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Team

Meet our GWBC Team which is dedicated to helping women business enterprises (WBEs) grow and succeed. This includes outreach, technical assistance, programming and certification for the private and public sectors. Our goal is to continue to refine our procedures and operations to effectively execute resources that will elevate our corporate and women business communities.

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Roz Lewis - President & CEO

Roz Lewis is President & CEO of the Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC®), a regional partner organization of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC); past Chair of the WBENC Leadership Council and currently serves on the WBENC Board of Directors. Her day to day responsibilities include leading GWBC’s region of 1100+ certified women businesses in the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

She has received numerous awards and featured in articles related to supplier diversity and GWBC. Most notably Forbes SE Magazine and The Girls Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business book by author, Susan Wilson. Lewis has appeared on regional talk radio and TV stations promoting GWBC® and WBENC.

In 2010, Lewis was invited to the White House for Council on Women and Girls Entrepreneur Conference for the announcement of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Women Own Small Business (WOSB) Rule approved by Congress. In 2014, she was invited twice to the White House to participate in sessions regarding small business and the Affordable Care Act.

Lewis received her B.S. from Florida International University and her Certified Purchasing Managers (CPM) and Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD) certifications from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

Email: rlewis@gwbc.org

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Pat Agard - Executive Admin Assistant

Pat is an experienced Executive Administrative Assistant with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting and non profit industries. Pat manages schedules, meetings and other events for GWBC President & CEO Roz Lewis. Pat is skilled in Microsoft Office, recruiting, event and meeting planning and calendar management, and expense reporting.

Email: pagard@gwbc.org

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Cathie Brumfield - Fractional CFO

Cathie Brumfield is the president and CEO of Magnolia Financial Management Services, a strategic CFO and tax advisory firm. Cathie grew up working in a family business, then gained her initial work experience after graduating from college with two of the then “Big Six” international audit firms. A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and a CMA (Certified Management Accountant) she has built her career assisting closely held businesses grow by linking strategic decisions to financial results. She has worked with GWBC since its founding over 23 years ago and is excited by its many accomplishments.

A summa cum laude graduate of the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, she won the silver medal for her performance on the CPA exam in her home state of Mississippi. She then moved to Atlanta where she has worked with a wide variety of for profit and non-profit enterprises since founding her firm in 1994.

A devoted member of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody, she has served in many roles from Treasurer to President over the years, leading her club to Club of the Year in Georgia for 2020 (the initial year of the pandemic) and Club of the Decade. An enthusiastic gardener, she works to enhance environmental sustainability by promoting the planting of more Georgia Piedmont native plants and is active in the Georgia Native Plant Society, as well as serving as a Forest Steward at the Dunwoody Nature Center. She has two adult children who live and work in metro Atlanta.

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Anne Morgan- Fractional Operations

Anne gets fired up about connecting people, organizations, and resources to drive growth, create lasting value and transform our world for good. She has a knack for seeing big picture organizational visions with clarity and finding ways to bring them to life. She has helped to launch and grow several nonprofit and small business start-ups, and her fund and business development efforts have raised millions. Anne's operations management superpowers have helped to revolutionize banking, launch the next generation of environmental changemakers, and use the world’s most popular video game to democratize urban planning.

thebiglil.com/fractional-coo-for-nonprofits

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Sarah Will - Fractional COO

Sarah WIll - Fractional COO

Sarah has worked in a range of business environments including corporate tech, consulting, small startup, and nonprofit, as well as starting her own small business - Ember Community Kits, which supports other small businesses! She thrives in the creativity that comes with both ideation and operations- and loves brainstorming big ideas and laying the groundwork, process, systems, and timelines to implement.

thebiglil.com/fractional-coo-for-startups-smallbusiness

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Kristal Badgett - Certification Manager

Kristal joins GWBC as a graduate of the University of Illinois with a paralegal background in compliance and corporate litigation. After relocating from Ft. Lauderdale to Charlotte, she shifted her focus to the non-profit sector. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from the University of North Carolina where she also worked as a researcher and fidelity specialist for the university. Kristal is passionate about the impactful work of non-profit organizations to make a meaningful difference in society, and she is excited about working for GWBC to further empower women business owners. Kristal is originally from the Bronx, New York, and in her spare time, she enjoys exercising and traveling.

