Charge Into Leadership Conference ’24
Leadership From Community Leaders
October 18, 2024
GHC Cartersville Campus
Keynote: Alexandra Reiter
Alexandra Reiter is a former Associate Professor of Communication with 15 years of experience teaching communication courses at Georgia Highlands College. Alexandra is now President and co-creator of Renegade Lemonade.
During the pandemic, Alexandra and her husband Brady did the unimaginable: they turned LEMONS into WINE! Renegade Lemonade was invented in their basement in Dallas, Georgia. Renegade Lemonade is a wine made from 100% lemons with 12% ABV. It is light, crisp, and refreshing with a perfect blend of tart and sweet. Renegade Lemonade is not only is a delicious wine on its own, but is also a marvelous mixer with sweet tea, ginger beer, gin, vodka or tequila. Renegade Lemonade is the ONLY 100% lemon wine on the market and is taking the South by storm.
In just 3 short years, Renegade Lemonade is now distributed in Georgia and Alabama with plans to expand into Tennessee, North & South Carolina, Florida and California.
Be BOLD, be a Renegade!
Agenda
- Check-In/Continental Breakfast (Student Center Solarium)
- Welcome& Keynote Speaker- Alex Reiter (Student Center Ballroom)
- Breakout Sessions 1 (C Building)
- Breakout Sessions 2 (C Building&Student Center)
- Lunch (Student Center Ballroom)
- Entrepreneurship Speaker Panel (Student Center Ballroom)
Breakout Sessions:
GHC Faculty/Staff:
- Andy Borg: Smart Budgeting for Students: Mastering Your Money in College
- Jed Gillespie & Annette Maddox: Emergent/Organic Leadership
- Joy Hambrick:Time Utility and Work-Life Balance
- Dr. Oris: Motivational Leadership: The Power of Now
Entrepreneurship Speaker Panel, 12:30pm:
- Ashely Sutton
- Dr. Nikki Adeniyi
- Alex Reiter
- Caitlin Duncan
- Shatara S. Clark
- Tonesha Smith
- Nancy Grimm
1O:OOam-10:4Sam: Breakout Sessions 1 (C Building)
- Ashely Sutton: Emotional Intelligence
- Shatara S. Clark: Leap- Take the Risk
- Nancy Grimm: Skills and Behaviors to Maximize Your Value and Make You Stand Out
- Dr. Nikki Adeniyi: Building Resilience and Adaptability
- Caitlin Duncan: Navigating Success and Setbacks: Lessons Learned from My Journey in Business Leadership
- Tonesha Smith: Branding 101
11 :00am-11 :4Sam: Breakouts #2
- Dr. Jed Gillespie & Annette Maddox: Emergent/Organic Leadership (C-l 10)
- Joy Hambrick: Time Utility & Work-Life Balance (C-l 25)
- Andy Borg: Smart Budgeting for Students- Mastering Your Money in College
- Oris Guillaume: Connect2Lead, Experiencing Your True Design Across Generation Leaders (C-160)
Speaker Panel
Ashely Sutton
Ashely Sutton or AshTheBFF is a vibrant and inspiring reality television star, best recognized for her role on TLC’s hit show "1000lb Best Friends," which has quickly become a fan favorite over its two successful seasons. As a voice and face in the realm of plus-size fashion and wellness, Ashely has harnessed her platform to become a notable brand ambassador and a budding social media influencer.
Ashely uses her unique voice to empower and motivate women, offering practical weight loss tips while celebrating body positivity and self-love. Her passion for fashion and commitment to promoting inclusive beauty standards have earned her a dedicated following on various social media platforms.
A proud alumna of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, Ashely's educational background laid a strong foundation for her multifaceted career. Her time at Spelman ignited a drive for excellence and a dedication to uplifting her community.
When cameras are not rolling, Ashely maintains her career at one of the leading insurance companies in the industry. This dual career not only showcases her versatility but also underscores her steadfast work ethic and dedication to professional growth.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Ashely is a cultural enthusiast with a love for exploring new trends and experiences. She enjoys indulging in shopping sprees, visiting museums where she can immerse herself in art and history, and watching a wide array of movies that span different genres.
With an ever-expanding presence both on-screen and online, Ashely Sutton continues to inspire and connect with individuals around the world, fostering a narrative of strength, resilience, and positivity.
Dr. Nikki Adeniyi
Dr. Nikki Adeniyi has been an integral part of Walmart Pharmacy in Hampton, Georgia, for 14 years. Currently serving as the Pharmacy Manager, she leads a dedicated team of 17 professionals, providing exceptional healthcare services to Clayton County. Under her leadership, the pharmacy delivered over 10,000 COVID-19 vaccinations during the pandemic, showcasing her commitment to community health.
Dr. Adeniyi holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Georgia and a Doctorate of Pharmacy from South University in Savannah. In recognition of her leadership and her ability to drive both profit growth and customer satisfaction, she was honored as the Pharmacy Manager of the Year for Market 16 in 2023.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Dr. Adeniyi is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. She volunteers with the Future Doctors Club, supporting rising healthcare leaders in Clayton County Schools. In her leisure time, she enjoys tailgating and cheering on her alma mater—Go Dawgs!
Topic: “Building Resilience and Adaptability” will cover how future leaders can develop the resilience needed to navigate in a fast-paced and forever changing environment and I would also touch on the importance of emotional intelligence, effective communication and team collaboration.
Caitlin Duncan
COO at All Service Floor Covering Catilin is a dynamic leader in the flooring industry, currently serving as COO at All Service Floor Covering. With over 6 years of experience, Catilin has a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and excellence.
Early Career and Education Catilin began her career with a solid educational foundation, having had experience with the DECA program at her high school. This was followed by her early roles in the company carrying out duties as the general managers assistant, progressing to inside sales and learning the financial side of the company, later taking over as general manager.
