work/Life Balance Coordinator, University of Georgia
11 a.m. — Communication Workshop
Jennifer Hebblewaithe — Graceworks
Noon — Lunch & Keynote Presentation
How Apologies Kill Our Confidence
Professor Maja — Sociologist, Author, TEDx Speaker, Guest Expert
1:45 a.m. — Strengthsfinder Assessment
Clay Kirkland — Wisdom & Creativity Consulting
3:00 p.m. — Conference Closing Remarks & Adjourn
Speakers
Becky Blalock
Managing Partner, Advisory CapitalBecky Blalock is the Managing Partner at Advisory Capital, a strategic consulting firm that provides insight and expertise to companies involved in the energy, information technology and medical industries.
As former Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Southern Company, Blalock spent nearly a decade directing IT strategy and operations for the third-largest utility company in the world. Under her leadership, Southern Company was recognized as one of the 100 Most Innovative Companies by CIO magazine and one of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT by Computerworld magazine. In addition to her work in information technology, Blalock spent over two decades serving Southern Company in leadership positions including accounting, corporate communications, customer service, economic development, external affairs, finance and marketing.
A sought-after speaker, Blalock has long been recognized as a thought leader in the IT and utility industries. Computerworld magazine identified her as a Premier IT Leader and she was named CIO of the Year by Energy Biz magazine, Georgia CIO Leadership Association and Computers for Youth organization. She has been named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle‘s 100 Most Influential Atlantans and is listed among Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. Blalock has testified before the DOE and FCC on behalf of the utility industry regarding matters related to information technology, cyber security and telecommunications.
Blalock is a member of the Board of Directors for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. She serves as Chair of the Technology Cabinet for United Way of Greater Atlanta and also chairs the Advisory Board of Emory Healthcare. A graduate of both Leadership Atlanta and Leadership Georgia, she was named a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum and Leadership Foundation.
Blalock has received a host of distinctions including the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award from Georgia CIO Leadership Association and the Legacy Award from Women in Technology. An advocate for women and children, Blalock was recognized as Power Woman of the Year by Atlanta Woman magazine and received the Shining Star Award from the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. Furthermore, her efforts on behalf of women have been recognized by Girl Scouts and the YWCA. She has written a bestselling book titled DARE, Straight Talk on Confidence, Courage, and Career for Women in Charge published by Wiley, October 2013.
Blalock successfully completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard University. She holds a master’s degree with honors in finance from Mercer University and an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of West Georgia.
Professor Maja
Sociologist, AuthorProfessor Maja is a sociologist, author, regular guest expert on CTV’s The Social, and a TEDx speaker. She is an apology-hater, confidence-builder and recovering make-up addict. She also hates the word humble.
To deal with the lack of confidence and incessant apologies she witnessed daily, Professor Maja authored two books (Hey Ladies, Stop Apologizing…and other career mistakes women make and Hey Ladies, Stop Apologizing, THE WORKBOOK.)
Professor Maja runs a leadership organization that trains women to improve their confidence, communication, and mindset. Maja also speaks to women of all ages on topics such as: confidence, perfectionism, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, time-management, and body positivity.
Professor Maja holds a PhD in sociology from McMaster University where she also teaches. Maja was nominated for the YWCA’s 2017 Woman of Distinction Award, in the category of Education and Mentorship for her commitment to the development of young women.
Jennifer Hebblethwaite
Senior Vice President, Graceworks AtlantaJennifer Hebblethwaite, Senior Vice President & Champion of All Things Grace, heads up the Graceworks Atlanta office. From commercial real estate to coaching Atlanta’s finest men in blue at the Forest Park Police Department, Jennifer is an experienced corporate trainer. She has spent 10 years as a Teaching Artist for a Tony Award-winning theatre and has taught everything from playwriting to MBA Leadership/Communication on an undergraduate and graduate level.
Jennifer is foremost a compassionate coach and trainer, but as our rogue academic, Jennifer also gets excited about things like semantics and semicolons. She leads the Gracewriting® program and is trained in Whole Brain® Thinking, which is designed to use every last brain cell. Jennifer’s teaching style is big and bold, and she can’t wait to help you help your listeners!
