Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Junior Board Member Biography Book 2023-2024
Who We Are
The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board is a group of young professionals who share a commitment to shaping the future of female leaders in Atlanta and are looking to expand their networks through social, educational, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities. Junior Board members work together to be champions for local girls and to help them find their voice and bring their dreams to life to make the world a better place. In the following pages, you can read more about each member of the 2023-2024 Junior Board to learn what makes them unique and why they are passionate about being a champion for girls.
Kiera Austin-Reffell TIDAL Brand Strategy & Insights Kiera Austin-Reffell is an experienced brand marketer and researcher. She is a proud HBCU alumna and holds a degree from Hampton University. A former Girl Scout herself, Kiera looks forward to the new ways she can continue to pour into girls so that they may feel encouraged, supported, and inspired to meaningfully engage in their own communities. When she is not working or volunteering, Kiera enjoys traveling, aerial arts, and trying new restaurants as she explores the city.
Allison Bass Emory University Senior Associate Director of Advancement & Alumni Services Bass currently serves as the Associate Director of Advancement and Alumni Services at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Prior to that, Bass served as the Director of Stewardship at Morehouse School of Medicine. A higher education fundraising professional, Bass has made an impact on donor journeys throughout her career. Bass joined Georgia State University in September 2016 to serve as the Assistant Director of Development and Special Events for the College of Arts and Sciences. She was promoted to the Associate Director of Development and Special Events in May 2018. In her role, Bass focuses on annual fundraising and stewarding the Dean’s Society for the College. Prior to Georgia State, Bass was the first full-time Assistant Director of Athletic Advancement for FGCU Athletics. In her role, Bass worked closely with the Eagles Club Advisory Board to serve the approximately 600 Eagles Club members while also bringing additional focus to FGCU’s annual fund and fundraising event efforts. Additionally, Bass spearheaded the Wings Up Women fundraising group and facilitated all special events and hospitality for the department, including the signature Night at the Nest fundraising event. Bass came to FGCU from the University of North Carolina where she served as the graduate intern for The Rams Club. In that role, Bass was on the front line of the customer service experience for more than 15,000 UNC Athletics donors regarding membership and solicitation. Prior to her time with UNC, Bass was the event management program coordinator for the University of Georgia Athletic Association from May 2010-June 2012. In that role, she created and facilitated season-long game management plans for swimming and diving, equestrian and softball home events. A native of Miami, Florida, Bass graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business Administration after majoring in Marketing and minoring in History. She received her Master of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Sport Administration from the University of North Carolina in May 2014.
Maranie Brown BlackRock Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions Maranie Brown, Vice President, Data Platforms & Solutions, leads BlackRock’s ESG (Environmental, Societal, and Governance) data program. The team develops and operates the platforms that produce, distribute, and govern enterprise data and analytics for BlackRock and its Aladdin clients. Maranie has been recognized as a "Rising Star" for outstanding contributions to the digital community, one of the Marietta Daily Journal / Cobb Life Magazine's "Top 20 Under 40", a Woman to Watch in STEAM by Women in Technology, one of the University of Georgia Alumni Association’s “40 Under 40,” and one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40.” An active nonprofit board member and community leader, she serves with the Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, the Association of Junior Leagues International Women of Color Member Group, Cobb Collaborative, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s Junior Board, the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Cobb County Advisory Board, and the Technology Association of Georgia’s Product Management Society Board. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Maranie serves as the Immediate Past President of the UGA Young Alumni Leadership Council, where she led all efforts to strengthen engagement with young alumni and current students, and President of Outstanding Atlanta, the City's premier honor for community involvement.
Denise Burnett Microsoft Sr. Technical Product Manager Denise Burnett, a dedicated and accomplished professional, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering young girls to her role on the Girls Scouts of Atlanta Junior Board. She holds an undergraduate degree from Spelman College and a Master of Science degree from Kennesaw State University. Currently serving as a Technical Product Manager at Microsoft, Denise combines her technical expertise with a commitment to community engagement. She is an active member of the Junior League of Atlanta and plays vital roles on the Programs Committee and Fundraising Committee of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). Denise joined the Girls Scouts of Atlanta because she recognizes that the organization embodies the same values that have shaped her into the accomplished woman she is today. Her dedication to education, leadership, and service makes her a valuable asset to the board, where she continues to inspire and empower the next generation of young women.
