Founding Member
Board Member
Dolly Evans
Owner
Small Business Services
www.smallbizservices.com
Dolly Evans is the founder and President/CEO of Small Business Services and Prolease by SBS, a combined $4M+ enterprise with a twenty year history in Atlanta, Georgia.Dolly focuses her efforts on the development side of her clients’ business ventures, including assessment of specific financial issues, planning and projections. Dolly holds several taxation certifications and assists clients in this area of planning. Both of her companies focus on the small business market, with expertise relevant to the issues business owners face each day.
Founding Member
Jonda Beattie
Time Space Organization
www.timespaceorg.com
Time Space Organization helps people organize their space and manage their time even when they are looking at transitions in their lives like downsizing, job changes, combined households, divorce, health issues, new babies or the empty nest.We work in residences and home offices. Jonda Beattie, owner of Time Space Organization is a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization), AHTF (Atlanta Hoarding Task Force), and CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), and the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force.
Founding Member
Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk
President
BBR Companies
www.bbrconsults.com
Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk (like rustic without the “t”) is the founder and owner of bbr companies llc. After having built a widely recognized and respected marketing firm, bbr marketing, she decided to make a big change in 2017 and scale her business back so she could focus on what she does best and brings her the most joy. And thus her part-time chief marketing officer service was born.
Most firms can benefit from the input of a seasoned, experienced strategic marketer, but don’t need or want to invest in that resource full-time. This way partners can focus on what they do best with the knowledge that their marketing (and often their marketing team) is being managed by an expert with their strategic plan always in mind. Her services also include creating strategic marketing plans, coaching and guidance for internal marketing staff, client interviews and research, and even merger and acquisition communication consulting.
Founding Member
Katy Fenbert
State Farm Insurance
www.katyfenbert.com
Katy Fenbert has been in the insurance field since 1984 and is proud to celebrate over 28 years as a State Farm Agent. While her agency is located in Decatur, GA, she writes policies throughout Georgia. With numerous Insurance Products and Financial Services available, her agency helps individuals and businesses manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and protect their dreams.
Katy and her team provide professional, personal and friendly service. So, whether it’s insurance for your car, home or business, give her office a call. We’re happy to help!
Founding Member
Jo Kenney
Keller Williams
www.jokenney.com
Jo Kenney is a long-time Atlanta resident and an experienced REALTOR® serving the metro area. Jo’s special ability to listen to her client’s needs makes her the ideal agent to help clients in the buying and selling process! Her clients appreciate her integrity, experience, and knowledge, and trust her with the important process of buying and selling their homes.
Jo specializes in Independent Women (Single, Widowed, Divorced, Domestic Partners and Investors), First Time Buyers, and Move-Up Buyers. Her exceptional negotiation skills will ensure that your real estate transaction will be a wise move! Her goal is that every transaction be a win-win, and as smooth as possible. She knows how to keep the drama down!
Founding Member
Paige Stanley
Law Office of Paige Arden Stanley, L.L.C.
www.stanleylawoffice.com
As part of her law practice, Law Office of Paige Arden Stanley, L.L.C., Paige represents small business owners in a variety of industries as their outside general counsel. Paige also focuses her practice on the area of estate planning and prepares clients’ wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Paige additionally handles probate and estate administration and is a frequent speaker on business law and estate planning fundamentals.
Paige believes wholeheartedly in operating her law firm efficiently so that her clients achieve true value for their legal dollar.
Founding Member
Faye Sykes
CEO
Social Security Benefit Planners
www.socialsecuritybp.com
www.scarletoakfs.com
Just like a CPA can help you navigate the complex world of the IRS, we assist pre-retirees in planning and maximizing their Social Security income. There are over 2,700 regulations that oversee Social Security and many people end up missing out by not knowing. Social Security as a government agency is directed to answer questions but cannot legally give advice. Faye has been in the financial world since 2005 and also owns her own independent firm that focuses on helping women.
Board Member
Karla Kreitner
Privacy and Security Advisor
Kardon
www.kardonhq.com
Kardon works with businesses to create cybersecurity and privacy programs like HIPAA, CCPA, NIST CSF and more to protect their information valuable assets. It doesn’t matter how small or large your organization is….. you have client / customer information that you need to protect. You can begin with small steps to create strong passwords, updating your software, train your Team and work smart remotely with WiFi and VPN. After all you only have one reputation. It could take seconds to lose it in today’s world of ransomware and cyber attacks.
