Junior Board Member Biography Book
2022-2023
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Who We Are
The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board is a group of young professionals who share a commitment to shaping the future of female leaders in Atlanta and are looking to expand their networks through social, educational, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities. Junior Board members work together to be champions for local girls and to help them find their voice and bring their dreams to life to make the world a better place.
In the following pages, you can read more about each member of the 2022-2023 Junior Board to learn what makes them unique and why they are passionate about being a champion for girls.
Kasey Anderson
Mercedes Benz Stadium Specialist, Training & Engagement
Kasey Anderson is a Specialist of Training and Engagement with Mercedes Benz Stadium. In this role, she is responsible for the training and recognition programs in addition to communications for the MBS Team Members (600+) that support the 60+ major events a year.
Kasey has recently completed the “Hands on Atlanta Civic Leadership Program” where she partnered with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. During this program Kasey assisted with volunteer recruitment, management, and communications.
Kasey received her Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Management with a Minor in Business Administration & Spanish from Reinhardt University (Waleska,GA) in 2016.
As a Rome, Georgia native and former Girl Scout (Daisy Junior), Kasey feels it is her duty to give back to the community and steadily advocate for young women. Kasey has volunteered with a plethora of events/organizations since the age of 13 including Super Bowl’s 53 and 54(Atlanta and Miami respectively), and the Covenant House Executive Sleep Out since 2019. More recently, she serves on the Overwatch Fund Committee with Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment (AMBS+E). This committee provides grants to non profits that provide resources to our veterans and their families.
Her goals while serving on the Junior Board are as follows…
Positively Impact the lives of the girls and those they encounter Provide the youth encouragement to share with others Volunteer with and for opportunities that advocate for girls
Her hobbies include spending time with her husband, traveling, hiking and trying local restaurants! Feel free to share any of your favorite hiking locations or restaurants for Kasey to try!
Fun fact: She studied abroad in Spain!
Kiera Austin-Reffell
Google Brand Insights Manager
Kiera Austin Reffell is a Manager of Brand Insights in the Ads Marketing organization at Google. She is a proud HBCU alumna and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Hampton University.
A former Girl Scout herself, Kiera looks forward to the new ways she can pour into girls so that they may feel encouraged, supported, and inspired to meaningfully engage in their own communities. When she is not working or volunteering, Kiera enjoys traveling, aerial arts, and trying new restaurants as she explores the city.
Chandler Baker
ACEC Georgia
Director of Professional Development & STEM Programs
Chandler Baker serves as the Director of Professional Development and STEM Programs for ACEC Georgia. In this role, Chandler is responsible for ACEC Georgia's program content, leadership development programs, task forces, forums, webinars, STEM outreach activities and oversees the ACEC Georgia Junior Board.
Chandler started at ACEC Georgia in 2018 as the Manager of Professional Development & STEM Programs In a matter of months, she rose to Director due to her efforts in elevating ACEC Georgia's leadership development programs in the quality of the overall programs, the content provided, and the revenue made. Chandler launched a brand new leadership program in 2020 for the organization, Introduction to the Business of Engineering which added a third level to ACEC Georgia’s leadership development programs. She more than doubled the revenue of the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Program and increased the attendance and sponsorship of that program since taking it over in 2019. Chandler single handedly has increased ACEC Georgia's STEM presence and runs the STEM Workforce Task Force to help with those efforts.
During the COVID 19 Pandemic, Chandler was instrumental in ACEC Georgia's success at staying profitable by quickly and successfully launching ACEC Georgia's virtual presence Since then, she has organized and executed countless business development webinars In addition, Chandler re launched the Inclusion & Diversity Task Force, several forums, and created a new committee, the Women in the Workforce Committee, which helps address the challenges women face in the industry and celebrate their impact in the workforce. In January 2022, Chandler created and launched the ACEC Georgia Junior Board, and since then has launched a Young Professionals networking series and a STEM focused event for elementary and middle school age kids. She is also a contributing editor to the Engineering Georgia Magazine.
Chandler was previously an intern for Governor Nathan Deal's staff in the Governor's Floor Leaders Office After only a few months, she was promoted to Administrative Assistant to the Senate Floor Leaders for the Governor Her duties included handling constituent services, coordinating committee and legislative schedules, and providing full administrative support to multiple Senators. This position enabled her to gain a great level of exposure to elected officials across federal, state, and local levels and the various organizations involved with ACEC Georgia.