Career Highlights Throughout her career, Catilin has achieved significant milestones, including securing major flooring contracts with various clients, helping evolve her family’s company, sitting on the leadership committee as the youngest leader of her BNI chapter and closing over 3 million dollars in sales over her 3 years of sales experience. At All Service Floor Covering, Catilin has been instrumental in managing new business contracts and fostering valuable relationship skills.
Community Involvement and Personal Interests Beyond professional achievements, Catilin has grown up singing at church with her family and is passionate about supporting her local musical charities, raising money for a local missionary to help build homes and wells in Malawi Africa for orphaned children, and supporting local law enforcement community improvement campaigns. This commitment to helping her community to make it a better place reflects a broader dedication to making a positive impact both within and outside the industry.
Vision for the Future Looking ahead, Catilin is focused on growing her family’s company. She aims to expand even further into the residential and commercial markets and get more involved in the real estate side of the industry, continuing to lead All Service Floor Covering towards even greater success. For more information, you can connect with Catilin Duncan through LinkedIn or via email at Catilin.duncan@gmail.com
Shatara S. Clark
Shatara S. Clark is a multifaceted professional with a passion for education, literature, and community empowerment. In 2008, Shatara graduated from Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications. Continuing her educational journey, Shatara earned a Masters in Education from Auburn University Montgomery, further solidifying her commitment to academic excellence. Over the course of a decade, she contributed significantly to the public education system, leaving an indelible mark as an English teacher, shaping the minds of countless students.
In 2014, Shatara was initiated into the prestigious Montgomery Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and remains actively engaged in the chapter to this day. This affiliation exemplifies her commitment to community service, leadership, and sisterhood.
Beyond her career in education, Shatara is a prolific author, boasting six published books available on major platforms such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. Her literary accomplishments extend to having her works featured in a Barnes and Noble location in Montgomery, Alabama, a testament to her impact on the local literary scene.
As the founder of TyWrites, LLC, Shatara channels her passion for writing to assist aspiring authors in realizing their dreams. Through TyWrites, she actively participates in the Better Together Book Tour alongside a fellow Soror, showcasing and supporting authors nationwide through book signings. Together, they established the Distinguished Authors of Alabama Award, a recognition proudly displayed at the Bertha Pleasant Williams Library in Montgomery.
In her role as a Grant Evaluator, Shatara contributes to the educational landscape by overseeing various grants across the country, emphasizing her dedication to improving the quality of education.
Shatara's commitment to community service extends to her nonprofit, TyTalks, which she founded to empower women through networking events, conferences, seminars, fellowship opportunities, and more. TyTalks actively engages in philanthropic endeavors, such as adopting families during the holidays, providing free tutoring, and supporting single parents facing financial burdens.
A true advocate for literacy, Shatara, alongside her sorority sister, initiated the Reading Around the River Region program, visiting local elementary schools to read to students and promote the importance of literacy.
In summary, Shatara S. Clark is not only a seasoned educator and accomplished author but also a dedicated community leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Her diverse contributions to education, literature, and community service exemplify her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Tonesha Smith
Tonesha Smith is a software engineer in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. She is also passionate about volunteering with young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
While in college she was involved in the Computer Science Club and Tau Beta Sigma. For two years, Tonesha led more than 60 volunteers in Aim High, an organization sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta. She mentored thirteen students, helping them with financial aid, scholarship, and college application submissions. As a computer science major, she provided information about internships in the technology job market. Because of her efforts, many of the 650 students in the program entered college the next fall.
In 2008, Tonesha joined Lockheed Martin in San Diego, CA. After a year, she was selected to take part in Lockheed’s Engineering Leadership and Development Program. During her time in San Diego, Tonesha became a member of Network of Volunteer Associates group and volunteered for STEM projects. One example is “Space Day” where she led a demonstration on how to build a space shuttle. Hundreds of children attended her “Space Day” demonstration.
In 2010, Tonesha headed east to Baltimore, Maryland, for an Engineering Leadership and Development Program rotation. As she developed her career, she looked for opportunities to grow future engineers. She became a mentor for the First Robotics Competition and used the 5th gear simulator to show more than 5,000 local students how engineering gets done through teamwork. Tonesha also became involved in Project Lead the Way. This program is designed to inspire K-12 students.
Since she moved to Fort Worth, TX, she has served as a judge for the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering state competitions. In 2015, 300 students completed an engineering design challenge. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Tonesha earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL
Nancy Grimm
Nancy Grimm is the Sr. Commercial Marketing Manager at Rheem Manufacturing, a leading global manufacturer of air conditioning and water heating products. At Rheem, Nancy leads the development and execution of commercial marketing strategy and operations for the Air Division with a particular emphasis on generating brand awareness and consideration and driving profitable growth. Nancy has an extensive background in the HVAC industry that started at LG Electronics and spans the entire customer experience from technical roles leading aftermarket operations teams like field engineering, tech support, parts, and warranty to marketing operations, marketing programs, and now marketing strategy. Throughout her career, Nancy has launched new products into the U.S. market, products into new market segments, built teams to support strategic growth initiatives, developed sales analytics training for the LG Global B2B Learning Academy, and led marketing efforts that have helped deliver double digit year-over-year revenue growth.
Nancy earned her B.A. in Political Science from Tulane University, an M.B.A. from Kennesaw State University and an HVACR technician certification. Thanks to the last certification, Nancy has repaired the HVAC at her home she shares with her husband and two children twice - which gives her a special appreciation for HVAC contractors who spend their lives in the field making us all comfortable. Nancy describes herself as curious and is always on the lookout for ways to learn more and mentor other curious female leaders in male-dominated industries.