Board Member
Jane Lomas
Realtor
Intown Area Homes, PalmerHouse Properties
www.finehomesofatlanta.com
Jane began her real estate career in Florida in 2012. She loves getting to know her clients, learning what they want in the ideal home, and then helping them find a property that matches their vision.
Prior to going into real estate, Jane spent 19 years as a geologist working on urban assessments and environmental analyses. Over the years, she developed a strong understanding of land, an eye for details, and powerful skills in bid proposal and negotiation. Jane also owned a personal training studio where her entire focus was on finding the best ways to help people reach their goals. As a realtor, she works tirelessly to represent her clients’ best interests, whether they’re buying or selling a home.
Jane loves springtime in Atlanta with its explosion of flowers. She enjoys reading, visiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, listening to music, walking in nature – and of course, exploring Atlanta’s intown neighborhoods. This spring, she and her sister dressed up like bees to join BeeCatur in a neighborhood Mardi Gras parade through Oakhurst.
Jane is currently a member of the Intown Area Homes team with PalmerHouse Properties. She is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and has Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), and Sellers Representative Specialist (SRS) designations. She’s also active in the Atlanta Realtor Association and currently serves on the Communication and Public Relations committee.
Kelly-Ann Green, CPA
Owner
KA Green Consulting
www.kagreencpa.com
Small businesses can have complex accounting needs. If you are a new business owner and you are wondering if there is a better way to keep your books organized, give us a call! We assist small businesses set up their accounting systems and provide monthly bookkeeping services to keep you organized throughout the year. We also provide training to you and your staff, to ensure that you’re using your system as efficiently as possible.
Tracy Gould-Sheinin
Owner
Clarity Mediation
https://claritymediation.net/
Since 1999, Tracy has helped thousands of clients navigate the difficult processes of separation, divorce, and post-divorce adjustments. As an expert mediation, she specializes in assisting couples work through complicated and emotional issues to reach a fair, thorough, and satisfactory resolution.
Nyemade Henry
Owner
The Henry Agency
www.HenryAgencyInc.com
Nyemade Henry is the owner and Chief Asset Protector at The Henry Agency, Inc. Nyemade has over 18 years of experience in the insurance industry. Nyemade has a B.B.A. in Marketing and a Masters in Healthcare Policy and Administration from Mercer University. At the Henry Agency, we enjoy working with individuals, families and small business owners to customize an insurance plan that fits their individual needs. No one individual is the same, and neither is any insurance plan. For a complimentary review of your insurance policies, whether it is auto, home, life or business, contact us at The Henry Agency, Inc., today.
Brenda Holley
Business & Life Design Coach
www.brendaholley.com
Brenda Holley is a Master Certified Coach with three coaching certifications and 15 years of coaching under her belt. Her two primary focuses are on mid-life women and individuals in career transition.
Maybe you’ve been hesitating to create the life you want, waiting for the right moment, the right sign that you are on track. Maybe you have taken your first steps and now want to take bigger steps, but you feel stuck.Your “have to” list is longer than your “want to” list. You’re not making the kind of headway you had hoped for. If only you could do and be more. Sound familiar?
If you’re looking for someone who knows how to achieve remarkable results in business and personal life, and can help you achieve similar results, you’ve found her.
Check out her website at brendaholley.com for more information and to schedule a free consultation.
Lynda Idleman, PhD
President
Idleman & Associates
www.idleman.com
We offer professional, personal, and reliable consultation services to doctoral level students, at all phases of the dissertation process, from topic development to final defense. Whether you are attempting to determine your topic and approach, you are ready to conduct your analysis, or if all you need is a final edit, we can help.
With Idleman & Associates involved in the dissertation process, we will:
- Make sure we fully understand the issue you are studying.
- Work on your quantitative or qualitative methodology.
- Support you in the development of a draft of your dissertation proposal or concept paper.
- Provide guidance on the selection of instruments to collect your data, guide you in the collection of the data, and provide expertise in the analysis of the data.