After growing up in the small town of Jackson, Georgia, Chandler received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in management from Presbyterian College in South Carolina, where she was also a Division1 student athlete for four years on the women's soccer team. During this time, she worked on campus as a coordinator for volunteer programs, where she fine tuned her organizational, team building, and managerial skills
Chandler currently lives in SandySprings with her husband.
Kendra Brown
Georgia Institute of Technology Assistant Title IX Coordinator
Kendra serves as the Assistant Title IX Coordinator for the Georgia Institute of Technology. As the Assistant Title IX Coordinator, Kendra assists with coordinating the Institute's compliance with laws and policies that apply to sex based and gender based discrimination.
Kendra earned her B.S. in Electronic Media and Mass Communications from Texas State University and her J.D. from Saint Louis University, where she completed a concentration in Labor and Employment Law.
During her free time Kendra enjoys watching documentaries, traveling and cooking. Kendra is looking forward to serving on the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board!
Maranie Brown
BlackRock
Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions data of the highest quality to clients. Before BlackRock, she served as Associate Director, Program Management at T3 and Senior Digital Program Manager at You Are Here (YAH).
Maranie Brown is Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions within the Technology & Operations team at BlackRock, an investment management company. In this role, she manages programs in the DataOps Engineering portfolio and evolves the organization’s platform to provide available, consistent
Maranie has been recognized as a "Rising Star" for outstanding contributions to the digital community, one of the Marietta Daily Journal / Cobb Life Magazine's "Top 20 Under 40", a Woman to Watch in STEAM by Women in Technology, one of the University of Georgia Alumni Association’s “40 Under 40,” and one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40.” Maranie also serves on various nonprofit boards, including Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, the Association of Junior Leagues International Women of Color Affinity Group, Cobb Collaborative, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s Junior Board, the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Cobb County Advisory Board, and the Technology Association of Georgia’s Product Management Society Board. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Maranie serves as President of the UGA Young Alumni Leadership Council, leading all efforts to strengthen engagement with young alumni and current students. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Zeta Omega Chapter, where she serves as Leadership Development Chairman. Recognized as a thought leader in her industry, Maranie also serves on the Coles College of Business Department of Information Systems and Security Advisory Board at Kennesaw State University.
Maranie is a graduate of Leadership Buckhead, the Atlanta Women's Foundation's Inspire Atlanta Program, the YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s Georgia Women’s Policy Institute, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute, Leadership America, LEAD Atlanta Class of 2020, and a member of the LEAD Atlanta Alumni Association, where she serves as Co Chair of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2023. In 2021, Maranie was inducted into Outstanding Atlanta and is currently serving as President Elect. She is also a member of Leadership Cobb’s Class of 2022 and a member of the Cobb Chamber’s Smyrna Area Council. Recently, Maranie Brown joined the Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program’s 2023 cohort.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Maranie completed her undergraduate studies in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia. Working on her Double Dawg status, Maranie is currently pursuing a Master of Business and Technology in the UGA Terry College of Business.
Monique Cole
Salesforce Solutions Consultant
Monique received her Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2014 and is a Solution Consultant at Salesforce. She enjoys volunteering with Georgia Kids Belong, traveling, and spending time with her family.
This is her third year on the Junior Board and she's looking forward to serving the Girl Scout community alongside these other incredible women.
Joy Dyess
BankSouth Mortgage VP, Special Projects Director
Joy Dyess is a committed community volunteer and civic leader. Joy has been a member of The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. (JLA) for 13 years with her most recent role being President and in previous roles for JLA she has served as Vice President of Community, Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Advocacy and Initiatives.
Joy is a member of United Way Cobb County Advisory Board, is a board member for Wilderness Works and is a past graduate of Leadership Buckhead and the Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA) program. Joy was also an Honoree for Outstanding Atlanta, Class of 2018. Joy combines her passion for community service with ongoing advocacy work and believes that community collaboration is the key to creating impactful, lasting change.
Jordan Fessehaie
Thrive Scholars College Success Manager
Jordan is a College Success Manager at Thrive Scholars where she works with students and empowers them throughout their college experience.
