Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Junior Board Member Biography Book 2021-2022
Who We Are The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board is a group of young professionals who share our commitment to shaping the future of female leaders in Atlanta and are looking to expand their networks through socializing, networking, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities. These 24 young professionals are a group of exceptional young leaders who will use their fresh perspectives and valuable insights to empower local girls. In the following pages, you can read more about each member of the 2021-2022 Junior Board and learn what makes them unique and why they are passionate about being a champion for girls.
Maranie Brown BlackRock Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions Maranie Brown is Vice President, Data Platform & Solutions with the Technology Enterprise Services 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 data of the highest quality to clients.
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", and a Woman to Watch in STEAM by Women in Technology. Maranie also serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc., the inaugural Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s inaugural Junior Board, and the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Cobb County Advisory Board. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Maranie serves as Vice 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. 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, LEAD Atlanta Class of 2020, and a member of the LEAD Atlanta Alumni Association, where she will serve as Co-Chair of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2023. Maranie was recently inducted into Outstanding Atlanta's 2021 class.
Chandler Carter
ACEC Georgia Director of Professional Development & STEM Programs Chandler Carter 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, and STEM outreach activities. 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, as well as the various organizations ACEC Georgia works with and for. 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 Division 1 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 Sandy Springs and continues to be involved with soccer by coaching a girls team for Roswell Soccer Academy.
Monique Cole Salesforce Solutions Consultant
Monique is a Solutions Consultant at Salesforce (the world's best CRM company ;) ) which has been a newer endeavor of 2021. She received her Bachelor's of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2014. She is on the board of Georgia Tech Women's Alumni Network leading Community Care and has been a part of GTWAN for the past four years. She primarily volunteers with Open Hand, along with picking up any small opportunity to support her West End community. This is her second year on the Junior Board and she's looking forward to serving the Girl Scout community even better than the year before.
Caroline Coyle Manhattan Associates Data Science Analyst
Caroline Coyle began her career as a writer and marketing professional for a variety of nonprofits in the Atlanta area, including Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. After working in the community for several years, she decided to make a career change and shifted into a technologyoriented career. Today, Caroline is a Data Scientist at Manhattan Associates where she uses customer data and machine learning to build efficient and effective supply chain solutions. At Manhattan, she is the Director of the R+D Women’s Collective, which focuses on growing the careers of women in tech, and the Chair of the Womens’ Initiative Network’s Industry and Community Outreach Committee, which organizes women-focused philanthropic endeavors. Alongside the Junior Board, Caroline is also beginning her tenure as a Girl Scout Troop leader this year. Caroline graduated Magna Cum Laude from Agnes Scott College where she double majored in English Literature and French, and minored in Business Management. She will complete a Masters of Science in Computational Analytics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in December 2021. A Georgia native, Caroline resides in Atlanta’s Oakland City neighborhood and spends her free time gardening, restoring her craftsman bungalow home, and competing in dog sports with her Australian Shepherd, Odin.
Shakis Drummond Georgia Institute of Technology Instructional Designer
Shakis Drummond 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 Membership Placement Chair for the Junior League of Atlanta. She also enjoys spending quality time with her fiancé and working out at the gym.
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 Valley at LinkedIn as part of 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 Gary
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.
Bria Hunter
Warner Media Email Production Specialist To Bria, Homecoming is lending a hand in her community because when communities thrive we thrive. 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
Kentara Johnson USAA Compliance Risk Manager
Kentara Johnson is a Compliance Risk Manager at USAA where she assists with managing the enterprise third party complaints program. She enjoys reading, volunteering and traveling in her spare time. Her favorite cookie is the trefoil.
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 technologies. Catherine is 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.
