Lori Smith
Conference Host
Lori Smith, founder and CEO of Acu-Elligent LLC, offers a wealth of experience in facilitating successful government contracts. With a background in organizational development, strategic planning, and fiscal oversight, she has a proven track record of providing cost-effective solutions to achieve government contracting goals. Drawing from over 41 years of federal service, Lori’s consulting firm is known for its unwavering integrity and unbiased approach. As a visionary leader, Lori fosters growth and opportunity through her masterful coaching conversations, and her educational background, including a doctoral pursuit, further enriches her expertise. Her numerous military and civilian awards attest to her outstanding performance in the field.
LaVon Lewis
Invisible Currency: The Art of Turning Brand Perception into Profit
LaVon Lewis, a renowned authority on branding, design, and marketing, is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Creative Velocity. Based in Atlanta, Creative Velocity is an award-winning firm that transforms conceptual ideas into iconic brands for companies worldwide. LaVon’s expertise and accomplishments have made him one of the most sought-after professionals in the industry, recognized by publications like Black Enterprise Magazine.
LaVon’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 19 when he founded his first company. Despite facing rejection from multiple employers after graduation, LaVon’s ambition, passion, and vision propelled him forward. Over the years, he has provided creative direction for Fortune 100 companies and thousands of small businesses, earning him recognition as one of Atlanta’s Top 25 Rising Stars.
With more than two decades of business achievements, LaVon and the Creative Velocity team have amassed over 50 prestigious awards worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Technology Firm of the Year and Entrepreneur Of The Year. Their impressive clientele includes renowned names such as Amazon, SeaWorld, Panasonic, The Home Depot, Wal-Mart, AT&T, and Coca-Cola to name a few amongst hundreds of small businesses.
Beyond his professional success, LaVon is also an accomplished author, with his book “Today is a Great Day for a WOW Image!” serving as a valuable resource for business owners and aspiring professionals. He is also the founder of the “Invisible Currency: The Art of Turning Brand Perception into Profit” seminars. He has been featured in numerous publications, websites, and TV shows, including NBC, Peacock, VH1, BlackEnterprise.com, and ABC. LaVon is also a highly sought-after public speaker, hosting conferences, seminars, and workshops around the world.
Daedrea D. Fenwick, Esq.
Balanced Ambition: Achieving your corporate, business and lifestyle dreams all at once
Daedrea Fenwick is a Partner with Stewart Miller Simmons, focusing primarily on premises liability cases, including general negligence, negligent security, and sexual assault.
Daedrea is originally from Detroit, MI, but moved to Atlanta to pursue her educational goals. Daedrea obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in International Business from Clark Atlanta University and her law degree from Texas Southern University, where she graduated with summa cum laude honors. She has been named one of the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 in the country, by the American Bar Association and named as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2020-2023. She was also honored as one of the inaugural honorees of the Clark Atlanta University 40 Under 40 Young Alumni Achievement Awards.
When she is not practicing law or running her own business, Daedrea enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hosting events, and serving her community. She is also active in a number of service organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Hands on Atlanta, and the Junior League of Atlanta.
Tasha Jones
Efficiency Unleashed: Simplifying GovCon Operations
Tasha Jones is a U.S. Navy Veteran and Founder of Twenty39, a purpose built solutions and services partner leveraging over twenty five years’ experience in the U.S. government market space. Tasha is a recognized problem solver and data champion, adept at translating complex business and technical concepts into simple, focused messages and implementations. From scaling multi-million dollar, functionally diverse global portfolios to spearheaded multiple high-visibility project turnaround efforts for major IT systems and transformation initiative at the US Department of Justice, Ms. Jones is an industry-recognized leader in developing data informed solutions, turning around “off the rail” projects and “just getting the job done”!
As an ardent champion of entrepreneurship and innovation, Tasha is a Citrine Angels board member, a DC-based angel group of women investing in women; and has mentored with and supported FedTech – a venture firm at the intersection of entrepreneurship, breakthrough technologies, and mission-driven organizations.
Anthony Peters
Empower Your Business: Mastering Small Business Loans and Access to Capital
Veteran, engineer, innovator, leader and entrepreneur. Anthony has more than 20 years of experience in leading technology sector design, engineering, operations, sales and corporate turnaround efforts to increase organizational effectiveness, organizational diversity and service efficiencies within some of the world’s largest service organizations.
