Candace Bazemore, Growth Hacker

Candace Bazemore is a Digital Marketing Game Changer who specializes in Content, Social Media and Digital Marketing for businesses, nonprofits and women. She has a background in FinTech, Telecom, Entertainment, Non-Profit and Healthcare industries and is an expert in Marketing Automation, Process Management and Growth Hacking.

Candace believes in giving back to the community and serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Amario's Art Academy. She also serves on the Boards of Directors for the Atlanta Film Festival, and United Way of Greater Atlanta's Cole Women United Cabinet. Candace serves in leadership roles in the Junior League of Atlanta, Ladybug for Girls Foundation and the Liberian Consulate. She has served as a President of the Atlanta Micro Fund and served as an Ambassador for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Specialties: - Web Design & Development - SEO and SEM Expert - Agile Methodology - Revenue Marketing - Demand Generation - Marketing Automation - PPC & Display Advertising - Content Marketing - Social Media Marketing.

Shaquanna Chappelle, Image Coach

As an Image Coach, Shaquanna helps the everyday woman cultivate her inner confidence while enhancing her signature image and style. From the ambitious woman excelling in her career or business to the on-the-go mother rediscovering her true identity, Shaquanna believes in the value of self-love and empowers all women to identify their authentic self while redefining an image that will leave a lasting impression.
Shaquanna specializes in assessing a woman’s style and coaching them on how to create their own signature image in a straightforward and uplifting approach. She also provides valuable body language and communication techniques that are used to strengthen a woman’s personal brand.

Shaquanna labels herself as a Confidence Enthusiast, where her goal is to empower women on their journey to self- acceptance. Her mission is accomplished if ONE woman walks away with the confidence, style, and poise needed to achieve their goals and dreams.

Deborah Hightower, Life Elevator

Deborah Hightower wakes people, companies, and organizations to issues of leadership, empowerment and success. She is a believer in life elevated – all things, in all ways. Ranging from the financial arena in corporate America to writing and speaking, her approach is designed to prompt a rethink of thinking.

Deborah holds degrees in Business Administration, Communication and Management and numerous professional designations in the financial planning arena. Her first book, The Secret to Winning BIG: Top Strategies for Winning BIG in Life and Business, is a best-seller. Fly, Beautiful. Fly!, a guided personal journal will release later this year. Poised, Prepared and in HOT Pursuit™ of Your Best Success, a business story book, is expected next year.

Deborah has been acknowledged by America’s Premier Experts® as a leading expert in her field. Her work can be seen in a variety of lifestyle blogs and magazines. She has been listed by INC. Magazine as one of America’s Trendsetters in Health, Wealth and Success. and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Morningstar, CNBC, NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, and other news outlets. She is a member of the invitation-only Forbes Coaches Council.

Cynthia Jouber't, Brand Ambassador

Cynthia Walton-Jouber’t’s expertise lies in Marketing, Branding and Contract Negotiations. Rather it is product, people or parties. Cynthia’s knowledge of strategically building character representation for one’s career advancement or for Product placement enhancement are second to none. BURST Agency, LLC is headed by Cynthia Walton-Jouber’t "The Renaissance Woman" as she is affectionately called by her peers. Cynthia has compiled an impressive background in the Branding & Marketing, Entertainment and Event Planning business.

Since 2000, Cynthia has organized and executed many private and corporate events for an impressive portfolio of clients; representing clients and companies from all industries Cynthia's leadership, strategic planning and coordination with respect to sponsorship support and endorsement, production needs, creative consulting, and event staff support, specifically address common oversights in event production. Cynthia is a genius in Product and Personal Branding, Artist Development, Property Asset Management, and Agent Representation. Through Cynthia's leadership, her company BURST Agency has developed and is currently developing relationships with high schools, colleges, government and other service professionals.

Over the past year Cynthia has been teaching Diversity & Equality Workshops for the above-mentioned entities. Cynthia shares her own experiences and struggles with inclusiveness through diversity acceptance. Cynthia is teaching first-generation college students, LGBTQ student groups, and inner-city high schools about how their awareness of how systemic inequalities affect students’ ability to excel. Cynthia’s teaching and activism highlights her commitment to diversity and equity in higher education.

Degree: School of Hard Knocks University, Designation Certificates: CMEP- (Certified Meeting & Events Planner), CWP- (Certified Wedding Planner), CDP- (Certified Diversity Professional)

Melissa Malcolm, Employment Attorney

Melissa Malcom, a Georgia attorney and entrepreneur, turned her relentless passion for entrepreneurs into The Teaching Attorney. Her mission is to prevent HR nightmares before a business is sued.

