Downloads: Prospectus Exhibit Hall Info General One Sheet

POWER YOUR DREAM

Every entrepreneurial journey starts with a dream. To create something new, better or more meaningful. To be your own boss and leader. To enjoy a more flexible lifestyle. To leave a legacy for the next generation. To give back to a community. To change the world in positive ways. Whatever your dream as a woman business owner, NAWBO is here to power it by delivering a uniquely fun and impactful experience infused with connectivity, inspiration, learning, resources and more.

Registration Fees

All Inclusive Conference 3-Day Registration (Includes Annual Membership Meeting, Leadership Reception and Full Conference)
If you have significant dietary restrictions or need special accommodations at this event, please email events@nawbo.org and we will be glad to assist you. There will be a $75 processing fee for conference registration cancellation requests received beginning September 25, 2023.

All Inclusive Conference 3-Day Registration (Oct. 15-17)
Regular Pricing

member
$575

non-member
$650
Full 2-Day Conference Registration
Regular Pricing

member
$525

non-member
$600

Renaissance Austin Hotel

9721 Arboretum Blvd.
Austin, TX 78759

Phone: +1 512-343-2626

Our room block is full as is our overflow hotel.
Please check with other hotels in the area.

Join hundreds of women entrepreneurs as we come together to capitalize on this incredible moment in time.

All times are listed in Central Daylight Time; events and times are subject to change.

Agenda

October 15, 2023

time
description
location

Registration Hours
Stop by the hotel lobby registration tables to pick up your name badge and conference bag!

9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. CT

Click here for agenda details on all of today's sessions!

Atrium/Lobby Level
10:00 A.M - 11:15 A.M. CT
VIP First Time Attendee & New Member Meet & Greet

Sponsored by UPS

Speaker: Stephen Hewitt, Director, Diverse Customer Segment, UPS

Click here for session descriptions!

Trinity A & B Room
10:00 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. CT
Leadership Roundtables

Click here for session descriptions!

Glass Oaks Ballroom
11:15 A.M. -11:30 A.M. CT
BREAK
11:30 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. CT
Members Annual Meeting Lunch

Grand Ballroom
12:15 P.M. - 12:30 P.M. CT
BREAK
12:30 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. CT
Annual Membership Meeting

Welcome & NAWBO Committee Reports

Sponsored by Wells Fargo

Opening Remarks by Sherrie Barr Mack, NAWBO National Board PASC Chair

Sponsor Remarks by Val Jones, Senior Lead Business Growth Strategy Consultant, Diverse Small Business Customer Segments, Wells Fargo

National Board Chair Remarks by Lisa Coppola, NAWBO National Board Chair

NAWBO National Remarks by Jen Earle, NAWBO CEO

NAWBO Board Updates led by Karen Bennetts, NAWBO National Board Immediate Past Chair

NAWBO Institute Fireside Chat with Jeanette Armbrust, NAWBO Institute Chair and Casey Clark, CEO and Co-Founder, Cultivate Advisors

Grand Ballroom
1:45 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. CT
BREAK
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. CT
Chapter Awards Ceremony

Presented by Wells Fargo & NAWBO

Grand Ballroom
2:30 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. CT
Scaling: Building Systems to Accelerate Your Growth

Presented by Cultivate Advisors

Speaker: Casey Clark, CEO & Co-Founder, Cultivate Advisors

Click here for session descriptions!

This session is for all business owners but will be the most impactful for businesses with teams or 5+ employees.

Glass Oaks Ballroom
4:30 P.M. - 5:30 P.M. CT
Cash Flow Tactics to Empower You and Your Business

Sponsored by Wells Fargo

Speakers:
Mehnoosh Askari, Senior Vice President, Small Business Banking Relationship Management Director, Wells Fargo

Maryam Enders, VP, Cards, Retail and Merchant Services Group, National Sales Leader, Wells Fargo

Dr. Arlene Siller, Founder and CEO of Ascend Nonprofit and Business Solutions

Vivian T. Tran, VP, Senior Commercial Relationship Manager, Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo

Click here for session descriptions!

Glass Oaks Ballroom
4:30 P.M. - 5:45 P.M. CT
The Future of Work is Flow

Speaker: Jeska Brodbeck, CEO, Be Light Consulting

Click here for session descriptions!

Note: this session is limited to 100 participants.

Trinity A & B Room
6:15 P.M. CT
Bus transportation begins to Leadership Reception

Hotel Lobby
6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. CT
Leadership Reception

Sponsored by Bank of America

Speakers:
Jill Calabrese Bain, Managing Director, Small Business, Specialty Banking & Lending Division, Bank of America

David Bader, Managing Director, PWM Market Executive, Bank of America

By invitation only. Open to Annual Membership Meeting attendees.

County Line on the Lake

October 16, 2023

time
description
location

Registration & Exhibit Hall Hours
Come by the registration desks outside of the Rio Grande Exhibit Hall to pick up your name badge and conference bag!

8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. CT

Don't miss stopping by to see all of our sponsors and exhibitors!

9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. CT

1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. CT

6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. CT

Click here for agenda details on all of today's sessions!

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall Foyer
6:45 A.M. - 7:30 A.M. CT
Morning Walk

Get your morning started with a wonderful walk around the area, weather permitting. In case of rain, we will start the day with a yoga session.

Led by Amy Hogan, Mantra Yoga Collective and Sara Bergeron, SVP, SBA National External Partnerships Director, Bank of America

Hotel Lobby
9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. CT
Welcome and Continental Breakfast

Exhibit Hall

Meet Dr. Theresa Ashby and Laura Neubauer, your Exhibit Hall Emcees! They will make your time visting our sponsors and exhibitors lots of fun!

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall
10:15 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. CT
BREAK
10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. CT
Morning General Session & Fireside Chat With Serial Entrepreneur and Author Mei Xu

Presented by Bank of America

Mei Xu is back in the fold with her latest business: Concord Fragrances, a company dedicated to furthering our understanding of the emotional and physiological benefits of scent, i.e., functional fragrance, and bringing aroma to the center of wellness with their first collection: Blueme. Her first professional chapter was a riveting success titled, Chesapeake Bay Candle, a company she built and sold that left her hungry for more. Sit down with Mei and Sharon Miller, Bank of America’s President of Small Business Banking and Head of Specialty Banking & Lending who was recently named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Investment list that highlights notable women banking and finance. The two will chat about Mei’s journey from Chinese emigrant to innovator and multi-million-dollar business owner who chose to start over. Get to know Mei and her story before seeing her in Austin!

Grand Ballroom
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
Lunch

Grab your lunch and join us for some great converation with facilitated table topics!

Grand Ballroom
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
Exhibit Hall Hour

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall
2:00 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. CT
Breakout Sessions

Our conference breakout sessions have been organized into three tracks. You may choose to attend breakout sessions on a single track, or you may be interested in attending sessions in various tracks. Click here for a description of each track.