Maiya Byrd Allen Media Group Social Media Manager Maiya Byrd is an accomplished and communityoriented professional hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from the illustrious Clark Atlanta University, where she nurtured her passion for digital media. Currently, she serves as a social media manager at Allen Media Group. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Maiya's commitment to community service shines through her involvement in the Decatur Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. This allows her to make a positive impact on her local community and beyond. She also serves as a Girl Scout Co-leader for Troop #1996. Maiya's dedication extends beyond her career and community involvement. In her spare time, she indulges self-care and in her creative side through baking, music and finds joy in the art of dance. Above all, she cherishes moments spent with her loved ones, emphasizing the importance of family and relationships in her life. Maiya Byrd is thrilled to serve on The 2023-2024 Junior Board for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, where she looks forward to making a meaningful contribution to the organization and furthering its mission of empowering young girls and fostering leadership.
Monique Cole Salesforce Senior Solutions Consultant Monique received her Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2014 and is a Senior Solution Consultant at Salesforce. She enjoys volunteering with Georgia Kids Belong, traveling, and spending time with her family. This is her fourth year on the Junior Board and she's looking forward to serving the Girl Scout community alongside these other incredible women.
Valerie Cote KPMG Market Relationship Director Valerie Cote is a Market Relationship Director with KPMG. As an experienced business development professional, she has served corporate clients across a variety of industries for over ten years. Valerie specializes in building meaningful client relationships that drive mutual long-term value. Valerie has had the pleasure of supporting KPMG clients in Atlanta for the last 3 years. Prior to serving as Relationship Director at KPMG, Valerie has held a variety of business development leadership roles at General Electric, IBM, and Kimberly Clark. With exceptional consultative and interpersonal skills, Valerie is passionate about creating lasting business relationships that display trust, thoughtfulness, and results. Valerie is a native Georgian and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing Major, and International Business Minor from Auburn University. In addition to her role at KPMG, she is an active volunteer for her church and local community. She is passionate about empowering and inspiring young women to pursue their goals with courage and uplift one another. In her spare time, Valerie can be found with her family, visiting local restaurants, or watching the Braves. Valerie is a proud former Brownie and Girl Scout, and her favorite cookie is a tie between Tagalongs® and Thin Mints®. (She prefers both right out of the freezer!)
Victoria Cuesta The Cuesta Group Managing Principal Victoria Cuesta is a seasoned marketing and event professional with 15+ years of luxury hospitality and marketing experience with a passion for creating meaningful connections. Prior to starting The Cuesta Group, a marketing consultancy, she spent 6+ years in management at Kimpton Hotels before she joined the marketing team at UPS where she spearheaded impactful tradeshow marketing strategies, customer segmentation initiatives, and competitive intelligence programs. While at UPS, Victoria also developed a popular marketing training curriculum that trained over 100 employees. In 2018, she co-founded Sonder & Holliday, a luxury home & resort social enterprise found in high-end retailers such as Moda Operandi and Perigold and in 2023, she founded an event planning consultancy, Fiesta de Cuesta. When not gallivanting around the world, you can find her pursuing the things that fuel her soul such as volunteering in her local community, failing at gardening, teaching cooking classes, and hosting soirees at the slightest hint of something to celebrate.
Joy Dyess BankSouth Mortgage VP, Special Projects Director Joy Dyess is a committed community volunteer and civic leader. Joy has been a member of The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. (JLA) for 13 years with her most recent role being President and in previous roles for JLA she has served as VicePresident of Community, Vice- President of Membership and Vice-President of Advocacy and Initiatives. Joy is a member of United Way Cobb County Advisory Board, is a board member for Wilderness Works and is a past graduate of Leadership Buckhead and the Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA) program. Joy was also an Honoree for Outstanding Atlanta, Class of 2018. Joy combines her passion for community service with ongoing advocacy work and believes that community collaboration is the key to creating impactful, lasting change.