Before Thrive Scholars, Jordan worked in Silicon Va their Business Leadership Program.
Growing up in Atlanta, Jordan was very involved in GSGATL some highlights include: being part of the Inaugural Class of Miss Media 2013, Camp CEO (2011, 2012, 2013), Girl Scouts Forever Green US/UK Twinning Project, Art Editor and Staff Writer for Lime Green Giraffe, 100th Anniversary Alumnae Celebration Speaker, and Camp Counselor Training Certification.
Jordan is a Posse Foundation Alumni and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration from Boston University.
Fun fact she doesn't have a favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavor!
Kristina Forbes
Center for Global Health Innovation
Vice President of Operations
Kristina Forbes is the Vice President of Operations for the Center for Global Health Innovation (CGHI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the international global health, health technology, and life sciences ecosystem to enhance health outcomes around the world.
She is responsible for the strategic direction, financial management, and business operations and does this through leading initiatives designed to cultivate relationships and expand networks within the multiple industries represented through CGHI’s membership. Ms. Forbes enhances global health and economic development initiatives through collaboration, advocacy, and support of CGHI’s divisions: Georgia Bio, Georgia BioEd Institute, Georgia Global Health Alliance, and the Global Health Crisis Coordination Center.
Kristina is passionate about community engagement and service, dedicating her time in and out of the office towards promoting STEAM opportunities, entrepreneurship, innovation, and youth development. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and began her career in nonprofit management, to include the Technology Association of Georgia, Chi Phi Educational Trust, and the Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America. She has volunteered with multiple community organizations and currently serves on the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board and the Georgia Intellectual Property Alliance Board.
Alexandria Gates
ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Senior Regional Development Director
Originally from Memphis, Alexandria moved to Atlanta two years ago as the Senior Regional Development Director.
Bringing more than 5 years of development experience with her, Alexandria leads the markets gala efforts, steward high and mid level giving donor, engages high school and collegiate students, and builds strategies around the local multicultural engagement efforts. Prior to joining ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She has served in two board positions with Meeting Professionals International: West Tennessee Regional Strategic Alliance Chair and Young Leaders Advisory Council. She has also completed the New Memphis Institute Embark program for leadership development and community engagement. Alexandria graduated from the University of Memphis with a Journalism degree focusing on Public Relations. She loves to travel, read and spend time with her family and dog Chico.
Bri'el Gordon
East Atlanta Notary
Owner
Bri’el K. Gordon specializes in community engagement and impact, and is the owner of East Atlanta Notary, a mobile notary service in East Atlanta and the surrounding areas.
Her background in partnership development and advocacy has allowed her to build and maintain meaningful relationships throughout Metro Atlanta. Since 2020, she has been an active member of The Junior League of Atlanta and currently serves as corresponding secretary of her daughter’s school PTA. She has volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta for over 4 years, serving in multiple roles with her local Service Unit and Troop. Bri’el is a graduate of Georgia State University and resides in East Atlanta with her 10 year old daughter who is a Girl Scout Junior.
Shakis Hall
Georgia Institute of Technology Instructional Designer
Shakis Hall attended Clark Atlanta University graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree in Educational Studies and a earned a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation from Syracuse University.
After spending six years working as an Instructional Designer for Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA, Shakis relocated to Atlanta to work as an Instructional Designer for Georgia Institute of Technology. She works with a dynamic group of subject matter experts to create high quality online courses.
In addition to her role at GA Tech, Shakis enjoys giving back to her local community. She is currently serving as the Web/Digital Manager for the Junior League of Atlanta. She also enjoys spending quality time with her husband, exploring new restaurants in the city, working out at the gym, and listening to Beyoncé non stop.
Margaret Hruschka
Horne LLC Project Manager/Business Analyst
Margaret is a Project Manager and Business Analyst for Horne LLC where she supports the software and business process development for Government Services projects. Margaret previously worked in software and management consulting for public housing agencies.
Margaret graduated from University of Georgia in 2014 with a Bachelors in Linguistics, a Masters in Public Administration and minors in Spanish and Arabic. While there, she interned at the Athens Clarke County Department of Community and Economic Development, Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, and volunteered at Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta Camp CEO.