Track 1: Cultivate to Grow

Track 2: Connect to Thrive

Track 3: Access to Success
2:00 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. CT
Track 1: Recruiting: Attracting Top Talent to Perform

Presented by Cultivate Advisors

Speaker: Autumn Joyce, Partner and Cohort Leader, Cultivate Advisors

Click here for session descriptions!

Sabine Room
2:00 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. CT
Track 2: The Price of Entrepreneurial Success: An Interactive Discussion

Facilitator: Tanya Tarr, Founder, Cultivated Insights

Click here for session descriptions!

Trinity A & B Room
2:00 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. CT
Track 3: The Art of Persuasion

Sponsored by Bank of America
Introduction by Elizabeth Romero
Speaker: Allison Shapira, Founder/CEO, Global Public Speaking LLC

Click here for session descriptions!

San Antonio Room
2:50 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. CT
BREAK
3:00 P.M. - 3:50 P.M. CT
Track 1: Leadership: Developing Leaders Within Your Business

Presented by Cultivate Advisors

Speaker: Agata "Aggie" Chydzinski, Senior Business Advisor, Cultivate Advisors

Click here for session descriptions!

Sabine Room
3:00 P.M. - 3:50 P.M. CT
Track 2: Authentic Networking For Extroverts, Introverts and Everyone in Between!

Speaker: Tanika Vital-Pringle, Chief Brand Strategist & Executive Coach, Brand Rebirth

Click here for session descriptions!

Trinity A & B Room
3:00 P.M. - 3:50 P.M. CT
Track 3: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Business

Sponsored by Frost Brown Todd

Speakers:
Cameron Trachtman, Associate Attorney, Frost Brown Todd
Diana Dibble, CEO, Tripod Coaching & Consulting
Christina Reger, Founder, Loutel Law

Click here for session descriptions!

San Antonio Room
3:50 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. CT
BREAK
4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. CT
Big, Bold Moves: How Texas Women Innovate and Inspire

Speakers:
Vera Jones (Moderator), Founder, Vera’s Voice Works

Rebecca Contreras, President & CEO, AvantGarde, LLC

Maureen Hakes, Senior Change Management Leader, Southwest Airlines

Merrilee Kick, CEO & Founder, BuzzBallz/Southern Champion LLC

Lynelle McKay, Co-Owner, Austin Woman Publishing

You can’t tip-toe your way to success, and these women—who are either native to or based in Texas—understand that. Their big, bold moves have inspired and led to innovation and resiliency, from one that patented software to protect her intellectual property to another that pivoted her product line to help out during the pandemic. Be inspired by this talk to make some big, bold moves of your own!

Grand Ballroom
6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. CT
Boots & Bling: It’s a Texas Thing - In Honor of our Sponsors and Exhibitors

Pull on your jeans and any boots and bling if you have them, and let’s boogie! This reception has all the big Texas flavor you’d want from a celebration of hundreds of women business owners and our supporters. We’ll have local food, drinks and fun waiting for you. So dress casual but festive. We’ll have Western Wear like hats available in the Exhibit Hall for those who want to embrace their inner cowgirl!

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall, Luna Blanca and Patio

October 17, 2023

time
description
location

Registration & Exhibit Hall Hours
Come by the registration desks outside of the Rio Grande Exhibit Hall to pick up your name badge and conference bag!

8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. CT

Today is the final day to visit our amazing sponsors and exhibitors!

8:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. CT

Click here for agenda details on all of today's sessions!

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall Foyer
6:30 A.M. - 7:15 A.M. CT
Meditation, yoga and mindfulness session

Led by Amy Hogan, Mantra Yoga Collective and Sara Bergeron, SVP, SBA National External Partnerships Director, Bank of America

Frio Room
8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. CT
Continental Breakfast

Exhibit Hall

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall
10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. CT
Workshop I

Two Sides of Certification: From Supplier Diversity Manager to WBE/MWBE

Sponsored by Ferguson Enterprises

Speakers:
Cathy Williams, Sr. Business Diversity Manager, Ferguson Enterprises

Lena Graham-Morris, Moderator, NAWBO Insititute Board

Angela DePaoli, President and Founder, Bargas Environmental Consulting

Ranjani Mohana, President, R Mo GLobal Diversity Solutions

Dawn Williams, Supplier Diversity Program Manager, Mastercard

Check here for workshop descriptions!

Trinity A & B Room
10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. CT
Workshop II

Franchising 101: A Workshop to Jumpstart Your Journey to Franchise Ownership

Sponsored by United Franchise Group

Speakers:
Faith Abshire, Franchise Owner, Graze Craze

Taylor Gregory, Director of Marketing, United Franchise Group

Paula Mercer, VP, CoWorks

Donna Wichman, Vice President, Starpoint Brands

Check here for workshop descriptions!

Brazos Room
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. CT
Workshop III

Pathways to Growth: Business Strategy and Financials

Sponsored by ICIC/Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

Speakers:
Sonia Moin, Senior Director of Urban Business Initiatives, ICIC/Goldman Sachs

Nannette Ray, President, TNR Accounting & Management Consulting, LLC

Check here for workshop descriptions!

Pecos Room
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. CT
Workshop IV

Cultivating Peak Performance: Empowering Collaborative Teams

Sponsored by One Page Business Plan

Speakers:
Meggan L. Ciaccia, Owner, Ciaccia, CPA

Michele Schina, Founder, Schina and Associates, CPA

Check here for workshop descriptions!

Sabine Room
10:45 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. CT
BREAK
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. CT
Workshop V

IT Is That Simple—Technology Best Practices to Empower Growth

Sponsored by Dell Technologies

Speakers:
Maria Reverdatto, Senior Software Product Manager, Dell Technologies

Archana Tuppera, Product Marketing Lead, Dell Technologies

Lori Zwilling, Solutions Product Manager, Dell Technologies

Check here for workshop descriptions!

Pecos Room
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. CT
Workshop VI

Delegate Like a Pro: Accelerate Your Business Growth by Knowing WHAT to Delegate

Speaker: Lisa Crilley Mallis, Founder, Impactive Strategies

Check here for workshop descriptions!

Sabine Room
11:00 A.M. – 11:45 A.M. CT
Workshop VII

Powerful Health: Your #1 Surprising Competitive Advantage in Business & in Life

Speaker: JJ Virgin, Founder, Mindshare Collaborative and Author, Certified Nutrition Expert, Fitness Hall of Famer

Check here for workshop descriptions!

San Antonio Room
11:45 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. CT
Buffet Lunch

The Atrium

Rio Grande Exhibit Hall
12:45 P.M - 1:00 P.M. CT
BREAK
1:00 P.M. - 2:20 P.M. CT
General Session & Keynote: Thriving Through Change

Dr. Martha Beck, New York Times Bestselling Author

Presented by Bank of America

Remarks by Angela Antonio, Small Business Region Executive, Bank of America

Sponsored by AARP

Remarks by Felicia Brown, Senior Advisor, AARP

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented solutions. The key? Creativity.

We live at a time of changes so enormous and rapid that there’s no existing template to call on for guidance. Faced with this level of uncertainty, humans are wired to react with anxiety and by making fear-based decisions. Unfortunately, this almost always leads to problems, not only in business but also in our personal lives.