Nerissa Dyess Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration Training Supervisor As a creative Nerissa Dyess tends to take on many hats and enjoys wearing them. Nerissa is the Training Supervisor for Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration. She creates content and training materials for in person and virtual trainings. She oversees training thousands of poll workers, election day technicians, Area Supervisors, as well as help with department training. Nerissa has a passion for Elections and the entire election experience. Nerissa’s other passion is writing. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing for Entertainment, focusing on writing screenplays for television and film. One day she will be on Shonda Rhimes writing team. She owns a small business in where she helps other creatives with their project management, editing, content, and planning. Nerissa was a Girl Scout as a Brownie and a Junior, and wished she would have stayed in it, but thought they ended at Juniors! Nerissa led her oldest daughter’s Girl Scout troop for 13 years, was a Service Unit Director for 3 years, and will always love volunteering with Scouts. Nerissa is a mother of 4 children, 2 girls, and 2 boys. Nerissa is *NSYNC’s biggest fan and wishes they would go on tour one last time!
Jordan Fessehaie Thrive Scholars Program Manager Jordan is a Program Manager at Thrive Scholars where she works with students and empowers them throughout their college experience. Before Thrive Scholars, Jordan worked in Silicon Valley at LinkedIn as part of their Business Leadership Program. Growing up in Atlanta, Jordan was very involved in GSGATL some highlights include: being part of the Inaugural Class of Miss Media 2013, Camp CEO (2011, 2012, 2013), Girl Scouts Forever Green US/UK Twinning Project, Art Editor and Staff Writer for Lime Green Giraffe, 100th Anniversary Alumnae Celebration Speaker, and Camp Counselor Training Certification. Jordan is a Posse Foundation Alumni and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration from Boston University. Fun fact - she doesn't have a favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavor!
Leticha Heflin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Program Specialist/ Public Health Analyst Leticha Heflin is a dedicated public health professional and scholar, specializing in public health policy, chronic disease self-management program development, grant writing, emergency response, and public health communication. Currently working as a public health analyst in Global Health, she collaborates with high-level leaders on projects aimed at enhancing the health, safety, and well-being of individuals globally while minimizing morbidity and mortality. Before joining Global Health, Leticha served as a Quarantine Public Health Officer, actively responding to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in various U.S. states and territories. She is also a Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Graduate Scholar, pursuing a Doctoral degree in Strategic Leadership at Liberty University. Her research focuses on the intersection of servantleadership and public health communication, particularly in marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a goal to mitigate the impact of social and structural determinants of health. In her local community, Leticha is a board member of GLUED, Inc., a Metro-Atlanta non-profit organization empowering young women in underserved areas through mentorship and cultural experiences designed to foster resilience. She is an active member of several organizations, including Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the National Hampton Alumni Association - Atlanta Chapter, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, the DeKalb NAACP, the Young Professionals Network of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and various other service-based groups, advocating for healthy living and community well-being. Leticha holds a BA in Political Science from Hampton University, an MS in Community & Environmental Health from Old Dominion University, and recently completed her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Liberty University in 2022. With an unwavering passion for public health, she tirelessly strives to utilize her knowledge to promote well-being in all aspects of life. As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Leticha joined the organization at Hampton University in the Fall of 2013. She is a dedicated Zeta legacy, a proud member of the Myrtle & Viola Tyler Goings Legacy Club, Southeastern Regional Legacy Club, and an inaugural member of the Georgia State Legacy Club. Leticha has served uninterrupted in Zeta for 10 years, with a decade of unwavering commitment to the organization's values and mission. In her professional life, Leticha continues her advocacy for underserved communities, striving for health equity and equitable access to healthcare services. She has recently been re-elected as the 2nd Anti-Baselius in her chapter, appointed the 2nd Young Adult Institute Director of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Youth & Young Adult Auxiliary, and recognized with a promotion to the Management Office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showcasing her commitment to excellence in every endeavor.