Clay Kirkland
Chief Consultant, Wisdom & Creativity ConsultingClay is the chief consultant for Wisdom & Creativity Consulting and offers a variety of consulting and coaching services. He has been a Gallup Certified Strengthsfinder Consultant since 2008, and in the past decade, he has worked with over three thousand individuals and dozens of corporations and businesses including Salesforce, BMW, Sherwin Williams, Valspar, Novarits, Merial, and Elanco Pharmaceuticals, Chick-fil-A, University of Georgia, Jackson Spalding, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Clay combines a high level of expertise from extensive training with a lively and engaging presentation style. The result is a professional and practical experience that delivers enjoyment and invaluable returns for both the individual and team. He resides near Athens with his wife and six children.
Kiz Adams
HR Specialist, University of GeorgiaKiz Adams is a human resource specialist in Wellbeing, Work/Life Balance, and Human Relations at the University of Georgia. She is an advocate on campus for promoting balance and wellbeing among faculty and staff and for creating a healthy, positive, productive work environment at the University. She’s a “Double Dawg,” having earned her undergraduate degree from the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and her law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Kiz has spent much of her career at Georgia Law in teaching and administrative positions, but has had a lifelong passion for helping people live healthy lives. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and retreats on topics such as work/life balance, stress management, productivity, and engagement, and facilitates team trainings. She is also certified in Hogan Personality Assessments, Sherpa Executive Coaching, Real Balance Health and Wellness coaching, and is a personal trainer and Pilates instructor.
Jhenielle K. Brown
Merchandise Marketing Manager, The Home DepotAllison Hill serves as Senior Executive for Roark Capital, a private equity firm based in Atlanta with $20 billion of assets under management. Since inception, affiliates of Roark have invested in 90 franchise/multi-unit brands, such as Dunkin’ and OrangeTheory Fitness, which generate approximately $54 billion in annual system revenues from 63,000 locations in 50 states and 89 countries. She is the Head of Diversity & Social Responsibility, developing and leading Roark’s initiatives related to diversity and inclusion, philanthropic giving and community service, as well as a member of Roark’s ESG committee. Allison earned her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Cornell University. She has been married to her college sweetheart for 26 years, and has two daughters and three dogs.
Tricia Dempsey
CEO, Thrive-HerTricia Dempsey is the founder and CEO of Thrive-Her, where she helps ambitious women live their purpose, and love what they do!
Unlike traditional coaching or training models, Thrive-Her combines digital courses, group coaching and a thrive-tribe community to strengthen the long-term results women can achieve. Thrive-Her’s signature program, The Next Level, helps women realize complete clarity and build bold confidence to achieve their goals, while aligning with their purpose and strengths, communicating their value, increasing their visibility and building a vibrant community of support.
Tricia has transformed her own career from a 7th-grade school teacher to an eight-figure CEO. Before starting Thrive-Her, Tricia started, scaled and sold her IT staffing firm, Agile, which was recognized for being the No. 2 fastest-growing staffing firm in the nation, and a three-time Inc. 5000 company. During this time, Tricia coached over 4,000 women to take their careers to the next level, providing her first hand learning with how to best support women to realize their goals.
Always a passionate advocate for women, Tricia has served on the boards of Susan G. Komen, where she raised over $320,000 through her own fundraising event as well as Women in Technology, where she volunteered for over 10 years, and served as the President of the organization.
Tricia describes Thrive-Her as a movement and her life calling and has a vision for helping over 10,000 women create thriving careers and lives they love.
Jane Vaden Thacher
President & Dealer Operator, Vaden AutomotiveJane Vaden Thacher is President & Dealer Operator for Savannah-based Vaden Automotive, which includes four General Motors dealerships, four Nissan dealerships, an INFINITI dealership, a Toyota dealership, and a medium duty truck center. Her group employs over 600 people in Southeast Georgia, Coastal South Carolina, and Alabama, and has expanded into several non-dealership related enterprises.
Prior to returning to Savannah, Thacher managed the food marketing division of Ketchum Public Relations in Atlanta. She served on the Board of Directors for the Savannah Bank from 2000-2013, and the credit review committee for eight of those years. She served two terms on the Savannah Country Day School Board of Trustees and the Chair of the marketing committee. In addition, she was a member of the Hospice Savannah Board of Directors and the Isle of Hope United Methodist Preschool Board. She currently serves on the United Way Women’s Legacy Council’s Executive Board.
Thacher graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1988 with a Bachelor’s of Science in English. A year later, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a Master of Mass Communication in Public Relations/Advertising.
Thacher has been married to Peter Thacher for the past 26 years and has an 18-year old son and twin 17-year old daughters. The family also has three Portuguese water dogs.