Summer Jackson is an award-winning TV Journalist, Host, Correspondent, Producer and Professor. From interviewing some of the biggest names in pop culture to hosting and producing her television segments about lifestyles, fashion, and entertainment; and covering big news stories, like Hurricane Katrina, Summer is passionate about telling people’s stories.
Currently, she is a Host at CBS46, in Atlanta. Also, she is an Adjunct Professor at Clark Atlanta University, where she teaches Journalism and Communications. Summer is the Founder of Summer Jackson Media Group, LLC, a full-service media company, that provides live event hosting, media and public speaking training; video production and media/image consulting. Recently, Summer was recognized by CityBox Media, as a Women’s History Month 2022 Honoree. In 2021, she earned an Outstanding Media Award from MYDJ Dre Publishing and Def Jam Recordings for her work in television. Summer has worked for the national talk show, “Sister Circle,” on TV One/Cleo TV, where she hosted the weekly morningsave.com shopping, handled one-on-one interviews in studio and on the red carpet, as the show’s correspondent and, she was the “go-to” fill-in co-host.
An Atlanta-based, award-winning marketer, Tia Cummings-Hopkins has over 15 years of brand marketing experience across companies like Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Procter & Gamble. In May 2021, she joined fintech giant Square as the SVP, of Global Brand Marketing, leading the team responsible for Brand Insights & Strategy, Advertising & Media, Experiential Marketing, and Brand Partnerships. Prior to her career in brand marketing, she had varied experiences in corporate philanthropy, manufacturing operations, and product development.
Tia attended Hampton University as a Presidential Scholar and earned her B.S. in chemical engineering. She also has an MBA from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University where she was a Business Opportunity Program Fellow.
Cummings-Hopkins has always had a passion for community service and giving back to those less fortunate. Her 15+ year service record includes volunteering with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Citizen Schools, America Needs You, and via her beloved sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
In her free time, Tia enjoys traveling the world, reading, and spending time with her new husband, family and friends.
Tiffany Kirk is Vice President of Community Development for Regions Bank and is responsible for providing and monitoring support to underserved communities through loans, investments and community service activities. Tiffany is from St. Paul, Minnesota, where she completed her BA in Business Administration and earned her Elementary Teaching License at the University of St. Thomas. Tiffany is the Board Chair of Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, ANDP, one of the largest affordable housing community development financial institutions in the Southeast.
Tiffany is very passionate about social and financial equity for underserved populations, primarily those impacted by the criminal legal system. In 2017, she established a nonprofit 501c3 called LIFERS Inc, which aims to reduce recidivism and increase success outcomes by juvenile offenders. The program partnered with Fulton County Juvenile Courts in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, Tiffany founded Project Restart. She is the currently the Executive Director of Project Restart, a nonprofit that aims to reduce recidivism among justice-impacted adults through providing training in the areas of life skills, financial education, professional development and entrepreneurship and provides mentorship and micro-grants to graduates.
Valencia Williamson is the President & CEO of Clayton County Chamber of Commerce in Jonesboro, Georgia where she oversees all aspects of the organization. Before accepting her new role, Williamson served as Executive Vice President of the Area Development Partnership (ADP) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where she led the organization’s Chamber of Commerce Division for ten years. Before joining the ADP in 2010, Williamson served as Vice President at Walton Area Chamber of Commerce in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.
A graduate of Florida Agricultural &Mechanical University, Williamson has 17 years in the Chamber of Commerce industry and retains an extensive background in organization management, membership development, program implementation, and strategic partnerships. Williamson has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and has completed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management, and the True South Economic Development course.
Williamson is an avid tennis enthusiast, and she spends much of her downtime playing with her two pups Jaxon and Roxy, and hanging out with family & friends who affectionately refer to her as "V."
Alnissa Craig is experienced Communications and Digital Strategist with a demonstrated history of working in government. Skilled in developing and executing effective communications and PR strategies. Strong media and communications professional skilled in social media, writing, concept and content creation, design and media relations.