Jasmyn Howell Deloitte Consulting LLP Senior Consultant Jasmyn Howell is currently a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP. She graduated from the Wharton School of Business with her MBA and received her BA in Economics from Spelman College. Jasmyn is most passionate about empowering organizations in the private, public, and nonprofit sector to drive towards inclusive growth. Her expertise lies within strategic planning, business strategy, and organizational management. Outside of work, Jasmyn enjoys mentoring young women and serving as a strategic advisor to founders and business owners within the Atlanta community.
Margaret Hruschka Horne LLC Business Analyst Margaret is a Project Manager and Business Analyst for Horne LLC where she supports the software and business process development for Government Services projects. Margaret previously worked in software and management consulting for public housing agencies. Margaret graduated from University of Georgia in 2014 with a Bachelors in Linguistics, a Masters in Public Administration and minors in Spanish and Arabic. While there, she interned at the Athens-Clarke County Department of Community and Economic Development, Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, and volunteered at Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta Camp CEO. Margaret grew up in the Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta (Troop 7978) and completed her silver and gold awards as a teenager. She currently volunteers at the Fox Theatre and Cobb Energy Center as an usher. Outside of work, Margaret can be found taking dance class, paddleboarding on the lake, or relaxing with family.
Kamaria Irvin City of Atlanta Senior Human Resources Representative Kamaria Irvin is a Senior HR representative for City of Atlanta’s Department of Human resources, where she supports the Atlanta Police Department’s business unit. Kamaria was raised in Atlanta, GA. Kamaria is an HBCU advocate (Albany State University). Kamaria earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Clayton State University and earned her Master’s of Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources Management from Southern New Hampshire University. Kamaria is a former Girl Scout (Junior & Cadette). She is a boy mom, so she is excited to have a positive impact on young girls. Her passion is empowering women and children through advocacy, mentorship, and service. She has been a member of The Junior League of Atlanta since 2019 where she has served with other community placements, internal placements, and leadership. She has been a member of The National Coalition of 100 Black Woman, Inc. Northwest Ga Chapter since 2021 where she serves as a member of The Economic Empowerment Committee, Education Committee, and Technology/Social Media Committee. She also serves as a Big with The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and is currently on the 2023-24 Participant Advisory Council. In her free time she enjoys hiking, watching sports, and traveling. Kamaria is looking forward to serving on the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board.
Christin Jackson Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Brand Marketing Manager Christin Jackson is a native of Atlanta Georgia, who hails from a family with a strong mission of philanthropy and uplifting youth. She attended the University of West Georgia and obtained her degree in Public Relations. Christin is a Publicist and Brand Manager with years of agency and corporate experience and currently works as the Brand Manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. She is a former Girl Scout of Troop 3440 in East Point, Georgia and credits her years at camp for her love of swimming. In her leisure time she enjoys attending live performances, traveling internationally and creating new recipes and memories with family and friends. Her life’s mission is to empower and inspire young women to fearlessly be themselves and fiercely blaze their own path!
Paris Jackson The Home Depot Sr. Specialist (PM), Organic Social Media Paris Jackson is a social media marketing professional with over five years of experience impacting digital communities. She’s an alum of Kennesaw State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations and is currently pursuing her Master’s of Business Administration along with a certificate in Digital Marketing at Rutgers University. As a native Georgian, Paris is no stranger to the impacts of Girl Scouts. She has participated in scouting from the age of five to eighteen and is a proud Bronze and Gold Award recipient. Paris has also served as a co-leader for Ambassador and Daisy Girl Scout troops in the Greater Atlanta area. Her love for community service was nurtured during her time with Girl Scouts, and she has been able to translate this passion into her career by enhancing the digital community experience at Kellen Company, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and in her current role as Sr. Social Media Specialist at The Home Depot. In her downtime, she enjoys finding local restaurants to try with friends, attending concerts, or exploring new places to travel. Paris is excited to be a new member of the Junior Board and is looking forward to making an impact by empowering local girls.