Dr. Martha Beck’s powerful tools teach us to shift our internal response to change at a biological level. With these skills on board we can accept and embrace whatever turbulence we encounter. We can trade anxiety for creativity, and use change as a springboard for even greater success.

Grand Ballroom
2:20 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. CT
BREAK
2:30 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. CT
Breakout Sessions

Our conference breakout sessions have been organized into three tracks. You may choose to attend breakout sessions on a single track, or you may be interested in attending sessions in various tracks. Click here for a description of each track.

Track 1: Cultivate to Grow

Track 2: Connect to Thrive

Track 3: Access to Success
2:30 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. CT
Track 1: Financials: Putting Profit First

Presented by Cultivate Advisors

Speaker: Autumn Joyce, Partner and Cohort Leader, Cultivate Advisors

Click here for breakout session descriptions!

Sabine Room
2:30 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. CT
Track 2: Come Together: Navigating Difficult Conversations

Sponsored by TriNet

Speakers:
Catherine Wragg, Chief People Officer, TriNet

Dr. Gena Yuvette Davis, Founder & CEO, True Synergy, Inc.

Nan McKay, Owner, Nan McKay Connects LLC

Click here for breakout session descriptions!

Trinity A & B Room
2:30 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. CT
Track 3: All Things AI: Tap the Full Potential of These Emerging Technologies

Sponsored by Meta

Speakers:
Moderator: Melinda Garvey, Founder, Austin Woman Magazine & CEO, On The Dot

Jessica Campos, Founder, Marketing For Greatness

Suzi Freeman, Founder, Teen Warrior Academy

Dao Jensen, CEO, Oak Rocket

Click here for breakout session descriptions!

San Antonio Room
3:20 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. CT
BREAK
3:30 P.M. - 4:20 P.M. CT
Track 1: Sales: Increasing Your Close Rate

Presented by Cultivate Advisors

Speaker: Michele Phillips, Business Advisor, Cultivate Advisors

Click here for breakout session descriptions!

Sabine Room
3:30 P.M. - 4:20 P.M. CT
Track 2: Bounce Back Ability: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Burnout Proof Business

Sponsored by B2B Reviews

Speakers:
Jamie Ostroe, Founder & Head of Content, B2B Reviews

Cait Donovan, Speaker, Coach, Podcaster, Author

Click here for breakout session descriptions!

Trinity A & B Room
3:30 P.M. - 4:20 P.M. CT
Track 3: Marketing Strategies For Minimum Cost and Maximum Impact

Sponsored by UPS

Speakers:
Stephen Hewitt, Director, Diverse Customer Segment, UPS

Moderator: Laura Neubauer, CEO and Founder, Kaleidoscope Media Services

Haydee Clark, Principal, Resilient Freight Solutions

Margaret Hernandez, Founder & CEO, SocializeLA.com

Andrea Pass, Owner, Andrea Pass Public Relations

Click here for breakout session descriptions!

San Antonio Room
4:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. CT
Get ready for the Gala!
5:30 P.M. CT - 6:00 P.M. CT
Gala Photo Opportunities

Sponsored by UPS

Grand Ballroom Foyer
6:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. CT
NAWBO Annual National Awards Gala

Presented by Bank of America

Beth Hoving, Senior Vice President & East Division Business Support Executive, Bank of America (Panel Moderator)

Jill Calabrese Bain, Managing Director, Small Business, Specialty Banking & Lending Division, Bank of America - Announce WBO of the Year

Woman Business Owner of the Year Panel
Susan Hagar Legacy Award
Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award
Woman Business Owner of the Year Award

Grand Ballroom

Speakers

Featured Keynote

Martha Beck

New York Times Bestselling Author

Dr. Martha Beck is a New York Times bestselling author who has spent her career helping thousands of people create their best lives. She holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D., all from Harvard University. Her published works include several self-help books and memoirs, including Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant, The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life and Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic. Martha has also published over 150 magazine articles, including almost two decades of monthly columns for O, The Oprah Magazine. In Martha’s latest book, an instant New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club selection, The Way of Integrity: Find the Path to Your True Self, she explores why “integrity”—being in harmony with ourselves—is the key to a meaningful and joyful life.

Mei Xu

Founder & CEO, Concord Fragrances, Author and Speaker

Mei is back in the fold with her latest business: Concord Fragrances, a company dedicated to furthering our understanding of the emotional and physiological benefits of scent, i.e., functional fragrance, and bringing aroma to the center of wellness with their first collection: Blueme. Her first professional chapter was a riveting success titled, Chesapeake Bay Candle, a company she built and sold that left her hungry for more.

Vera Jones (Emcee)

Motivational Speaker, Author, Conflict & Communication Coach

Vera Jones, “The Empathy Coach,” is a motivational speaker, author, life and leadership coach. She offers resilience, empathic leadership, communication, DEIB, mental wellness and conflict resolution keynote speaking and training. Vera is also a former ESPN, Fox Sports, MSG, WNBA and Big Ten Network Basketball Analyst. She has coached college basketball, performed on stage as an actress and entertained as a stand-up comedian. As founder of the Perseverance Speakers Academy, Vera helps students and professionals confidently polish their public speaking skills.

Session

Faith Abshire

Owner, Graze Craze

Faith is a Graze Craze franchise owner in The Woodlands, Texas, which she opened in 2022. While researching ways to share her passion for food with her community, she discovered Graze Craze. The franchise model for this up-and-coming food concept was a perfect fit for her vision of bringing people together through crafting delicious, high-quality food. Prior to owning her own business, Faith worked in commercial insurance for 14 years. During the pandemic, she left that industry to pursue other interests, including obtaining her coaching certificate and chef certification and working toward a master’s degree in counseling.

Angela Antonio

Small Business Region Executive, Bank of America

Angela is the Small Business Region Executive for Los Angeles. She leads a team of Small Business Banker Managers responsible for executing local strategies and tactics that drive client experience, client relationships and operational excellence. Angela held the Region Executive role for the Arizona / Southern California Region prior to taking the helm in Los Angeles. She joined Bank of America in 1994 as a Teller in Orange County. During her 29-year tenure, she has held several management positions in the Consumer Bank including various roles in the Financial Center, Market Growth Leader, Consumer Market Manager and Consumer Market Executive, Sales Performance Manager and Small Business Banker Manager. Angela is a two-time recipient of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Award. She is a member of the CA Women’s Network and the multicultural women’s leadership forum. Angela also serves on the Susan G. Komen Grants Review Board in Orange County and as a NAWBO Ambassador and board member for the LA Chapter representing our firm. NAWBO-LA recently awarded her the President’s Award for 2023 for dedication and unwavering commitment to Women Business Owners.

