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Cynthia Kaye, CEO of Alive Studios Zoo

June 3, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Cynthia Kaye, CEO of Alive Studios Zoo

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Cynthia Kaye/Alive Studios Zoo

Cynthia Kaye is the founder and CEO of Alive Studios Zoo, an award-winning company that uses patented, augmented reality technology (3D without the glasses) to teach foundational reading and math skills. As the “Chief Zoo Keeper,” Alive Studios Zoo has been honored as Best of Show at ISTE 2019 and featured on ABC World News Now. Cynthia has been showcased in various newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Her previous company, Logical Choice Technologies, was named one of the Top 40 EdTech Companies in America, Top 15 Fastest-Growing EdTech Women-Owned Companies in North America, and profiled in the Inc. 500.

With a B.S. in Elementary Education, certification in Memory and Classroom Learning, graduate of MIT’s “Birthing of Giants” entrepreneurial program, and mother whose adopted sons from Latvia struggled with English language acquisition, Cynthia has been passionate about creating innovative technologies to increase engagement and learning. Working with educators across the U.S. and in 26 countries worldwide, Cynthia’s goal is to help teachers build the foundational literacy and math skills that all children need for continued success inside and outside the classroom.

Cynthia currently resides in Georgia with her husband, Ron, Alive Studios CTO. She is the mother of 4, Nonna of 2, and personal zoo keeper of her brood of chickens and one crazy rooster.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Gwinnett County Chief Magistrate Kristina Blum

May 13, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Gwinnett County Chief Magistrate Kristina Blum

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Judge Kristina Hammer Blum/Gwinnett County Chief Magistrate

Kristina Hammer Blum is the Chief Magistrate of the Gwinnett County Magistrate Court. Judge Blum began her legal career in 1994. Although she practiced in a variety of areas, she spent most of her time in the federal courts, specializing in the representation of city and county governments and public officials. After spending seven years as a Senior Assistant County Attorney for Gwinnett County, she was appointed to the Magistrate Court in 2005 and became the Chief Magistrate on January 9, 2013. As Chief Magistrate, she presides over one of the busiest courts in the State of Georgia (handling approximately 100,000 matters a year).

Judge Blum lived all over the United States growing up as a proud “Air Force Brat”. She chose Gwinnett County as her forever home because of its vibrant and inclusive community, for which she remains very involved and committed. Judge Blum is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Gwinnett and she has served on the Leadership Gwinnett Steering Committee as the Retreats Co-Chair since 2011. She is an Executive Board Member of the Rotary Club of Sugarloaf and she has served on the Advisory Boards for the Gwinnett Reentry Intervention Program (“GRIP”), Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, and United Way. For three years, she was the production coordinator for the Hi Hope Service Center’s annual Gwinnett’s Kid’s Got Talent Show benefitting adults with developmental disabilities.

Judge Blum is a Past President of the Georgia Magistrate Council and served as a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia from June 2015 until June 2017. She previously served on the Justice for All Strategic Action Plan Work Group for the State Bar of Georgia and is presently a member of the Access to Justice Advisory Board for the Judicial Council of Georgia. Judge Blum is also a frequent instructor for the Georgia Institute for Continuing Judicial Education, where she was awarded the Excellence in Judicial Education Medallion.

As Gwinnett’s first female Chief Magistrate, in 2014, the League of Women Voters honored Judge Blum with their Legacy Award. In 2015, the Council of Magistrate Court Judges presented her with their “Workhorse of the Year” Award. In addition, Judge Blum received a Public Service Award from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in 2016.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Lisa Proctor, President and CEO of Sanford Rose Associates/Lake Lanier Islands

May 6, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Lisa Proctor, President and CEO of Sanford Rose Associates/Lake Lanier Islands

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Lisa Proctor/Sanford Rose Associates

Lisa Proctor is the President of Sanford Rose Associates® at Lake Lanier Islands. As a strategic leader, Lisa provides broad-based industry experience in financial services, executive search, healthcare, and public accounting. She is recognized for keen insight into new opportunities, trends, issues, and challenges in an emerging global economy and for her ability to blend cutting-edge trends and proven techniques to build a multi-faceted platform for recruiting.

Lisa has over 25 years experience in executive recruiting, human resources, talent acquisition, corporate training, accounting, operations, and strategic planning. Over her career, Lisa has been responsible for the talent acquisition, candidate sourcing, recruiting, and on-boarding of thousands of business professionals including hundreds of mid to senior level executives whose accomplishments significantly improved their organizations.