Monica McCoy is a highly sought-after award-winning global speaker, business strategist, and consultant. In 2017, McCoy founded Monica Motivates LLC. The Monica Motivates organization offers education and consulting services to women and underrepresented entrepreneurs, providing the tools and knowledge they need to grow and scale their businesses. Recognizing that gender and race play significant roles in determining access to capital for women business owners and underrepresented founders, her vision is to remove barriers that negatively impact founders and close the opportunity gaps that exists due to lack of education, resources, and access to capital.
A former Global Director of Strategy and Innovation for the McDonald’s Division for The Coca-Cola Company, McCoy left to pursue her own dreams in 2017, after 15 successful years. Now her business focus is helping individuals identify their purpose and passion, while showing them how to best leverage their newly found knowledge for the benefit of their companies and themselves. As a result, McCoy founded Pitch University, an award-winning interactive workshop, featuring strategies and tactics shared by current and former executives of major multinational companies. Monica attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Chloé Taylor Brown is a former international model, intuitive creator, and author turned executive lifestyle strategist, life coach, digital magazine publisher, and businesswoman. Her name has been synonymous with inspiration, encouragement, empowerment, and transformational mind shifts for women and girls since 2001. She is the co-creator of one of the world’s most effective self-awareness and lifestyle enhancement tools—the Personal Excellence Profile—the PEP. The PEP is an online assessment that evaluates and measures personal excellence, energy, power, and potential. Chloé works with individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporate executives helping them tap into their “true” personal power by creating dynamic “personas” and “identities” to flourish in areas that matter to them.
Chloé is a sought-after international speaker, author of three self-help books and the evocative memoir, I Can Laugh Again: From the Valley of Grief to a Glimpse of Heaven. She has contributed to, been featured, or seen on major networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and BRAVO. In the mist of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic she designed, curated, and published Flourish Digital Magazine, a global, upscale lifestyle publication that is quickly becoming a life phenomenon. Chloé is the president of Chloé Taylor Brown Enterprises, LLC, and the editor-in-chief of Flourish Digital Magazine.
Misty Fernandez is an energy industry professional with 20+ years of experience across customer service, environmental compliance, corporate philanthropy and external affairs. As a Regional Director for Georgia Power Company, I collaborate with state and regional business and community leaders in lifting and growing the communities where we live, work and serve.
Erica Rocker is an economic development professional for the Clayton County Georgia Board of Commissioners. She is charged with overseeing all of the economic development activities of the department including managing staff, business recruitment, retention, expansion efforts, partnership engagement, project management and relationship management for Clayton County, Georgia. Erica previously served on numerous boards and commissions throughout her work in North Fulton and South Fulton County including: Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta Medical Center - South, Westlake High School Touchdown Club, and the ATL Airport Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Erica serves on the Southern Innovation Crescent Board, Atlanta Regional Marketing Alliance, is a member of the Arts Clayton Board of Directors, 2017 Class of Leadership Sandy Springs, the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Clayton County Chamber of Commerce BOD, ATL Airport BOD, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Emory University Alumni Association, and the Atlanta Chapter of Turner Classic Movies Enthusiasts.
Erica holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Emory University and a major in Psychology/minor in EnglishShe is a graduate of the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute and the Georgia Academy of Economic Development.
Non-profit executive and educator Careshia Moore, Esq. is the President and CEO of Usher’s New Look (UNL), the youth empowerment foundation celebrating 21 years of service. In her role as President and CEO of UNL, Ms. Moore provides strategic leadership to the organization that is committed to transforming the lives of underserved youth into passion-driven leaders.Ms. Moore is an advocate and educator who has a heart for inspiring others to reach their potential. She is a mentor, leadership development expert, workshop creator and facilitator and a designer of educational products.
Ms. Moore has been active in her community through membership on boards such as Communities in Schools of Henry County and United Way Advisory Board and MENTOR Georgia Advisory Board. She is also a certified Aggression Replacement Trainer and has worked with justice involved youth as a trainer and a Neighborhood Accountability Board Coordinator.
Ms. Moore earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida. She is married to her husband of 20 years, and they are the proud parents of one son and one daughter. She is also a published author of a children’s book, Mikaela the Koala.