Mehnoosh Askari

SVP & Small Business Banking Relationship Management Director, Wells Fargo

Mehnoosh is a senior vice president and Small Business Banking relationship management director for Wells Fargo. She has built and leads a diverse team that support Small Business customers on the East Coast, helping to drive meaningful engagement and service for these businesses and their owners. Having emigrated from Iran to the U.S. in 1994, Mehnoosh started with Wells Fargo as a data clerk working night shifts while simultaneously earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has been with Wells Fargo for over 23 years and has worked in business banking for the last 17 years.

David Bader

Managing Director, PWM Market Executive, Bank of America

David is PWM Market executive for Central Texas with Bank of America Private Bank. He directs the efforts of private client advisors, associates and specialists from Austin to San Antonio. He also facilitates the smooth delivery of client capabilities, drawing on his direct knowledge of multiple business lines to spearhead a highly efficient framework for advancing client objectives. In addition to his Private Bank responsibilities, David serves as president of Bank of America Austin, responsible for connecting the banking and investment resources offered through the company’s lines of business to people and companies in Austin.

Roxana Borges

East Division Performance Executive, Small Business, Specialty Banking & Lending, Bank of America (NextGen Speaker)

Roxana is East Division Performance executive for Small Business, Specialty Banking & Lending at Bank of America. She leads a team of performance managers dedicated to obtaining holistic small business client relationships, providing a top-tier customer experience, helping clients with their business priorities, driving revenue growth and operational execution for over 60 markets across the eastern half of the U.S. Roxana has over 23 years of industry experience and has held six distinct leadership banking roles across various platforms, including Retail, Preferred and Small Business.

Jeska Brodbeck

CEO, Be Light Consulting

For the past 18 years, Jeska has researched and practiced the disciplines of Flow State, one of the most highly researched and sought-after brain states known to humanity. Through her interactive keynotes, executive performance coaching and corporate workshops, she has taught countless business professionals how to step into a new world of meaning and enjoyment while also experiencing the highest levels of performance possible—naturally—by accessing this state. Named a Featured Speaker for the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and Distinguished Speaker at Florida International University, Jeska designs unique and highly curated journeys that teach her audiences through direct and impactful experiences.

Felicia Brown

Senior Advisor, AARP

In her role as lead for AARP’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, she provides strategic direction for executing national collaborations that are consumer focused with special attention to women and communities of color. She also leads AARP’s Small Business Initiative. Recent accomplishments include creating AARP’s Small Business Newsletter, Meet the Founder interview series and How She Did It podcast and securing talent for the AARP Work and Jobs video series. Felicia also led the creation of the Small Business Development Resource Center for the 50+.

Jill Calabrese Bain

Managing Director for the Small Business, Specialty Banking & Lending Division, Bank of America

Over her 30 years with Bank of America, Jill has held many leadership positions across the company. She currently serves as a managing director for the Small Business, Specialty Banking & Lending division, responsible for critical business initiatives dedicated to the economic mobility of the clients and communities Bank of America serves. Jill provides leadership support to several women’s initiatives, serves as the co-chair of Bank of America’s Domestic Violence Taskforce and is a recipient of the CEO Diversity & Inclusion Award. Jill is an adjunct lecturer at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business and is also a past recipient of NAWBO’s Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award.

Jessica Campos

Founder, Marketing for Greatness

Jessica faced a turning point over a decade ago when her law practice in Puerto Rico was hit hard by the mortgage meltdown. Her unique blend of accounting, law and litigation skills found a new home in the digital economy, propelling her to lead the international expansion of a Fortune 500 company. Her unexpected journey into the top 10 digital marketers in the U.S. led to the creation of her own marketing firm, Marketing for Greatness. Specializing in forensic marketing, she has helped hundreds of clients strengthen their brands and grow profits.

Agata “Aggie” Chydzinski

Senior Business Advisor, Cultivate Advisors

Aggie brings a nuanced understanding to the world of scaling and advising, particularly for businesses that put purpose alongside profit. She works mainly with teams of 5-plus, specifically focusing on Women-Owned Businesses (WOBs), LGBTQ+ Owned, BIPOC Owned and other mission-driven organizations. With over 15 years of experience, Aggie has honed her advisory skills across an array of business landscapes. At Cultivate Advisors, where she serves as a senior business advisor, Aggie is focused on understanding the unique ethos and challenges of each organization.

Meggan Ciaccia

Owner, Ciaccia CPA & Co-Partner, Beyond Strategy Partners, Inc.

Meggan is the owner of Ciaccia, CPA. With over 20 years of diversified accounting experience, she enjoys the variety of work she does and loves working with many different clients. She especially loves helping her clients reach their business and personal financial goals. Meggan is a licensed New Jersey CPA and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Ciaccia CPA is a certified women-owned business. Meggan partnered with two other women in 2021 to form Beyond Strategy Partners, Inc. a consulting firm focusing on strategic growth.

Casey Clark

Co-Founder, Cultivate Advisors

Casey started his entrepreneurial journey at age 10 rollerblading paper routes. By 18, he was running his own franchise, and before graduating college, he employed and oversaw over 60 people. He had the top-producing franchise out of 600 across North America and grew the business from 15 franchisees to over 90, increasing revenue 5x before a successful exit. In 2013, Casey co-founded Cultivate Advisors to help other entrepreneurs navigate growth in their businesses without sacrificing their personal lives. He is a master problem-solver, assisting clients in getting over hurdles in their businesses to reach their goals.

Haydee Clark

Principal, Resilient Freight Solutions

Haydee is principal of Resilient Freight Solutions, a certified (MWBE, WBE, SBE and HUB) freight agency. With over two decades of experience in sales and marketing across various industries, she has developed a strong expertise in trucking and logistics operations. Originally from Puerto Rico, Haydee relocated to Texas in 2013. She served as treasurer for NAWBO Dallas/Fort Worth and is a mentor for the Women of Color Committee for Women Business Council Southwest. Additionally, she’s vice chair of development and finance for the Dallas chapter of the Hispanic Women Network of Texas.

Sara Conlee Bergeron

External Partnership Director, National SBA Team, Bank of America

Sara is Bank of America’s external partnership director supporting the National SBA Team focused on building and managing relationships with external partners, including community development companies, key centers of influence and national and regional SBA offices. During the past six years, Sara held several SBA leadership roles, including the West Division Market executive, managing the SBA sales team west of the Mississippi River. Prior to that, Sara was the SBA National Performance Manager, where she worked with SBA managers and bankers to improve their SBA acumen to increase SBA production. Sara joined Bank of America in 2011.

Rebecca Contreras

President & CEO, AvantGarde (AG), LLC (WBC/NextGen Speaker)

Rebecca is president and CEO of AvantGarde (AG), LLC, an award-winning human capital, operations and strategy firm she co-founded in 2011. Rebecca has grown AG into a thriving private and public sector consulting practice with over 120 team members across nine states. Additionally, Rebecca has had an impressive career in government. She spent 12 years serving under then-Texas Governor George W. Bush and then as a commissioned officer on his White House personnel team when he was president. Her success and leadership have been recognized through several awards and accolades, including the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Texas District Award for Small Business Champion of the Year. Rebecca is also the author of LostGirl: From the Hood to the White House to Millionaire Entrepreneur.