Kiara Lane
The Coca-Cola Company Senior Communications Manager Kiara Lane, Senior Communications Manager at The Coca-Cola Company, has a passion for helping organizations tap into the power of creativity, innovation and storytelling. In her role at Coca-Cola, she leads and manages communications for The McDonald’s Division, a dedicated and priority customer team to McDonald’s. Before joining Coca-Cola in 2015, Kiara was the marketing & public relations manager at Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority (Virginia), where she led media relations and stakeholder communications. She brings a full range of experience from agencies, nonprofits, and corporate, including The Metropolitan Business League, DuPont, Ketchum, and Pulsar Advertising. She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication at Virginia Commonwealth University and has a master’s degree in corporate communications and public relations from Georgetown University. Today, Kiara lives in Atlanta with her husband and their dog, Lupita. She gives back to her community as an adjunct professor and active member of several nonprofits empowering diverse communities.
Emily MacDonald
The Center for Puppetry Arts Marketing and Communications Manager Emily MacDonald is a marketing and communications professional with over ten years of experience in public relations, communications, B2B & B2C marketing, project management, and corporate strategy for large audiences in public, private and non-profit sectors. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 2014 from Kennesaw State University, with a focus in professional editing. Mrs. MacDonald holds professional certifications in digital marketing analytics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and executive leadership certifications from Georgia State University's Executive Education Program and Emory University. Currently, Emily works as the Marketing and Communications Manager at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Midtown, Atlanta. Emily was a part of the inaugural class of the Junior Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and is proud to serve for another term.
Sarah Phaff
Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP Attorney Sarah is an attorney in the Atlanta office of the law firm Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP, where she focuses her practice in all areas of employment and labor law. Sarah regularly counsels and guides clients on employee relations issues, seeking practical legal solutions that are the best fit for a particular client. Sarah also conducts training on a variety of topics, including litigation prevention, harassment, discrimination, leave issues, employment policies, investigations, documentation, and best practices for employers. Sarah was named to the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in America's first-ever rankings of “ones to watch,” recognizing attorneys with less than eight years in practice. Sarah earned her B.A. in English from Oglethorpe University. Sarah earned her J.D. from Mercer University School of Law, where she served as Managing Editor of the Mercer Law Review. Sarah enjoys serving on the Alumni Board at Oglethorpe University, walking with her dog Ender, cooking, exploring Atlanta’s amazing eateries, and spending time with her family and friends. Sarah is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board, and is looking forward to making a difference and empowering girls in the Atlanta area!
Tiffany Scott
OneGoal Senior Director of Development Tiffany attended Spelman College and graduated with a B.A. degree in Economics and minored in Business Management and Organization. After several years as a planning analyst in New York City with ANN Taylor INC and Ross Stores, Tiffany relocated to Atlanta and transitioned into the non-profit sector as a fundraising professional. Tiffany is currently the Senior Director of Development for OneGoal - a national nonprofit with the mission to help all students achieve their highest post-secondary aspirations. Prior to joining OneGoal, she was the Manager of Donor Cultivation for City of Refuge, a local nonprofit organization focused on creating a pathway out of poverty for individuals and families residing in Westside Atlanta. She dedicates most of her civic time on child literacy and local education initiatives that ensure students are prepared for the workforce. Tiffany is currently serving her fourth year as a Power Lunch Volunteer with Everybody Wins Atlanta at Thomasville Heights Elementary, 2019 Association of Fundraising Professionals Diversity Fellow,2019-20 Fund Development Chair for Urban League at Greater Atlanta Young Professionals and graduate of United Way of Greater Atlanta V.I.P program.
Alexis Simmons
Salesforce Senior Quota and Capacity Planning Analyst Alexis Simmons is a Senior Quota and Capacity Planning Analyst at Salesforce, who leverages data analytics and insights to drive performance and process flows. She stands firms on cultivating environments that give girls and women the opportunity to succeed, grow, and develop. Alexis enjoys a range of hobbies including DIY projects, painting, and all things football. She is also an avid volunteer, also serving in the Junior League of Atlanta as the Co-Chair for the Leadership Institute. Alexis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Spelman College.