Serial entrepreneur, Anthony’s latest venture is Novo Communications – a security robotics, fire alarm and physical security firm. Anthony has successfully amassed a skillful team, dedicated to exceeding our customers expectation across the Nation – creating opportunities for veteran, women and minorities to play a substantial role in a STEM based organization.
Starting his career as a journeyman Aerospace Ground Equipment Technician on the B-2 Stealth Bomber team in the USAF – Anthony’s real passion is helping others and being a servant leader. With more than 15 years of mentoring and developing young adults and veterans to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics).
Anthony has been well received as a keynote speaker at university commencements and numerous corporate motivational speaking engagements.
Brittney Brisco
From Goal-setting to Goal-getting
Coach Brittney Brisco is a certified and practicing School Counselor, a certified Life Coach, the Founder and CEO of Beyond Now Coaching, LLC, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Central Georgia Coalition of Black Businesses, the Interim Executive Director of the Ruth Hartley Mosley Memorial Women’s Center, and the proud mother of a brilliant young man, her only son, Mr. Dallas Daniels.
In addition to having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Thee Fort
Valley State University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from
Georgia College & State University, and a Master’s degree in School
Counselor Education from Fort Valley State, Brittney is also a graduate of the following programs: STEM ENERGY Technology Career Training Cohort, the Alabama Career Opportunities in Real Estate (CORE) program, the Urban Leadership Academy, Newtown Macon’s Downtown Diversity Initiative, and Leadership Macon Class of 2022. She has been featured in numerous publications and other media, including Voyage ATL Magazine, Macon Magazine, and the Dayelight Show, a Carribean-based Talk Show broadcast on television across multiple Caribbean countries & via the Internet in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Brittney has gleaned much wisdom from her various life and career experiences which have not only prepared her for operating effectively in various industries, but these experiences have literally paved the way for her to be tremendously skilled in recognizing problem areas, proposing adequate solutions, and gracefully executing plans that produce desired results.
Brittney is multifaceted, multi-passionate, and well-equipped to not only lead and coach adults to move from obscurity to clarity and from ambiguity to confidence, but she is uncommonly graced to coach teenagers through the vast amount of issues and uncertainties they face every day and to help them navigate their journeys to living substantial lives. Brittney is passionate about people, purpose, and paying it forward. With experience coaching people from various walks of life, ranging in age from 6 to 60+, her coaching and consulting have had and continue to have a positive impact on the lives of many. She loves and lives to encourage, empower, and enliven the masses with the gifts and graces God has placed on her life by helping people discover their true selves and uncover their greatest potential so that they can stop living the life of their dreams in their head and actually live it out loud!
Iman Cotton
CDC Loans and More
Iman Cotton is a dedicated Loan Officer with CDC Small Business Finance, the nation’s #1 SBA Community Advantage lender. With over 15 years of experience in business lending, Iman specializes in providing financing solutions for small businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Known for her personalized approach, she works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and help them achieve their business goals. Iman is committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the financial tools they need to succeed.
Jamila Moore, M. Ed., Esq.
AttorneyPanel – “Unlock the Power of Legal Mastery”
Jamila Moore, M. Ed., Esq., is the entrepreneur’s legal coach and attorney, bringing her wealth of experience as a licensed transactional attorney to businesses across the U.S. As a former educator, she excels in simplifying legal complexities for entrepreneurs, ensuring they confidently navigate issues like trademarks, copyrights, contracts, and business strategy. Jamila is committed to helping business owners protect their ventures, avoid costly mistakes, and maximize profits with clear, practical legal guidance.
Michelle “G-I” Gardner-Ince
Host forPanel – Unlock the Key to Success in Government Contracting
Praised for her groundbreaking work with veteran owned small businesses and her non-profit organization, Michelle Gardiner-Ince, Small Business Strategist and Champion, is a fixture in modern Government Contracting.
Michelle “G-I” Gardner-Ince, a retired Air Force Colonel and revered veteran, stands at the forefront of Veteran entrepreneurship. Known as “G-I,” her esteemed 20+ year military career has profoundly impacted veterans and their families. She notably led the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Pacific Region, managing a $1.8 billion operation with distinction. G-I transitioned her leadership skills into founding G-I Strategic Solutions LLC, focusing on strategic collaboration and training. Additionally, she founded the non-profit ABOVE (About the Business of Veteran Entrepreneurs) in 2021. ABOVE is dedicated to empowering veterans, minorities, and women in business, helping them create their versions of wealth through entrepreneurship.