Lisa was most recently a Vice President at SRA International, Inc., an Ohio corporation, based in the metro Atlanta area where she was responsible for the recruitment, business development, training, coaching, and support of the Owners in the Sanford Rose Associates® network of offices. Prior to joining SRA International, Lisa worked for AXA Equitable for ten years and held several positions – most notably Assistant Vice President, Director of National Recruiting and Assistant Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Operations. While at AXA, Lisa was instrumental in attracting top financial, insurance, and advanced markets professionals to the organization, and was heavily involved in strategic planning, business operations, human resources, and talent acquisition initiatives.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Andrea Barclay, Founder and CEO of Because One Matters

April 29, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Andrea Barclay, Founder and CEO of Because One Matters

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Andrea Barclay/Because One Matters

Andrea Barclay founded Because One Matters in 2013 in response to her passionate desire to serve children and young adults, which was born from the loss of her own child in 1990 to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Today, she enriches and nurtures countless young lives and those of their caregivers, relying first and foremost on her faith and obedience to follow and flourish where God has led her.

Andrea holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration, a Master of Science Degree in Instructional Design, and a Master of Science in Project Management. In addition, she has served as a Project Manager and Compliance Manager in the business sector for over 25 years. Andrea served as an ESOL Instructor at Gwinnett Technical College for three years and an Ethics Instructor for seven years at various online colleges. As a result, Andrea brings a wealth of real-world experience, expertise, and relentless determination to her work as president and founder of Because One Matters.

Andrea was the Gwinnett Chamber’s Community Contributor Award winner in 2020 and was nominated in the Moxie Awards category in 2019. Andrea loves to travel and spend time with her family and friends in her free time. She also loves reading and gardening. She views gardening as therapeutic.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Tracie Cason, Gwinnett Superior Court Judge

April 22, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Tracie Cason, Gwinnett Superior Court Judge

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Tracie Cason/Gwinnett Superior Court Judge

Tracie Cason serves as a Superior Court Judge in Gwinnett County presiding over Division 2. Judge Cason handles felony criminal cases, domestic and family law cases, and civil disputes.

She was elected in 2018 in a contested county-wide election. Judge Cason is committed to providing fair and impartial justice to all who appear before her. She wants citizens to know that they will always be heard in her courtroom.

Before being elected to the Gwinnett County Superior Court, Tracie was a career prosecutor with the Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office.

Tracie is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia and Baylor University School of Law and hopes to return to Athens for most Saturdays this fall. She and her husband David have been married 14 years, and live with their dogs, Munson, Dooley, Erk, and Emma.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Laura Ballance, Executive Director of the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning

April 15, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Laura Ballance, Executive Director of the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Laura Ballance/Hudgens Center for Art & Learning

Laura Ballance, who has grown a reputation for creative thinking, development and innovation within the arts community, was named Executive Director of the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in Duluth, GA in April 2020. An Atlanta native, Laura attended the Galloway School and graduated from Georgia State University. She launched her career in arts management more than twenty years ago, coordinating the community education programs at Atlanta College of Art on the campus of the Woodruff Arts Center. By 2005, Laura had transitioned to Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, launching SCAD’s first continuing education program, which later expanded to SCAD’s Savannah location. She also directed SCAD Atlanta’s summer art camps, pre-college programs, art educator conferences, and other non-degree programming initiatives for the college. Additionally, Laura was responsible for coordinating The College Board’s Advanced Placement curriculum training sessions for high school educators of studio art and art history.

She planned the 2009 National Arts Honors Society, a multi-day conference, exhibition and awards ceremony for more than 400 students and their families. In 2010, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Art Education Association. In her final five years with SCAD, Laura served as assistant director for enrollment events and programs, and had oversight of a variety of student and community engagement opportunities.

In 2017, after losing her younger sister to ALS, Laura went to work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Atlanta. As a development specialist with MDA, she was responsible for the organization’s signature Night of Hope Gala that raised approximately $1 million annually for ALS clinical trials, research and patient care. She also managed the MDA Muscle Walk, an annual fundraising event for which she drove an increase in sponsorships of more than 50 percent in her first year. During her tenure with MDA, Laura created new programs to engage the community and raise awareness for neuromuscular diseases, like ALS.

Laura remains active with the MDA and now serves on the Night of Hope Gala planning committee. She is also a member of the advisory council for Gwinnett County’s new School of the Arts, which opened its doors in August 2021.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President & CEO of Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

March 25, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Veronica Maldonado-Torres, President & CEO of Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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Amanda Pearch and Veronica Maldonado-Torres

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Veronica Maldonado-Torres/President & CEO of Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Verónica Maldonado-Torres is the President and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As a highly versatile and visionary Latina business owner and community leader, Verónica brings her entrepreneurial spirt and tenacity, born from over 60 years of generational entrepreneurship on both sides of her family, to the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC). With over a decade of experience as a small business champion and supplier diversity advocate, Verónica is a catalyst of growth for both small businesses and large corporations, bringing thought-leadership and innovation to the supplier development space. She has also been an avid champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her career.