Email: kbadgett@gwbc.org

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Maria Balais - Director of Operations

Maria Balais - Director of Programs

Maria Balais is the Director of Programs for Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC). She provides oversight for programs that engage and strengthen women-owned businesses and member corporations. Prior to this role, she was Principal of The Balais Group, a community engagement, communications, and strategy consulting firm.

She was the Executive Director of Leadership DeKalb from 2013-2020, where she was responsible for leading the organization in operations, program development, fundraising, strategic planning, community relations, and board and volunteer management. During her tenure, the organization impacted 54 nonprofit organizations, trained over 450 leaders, and established a reserve fund for the organization.

She is an experienced nonprofit executive, published author, and speaker with great interest in civic involvement. Her favorite role in life is being mother to her son, Christopher Jay (CJ).

Email: mbalais@gwbc.org

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Evette Blackmon - Site Visitor Coordinator

Evette works closely with women business owners performing hundreds of virtual and in-person Certification site visit interviews a year. Evette is dedicated to ensuring compliance with WBENC Standards and Procedures. Before joining GWBC, Evette worked with Minority and Women Business owners for more than a decade for The Coca-Cola Company as Supplier Diversity Project Manager. In the past, Evette has served on boards and committees dedicated to helping MWBEs sustain and grow their businesses. Evette is married, with three adult children and three grandchildren.

Email: eblackmon@gwbc.org

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Sharelle Burt - Programs/Events Coordinator

Sharelle Burt-Programs/Events Coordinator

Sharelle Burt currently creates and implements an average of eight in-person and virtual networking and signature events and programs per quarter in Georgia, North Carolina and South. She serves as lead producer for all virtual events/shows such as Mornings with GWBC and manages the main GWBC website and an average of five individual program calendars, ensuring updates are made accurately and in a timely manner.

Sharelle manages and oversees events and programs logistics process, including management of approximately 20 event volunteers per event. She develops and coordinates weekly email marketing campaigns that reach an average of 600 women business enterprises and corporate members.

She serves as the main point of contact and strategic communications partner to existing and onboarding corporate members and sponsors such as The Coca-Cola Company, Atrium Health, BMW Manufacturing, Papa John’s and more.

Email: sburt@gwbc.org

Alain Cancia

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Alain Cancia - Certification Manager

Alain Cancia was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived in South Florida before moving to Georgia. He earned his Master's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He joins GWBC with nearly 20 years of paralegal experience.

Outside of work, Alain enjoys playing music (keyboards and guitar), physical fitness, and reading. One of Alain’s favorites quotes reads: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." – MLK

Email: acancia@gwbc.org

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Yesenia Guilfuchi - Certification Coordinator

Yesenia Guilfuchi is a versatile professional with a strong blend of paralegal and executive assistant experience. Recognized for her meticulous attention to detail and exceptional communication skills, she eagerly embraces new challenges. In her spare time, Yesenia enjoys cooking, singing, and exploring bike trails. She also volunteers with organizations that support unsheltered populations and serves as a mental health advocate. Yesenia values giving back to the community and is dedicated to making a positive impact.

Email: yguilfuchi@gwbc.org

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Matielyn Jones - Director of Operations

Matielyn Jones has spent her career in a variety of mission-driven roles including political consulting, teaching, ministry, program management, and corporate training. A graduate of Georgia State University with degrees in Political Science and Education, she is passionate about driving social impact initiatives through civic leadership and professional development. Matielyn enjoys writing and has several creative projects in the works including a devotional and a podcast. She is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana and lives in Gwinnett County, Georgia with her husband and their two handsome sons.

Email: mjones@gwbc.org

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Melonie Jones - Certification Assistant

Melonie has been part of the GWBC Certifications Team since 2006. After spending nine years as a volunteer for the GWBC Certification and Event committees, as well as for GWBC local and WBENC national events, Melonie assisted with converting all GWBC certification files from hard copy to electronic. For several years she traveled the GWBC territory completing site visits. With a degree in Business Administration from Walden University and more than 40 years of experience in business administration, Melonie enjoys being a part of the GWBC mission to support woman-owned business enterprises. Melonie currently works as a part-time Certifications Processor.

Email: meloniejones@gwbc.org

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Sharon Judge - Senior Certification Manager

Sharon serves as a liaison between female business owners and corporations communicating the needs, roles and responsibilities of each entity. She apprises corporations and business owners of benefits of supplier diversity and assists with major events and networking opportunities to increase awareness and maintain interest and visibility of the organization. She conducts training webinars for potential GWBC applicants covering the benefits of certification and performs on-site business inspections - reporting back regarding compliance with WBENC Standards and Procedures.