Melissa inspires and coaches leaders to get their team to do things right… and stop wasting time and money. When an employee can’t be saved, she’ll help you show them door – legally.

In her law practice, Melissa focuses on defending businesses in healthcare, construction and skilled trades, and the staffing industry. She’s successfully litigated federal cases, won 90% of her contested administrative hearings, and advised leaders on hundreds – almost thousands – adverse actions.

Named a Top Attorney in 2014 by Southern Journal Magazine, Melissa merged her solo practice with Stanton Law LLC in 2017, which is not associated with her online teaching and consulting business. She earned her law degree from the University of Georgia. Yet she remains a true Auburn Tiger, having earned her journalism degree summa cum laude from Auburn University.

Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, Leadership Champion

Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell is a Leadership Champion! CEO of Leading Through Living Community, Lynita guides authors to bestseller status, sharing their stories of empowerment, encouragement, and inspiration. LTLC also executive produces entertaining and informative television and radio shows, movies and events. Lynita is also CEO of BOLD Favor Media Group, publisher of three award-winning lifestyle magazines – BOLD Favor, BOLD Plus, and BOLD Ageless Beauty; as well as producer of the BOLD Lifestyles Awards program celebrating people who inspire us to live boldly and fearlessly.

Additionally, Lynita is a National Top 100 Lawyer, leading her own law firm for 12 years, including through the Great Recession of 2007-08. She is also a CPA, having worked with in Corporate America at Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Deloitte, and then led her own accounting firm. A certified Christian Life Coach and former member of Forbes Magazine’s Coaches Council, Lynita has coached women business owners and leaders through the leadership development and training non-profit she co-founded and named in honor of the founder of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute.

An engaging keynote speaker, Lynita is also a bestselling author of three books focused on leadership and business.

Lynita is married to Rev. Brian K Blackwell, pastor of St Paul AME Church Smithfield and they have one daughter.

“There’s no time to imitate some other person’s brand, style, or swag. I’ve been in the making 42 years and my clients reap the benefits of all my experiences – the good, bad, and… Brilliantly BOLD!”

Careshia N. Moore, Non-profit Executive & Educator

Careshia Moore, Esq. is the Interim President & CEO of Usher’s New Look. In her current role she provides strategic leadership to the organization that develops underserved youth into passion-driven leaders.A life-long educator, her observation of the disparities among underserved youth was the catalyst for the work in which she is currently engaged and propels her to continue to seek out innovative strategies to equip youth to compete to succeed. Careshia earned a Master of Education and Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. She is also an author of a children’s book.

Mylika C. Morton, CPA, MBA, Esq. - Small Business Accountant

Mylika Morton is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who provides professional accounting, tax, and financial services to individuals, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. She has 11 years of progressive experience in various aspects of accounting and financial management.Mylika posses strong communication skills and analytical abilities, and is dedicated to efficiently and effectively ensuring the strategic goals of her clients.

Mylika currently serves as Director of Administration and Finance at The Village of Orlando / The Hope Church in Orlando, Florida. Previously, she served as an Accounting Services Advisor for Smith Group Financial Corporation where she supported clients in the areas of tax preparation services, financial statement compilations, business start-up consulting, and financial planning.

Mylika earned her Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Fisher School of Accounting at the University of Florida. In 2002, she completed her Master in Business Administration at the University of North Florida.

Shana Thornton, Journalist

Award-winning journalist Shana Thornton advocates Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous quote- "Intelligence plus character-that is the true goal of education." Her popular radio talk show titled Let’s Talk America with Host Shana Thornton has received rave reviews on groundbreaking news content. Through her platform, Shana encourages the discovery of viable solutions to many issues affecting the international community. As executive producer and lead on-air talent, she presents the relevant top trending news stories. The international radio program has received several awards, including the WE DAY Excellency In Journalism Award.

She holds membership with the League of Women Entrepreneurs and the Atlanta Press Club. In her spare time, she leads an innovative group of young women titled Emerging Women. She is the current Chairperson of the Friends of the Henry County Public Libraries and a member of the Friends To Unite Community Initiative. Shana is the founder and managing partner of Padgett & Thomas Enterprises, LLC. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the College of Charleston and she holds a Certificate in Journalism from the distinguished University of Massachusetts Amherst. She can often be seen hosting the popular television shows Atlanta Live and Friends and Neighbors on the WATC TV 57 Network.