Lisa Crilley Mallis

Founder, Impactive Strategies

Lisa is a time strategist who works with motivated and busy leaders and teams who want to take strategic action instead of being busy all the time. She prides herself on helping clients create customized, real solutions to every day time management challenges—not just regurgitating the latest trends. Lisa is also a past president of NAWBO Cleveland and is on the Board of Trustees of Leadership Geauga County.

Angela DePaoli

Founder & President, Bargas Environmental Consulting

Angela, founder and president of Bargas Environmental Consulting, is a seasoned executive with comprehensive experience in federal, state and local regulatory permitting. Her expertise stems from her tenure at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, consulting in the private sector and various board positions in non-profits and corporations. Established in 2012, Bargas began as a tribute to Angela’s grandfather’s principles. It has now flourished into a multidisciplinary, multistate firm, emphasizing services in biology, cultural resources and paleontology. It is a certified minority-woman owned small business (DBE, MBE, SBE and WBE) firm headquartered in Sacramento, California.

Naquina "Nikki" Diaz-Loachamin

SVP, East Division Small Business Production Manager, Bank of America (NextGen Speaker)

Nikki joined Bank of America in 2005 and throughout her career has had the opportunity to be a part of lines of businesses, including Business Capital, Specialized Industries, Business Banking, Small Business Banking and Neighborhood & Community Lending. In her current role as senior vice president, East Division Small Business Production Manager, Nikki collaborates with stakeholders, policymakers and community organizations to champion the needs of small businesses, create opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs and achieve sustainable development within the small business ecosystem.

Diana Dibble

CEO, Tripod Coaching & Consulting LLC

Diana is CEO of Tripod Coaching & Consulting LLC™, which opened in 2022. Tripod provides business operations services, are experts in Planning for the “What If”TM and make biz ops fun. Diana is also president and co-founder of Design To Delivery Inc, a government contracting firm founded in 2001. They provide acquisition and program management support services to U.S. federal civilian and defense agencies. Diana’s achievements include prestigious industry awards as well as recognition as a 2022 NAWBO Woman Business Owners of the Year Top 3 finalist.

Cait Donovan

Speaker, Coach, Podcaster, Author

Cait has brought her mission to #endburnoutculture to international crowds for over four years. With a penchant breaking up tough conversations with humor, Cait helps people transform in a safe, inclusive environment. Companies such as PepsiCo have hired Cait to improve company culture and eradicate burnout. When she’s not on a stage, Cait is in her office recording FRIED The Burnout Podcast episodes, working on her second book and seeing 1:1 clients virtually.

Jennifer Dooling

Market Executive, Greater Texas, Bank of America (NextGen Speaker)

Jennifer is the market executive for Greater Texas in Bank of America’s Business Banking Group. She leads a team of relationship managers in South Central Texas with primary offices in both Austin and San Antonio. She supports challenges with her team to drive new client acquisition, client retention and market integration. Jennifer joined the organization in 2009 as a senior client manager and vice president when she and her family relocated from Huntsville, Alabama. As a 30-plus year veteran in the banking industry, Jennifer has served in many diverse leadership roles across several lines of business

Maryam Enders

VP & National Sales Leader, Merchant Services Group, Wells Fargo

Maryam is a national sales leader within Wells Fargo Merchant Services. She joined Wells Fargo in 2019. In her role, she manages senior business consultants, in partnership with other large teams to successfully help premium small business clients succeed financially. Maryam has a 25-plus year track record as a sales and customer service leader, successfully leading teams with a proven ability to optimize results and culture. After moving to the United States, Maryam joined American Express and has held multiple roles over her 10-year tenure.

Suzi Freeman

Founder, Teen Warrior Academy

Suzi is the founder of the Teen Warrior Academy and a revered teen mentor and parenting coach who utilizes a hybrid approach stemming from her expertise as a Master NLP Practitioner and Master Life & Success Coach. With a deep commitment to teen mental wellness, she guides individuals toward discovering their inherent values and purposes, establishing goals that resonate with their true selves. As the founder of the Zero Youth Suicide Project, she’s a beacon of resilience and empowerment, fervently working towards a world where no young mind feels hopeless.

Gina Ganahl, PhD

VP of Product Management in Cyber & Intelligence, Mastercard (NextGen Speaker)

Gina develops cybersecurity education programs for customers. She is global product owner of the Mastercard Trust Center, which provides free cybersecurity education, resources and tools designed to help small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) improve the security of their digital ecosystem. Gina loves to help SMBs learn about cybersecurity through the Trust Center, webinars and conference presentations. Prior to joining Mastercard, she had a 20-year career in university administration and learning and development.

Melinda Garvey

Founder, Austin Woman Magazine & CEO, The Dot

Melinda is founder and board chair of Austin Woman magazine and founder and CEO of On The Dot, a B2B, SaaS Virtual Community Platform. She founded Austin Woman 21 years ago and then recently executed an organizational restructure to bring on nine additional diverse female owners as partners. This allows the magazine to reach its huge growth potential, while at the same time ensuring it continues its legacy of diversity and inclusion for generations to come. Melinda is a respected community leader and currently serves on the Habitat for Humanity Austin Board of Directors.

Gabriela Gomez

Chief of Operations, Killer Coffee Company (NextGen Speaker)

Gabriela blends her IT and coffee industry expertise to create amazing customer experiences as chief of operations at Killer Coffee Company. Her education at Tecnologico de Monterrey in Guadalajara, Mexico helped her translate business needs into captivating e-commerce solutions. She is a leader with experience in project management and food and beverage business management and previous owner of a specialty coffee bar in Mexico. She aims to innovate and enhance coffee experiences through coffee roasting and tasting. Gabriela’s technical expertise and attention to detail are also essential elements in the specialty coffee industry.

Jessica Gomez

Creative Marketing Director, Killer Coffee Company (NextGen Speaker)

Jessica is creative marketing director of Killer Coffee Company, a specialty coffee roastery and e-commerce store she co-founded in 2021. Before starting her own business, she had a rewarding career in marketing as a creative art director, most recently for a global direct-selling brand that she helped to grow in its beginning stages from being based in two markets to seven worldwide. Her work in creative and marketing has been recognized in the U.S. with Stevie Awards for branding and event experience as well as in Spain by Tetrapak brand with an art installation.

Taylor Gregory

Director of Marketing, United Franchise Group (UFG)

Taylor joined UFG as a franchise development representative, then moved into a marketing role for its Emerging Brands Division. Taylor now oversees the company’s diverse brand portfolio’s public relations initiatives to drive the marketing strategies for Starpoint Brands and UFG. In addition, she manages a significant portion of the company’s content marketing efforts, encompassing corporate social media, video production and specific needs of its Franchise Development department such as website management, blog creation, ad listings and more.