Margaret grew up in the Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta (Troop 7978) and completed her silver and gold awards as a teenager. She currently volunteers at the Fox Theatre and Cobb Energy Center as an usher and Breakthru House as a GED tutor. Outside of work, Margaret can be found taking dance class, paddleboarding on the lake, or relaxing with family.
Bria Hunter
Warner Media Email Production Specialist
Bria arrived at Warner Media by way of her passion for film, television, and digital marketing. Bria’s interest in television and film was sparked through her childhood television love for the show Big Comfy Couch.
Prior to entering the tv and film industry Bria worked in several industries serving as a communications and marketing associate. Following her graduation from Webster University in 2020 with her master’s degree in Public Relations, she sought out a new industry to bring together both of her interests and connected with Warner Media She decided it was the best fit due to her commitment to service and career goals.
Bria can’t wait to see the projects that she has assembled come to fruition and make a change in the community.
Bria believes that without challenge there is no change The best way to challenge yourself, get out of a comfort zone, and keep pushing the envelope of being great not being good is to set goals that have everything to do with your vision for yourself.
At Warner Media, Bria’s great work is thinking outside of the box.
When she comes down from her great work with Junior League of Decatur, she’s spending time outdoors with her toy poodle or cheering on her favorite college football team. You might also catch Bria at Zoo Atlanta from time to time as she loves animals.
In case that’s not enough information, Bria has
• Bachelor of Science Georgia Southern University
• Master’s degree Webster University
• For(bes) for the Culture 30 under 30
• LINC Board Member for United Way of Greater Atlanta
• Junior League Member for the Decatur Chapter
Christin Jackson
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Brand Marketing Manager
Christin Jackson is a native of Atlanta Georgia, who hails from a family with a strong mission of philanthropy and uplifting youth.
She is a former Girl Scout of Troop 3440 in East Point, Georgia. Christin is a Publicist and Brand Manager with 6+ years of agency and corporate experience and currently works as the Brand Manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. In her leisure time she enjoys attending live performances, traveling internationally and creating new recipes and memories with family and friends. Her life’s mission is to empower and inspire young women to fearlessly be themselves and fiercely blaze their own path!
Melissa Katzin
High Museum of Art Manager of Family Programs
Melissa Katzin is the Manager of Family Programs at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. She develops and implements family and teen programming, including free family days, early learner programs, and Teen Team.
Born and raised in Johns Creek, Georgia, Melissa has always had an interest in the arts even serving many years as an art instructor at the Johns Creek Arts Center. Melissa holds a BA in Art History from the University of Georgia and received her Master of Arts in Art History from the George Washington University. In her spare time, Melissa can be found making ceramics, planning her next trip, and binge watching Parks and Recreation.
Sarah Kelty
SK Collaborative
Green Building Project Manager and Marketing Manager
Sarah is a lifetime Girl Scout and excited to be a part of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board!
Sarah's current role is Green Building Project Manager and Marketing Manager at SK Collaborative in Decatur, GA. Prior to joining the SK team, she served as a project manager and executive team member for a disaster mitigation planning firm based out of Florida. She holds an MSP from Florida State University’s Department of Urban & Regional Planning, with a specialization in Environmental Planning. Other past experience includes a Mayoral Fellowship with the Tallahassee Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, Community Engagement Coordinator at YouthBuild Louisville in Kentucky, and Assistant Director at El Ranchito, a nature immersion and education program in Austin, Texas.
Sarah spent many summers at Girl Scout camp in Kentucky as a camper and counselor, where she still visits every year. She is a former Gold Award recipient, program volunteer at the Our Cabana WAGGGS World Center, and Young Representative for the WAGGGS delegation to COP15 in Copenhagen. After *finally* finishing school, Sarah is now fixed in Atlanta and entering her second year as a Girl Scout troop leader with an amazing group of Cadettes!
When she’s not at work, you can find her exploring Georgia’s wilderness or getting her hands dirty in the garden.
Catherine Kenimer
The Home Depot
Senior Business Analyst Building Services
Catherine Kenimer is an Atlanta native who is a proud employee of The Home Depot. She specializes in facilities management and special projects.