- Have your dissertation professionally edited according to APA or other specific guidelines.
- Support you through your committee review process and prepare you for the defense of your completed dissertation.
Michelle Jackson, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®
Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor
Capital Group Private Client Services
www.capitalgroup.com/pcs
Michelle Jackson is a Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for Capital Group Private Client Services. She works with high-net-worth individuals and their families to design customized plans for protecting and growing their wealth, often over multiple generations. She also helps nonprofit foundations and endowments pursue long-term financial objectives through effective planning and investment management. Reach out to Michelle at michelle.jackson@capgroup.com.
Rohini Kukreja
President / Owner
Intown Accounting Services
www.intownaccounting.com
Intown Accounting Solutions was founded by Rohini Kukreja to help small to mid-size business owners outsource their accounting needs. Savvy business owners are able to get out of the grunt work involved with keeping their records clean, and get back to their business – their primary passion! IAS works as a partner to help Entrepreneurs and Freelancers understand their financials and identify trends which always leads to more confident and timely business decisions.
Rohini is a CPA with a Masters in Internal Audit and also a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor. She has a background in Big 4 Public Accounting and Financial Analysis, which has honed her skills in staying finely tuned into the details while keeping sight of the big picture.
IAS takes full advantage of cloud based technologies to keep owners plugged in to the health of their business. Packages are customized to fit the needs of the business, and range anywhere from QuickBooks Set-up & Training, to Clean-up, all the way to Ongoing Controllership Services.
Katie Leikam, MSW, MBA, LCSW, LISW-CP, BC-TMH
Psychotherapist, Gender Specialist, Speaker and Consultant
www.katieleikam.com
Katie Leikam, MSW, MBA, LCSW, LISW-CP, BC-TMH is a gender therapist in GA, SC and FL and small business owner who is WPATH GEI SOC v7 Certified. She serves the LGBTQIA, transgender, non-binary and genderqueer community with mental health wellness. She works with her clients with gender identity, anxiety, depression, relationship stress, family and religious trauma and coming out to others.
Katie is also a speaker and educator, speaking at Gender Odyssey Los Angeles, The Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference as well as the United States Association of Transgender Health. She provides continuing education about topics of gender identity and LGBTQIA mental wellness and business development. Katie is a contributing writer for UpJourney magazine and has been quoted as an expert in publications such as Huffington Post, Bustle and Prevention magazine.
She is passionate about building businesses and consulting with business leaders and HR managers to reach their goals of having a having a diverse, LGBTQ affirming business and also holds a MBA in Marketing from Mercer University, which she uses as a consultant to small businesses, universities and corporations.
If you are looking for a therapist to help you on your journey, or a consultant and public speaker, reach out to Katie Leikam MSW, MBA, LCSW, LISW-CP, BC-TMH.
Georgia Lord
Attorney
Georgia Lord Law
www.georgialordlaw.com
Georgia Lord is a family law and disability rights attorney.
Georgia represents persons facing such family transitions as divorce and disputes regarding child custody, child support, or alimony. She also regularly serves as a Guardian ad litem, appointed by the Court to represent the best interests of children in the middle of custody disputes.
Georgia is proud to offer both Collaborative and Conventional Family Law Services to both traditional and nontraditional families. She has not only assisted numerous parents with custody claims arising from same-sex relationships but has also instructed lawyers and Judges on the legal principles governing this rapidly changing area of the law.
- A Top Ten Percent/Honors at Emory University College of Law and recipient of numerous professional honors.
- Extensive experience as a practicing lawyer, including over 6 years’ experience as a staff attorney inside Fulton County’s Family Court.
- Regularly provides professional training for family lawyers and Judges.
- Born and raised in metro Atlanta.
Georgia understands how difficult family litigation can be, that issues crucial to her client’s future happiness may be hanging in the balance. She keeps her clients informed, forthrightly acknowledging any uncertainties. She listens to her clients with care and treats them with dignity.
Myra Palmer
President
The Palmer Agency
www.palmeragency.com
Myra Palmer, president of the Palmer Agency, is an advocate of the life insurance industry. With more than thirty years in the agency she brings knowledge, passion, and experience; carrying on a family legacy that began when her father, Howard H. Palmer founded the Palmer Agency in 1961. Myra has deep respect for the advisors that choose to work with our firm and an ongoing commitment to the growth of their personal business. Leveraging the past she is able to energize the future as a true leader.