G-I’s approach involves education, innovation, and collaboration, making a significant impact in these communities. Her deep military connections, as a veteran, military spouse, and Army child, enhance her authority in this field. Her academic credentials from Tuskegee and Troy State Universities, and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, further solidify her expertise in leadership and strategy.
G-I’s mission is to empower America’s Veteran entrepreneurs, focusing on underserved communities. She fosters entrepreneurial success through strategic partnerships and advocacy. Recognized as one of LinkedIn’s “Top Voices” in the Military Veteran Community, G-I is a respected speaker and champion for women Veteran CEOs and leaders. Her life-long association with the military, combined with her roles as a leadership and CEO Peer facilitator and trainer, make her an inspirational figure in the Veteran business community.
Alex Smith
Panelist
Alex Smith is a seasoned expert in HR and Operations with over two decades of experience. She specializes in leadership and management coaching, developing strategic people initiatives, and spearheading organizational cultural transformations within the public sector. Alex has honed her skills in enhancing organizational capabilities and boosting performance, particularly through HR transformation.
Recognized as a leading HR influencer and thought leader, Alex’s innovative work in modernizing government through cultural shifts, technology, and unique programs has been spotlighted in Forbes, American City and County Magazine, Governing Magazine, and CNBC.
Dedicated to community service, Alex actively contributes to the advisory council of 3SixtyInsights and the advisory board of Government Executive Media Group’s RouteFifty. She also serves on the board of directors for the Soulsville Foundation.
Alex holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Duke University and a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota. She is SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified. She lives in Memphis and enjoys life with her two daughters.
Tai Cochran
Revolutionize Governance: Commanding Tech & Culture Shifts in the Public Sector
Tai Cochran is the CEO of HER PM, with over 20 years of experience in program management. She specializes in HR transformations through software implementations, policy creation, strategy, change management, process improvements, and training and has achieved remarkable success in this field. Since obtaining her PMP certification in 2017, she has excelled in the tech industry, demonstrating exceptional resilience in overcoming challenges often faced by women in male-dominated fields.
Inspired by her mother, who was a lead registered nurse for the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Tai founded HER PM. This pioneering company empowers women executives in demanding environments, ensuring the successful execution of their projects. Notably, HER PM has accomplished significant feats in the public sector, such as implementing Atlanta’s first workforce management system, revamping a failing state project in just six months, and leading a major workforce management project for the city of Memphis.
Tai holds two master’s degrees from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Winston-Salem State University. In addition to HER PM, she established ASK Academy & Consulting to offer project management and leadership master courses. She has strategically partnered with Prairieview A&M University’s continuing education department to offer PMP certification cohorts to adult learners.
Drawing on her extensive education, corporate experience, and John C. Maxwell’s leadership principles, Tai has emerged as a prominent thought leader in project management and leadership. She has graced the stage at the Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Conference and contributed to influential blogs on projectmanagement.com.
Wendy Harris
Panelist
Wendy Harris is a highly accomplished and visionary executive with a proven track record in driving digital transformation and leveraging technology to deliver strategic business outcomes. Wendy has established herself as a highly regarded authority in the field.
Wendy is known for her adaptive leadership approach and her ability to build high-performing teams. She is experienced in leading teams to design and implement successful projects, meet operational goals, and deliver rapid results. She fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture that encourages innovation and empowers her team to deliver exceptional results.
With 20 years in both the public and private sector, Wendy has held various leadership roles, including HR management, Project Management Director, IT Operations Manager, Deputy CIO, CIO, and Vice President of Service Delivery. Her expertise spans diverse industries, including human resources, education, and government. She has successfully led large-scale initiatives and managed complex IT environments.
Wendy has been recognized for her contributions to the industry. She has been invited to speak at conferences, served as a panelist in discussions on women in technology and IT leadership, and has written content for publication in GovCIO Outlook.
Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Memphis. She is a member of the Project Management Institute’s local and international chapters and holds professional certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM). She plays an active role in IT organizations dedicated to advancing STEM education, championing women in technology, and fostering digital excellence.