Known as the people and business accelerator, Verónica excels at building strategic alliances and fostering win-win relationships between small businesses and corporate America. Prior to joining the GHCC, Verónica successfully guided the development and growth of more than 150 firms across multiple industries ranging from $1M-$100M in annual revenue in her role as Program Director for the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection (MPC). There, she fostered over 131 Fortune 500 corporate relationships, supported the supplier development efforts of more than 41 corporations, as well as created and produced over 85 small to large-scale business conferences and events including the Georgia Innovation Summit. Before MPC, Verónica served as the Director of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships for the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) where she fostered partnerships among GMSDC, Minority Business Associations, chambers, and organizations focused on minority small business development in Georgia.

Verónica is also CEO and founder of VMT Consulting and creator of the DRIVEN TO THRIVE™ mindset, model, and way of living where she empowers professionals and businesses to grow, transform and thrive. Through VMT Consulting, Verónica enables small businesses to increase sales, secure long-term contracts, and maximize their growth potential by unleashing the value proposition they bring to corporate America. VMT Consulting also supports large corporations with the creation and implementation of supplier development programs, diversity and inclusion initiatives, cultural mastery trainings, and leadership development programs, with a special emphasis on women and multicultural professionals.

A passionate community leader with a desire to serve, Verónica serves as a board member for the American Heart Association, board director for “The Assembly” Community Improvement District (CID) appointed by DeKalb County, Board member of the Technology Association of Atlanta’s Business Process Management Group, board member of the Hispanic Corporate Council of Atlanta (HCCA). Verónica has earned several accolades for her leadership in championing small business growth and creating community impact. She’s received the Corporate Diversity Champion Award 2021- Atlanta Business Chronicle DEI, distinction of “Top 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia” by the GHCC in 2018, “Diversity Star of Atlanta’ by the Diversity Professional Magazine among Fortune 500 diversity leaders, “40 Under 40 Mover and Shaker” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2017, “Keep it Moving Forward-Raising Generations” awardee by the Mary Parker Foundation in 2016, “Top 15 Georgia Latina of Excellence-Rising Star Award” recipient by LISTA in 2016, and, Community Builder Awardee – Business Sector” by GHCA in 2015, among other recognitions.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Dr. Rhonda Anderson, Founder and Chief Executive Change Agent at JECO Global

February 25, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Dr. Rhonda Anderson, Founder and Chief Executive Change Agent at JECO Global

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Rhonda Anderson/JECO Global

Rhonda Anderson, Ph.D., CPC, is the author of “The Goal Digger’s Playbook: Eight Strategies for #NextLevel Success” and the co-author of the progressive guide to 21st-century startups “The Quick and Dirty Guide to Entrepreneurship”. She is the Director of Curriculum & Program Planning for Community Sustainability Enterprise and the Founder and Chief Executive Change Agent at JECO Global, LLC, a business/career transition strategy, coaching, professional development, and public speaking firm located in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Anderson has quickly become the engine for entrepreneurs, employees, and gender equality-conscious companies, educational systems, organizations, and leaders seeking to launch, retool, or level up their operations and workforce. A Certified Professional Coach with over 20 years of experience in business, higher education, and community and economic development, she holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, with a concentration in Higher Education Administration, from historic Mercer University. Equally an engaging and sought-after public speaker and coach, Dr. Anderson’s highly relatable style and status quo-disrupting content have been informing, inspiring, and equipping audiences across industries.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by

Soo Hong, Founding Partner at Blevins & Hong, PC

February 20, 2022 by Mike

Celebrating Powerhouse Women

Soo Hong, Founding Partner at Blevins & Hong, PC

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Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Soo Hong/Blevins & Hong, PC

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Soo Hong immigrated to Georgia at 10 years old. She received her B.S. at Georgia Institute of Technology in 2003 and J.D. from Mercer University School of Law in 2008. She was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in November 2008.

Soo is the founding partner at Blevins & Hong, PC since 2011 with offices in Marietta and Duluth, GA. Her main practice areas include Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, and Criminal Defense. She is the incoming President of Cobb County Bar Association and was the recipient of the Ross Adams Younger Lawyer Award.

Soo is also dedicated to serving her community. She serves as a member on the Gwinnett County Library Foundation Board, volunteers with the Cobb Justice Foundation, was a past instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College, and is a current member of Rotary Duluth.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women is presented by