Shana anchored the weekly news program for the acclaimed Southern Crescent Broadcasting Television on the Charter Network for several years. Shana is also the host of the televised health program “The Dose” featured on SCBTV 182. She is the 2015 Recipient of the BOLD Award in Human Dignity for Journalism. Shana was recently recognized as being one of the Top 14 Under 40 by the award-winning Southern JournalMagazine. She is currently working on her first authorized biography, which is scheduled to be out soon. For the last two years, she organized the Celebration of Hope, which celebrated the community work of the SWAG Program of Connecting Henry, Inc. Shana is currently the public information officer for a city government where she has the responsibility of facilitating information to the public and media outlets. She and her husband are the proud parents of two sons.

For more information on Shana Thornton, please visit www.ltaradio.com or email [email protected].

Julie Turner, Wellness Expert

Julie Turner has over 16 years of experience in kinesiology and somatic training. Her certifications include Social dance, Pilates, Reiki and myofascial release. Julie began her career as a professional dancer in New York. She quickly developed the passion to facilitate and improved quality of life through movement by helping people unravel dysfunctional movement patterns specific to their body. She also helps clients connect their emotional and physical bodies through Reiki healing and chakra balancing. Julie has been a traveling instructor on the sets of Django Unchained, Scandal, and Confirmation and has been featured in Self Magazine and on Elle.com.

www.julieturnermovement.com

https://facebook.com/julieturnermovement

https://instagram.com/julieturnermvmt

https://twitter.com/julieturnermvmt

Molly Sutherland, Strategist

Founder/Chief Executive Strategist or more than 30 years Molly has been helping businesses create extraordinary results. Molly’s unique understanding of strategy, along with her penchant for bringing the right people together at the right time, has resulted in dynamic results again and again. Her commitment to developing “Partnerships for Success3sm.” has led to extensive experience in strategic planning, economic development, information technology, marketing and customer service throughout the United States as well as Europe and Asia.

Molly’s past successes include:

Providing strategic planning, succession and legacy planning, leadership development, organizational alignment and workflow optimization for more than 250 organizations across the United States and abroad since she started Sutherland & Associates 12 years ago.

Chief Operating Officer for a major CPA firm where she oversaw the growth and direction of the firm from 7th place to the #1 CPA firm in their space.

Created and initiated a Business Service Center concept that was awarded #1 in the nation from JD Powers & Associates, mid-size business category four consecutive years.

Recipient of Executive MBA from Bellarmine University and recognition as a 2008 Bingham Fellow.

Service on numerous boards of directors, including YMCA, Lean Manufacturing Network, KUE Federal Credit Union, Carroll County Hospital Board, past president of Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, and past President of the Lexington Forum Board of Directors.

Professional development through active engagement with Vistage, the world’s largest professional association for CEOs and COOs, Enlightened Leadership, LEAN Manufacturing Leadership Institute, and the Economic Development Institute.

Currently Molly is Chair of Bellarmine University’s Executive Advisory Board for the Rubel School of Business and Adjunct Professor with Bellarmine University in the MBA program teaching Entrepreneurial Strategy. She serves on the board for Women Leading Kentucky and Board Chair for KCEE (Kentucky Council for Economic Education). Molly is married to Lee Sutherland and has two children. Molly resides in Lexington, Kentucky.

Lauren Zaslansky Conner, Business Development Strategist

Lauren Zaslansky Conner is an eCommerce, business development and marketing strategy executive with diverse experience in the consumer products space. For the majority of her career, she was at large corporations, including Disney Consumer Product and Little Tikes/MGA. She climbed up and around the career jungle gym from finance to licensing management to marketing. Recently, she pivoted to the start-up space, applying years of cross-functional corporate experience to helping organizations grow and professionalize. Lauren applies this unique background to organizations by approaching challenges holistically and developing cross-functional solutions.

Lauren is the Co-President of Burbank Temple Emanu El, after a stint as Treasurer. She is on the board of ACEing Autism, a national organization dedicated to connecting children with autism through tennis. Previously, she served eight years on the board of Inner Circle foster family and adoption agency. She’s also the co-chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s local alumni interviewing committee and has been an interviewer for over 20 years since she graduated with a BA in communications. After receiving an MBA from Columbia University in New York, she moved west in 2002. Lauren lives in Burbank, California with her supportive husband Eric, their 2 sons and 2 dogs!

Lauren can be reached at [email protected] or 323-422-1386

Elaina Zuker, Chief Influencer

Elaina Zuker is the president of Elaina Zuker Associates in Montreal, Canada. (http://www.ezinfluence.com/) She has taught seminars to hundreds of employees and managers at major corporations She is the author of six books, on leadership, management and communication. Her bestseller “7 Secrets of Influence” has been translated into four languages Her new book, “A Swift Kick in the Can’ts – the New Peer Mentor Model for Success Now” has just achieved bestseller status on Amazon Kindle. Ms. Zuker is the 2004 recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award from New York Polytechnic University.