Maureen Hakes

Senior Change Management Leader, Southwest Airlines

Maureen is a change management leader at Southwest Airlines, bringing over 13 years of experience to the forefront of driving adoption for transformative change initiatives. Her expertise lies in simplifying complex concepts through captivating, visual storytelling and crafting multidimensional communications. In a fast-evolving aviation landscape that continually innovates to meet customer demands, Maureen’s ability to guide all employees through their own change journey is her true passion. Before joining Southwest Airlines, Maureen’s career took her internationally to Scotland as an onboarding and change management consultant.

Stephen Hewitt

Director, Diverse Customer Segment, UPS

Stephen leads the team who works to empower women-owned and minority-owned businesses through partnerships, sponsorships and access to resources. He started his career at UPS in 2014. He previously worked as a senior analyst in segment marketing for retail and automotive; in product marketing on domestic air service enhancements, peak volume planning and SMB growth strategies; and in corporate strategy on long-term objectives for the organization.

Beth Hoving

SVP & East Division Business Support Executive for Small Business, Bank of America

Beth is a Senior Vice President and the East Division Business Support Executive for Small Business at Bank of America. She provides chief-of-staff support across the East Division leadership team and leads a team of regional business management and operations executives aligned to each of the six regions in the East. Beth joined Bank of America in 1997 as a Commercial Banking credit analyst and has since held various roles in the Global Learning and Small Business organizations. Beth serves as a Bank of America national liaison for NAWBO and ambassador for NAWBO Charlotte. She is also a member of LEAD for Women and an ally with LGBTQ+ Pride employee networks.

Dao Jensen

Founder, Oak Rocket, Inc.

A tech industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, Dao founded Oak Rocket, Inc. (formally KTP) in 2013 as the first 100-percent female minority-owned company on the West Coast born in the Cloud. Oak Rocket helps clients strategize and optimize public Cloud platforms and solutions. With the emergence of Gen AI, Oak Rocket has adapted to offer more personalized and intelligent solutions to meet ever-evolving client needs. Dao has grown Oak Rocket to become one of the 50 fastest growing women-owned companies in the United States.

Mei-Lon Jimenez

Co-Founder, Chica Beauty (NextGen Speaker)

Mei-Lon is co-founder of CHICA BEAUTY, an up-and-coming cosmetic lifestyle brand inspired by women on the go and dedicated to celebrating true beauty. With more than 19 years of experience in retail and corporate operations, she brings a solid background in business development, marketing, buying, product development, planning and finance. In 2007, Mei-Lon was proud to partner with her sister during the startup phase of CHICAGIRL magazine. Then, she joined her sister full time in the launch and creation of CHICA BEAUTY. They share the same values and are committed to giving back to the community.

Toni Lee Jimenez

Co-Founder, Chica Beauty (NextGen Speaker)

Toni is the future generation of Latina entrepreneurs. In 2007, she founded and published CHICAGIRL magazine—the first digital magazine for girls to promote higher education and empower them, while awarding more than $380,000 in scholarships. In 2019, Toni and her sister Mei-Lon created the makeup/cosmetics lifestyle company CHICA BEAUTY to empower girls to be their authentic selves. They wanted more than just makeup: To embrace diversity, provide simple beauty solutions, celebrate women and build a supportive community. Their company is inspired by women on the go, juggling multiple responsibilities but still wanting to look their best.

Val Jones

Senior Lead Business Growth Strategy Consultant, Diverse Small Business Customer Segments, Wells Fargo

Val is a strategy consultant with the Wells Fargo Diverse Small Business Customer Segments team for consumer and small business banking. She focuses her work on women entrepreneurs and runs the Connect to More program for Wells Fargo. Val has held various roles throughout her career at Wells Fargo. She has also owned her own business and understands firsthand the excitement and challenges that come with being an entrepreneur, which informs and inspires her current work. She serves on NAWBO’s National Advisory Council and manages Wells Fargo’s relationship with NAWBO.

Autumn Joyce

Partner & Cohort Leader, Cultivate Advisors

Autumn is a partner and cohort leader at Cultivate Advisors, where she has served as a coach and mentor for other advisors since 2020. To her clients, she is the trusted confidant and advisor she wished for when she was an entrepreneur. For nine years, she owned and operated a highly successful outdoor apparel and ski shop, then went on to head operations and open multiple retail stores for global lifestyle brands throughout the U.S. and North America. With over 20 years of retail business experience, Autumn’s expertise spans e-commerce to stores and more.

Merrilee Kick

Founder & CEO, BuzzBallz/Southern Champion LLC

Merrilee is the founder and CEO of BuzzBallz/Southern Champion LLC, the only woman-owned distillery/winery/brewery combination in the United States. BuzzBallz manufactures ready-to-drink cocktails called “BuzzBallz” and “Uptown Cocktails” as well as spirits like rum, vodka, gin and bourbon. The family-operated company sells products in all 50 states and 24 countries and is home to over 650 employees. Merrilee is married to her husband of 35 years and has two children who also work in the business with her.

Gigi Ligons

Director & Subject Matter Expert, FICO Scores (NextGen Speaker)

Gigi works with lenders and industry professionals to help them understand, evaluate and use FICO® Scores. Gigi’s key focus areas include delivering FICO® Score training and deploying FICO® Score solutions, services and education for mid-tier clients. Gigi brings to the team more than 14 years of experience in financial services from institutions, including MetLife, Bank of America, Wachovia, First Union and Washington Mutual, along with an entrepreneurial acumen from her experience as a management consultant.

Lynelle McKay

Co-Owner, Austin Woman Publishing

Lynelle is co-owner of Austin Woman Publishing. At the start of her career, she spent 21 years at Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (now NXP Semiconductors), rising from electrical engineer to senior vice president and general manager of the Networking and Multimedia Group. Lynelle went on to consult for various companies and then to apply her passion for STEM and young women to pivotal roles with the Girl Scouts organization—first as CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Texas council and later as chief customer officer of the national Girl Scouts corporate organization.

Nan McKay

Owner, Nan McKay Connects LLC

Nan is president and founder of Nan McKay and Associates, a pioneering company established in 1980, specializing in housing and community development. With an impressive presence across the country, the company has expanded to encompass 10 offices nationwide and manages over 100,000 housing units. In addition, Nan spearheads Nan McKay Connects, a second business that focuses on leadership development training. She has her WBE through the NAWBO Institute.

Paula Mercer

Vice President of Operations, Vast Coworking Group

Paula oversees operations and new location openings for Venture X and Office Evolution and brings together both teams to offer the best-in-class industry expertise. Her extensive global travel experience brings a wealth of knowledge to the Vast Coworking Group brand as they continue to grow domestically and internationally. Paula previously served as vice president of operations for Venture X, where she was involved in the brand’s development from the beginning. She has also held several operational roles within United Franchise Group over the past 12 years.

Sharon Miller

President of Small Business and Head of Specialty Banking & Lending, Bank of America

Sharon is president of Small Business and head of Specialty Banking & Lending at Bank of America and is a member of the company’s Management Operating Committee. Her team serves 11 million business owner clients and 3.3 million small businesses, or one out of every nine small businesses in the country. Sharon also leads one of the top consumer vehicle lending teams and has recently expanded her responsibilities to include Small Business Treasury and Merchant Services. She has been named to American Banker’s “Most Powerful Women to Watch in Banking” three times and included in Forbes annual 50 over 50: Investment list for 2023.