Myra is a student of the industry and is actively involved. She is a frequent speaker at industry events, currently serves as Chair-Elect on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) and several carrier advisory boards. She has served on NAIFA’s Independent Advisors Task Force, is Past President of The Charitable Foundation of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), Insurance and Financial Leaders of the Southeast and has served on the Oxford College of Emory University Board of Counselors. Myra is an active member of NAIFA, SubCenters, The Marketing Alliance, and SAGE (a second generation study group).
With a compelling story of love, loss and lessons learned, Myra understands the value of life insurance products from a professional and personal perspective. This story is featured in an article written by Myra and published in Broker World Magazine October 2015. This experience, along with her compassion, allows her to more effectively help others – she understands the challenges a small business faces, including the loss of two key men (her own brother, past president Alan Palmer and 32 year business partner, Exec VP, Jimmy Harrington), she has navigated the challenges of Long Term Care, and she has personally benefited from the value of life insurance (she lost her husband Dave in 2012).
Myra enjoys time with family and friends. She plays golf, runs, reads, travels and is a wine enthusiast. Myra has three sons, Chase, DJ and Palmer, a daughter-in-law Taylor, a beautiful grand-daughter June and a great companion in Blenner, her Golden Doodle.
Lee Read Pilgrim
Owner / Designer
READY TRADING
www.readytowearclothing.com
READY TRADING specializes in naturally beautiful clothing designed and produced locally and the USA. We focus on natural fabrics, rich, organic color, rustic neutrals and versatile looks for women of all ages. We look for and design pieces that pack and travel, move seamlessly from work to dinner, and look great at home or around the world. We feature styles that can be layered, worn year after year, and pieces that showcase treasured accessories and adornments.
Owner and designer, Lee Read Pilgrim developed her mission and aesthetic over many years. Lee opened her first clothing store, Almanac in 1978 in Athens, Georgia. Almanac was a gathering place for women of many ages and interests. In that same, small town tradition, READY TRADING continues to focus on developing relationships and providing a personal shopping experience.
Find Lee in Atlanta at her flagship store 1790 Cheshire Bridge Road or in her “ TAOS” booth at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur.
Anne Sciarrone, AIA, LEED AP
Owner/Architect
Anne Architecture
www.annearchitecture.com
As problem solvers, our job is to listen to your needs and bring your vision to life in a way that suits your daily lifestyle. We offer comprehensive architectural services that cover all phases of a project whether your purposes are for master planning, commercial construction, single family homes, additions, or renovations.
Do you need help setting project goals and establishing design direction? Call on us for Creative Direction, we help set project goals, establish design direction, and provide mentorship for your project.
Do you need direction navigating functionality, zoning, building codes, and of course budget? Have us do a Feasibility Study, where we provide an objective, detailed project review for you including site, zoning, building codes, functionality, and of course, budget.
Do you need creative solutions and guidance through the design and construction process? We offer Full Architectural Services, shepherding you through the entire design and construction process beginning with the idea phase and ending with project completion.
Anne Sciarrone has been working in the field of architecture for over 30 years and is currently licensed in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Arizona. With a certificate from the National Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) she can obtain registration and travel anywhere you have a project. Anne founded Anne Architecture in 2010 and has a small staff of architects (currently all women) who strive to live out the firm’s mission: to SERVE. SOLVE. DELIGHT.
Gail Turner-Cooper
Founder
Align Health Coaching
www.alignhealthcoaching.com
After many years growing a marketing startup to a successful, multi-location company, Gail pursued her passion project. With a mission to help people live their lives to the fullest and to support them with guidance to live a happier, healthier life. Align Health Coaching offers custom-tailored wellness plans for individuals, groups, and families. They cater to busy working professionals that want to feel good again and find their stride. They also work with parents of children with special needs to find a lifestyle that works for them. Your Align coach will be by your side to guide and support you, without criticism or judgment. They develop plans that include sustainable habits relating to nutrition, meditation, fitness, and lifestyle. They don’t believe in a one size fits all approach. They do believe that transformation starts from the inside out.