March 2, 2023 SHE HUSTLES

The Creative Coast is teaming up with SCORE Savannah for a March 2nd SHE HUSTLES at The Clyde Venue. Doors open at 5:30pm and the event concludes at 8pm.

The theme? Work/life balance, setting boundaries, and the art of saying no! Scroll for speaker, panelists, and emcee announcements...

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MEET THE EMCEE

Erica Backus

Director of Public Relations & DEI Strategy at the Savannah Chamber and Visit Savannah

READ ERICA'S BIO...

With more than 25 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Erica Backus is the Director of Public Relations for Visit Savannah and the Savannah Chamber of Commerce.

In overseeing the public relations arm of Savannah's primary destination marketing organization, Erica and her team focus on attracting journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers to Savannah.

Through creative storytelling, the PR team encourages travel to our destination, all while promoting and maintaining strong working relationships with the Chamber's more than 2,000 members.

Erica sits on the boards of Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, Second Harvest Food Bank, Union Mission, and the Ossabaw Island Foundation. Former board positions include CrimeStoppers, Komen of Coastal Georgia, Blessings in a Bookbag, and the Coastal Jazz Association.

In her free time, Erica enjoys strolling the Savannah Historic District, spending time with friends on the water, and watching sports with her Dad. Her current addictions include Netflix, Leopold's Ice Cream, and waiting for her Amazon orders. She enjoyed all music before 1999 and can often be found giving
warm hugs and making people smile.

MEET THE KEYNOTE SESSION HOST & FEATURED GUEST

Jennifer Bonnett

Executive Director of The Creative Coast

READ JENNIFER'S BIO...

Jennifer Bonnett is a recovering entrepreneur turned entrepreneurial ecosystem builder focused on helping entrepreneurs launch, grow and scale technology businesses in the Savannah, Georgia region. She is a former technology entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in Information Technology and Software Development specializing in web and mobile technologies. Jennifer has held numerous CEO/CTO positions in bootstrapped, angel and venture-backed technology startups.

Jennifer serves technology entrepreneurs through her role as Executive Director of the Creative Coast. Prior to these roles, Jennifer was the Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Savannah Economic Development Authority and the Director/General Manager of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Georgia’s Technology Incubator, a “top twelve incubators changing the world” according to Forbes Magazine. While at ATDC, Jennifer spearheaded the development of a recurring year-round curriculum, statewide expansion, the Accelerate” program and growing the number of physical incubatees from 19 to 90 companies.

Lori Judge

Founder and CEO of Judge Realty and a co-owner/founder of the Yaupon Teahouse, Temples Farm and the Judge Art Collection

READ LORI'S BIO...

Lori Judge is the Founder and CEO of Judge Realty and a co-owner/founder of the Yaupon Teahouse, Temples Farm and the Judge Art Collection. A midwest native, Lori grew up in Princeton, Illinois and holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Iowa. She moved to Savannah in 1999 and resides on Victory Drive with her son, Albert Thomann who attends Benedictine Military School. Judge Realty is a full service boutique real estate firm active since 2005, the firm specializes in residential and commercial sales, leasing, and property management. “Acting with integrity, exceeding client expectations, acting as a collaborative team, challenging traditional modus operandi, and enriching our community” is the core of Judge Realty’s values

The creation of Judge Realty coincided with Lori’s role as a new mother. Inspired by these two life changing events, Lori committed to a focus headlined with local and global environment, culture, and the economy. Following this philosophy, Lori leads by example with several notable actions. Solar panels installed on the Judge Realty office building make it the only real estate company to run on solar power. Additionally, she curates the Judge Art Collection and makes the collection accessible to the public within the Judge Realty offices. Lori’s commitment to supporting local art and culture results in hosting and coordinating an annual public art display, as well as a number of community collaborations. Utilizing the Judge Realty office building facade as a blank canvas, local artists share their creative talents . These art displays are integral to Lori’s goal to define and redefine ways that creativity, commerce and art can be incorporated into the lives of the local community by making art accessible in nontraditional and more traditional ways.

Other ways that Lori engages in the local culture and environment: her memberships in various local organizations including SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah Tree Foundation, Georgia Conservancy, Flannery O’ Connor House, Downtown Neighborhood Association, and the Downtown Businesses Association. Lori serves on the Queensborough Bank Advisory Board and Board of Trustees at Telfair Museums.

Lori’s original guiding principles of focusing on the local and global environment, culture, and economy continue to be an inspiration and catalyst in formulating all her future plans.

MEET THE PANELISTS

The March 2023 panel theme is Work/Live Balance, the Art of Saying No, and Boundary Setting.