Ranjani Mohana

Founder, R Mo Global Diversity Solutions

Ranjani is an accomplished entrepreneur who in 2011 identified a significant challenge faced by businesses in the process of obtaining diverse business certifications. Motivated by this observation, she pioneered a visionary approach that earned her the title “The Certification Lady.” R Mo Global Diversity Solutions’ team of certification experts has made substantial contributions in global certification assistance for businesses and corporate partnerships to provide certification support. Additionally, they created the Beyond Certification Mentorship Series to empower business owners to strategically leverage their certifications for business growth.

Sonia Moin

Senior Director of Urban Business Initiatives, ICIC

As senior director of Urban Business Initiatives, Sonia manages ICIC’s partnership with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and Santander Bank’s Cultivate Small Business programs. Prior to joining ICIC, Sonia worked at the International Finance Corporation driving business development and knowledge management programs. With a passion for growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem for small businesses, Sonia’s past experiences also include bringing business advisory services to social entrepreneurs.

Laura Neubauer

CEO & Founder, Kaleidoscope Media Services

Laura is a towering figure in the business of “Scaling Your Business” and building self-designed business lifestyles. She is a serial entrepreneur whose unwavering commitment lies in empowering businesses and individuals to forge opportunities that ignite their passions and challenge the conventional norms. Laura and her businesses have been recognized as Orange County’s “Entrepreneur to Watch”, California’s Business Woman of the Year and one of Inc.'s fastest-growing companies in America. Laura is also the master creator of ETEENPRENEUR, the ultimate online business hub for teen entrepreneurship and business education.

Jamie Ostroe

Founder & Head of Content, B2B Reviews

Jamie is a founder with a decade of experience publishing resources for consumers and business-to-business audiences. She founded B2B Reviews because she believes business owners need straightforward advice about which software and services they should use. Jamie loves utilizing technology to do great work and is obsessed with helping people find the perfect vendors for their business needs. Before starting B2B Reviews, she helped scale a startup from 10 to 200+ employees. She owns a yoga studio with her sister and knows firsthand how challenging and rewarding owning a small business can be, which inspires her work at B2B Reviews.

Andrea Pass

Owner, Andrea Pass Public Relations

Andrea is an expert at booking clients on podcast interviews as well as features, quotes and reviews in digital media, broadcast, print and more. She creates and implements public relations campaigns in a wide range of categories, including consumer products, authors, lifestyle, business-to-business, education and many more. Andrea serves as Workshop Council Chair for The Performance-Driven Marketing Institute and Events Chair for NAWBO North & Central Jersey. She is co-founder of Access Success Networking and creator of the webinar series “Resonate to Revenue.”

Melissa Phan

SVP, National Client Outreach & Integration Manager, Bank of America (NextGen Speaker)

Melissa is senior vice president, national client outreach and integration manager with Bank of America. Her passion in small business stems from her personal experience of growing up in a small business family. With that passion, she’s been in various roles within small business. In her current role, her focus is to build an integrated process to elevate banker-client engagement in close collaboration with key marketing, product and strategy partners. She joined Bank of America in 2011 as a small business banker in the Greater Sacramento market.

Michele Phillips

Business Advisor, Cultivate Advisors

As a strategic, entrepreneurial sales and operational leader with over 20 years of experience, Michele knows what it’s like to be successful in both the corporate and entrepreneurial world. Michele has excelled in leading large corporate teams and has been the owner of a 7-figure, award-winning, profitable, customer-facing business with more than 25 employees. Now, she works with founders and owners to help them achieve the same success by growing revenue, increasing profits, building sales teams, recruiting talent, becoming stronger leaders and being more productive. She partners with her clients to guide them as they define their vision and create a roadmap to success.

Nannette Ray

President, TNR Accounting & Management Consulting, LLC

Nannette is module faculty for the Houston Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, as well as president of TNR Accounting & Management Consulting, LLC, a minority woman-owned small business that provides CFO Services, bookkeeping, tax preparation and management consulting services for corporations, governmental agencies and small businesses. The firm’s mission is to assist clients in translating their financial numbers into their business story to help them make data-driven decisions to grow their business.

Christina Reger, Esq.

Founder, Loutel Law

With 20 years of experience, Tina developed a practice in educating businesses on the trends and pitfalls in today’s employment market, working with them to audit and analyze existing policies and procedures and providing them with cost-effective solutions to ensure ongoing compliance. In 2019, Tina launched her own firm to provide these and related services to business of all sizes. In 2022, Tina brought in a partner, rebranded and opened a subsidiary company that focuses on DEIB assessment, planning and consulting.

Shana Rehwald

FounderHER Program Coordinator, Kendra Scott Women's Leadership Institute (NextGen Speaker)

Throughout Shana’s decade-long career working in social media and marketing, she helped build brands like Alo Yoga and Grayson. At 30 years old, a journey of self-discovery and purpose led to her becoming an accidental entrepreneur. Her seminal product, the Me-est Me Journal, launched in 2021 and has helped thousands build self-awareness, quiet the noise of the world and embrace short-term discomfort to move towards their truest desires. Shana is also the FoundHER Program Coordinator at the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute where she helps cultivate current and future entrepreneurs out of University of Texas at Austin.

Maria Reverdatto

Director of Product Marketing, Dell Technologies

With 10-plus years of experience at Dell Technologies, Maria has a proven track record of innovation, strategic growth, process improvement and change management. In her current role, she leads product marketing for aaS client solutions. Previously, she held roles in product management, marketing, strategy and transformation. Prior to Dell, Maria worked at Ford Motor Company and for a private educational consulting firm. She also co-founded a start-up.

Elizabeth Romero

SVP, Small Business Client Solutions Executive, Bank of America

Elizabeth is a senior vice president, Small Business National Client Solutions executive at Bank of America. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing the overall sales plan and strategy for the profitable expansion and retention of the Small Business Centralized Sales segment. Elizabeth’s team consists of enterprise small business bankers, client relationship associates, treasury specialists and enterprise small business consultants, who deliver world-class solutions and guidance to help business owner clients achieve their business and life priorities.

Michele Schina

Founder, Schina and Associates, CPA & Co-Partner, Beyond Strategy Partners

Michele transitioned from senior manager of audit at a global accounting firm in 2001 to founder of Schina and Associates, CPA, a boutique firm offering consulting, tax and accounting services. She is a licensed CPA in Pennsylvania. Michele has expanded her entrepreneurial footprint, becoming co-owner of BBDS, Inc., a business development firm for technology services. Michele is also co-owner of the strategic consulting and leadership development firm Beyond Strategy Partners, Inc. Michele dedicates her professional life to strategic and financial literacy and education.