Meagan Johnson Center for Justice Innovation Assistant General Counsel Meagan is an Assistant General Counsel at the Center for Justice Innovation, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing the need for justice system involvement, where she focuses on contract negotiation, data privacy, board governance, and risk management issues. Meagan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida and earned her Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law. A Florida native, Meagan’s involvement with Girl Scouts began as a Brownie in her hometown of Tallahassee. Meagan’s longstanding commitment to service includes working with local organizations focused on supporting children of incarcerated parents and eradicating human trafficking. In her spare time, Meagan enjoys hiking, attending book club, taking pottery wheel classes, and spending time with her toy poodle Marley. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Audrey Lewis GDCR Attorney Audrey Lewis graduated from The University of Georgia with degrees in Journalism and Political Science before graduating with a Juris Doctorate from The University of Georgia School of Law in 2010. Audrey began her career in criminal law by representing underserved and indigent individuals at the Law Firm of Lister& Holt. Subsequently, she served as a prosecutor for eight years in the Augusta Judicial Circuit and Cobb Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Offices as an Assistant District Attorney and as an Assistant Assistant Solicitor-General. During her tenure in the DA's Office Audrey was a supervising attorney who handled complex and violent felonies such as Murder, Kidnapping, Rape, Stalking, Child Physical and Sexual abuse. She also served as the second highest ranked prosecutor in Clayton County State Court as the Chief Assistant Solicitor -General in the Clayton County Office of the Solicitor-General. During her time as Chief, she also served as the chair of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council's Law Enforcement and Prosecution subcommittee of the Statewide Human Trafficking task force. After eight years, Audrey has left criminal prosecution and transitioned into private practice and litigation. She currently handles eminent domain cases in the real estate and government practice group at Gregory Doyle Calhoun and Rogers firm in Marietta, Georgia. In addition to her professional career, Audrey serves the community through active membership with the Junior League of Atlanta, the Gate City Bar, the Cobb County Bar Association, Georgia High School Mock Trial and as the Co-Programming Director of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys' (GABWA) Sister 2 Sister mentoring program. Audrey also is very active with the University of Georgia Alumni Association as she currently serves on the the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs Alumni Board and the Women of UGA Alumni Counsel. Audrey also volunteers as a Georgia Highschool Mock Trial Coach, the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Cobb County Family Advocacy Center. She is also a proud member of the Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Delonee McBride Acuity Brands Project Manager Delonee is currently a Project Manager at Acuity Brands where she is currently helping to build up the Project Management Office (PMO) for the company's Finance and Accounting group. A Knoxville, Tennessee native, she received her Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She also received her Masters of Business Administration from Mercer University. Delonee is a member of the Junior League of Atlanta as well as volunteer with the Empty Stocking Fund. She is a huge STEM advocate and considers the Girl Scouts STEM Expo as one of her favorite events to volunteer at. In her spare time, you can find her running or traveling to a new city (she's currently training for the Disneyland Half-Marathon with the goal of running a World Marathon in 2024).
Allie Philpot The Coca-Cola Company Content Activation Manager Allie Philpot is an experienced marketing professional with a background in the retail and consumer goods industries, having worked on some of the most recognized household brand names including Rubbermaid, The Home Depot, Kleenex, and now Coca-Cola. In her current role as Content Activation Manager at The Coca-Cola Company, she is responsible for activating creative for sports teams and entertainment venues across the south. A Georgia native, Allie received her Bachelor’s degree in 2015 from Georgia College & State University, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Management Information Systems. During her time in Milledgeville, she interned for a local Humane Society, helping to connect homeless pets with their forever families. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending sporting events, and spending time with her family. Being a girl mom herself, she is excited for the opportunity to help shape the next generation of female leaders.
Charlie Reed Aspire Coaching + Consulting Founder and Executive Coach Charlie works to empower individuals and organizations to become who or what they aspire to be through executive coaching. From embarking on a full-time career at the age of 17, to assuming a managerial role before completing her college education, she has consistently pushed boundaries and shattered stereotypes. Her journey underscores not only her determination but also her capacity to thrive in challenging circumstances. After twenty years in of serving in various leadership positions within corporate America, she made the decision to transition her career to coaching and consulting to partner with individuals to define and reach their own version of success. In her community, she serves as a troop leader to an inspiring group of Juniors, advocates and advises for Alpha Sigma Tau National Sorority; and, provides pro bono coaching and group training seminars to local schools and organizations as well as underserved and neurodivergent individuals. She is a mother to a 13 year old pilot-in-training son, a 9 year old competitive dancing daughter, and two pit bull rescues.