Shaniqua Singleton
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Associate Shaniqua L. Singleton is an Associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, practicing products liability, employment, and commercial litigation. She is an avid volunteer and enjoys community service, having served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and regularly volunteering with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Shaniqua is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Georgia School of Law. In her spare time, Shaniqua enjoys creating music and singing, and serves on the worship team at her church.
Briana Stewart Clinical Education Alliance Grants Coordinator
Briana Stewart is a Columbia, South Carolina native who relocated to the Atlanta area in 2019. Briana earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus in Business Administration and Nonprofit Management from the University of South Carolina Upstate. She has worked in grants and fundraising for numerous nonprofit organizations since her time in undergrad. Briana is the oldest of four siblings and a proud dog Mom. In her spare time, Briana enjoys running, traveling (pre-pandemic) and vinyl collecting.
Hannah Studdard Center for Puppetry Arts Assistant to the Executive Director and Finance Director
Hannah W. Studdard is the Assistant to the Executive Director and Finance Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Raised in Henry County, she is honored to join the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Junior Board! She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts (class of 2017, magna cum laude). In her career, Hannah also worked as a poll clerk for the 2020 federal election and as a sales manager for Atlanta-based King of Pops. In addition to the performing arts, her passions include such causes as the protection and expansion of voting rights, environmentalism, and LGBTQIA equality. Exploring the great outdoors, reading, and running are her favorite pastimes.
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 Manager of Grants and Donor Relations at the High Museum of Art. She is responsible for the management of government and education grants, along with the Museum’s eight Friends of Collections membership groups. Within this role, she serves as a grant writer, fundraiser, and experienced event planner. With a background in non-profit work, Hannah has also 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 watching TCM, hiking, 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!)
Ashley Wilson The Coca-Cola Company Channel Strategy Manager
Ashley joins us from The Coca-Cola Company where works as a Creative Activation Manager responsible for delivering value through ideation and execution of incidence driving initiatives for key customers across the National On-Site Specialty Retail Business. Before joining the Coca-Cola Company, Ashley worked as a Program Manager for the Atlanta Police Foundation where she led and executed a variety of complex projects with key stakeholders. In 2018, she led a cross-functional team that developed a compensation study for the Atlanta Police Department that served as a key measurement tool for managing areas of attrition and retention and was adopted by the current Mayor of Atlanta. Additionally, she holds the Chair of Branding position on the Women’s LINC Business Resource Group – Coca-Cola. In this role, Ashley is responsible for ensuring that the mission, vision and goals of the BRG are strategically communicated via digital platforms within the company. Ashley is a native of Georgia and currently resides in Dallas, GA with her husband Kevin and 5-year-old daughter McKinley. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, party planning, brunching with friends and most importantly being a parent volunteer for her daughters Girl Scout Troop.
Christine Yeager The Coca-Cola Company Director, PMO Sustainability
Christine Yeager is a leader rooted in embracing the differences each team member brings and discovering the value we can create together. She has worked at Coca-Cola for 9 years in various positions with a common thread for inspiring change for the better and delivering tangible results. Her current role is Director of Annual and Long-Range Planning where she coordinates the growth narrative for CocaCola North America. Throughout her career, she has come to advocate for a safe and welcoming work environment where peers can bring their whole self to work. This has brought her to volunteer activities that focus on empowering women: Presidency of The Coca-Cola Company’s women’s business resource group, Atlanta Women’s ERG, Executive Women of Goizueta, Next On Board and others. She is most excited to turn her focus to supporting young women achieve their aspirations through Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. Although born a Texan, Christine has fully assimilated into the beauty of the Southeast. The perfect spring and fall weather along with the immediate access to outdoor activities allows her to easily pursue her passion for hiking and homemade dinners on the patio. She completed her bachelor’s in science at Clemson University, and in 2014 she finished her MBA at Emory University.