Allison Shapira

Founder/CEO, Global Public Speaking LLC

Allison is a former opera singer turned entrepreneur, keynote speaker and international expert in public speaking. She is founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking LLC, a communication training firm and certified woman-owned small business that helps people speak clearly, concisely and confidently. Allison teaches a graduate-level course at Harvard Kennedy School and has spent nearly 20 years developing leadership communication programs for Fortune 50 companies, government agencies and non-profits. She also travels around the world with Vital Voices Global Partnership, teaching leadership communication to help women leaders grow their business, run for office or launch a nonprofit.

Dr. Arlene Siller

Founder & CEO, Ascend Nonprofit and Business Solutions

Arlene is founder and CEO of Ascend Nonprofit and Business Solutions, a Hispanic- and woman-owned grant training, coaching, research and writing firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Arlene has more than 29 years of experience in the grant funding, organizational leadership and development industry, working with nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, higher education institutions, government and individuals. Beyond her professional pursuits, Arlene is a dedicated social advocate who finds joy in family, dance and community engagement.

Tanya Tarr

Founder, Cultivated Insights

Tanya is founder of Cultivated Insights, a corporate learning and development company, as well as an international public speaker. She creates meaningful in-person experiences and immersive online training and has been facilitating and educating groups since 2022. As a writer, Tanya has been a senior editorial contributor to Forbes since 2016, where she writes about adaptive leadership, negotiation, burnout recovery and building sustainable workplaces. Over the years, Tanya has interviewed more than 200 CEOs, executives and world leaders making a positive impact in their industries.

Cameron Trachtman

Associate Attorney, Frost Brown Todd

Cami’s practice focuses on business and commercial litigation. She also handles regulatory and corporate matters. In addition, Cami devotes a significant amount of her practice to assisting nonprofit clients, having extensive experience with nonprofit entity formation and the process for obtaining 501(c)(3) tax exemption. She joined the firm in 2021 after participating in Frost Brown Todd’s summer associate program in 2018 and 2019. Before joining the firm, she served as a legal extern with Eli Lilly and Company and Indiana University Health.

Vivian Tran

Senior Commercial Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo

Vivian is a senior commercial relationship manager in Austin, Texas. In her current role, she works with local companies, both public and private ranging between $25MM-$1B in revenues, as their primary point of contact at Wells Fargo Bank. She helps her clients by connecting them with the expansive resources and expertise available within the bank. After starting her banking career in Chicago, Illinois, Vivian returned to Austin and joined Wells Fargo in 2014 as a senior credit analyst in the Business Banking Group, then moved into the relationship manager role in 2016.

Archana Tuppera

Senior Software Product Manager, Dell Technologies

Archana has 12 years of progressive business analysis and product management experience at Dell Technologies. In her current role as a senior software product manager, she spearheads product strategy, planning and execution of SaaS-based B2B innovations in the digital experience management space. She is focused on envisioning and building AI-powered analytics and automation solutions to resolve key customer pain points in the end-user computing space and delighting customers with innovative modern computing solutions.

JJ Virgin, CNS, BCHN, EP-C

Author, Certified Nutrition Expert, Fitness Hall of Famer

JJ is a triple-board-certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer who has launched three multimillion-dollar businesses, including a seven-figure personal brand. She is a three-time Inc. 5000 list founder and a top 10 finalist for the John C. Maxwell Award. As an authority on transformational leadership, she has coached some of the biggest names in health and transformed the lives of millions of people around the world. JJ is a prominent TV and media personality, the author of four New York Times bestsellers and host of the popular podcast Well Beyond 40 with JJ Virgin.

Tanika Vital-Pringle

CEO, Brand Rebirth

A Wall Street alumna, Tanika works with organizations that want to increase employee productivity, leadership effectiveness and overall well-being. As CEO of Brand Rebirth and a WHY Institute & Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, she uses her extensive experience in strategic branding to speak, train and coach on topics that help to push boundaries, spread new authentic ideas and empower tribes of excellence. Tanika is passionate about empowering femmepreneurs and has spoken to national and global audiences for years.

Donna Wichman

Vice President of Operations, Starpoint Brands

With a background that includes her family owning a Fully Promoted franchise, a member of the Starpoint Brands family, Donna understands the challenges and opportunities that come with franchise ownership. Eight years ago, Donna joined Starpoint Brands as an executive assistant and rose through the ranks to various leadership positions, including launch services manager and director of shared services. Donna’s primary responsibility today is to ensure a smooth and efficient opening process for all franchise owners under the Starpoint Brands division.

Cathy Williams

Sr. Business Diversity Manager, Ferguson Enterprises

Cathy is the Sr. business diversity manager for Ferguson Enterprises, based in Newport News, Virginia. She is responsible for leading the company-wide Supplier Diversity Inclusion and Small Business Distributor Alliance Programs. Under Cathy’s leadership, the Ferguson Supplier Diversity Inclusion program has been recognized for numerous awards. Cathy is a passionate champion for wealth building inclusion for the small, minority, women and veteran-owned business community. Cathy is also an advocate for the Hampton Roads business and Supplier Diversity community.

Dawn Williams

Manager of Supplier Diversity Program, Mastercard

Dawn is manager of Mastercard’s Supplier Diversity Program, which aims to create an inclusive and sustainable supply base while improving supply chain performance, transparency and accountability. In her role, Dawn is responsible for coordinating the establishment, implementation and continuous evolution of the program, including developing and maintaining relationships with diverse suppliers; working across business units to align supplier diversity objectives with broader corporate vision, values and goals; and monitoring and reporting progress toward achieving supplier diversity goals and objectives. Mastercard’s supplier diversity program was ranked #23 on the 2023 DiversityInc (now Fair360) Top Companies for Supplier Diversity.

Catherine Wragg

Chief People Officer, TriNet

Catherine is Chief People Officer at TriNet. She joined TriNet in 2017, overseeing learning and development, HR operations and compliance, talent acquisition, compensation and analytics and internal HR support. Previously, Catherine served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Giorgio Armani Corporation. She also served as SVP of Human Resources at A|X Armani Exchange, leading the integration of A|X into Giorgio Armani following its acquisition by Giorgio Armani Group. Prior to that, she was SVP of Human Resources and Administration at Tower Group International, Ltd.

Dr. Gena Yuvette Davis

Founder & CEO, True Synergy Inc.

Gena is a renowned organizational psychologist, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and community advocate. She is the visionary founder and CEO of True Synergy Inc., a people and culture management company specializing in corporate culture change, people operations and behavioral transformation for progressive and innovative global organizations. In 2020, Gena launched her social communication and media brand, Dr. Gena Yuvette Davis Media, which has become a major platform for her to speak to nationwide audiences, coach executives privately and write extensively.

Lori Zwilling

Director of Solutions Product Management, Dell Technologies

Lori is responsible for the strategy and delivery of as-a-Service solutions across software, services and hardware. She leads a team focused on envisioning the best modern compute experience for customers based on the business outcomes they are trying to achieve. Previously at IBM, Lori held multiple leadership positions. She was a leader for security governance software product management as well as design, research and front-end development for IBM Watson Education and IBM’s social collaboration suite.

National Women's Business Conference - 2023

2023

October 15-17, 2023