Terence Lester is a native of Atlanta, GA. He has a strong passion for family, God, and seeing the change through tangible acts of kindness. Lester is happily married to his friend, Cecilia Lester, and they enjoy parenting their two wonderful children, Zion Joy Lester, and Terence II. One of Terence’s greatest passions involves connecting creativity to the mission of God, and moving people to love people where they are.

Additionally, Terence holds four degrees, has spoken locally & nationally, and has written several books.

Instagram: @terencelester
Facebook: terence.lester.9
Twitter: imTerenceLester

 

Karen Hypolite, Ph.D. is the inventor and designer of the Schalero TM. Dr. Hypolite invented the Schalero - Scarf. Shawl. Bolero. All-In-One; under Divine Inspiration. The Schalero TM is a 3 in 1 patent-pending garment that instantly transforms from a bolero/jacket to a scarf or a shawl with a quick tug and a pull.

Robbin Jorgensen, President and Founder of Ignite The Next International is known as the “own your power” coach for women. As a certified coach and motivational speaker, she feels called to help women discover, step into and own the fullest expression of who they are, so they can achieve their greatest potential. Through her personal story and experience, she offers women a roadmap to change and strategies that ensure they get there. You can learn more about her work with women at www.ignitethenext.com Ignite The Next International is a global organization that empowers women around the world. We work with professional women to reclaim their power, embrace their wisdom, and build confidence so they can become the leaders of tomorrow. We believe a woman standing in her power can change the world and when women realize their full potential, companies become stronger, societies are transformed, and global solutions are created.

Clayton Ivey is Founder & Senior Partner of Express Business Solutions, a full service digital marketing agency. With offices in Midtown Atlanta, Express is the GoDaddyTM of the Southeast. For over 7 years, Express has specialized in website design, mobile app development, and social media marketing for small business owners. The firm goes even further by helping entrepreneurs navigate the vast world of internet technology, tablets, smartphones, and how this technology can make business operations more efficient and profitable. At Express, their in-house developers, graphic artists, and staff believe in not only completing your project fast, but also ensuring that the project gives you a return on your investment. By investing into its customers first, Express has a stellar list of clients who include Georgia Tech, Tic Tac, Mrs. Smith Pies, NFL players, and even national organizations like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Most of all, Express has been a driving force behind many small entrepreneurs and emerging companies in the Southeast.

Natasha Bowen is the Chief Visionary at Visionary People, a Business Management Consulting Firm specializing in helping companies get in position for success. Visionary People places companies and their owners on the paths of the least resistant.

Natasha is a Business & Marketing Strategist that enjoys working with companies and their owners who are ready to apply strategy and simplicity to growing their business. With over 15 yrs of experience with critical thinking, crisis management, process improvement and creative thinking she holds a Masters Degree in Business & Marketing. Natasha launched Visionary People in 2007 and since then has taken the company to pivotal heights.

 

Monica L. Ponder, MS, MSPH is a health and scientific communications professional residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Monica has worked in health communications for nearly 10 years and also leads several community initiatives under the arm of her consulting company, MLP Communications. MLP Communications is an emerging leader of health communications in metro-Atlanta, with an impressive portfolio of events, successful partnerships and campaigns. Monica Ponder is a healthcare researcher and thought leader in reaching vulnerable and high-risk populations. As a health scientist, she designs and implements health initiatives that predictably translates into business success. Trained professionally as a chemist and epidemiologist, Monica specializes in translating scientific information into various communications products.   Monica has worked as a health communicator with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and, prior to joining CDC, she worked as a Public Health Liaison/Epidemiologist with the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness and lead clinician engagement for the health department. Trained in radio/television production, Monica also spent time developing health stories for WAGA/FOX-5, an Atlanta television news station. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication at Georgia State University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, blogging, and hanging with her daughter, Lindsey.

After a number of years as a practicing clinician, in 1987 Kathy Colbenson became the CEO of CHRIS Kids and found her calling.

CHRIS Kids offers a values-driven Family of Services that provides trauma-informed, strength-based services through a counseling center, a training institute, eight group homes, a supportive housing apartment complex for single and parenting youth of ages 17 - 24, adoption services, and a host of in-home services designed to help children, youth, adults and families unlock their potential for self-sufficiency and good citizenship.

You can learn more by visiting our website at www.chriskids.org

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join us on LinkedIn

Ms. Kashima Peters is the founder of The Social Hostess. She brings 13 plus years of hospitality and customer service experience to the company and the industry. Kashima Peters created the Social Hostess as a bridge between concierge services and professional event planning.

The Social Hostess was established in 2011 to meet the growing need for event and party assistance. The Social Hostess services for corporate and residential clients in support of small in and large events.  The company positions itself so that the event host is able to enjoy their moment and accomplish each event goal by taking care of the logistics of the event.

Please visit www.MySocialHostess.com and like The Social Hostess, LLC on Facebook

 

Laura Putnam is a mom first to her two girls, lovingly known as Sunshine 13 and Peanut 11.  Together with her maple syrup making husband, they live in the Hudson Valley in NY.

Founder of Finding Home - blog and interior decorating business, Laura scours the countryside hunting for vintage treasures to create her vintage meets traditional, with a little modern edge, style. Her blog is about the stories of the journey we are all on to feeling we belong, toward being our most true selves, and trying to make the place we live in, our homes, be where we feel most comfortable.  She has built a business that allows her to pursue her creative interests while still keeping family first - always seeking more and more to find a full sense of home.

Visit her website Finding Home Online

Lisa Wise is a social worker and nonprofit administrator with more than 30 years of experience in the fields of human services and community development.

Lisa currently serves as Executive Director of Initiative for Affordable Housing, Inc. in Decatur, Georgia.  The agency provides housing and social services for homeless families, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families, and employment and training for individuals with little or no work experience.

Since she took the helm in 1992, Initiative has grown from one house and one homeless family to a multi-faceted agency that improves and strengthens the lives of homeless and low-income women, children and families through affordable housing, enhanced life skills and employment.

Providing employment was the motivation behind Initiative’s re:loom project, a program that helps homeless adults transition into a life of stability.  Re:loom employs and empowers homeless and low-income individuals through weaving beautiful, one-of-a-kind products out of donated upcycled materials.

Recently, Lisa and the re:loom employment program were chosen by Sara Blakely and Spanx as the Fall 2013 Leg Up winner which acknowledges female entrepreneurs and their businesses/products.

www.affordablehousingatl.org
www.reloom.org
facebook.com/reloom
twitter.com/re_loom
pinterest.com/re_loom