PANEL MODERATOR

Jessica Belfry

Serial Entrepreneur & Nationally-recognized Philanthropist

READ JESSICA'S BIO

Jess Belfry is an advocate for women. As a successful entrepreneur and nationally-recognized philanthropist, Jess has built both retail and service based businesses from the ground up since 2012. Jess is passionate about shattering the glass ceiling, changing the narrative for future female leadership in both the workplace and volunteer organizations. Whether in a volunteer or employer role, Jess finds the deepest joy in helping other women and young adults understand their fullest potential in the workplace both as an employee and as a future leader. Jess excels in the areas of brand development and effective market penetration, earning a Silver High Impact Partner badge from Grow with Google in 2022. She is also known for creating a one-evening fundraising event that achieved the fastest trajectory to over $100k in the non-profit sector. An avid traveller, Jess finds both inspiration and solace in traversing North and South America discovering the hidden gems of female entrepreneurship throughout.

PANELIST

Zelonia Williams

Founder and Executive Director of Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education Inc., Owner of Celebrations Unlimited Events, Owner and Operator of Patches Custom Embroidery Works and The Push Theory

READ ZELONIA'S BIO

Zelonia is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who believes life is meant to be lived with purpose, passion, and lots of I am beautiful breaks. Zelonia is the owner of Celebrations Unlimited Events, Founder and Executive Director of Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education Inc.. As well as owner and operator of Patches Custom Embroidery Works and The Push Theory.

She has two beautiful children Rashawnda and Devoris. She also has a four-legged son (service dog) Vulpix. Zelonia exudes creativity and radiates a positive energy. This ability allows her to relate to her clients, customers and student’s needs, and have a greater understanding of their vision, goals, and objectives.

Zelonia received her dual Bachelor degrees at Albany State University in (Psychology/Criminal Justice). She transitioned to Armstrong Atlantic State University where she completed her Masters in Adult Education and became a Certified Project Manager. Upon completion, Zelonia obtained her Education Specialist Degree from Georgia Southern University. Zelonia went on to pursue her doctorate degree in Leadership in Higher Education at Capella University.

Just to list a few Zelonia serves as a

• Executive Board Member Savannah Multicultural Board Member

• Former Small Business Chamber Event Coordinator

• Neighborhood Leadership Academy Graduate

· United Way Cabinet Member

• Community Advisor for Gulf Stream’s Student Leadership Program.

• Member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society

• Zelonia is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

· Chair of READ Savannah Task Force

· Former United Way Allocation Board Member

PANELIST

Amy Capello

Owner of Pure Joy Life Coaching

READ AMY'S BIO

Amy Capello is a Life Balance Strategist, Certified Life Coach, and owner of Pure Joy Life Coaching, based in Savannah. She is a former Assistant Principal, managing a team of over 30 staff, helping them grow into leaders while maintaining balance in their work and personal lives. Her passion and expertise are now fully focused on helping others lead a balanced and joyful life. Amy is a mom, step-mom, dog & cat mom, travel addict, and nature lover. In 2020, she was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer, Inflammatory Breast Cancer. She was Stage 3 at diagnosis and spent over a year in active treatment. As of today, she's considered NED (no evidence of disease) and is back to living a robust & vibrant life. Amy was already living her life intentionally before cancer, but after facing such a difficult health diagnosis, she is even more committed to living every day to it's fullest! She now spends her free time collecting passport stamps (24 countries and counting), volunteering with the Little Pink Houses of Hope, and has spent 15 years helping sea turtles with the Tybee Sea Turtle Project. She believes that we are all capable of living a life full of balance, and once we are intentional about living life for ourselves, we can create whole life balance and reclaim our joy.

PANELIST

Michelle Stenson

Executive Council Agent at New York Life Insurance Company

READ MICHELLE'S BIO...

Michelle Stenson a Texan Native started her career in the Mortgage Financial World after completing and earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Texas. For 15 years she worked in all aspects in the life of a mortgage loan. From intake to Processing, to Underwriting and Loan closing. Finding her main joy working with investors in the Secondary Market, and Mortgage Closings Departments. Having managed and trained teams to execute and balance mortgage sheets up to 9 billion Dollars. In 2019 she shifted her focused to the Life and Financial Advisement industry. Finding a new home with New York Life. In her first year in 2019 she quickly grew in this new market becoming Rookie of the year. Currently serving as an Executive Agent with New York Life. She found a new joy in working one-on-one with families and business owners, planting a foundation to future financial freedoms, and planting Legacies in her community. Michelle currently sits as Chair to the New York Life Savannah’s office “Volunteer for Good Foundation”, issuing thousands in grants over the last 3 years to
local non-profits. Board Member with PACK Savannah, sits as an Ambassador to the Savannah Chamber. Chairs as President of her Daughters School Council Board, Vice-President of the PTA served as Auction Chair of 2023 Dining in the Dark for The Savannah Center for the Blind and Low Vision and has contributed countless hours to working alongside those in the community with a focus on the needs of children. Fundraising and sponsoring endeavors throughout the community to achieve this mission. Michelle’s Main focus is helping all see that building a Legacy starts with a firm financial foundation.