Email: sjudge@gwbc.org

Saeed Nobari

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Saeed Nobari - Program/Events Coordinator

With disciplines in advertising and marketing, Saeed Nobari has had experience in automotive, retail, collegiate and professional athletics, non-profit organizations, and paper engineering industries. His passion for Diversity and Inclusion initiatives has led to him most recently serving as an Events Marketing Coordinator at the Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry, where he developed programs for women in STEM-fields, students, young professionals and international attendees.

Outside of work, Saeed is an avid soccer fan, enjoys food and travel documentaries, cooking, consuming music, and all forms of trivia.

Email: snobari@gwbc.org

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Juliet Perrault - Office Coordinator

Teresa Brady

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Teresa Brady - Plan On It

A Certified Meeting Professional, Teresa has been in the Corporate Meeting and Incentive industry for over 28 years. Having a passion for organization, details and strong working relationships has consistently helped her be successful in a chaotic industry.

She started Plan On It in 2005 with a goal of making a difference in each of her client’s lives by not only producing exciting events but also creating long-lasting, trusting relationships with people across the globe. In fact, she has produced meetings and incentives on four continents for a wide range of clients.

Teresa is a proud graduate of Clemson University where she obtained a degree in Marketing. Her passions include traveling and cheering for her beloved Tigers.

www.planonit.net

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Sharon Goldmacher - communications 21

Sharon Goldmacher is president and CEO of communications 21, a digital marketing and public relations firm. With 35 years of experience in solving marketing challenges for a range of clients in industries including real estate, technology, nonprofit, professional services, food and beverage, entertainment, sports and more, Sharon is proud to work with GWBC.

Founded in 1992, c21 has garnered 80+ awards from AMA, PRSA, IABC and more, and has been recognized with a variety of business-related awards including DeKalb Chamber’s Stargazer award for “Small Business Start-Up of the Year”, Atlanta Ad Club’s Young Advertising Professional Award, “Best Place to Work” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Sharon was tapped to join the University of South Florida’s Z School faculty as an instructor for its digital marketing certificate program and speaks to a variety of organizations on marketing and PR trends.

She also serves on several boards, including CREW Atlanta, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Board, the past presidents’ council of the American Marketing Association – Atlanta Chapter. She is a graduate of CREW Leadership and Leadership Buckhead and was the executive director of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee, overseeing the planning and execution of the 2013 NCAA® Men’s Final Four® in Atlanta.

Sharon graduated cum laude from Newcomb College/Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

c21pr.com

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Monica Maldonado - IPCOMM Printing

Monica Maldonado is a dynamic community leader, small business advocate and trailblazing entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience leading what is known today as IPCOMM Agency. Under her leadership, the company has been named one of the Top 500 Hispanic American-Owned Businesses in the United States, the Top 100 Minority-Owned Businesses in Georgia, and the Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses in Georgia. She has received numerous awards, including the Jackie Robinson's Most Valuable Diverse Business Partners (MVDBP) Award, was recognized in the inaugural class of the "50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia" by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2019, and most recently, graduated from Accenture's Diverse Supplier Development Program (DSDP) VII US CLASS. As President and CEO, Monica understands the importance of innovation and empathy and is passionate about helping businesses grow through print and digital communications. She is vehement about fulfilling her word and is known by many clients for having a track record of going above and beyond to ensure their most pressing needs are met and delivered with excellence.

Monica has served on the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) boards, Latin American Chamber of Commerce (LACC), DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and Colombianitos non-profit organization. She is currently on the Marketing Committee for the GWBC (Greater Women's Business Council) and the Advisory Council of the Minority Business Input Committee (MBEIC) at the Georgia Minority Development Council (GMSDC). Monica doesn't define success in materialistic things but instead in living the best life she can and creating results for the goals and dreams she sets for herself and her team at IPCOMM Agency. Monica values family and connection as a small business owner, leader, mother, and grandmother.

weareipcomm.com

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Kriston Sellier - id8 Graphics

Kriston Sellier, president of id8, an award-winning specialized branding agency in metro Atlanta. Kriston regularly speaks on branding to professional and university level groups. Kriston has a degree in graphic design and 25 years of agency experience working with clients in a variety of industries. Prior to id8, she worked for IBM on accounts like the New York Times, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Kodak.

id8agency.com

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