She enjoys working on initiatives surrounding new te an active member of the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. and a graduate of the YWCA of Atlanta’s Georgia Women’s Policy Institute. She is extremely passionate about advocacy and workforce development for young girls and women. Believing wholeheartedly that empowered women empower women, she is excited to serve on the Junior Board for the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and continue her mission of elevating the next generation of female leaders. In her free time, you can find her tapping it back on a bike at a spin studio or reading historical fiction novels.
Jade Lockard
The HBCU Founders Initiative Program Director
Jade Lockard is the Founding Program Director for the HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI). Through funding, programs, events, and mentorship, the non profit organization accelerates early stage startups founded by students and alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
She is actively involved in the startup ecosystem as a speaker, moderator, and advocate in support of HBCU entrepreneurial learning initiatives nationwide. Jade has worked with multiple organizations as an HBCU startup ecosystem consultant and mentors early stage startups.
Jade is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Jon Onye Lockard Foundation Board, and The National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, Atlanta Chapter.
She is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education Studies from Spelman College.
Jade is an avid traveler, reader, and photographer in her free time.
Delonee McBride
RaceTrac
Manager of Merchandising Operations
Delonee is currently a Manager of Merchandising Operations at RaceTrac overseeing their hot and fresh foods operations. She is a huge STEM advocate and loves mentoring the next generation of engineers. In her spare time, you can find her running or traveling.
Maggie Tardif
Cox Communications
Intellectual Property Analyst, New Growth & Development
Maggie Tardif is an Intellectual Property Analyst at Cox Communications. In this role, Maggie supports the patent development and portfolio management efforts across the New Growth & Development business group. Maggie solicits and identifies Intellectual Property throughout the organization and initiates patentability discussions.
Maggie holds a M.A. in Applied Linguistics Forensic Linguistics from Hofstra University. She conducted her thesis research on Linguistic Strategies in Police Interviews with Juveniles and has presented the project at the 56th Annual Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Maggie graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Spanish from Appalachian State University. While at App State, Maggie was a founding member of the Lambda Kappa chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha and served as the Vice President of Programming.
Maggie is a Raleigh, North Carolina native who spent 11 years as a Girl Scout. She completed her Gold Award project in 2012 and now serves as a Gold Award coach with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. Maggie spends much of her free time playing and coaching basketball. When she’s not on the court, Maggie loves trying local restaurants, playing Scrabble, and watching romantic comedies with her kitty, Aladdin.
Hannah White
High Museum of Art Manager of Grants and Donor Relations
Hannah White is the Associate Director of Foundation and Government Relations at the High Museum of Art. She is responsible for the management of the foundation and government grant portfolios, along with the Museum’s eight Friends of Collections membership groups.
With a background in non-profit work, Hannah has worked for PBA, Atlanta’s NPR and PBS station. She has previously participated in the Facebook Membership Accelerator Program and was a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta class of 2019 2020.
As a metro Atlanta native, Hannah was a member of the Girl Scouts of Northwest Georgia from Daisy to Senior. In her spare time, Hannah can be found at the yoga studio, watching TCM, or attending concerts. Her favorite Girl Scout cookie is a Samoa. (Though, there is still love in her heart for the long discontinued Olé Olés!)
Sydney Williams
The Coca Cola Company Associate Brand Manager
Sydney is an experienced brand marketer with a passion for data driven storytelling. Currently at The Coca Cola Company, she builds brand strategy for smartwater.
Outside of her day job, she is dedicated to community service throughout Atlanta and spending quality time with her friends and family. Last year she served as a Civic Leadership Fellow at Hands on Atlanta, partnering with their in house Saturday academic enrichment program DISCO. Prior to that she worked closely with New York Cares in their SAT Prep, Sophomore Skills, and College Preparatory programs in Manhattan.
Sydney is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Spelman College and her MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.
Jonecia Williamson
MAA
Billing Systems Analyst
Jonecia Williamson is a Systems Analyst with MAA, a real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on the acquisition, selective development, redevelopment, and management of multifamily homes.
Advocating for women in sports, she was recognized by the Atlanta Falcons with a MVP award for her volunteer work completed during their 2019 2020 season. She is an active member of the Junior League of Atlanta, serving as the Co Chair with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta placement. Working as a change agent to influence gender equality, Jonecia was recently inducted into the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Columbus State University and has a Master’s degree in Management from Troy University.