She honestly believes we can all “Be Good At Life."

She's been awarded and honored as...

2019 Career Life Producer Award
2019 Rookie of the Year
2019 Career Life Success Award
2019 Current Class Case Rate Leader
2020 Career Life Achiever Award
2020-2021 Executive Council Agent
2021 Stride Award for Amazing Work in the Community
2021 Life Stars, Individual Life Award
2020 Life Stars, Individual Life Award
2022 “Waiters for Wishes” Make a Wish Foundation
2023 Dining In the Dark Auction Chair

PANELIST

Jessie Gilligan

Chief Operating Officer at Focus Lab

READ JESSIE'S BIO

Jessie is a true Jane of All Trades, both in and out of work.

Ask Jessie how to land a dream job and she might recommend you start out as a soil-and-water chemist, switch gears to IT, leave a steady job for a temporary position while raising young children, take up web development, then land on your feet as an executive assistant.

At least, that’s how her career path shook out. A Bachelor’s in chemistry led to a less-than-exciting stint conducting moisture analysis and various other tests for the pulp and paper industry. She shifted to work in reporting and IT, fueling her love for analysis and problem-solving. Four years in, Jessie made the IT life formal by attending Georgia Tech for coding while raising a two-year-old and buying a house.

This is when she began following Erik Reagan (Focus Lab’s former COO but still partner and integrator), nipping at his heels until he opened a 90-day trial position for an on-staff developer. She left her job of five years for the chance to work with Focus Lab – even on a trial run – and has been a part of the Focus family since.

In late 2019, Jessie transitioned to the operations team as an executive assistant, followed by a transition to Operations Manager in 2021. Today, she sits in that seat she began following some 5 years ago… She is now, the COO of Focus Lab ™ | Odi Ⓡ. On any given day, you might find her organizing office space, writing code, finding new tools for collaboration, or streamlining departmental processes to automate the boring parts – all tasks that befit her Southern-hospitality, servant-heart, how-can-I-make-this-easier-for-everyone(including me) approach to life.

She can landscape and pressure wash, change her own tires and shoot a gun, push her PR on the Peloton and dote on her family as the ultimate Multitasking Mega Mom and Wife (sometimes all a day’s work). She and her husband, Colin, have a joyfully full house in Southeast Georgia with two children, two dogs, two cats, and a Bearded Dragon. Claim to fame: that time she and Colin summited Grand Teton.

SHE HUSTLES Caterer

SHE HUSTLES Raffle Prizes

In an effort to both support and promote women-owned businesses, we buy raffle prizes from local companies run by women. Stay tuned for these announcements!

SHE HUSTLES March 2023 Sponsors

More About the Event Organizers

Our Mission
Our Mission is to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia.

The Creative Coast is here for the entrepreneurial, technology & creative community of the Savannah region. We build and support the creative economy in Savannah through education & social programs that connect and foster local innovation in both large and small companies.

Our Vision
Propelled by The Creative Coast, Savannah will be transformed into a vibrant hub for creative and innovative businesses, organizations, and individuals.

The Creative Coast is Supported by...

Our Mission

SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education.

SCORE, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.

Our Vision

We aim to give every person the support they need to thrive as a small business owner.

Learn more about SCORE Savannah at

https://savannah.score.org/

Click to Purchase Tickets to SHE HUSTLES on March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023 SHE HUSTLES

MEET THE EMCEE

Erica Backus

MEET THE KEYNOTE SESSION HOST & FEATURED GUEST

Jennifer Bonnett

Lori Judge

MEET THE PANELISTS

The March 2023 panel theme is Work/Live Balance, the Art of Saying No, and Boundary Setting.

PANEL MODERATOR

Jessica Belfry

PANELIST

Zelonia Williams

PANELIST

Amy Capello

PANELIST

Michelle Stenson

PANELIST

Jessie Gilligan

SHE HUSTLES Caterer

SHE HUSTLES Raffle Prizes

SHE HUSTLES March 2023 Sponsors

More About the Event Organizers

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