Coylitia Williamson O'Neal is a native of Athens, GA and currently resides in the southern crescent of Metro Atlanta. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Organizations Management and Keller Graduate School of Management with a Masters in Business Administration in Human Resource Management. She has over twenty five years of experience in both the long term care and the funeral service industries. Coylitia is currently involved in several
entrepreneurial and ministry endeavors. She is the Lead Pastor of Global Impact Christian Ministries in Stockbridge, GA.
As a second generation business owner, she upholds the mantle passed by her father, the late Coy C. Williamson, Jr. She lives by the scripture, “unto whomsoever much is given, much is required” and is affiliated with numerous civic and professional
organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Advancing Families Foundation, and Southern Crescent Pearls Foundation. Coylitia has previously served on Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Atlanta Technical College
– Continuing Education Advisory Committee and Southern Regional Medical Center Foundation Board.
Dr. Clea M. Etheridge, holistic doctor, author, instructor, mentor, coach, community activist that has owned and operated a Wellness Center in Jonesboro, Ga for over 10 years. She has been an active member of the Natural Healthcare and Wellness community for over 18 years. She is an instructor, mentor and holistic consultant. She appreciates and understands the skills necessary to build a successful mastery of ones-self. She enjoys teaching the critical links between different learning styles and how to apply them in Wellness for productive outcomes.
In 2004, she graduated as a Certified Massage Therapist from Georgia Medical Institute in Jonesboro, Georgia. Dr. Etheridge received several certificates and awards in the mastery of the art of holistic therapy and leadership before acquiring her honorary Doctorate in Spritual Health and Wellness October 2020. This offers her an array of valuable technique, tools and knowledge for creating a personal routine for clients with a ground breaking approach to holistic wellness. None of this compare to the joy of seeing the healing of the mind/body connection. She believes the human body has the innate ability to heal when given a positive and blissfull environment.
A commitment to building communities, families, and individual lives is the hallmark of the life and 37-year career of Lance W. Triggs. Currently the President of Program Operations Division for Operation HOPE, the nation’s leading financial empowerment non-profit organization, Mr. Triggs is a seasoned and tested executive, with a solid track record of success in managing complex operations and projects, developing a national non-profit organization from the ground up, and leading large teams in major national and global initiatives. Under Triggs’ leadership, HOPE has surpassed over 4.5 million client services and successfully committed over $2.3 billion in investments by improving the financial wellbeing in the lives of individuals, families and businesses. This is achieved through the 190 HOPE Inside Network Hubs serving over 860 locations in 35 states across the United States in the form of youth and adult financial literacy money, credit and foreclosure prevention management counseling, small business technical assistance, digital empowerment initiatives, mortgage and business lending capital to first time home buyers and entrepreneurs.
Over his illustrious career, Mr. Triggs has headed up major emergency disaster response and recovery projects involving United States Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, major international dignitaries, and political and civil rights icons such as Vice President Al Gore, Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Dorothy Height, Dr. C.T. Vivian, Reverend Joseph Lowery to name a few. In 1998, Triggs was selected as one of 20 delegates representing the United States at the United Nations Trade and Development Conference in Lyon, France.
Among his most impressive accomplishments, Mr. Triggs has managed several Global Financial Empowerment Forums featuring such prominent national leaders as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke, Gallup CEO Jim Clifton, Senior White House Advisor Valarie Jarrett, NYSE CEO Duncan Niederauer, Casablanca Stock Exchange CEO Karim Hajji, Luiz Edson Feltrim and Deputy Governor of Banco Central do Brasil as well as delegations from over 40 countries from around the world. He also had the distinguished opportunity to manage the development of the HOPE Financial Dignity Center (the Martin Luther King, Sr. Community Resource Complex), headquartered on the Martin L. King Center campus in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Triggs was born and bred in the soil of social service. The only son of prominent African-American parents Lee and Lilliane Triggs, young Lance grew up and attended school in Los Angeles. Triggs is a product of the California State University system, attending Cal State Fullerton, Academy Pacific, receiving a diploma in Transportation Management and Boston College Carroll School of Management and receiving a certificate in Corporate Leadership.