Whitley Rodgers Chemonics International Inc. Recruitment Manager Whitley Rodgers is a highly accomplished professional with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Kennesaw State University. She further pursued her education and obtained a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. Currently, she holds the position of Recruitment Manager at Chemonics International Inc., a leading global development firm. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the recruitment process, sourcing, and attracting top-tier talent, and developing strategic initiatives to optimize the organization's recruitment efforts. Outside of her professional life, Whitley enjoys traveling, spending time with family & friends, and engaging in activities that promote personal growth and well-being. She is a passionate advocate for education and believes that continuous learning is vital for personal and professional development.
Tyler Simpson Amazon Senior Product Manager Tyler, a native of Georgia, started her career off at the National Basketball Association in their Global Partnerships group. In this role she managed relationships with large brands focused on executing marketing and merchandising partnerships with the league. In 2018, she attended Harvard Business School where she spent her time learning about the tech and entrepreneurship sector. The highlight of her experience was confounding the African-American Student Unions Black New Venture Competition and Tech Master series, which provides non-dilutive funds for Black, early stage entrepreneurs. After business school she worked as a Product Marketing Manager for Meta's AR Commerce and Facebook Live teams. She currently works as a Product Manager at Amazon for the Amazon Shopping video team where she leads the team's outbound channel efforts.
BriAnna Taylor Peach State Health Plan Marketing & Communications Specialist BriAnna Taylor is a Marketing & Communications Specialist working for Peach State Health Plan. She is a 2017 cum laude graduate of East Tennessee State University with a B.B.A. in Marketing and a minor in Spanish. She is pursuing her Master of Business Administration with a Digital Marketing concentration from Clayton State University. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and has a passion for serving and giving back through volunteer opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring eateries, attending local festivals and events, cooking, and baking.
Tirrany Thurmond Idaltu Counseling & Consulting Founder Tirrany Thurmond, M.Ed., NCC, LGPC is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Idaltu Counseling & Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in the healing practices of mental health counseling, social justice advocacy and antiracism education. She is a skilled therapist and educator with a commitment to communal care, social equity, and restoration. Tirrany is a national board-certified counselor, TEDx speaker, and soughtafter facilitator and advisor. Her clients include Johns Hopkins, Chick-Fil-A, NCAA, The King Center, and countless nonprofits and colleges. She was recently profiled on Revolt’s Black News and graced the cover of Resilient Magazine. She’s a proud HBCU graduate – earning a bachelors in behavior analysis from Savannah State University – and masters in counselor education from Georgia Southern University.
Tavia Ward State of GA Special Needs Housing Specialist Tavia Thurmond Ward is a real estate development entrepreneur. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with an undergraduate degree in Small Business Management and Mercer University with her MBA. She owns a renovation and development company with her husband. She was awarded with the Top 40 under 40 award from GSU in 2022. Tavia is currently partnering with the Ga DCA to combat homelessness for Georgians who experienced hardship during the pandemic. She is a GS troop leader in Douglas County where she resides with her two children and her husband.
Sydney Williams The Flex Company Brand Manager Sydney is an experienced consumer package goods brand marketer and retail merchandising professional with a passion for change management, people development, and navigating ambiguity in the workplace. She currently leads Brand Marketing at The Flex Company. Outside of her day job, she is a dedicated civic leader throughout the city of Atlanta having served as a Civic Leadership Fellow at Hands on Atlanta and currently sitting on The Girl Scouts of Metro Atlanta Junior Board. Prior to that she worked closely with New York Cares and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) as both a tutor and a mentor in their SAT Prep, Sophomore Skills, and College Preparatory programs in Manhattan. Sydney is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Spelman College and her MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.