TEN WOMEN TO WATCH

Women’s History Month is not just a time to reflect on the women who came before us – it’s also an opportunity to honor the women who are making history today. In this spirit, Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project is launching Ten Women to Watch to elevate the work of women leaders who are giving back to others in their community.

The women on this list are blazing their own trail. They have been instrumental in forging new business models and launching new enterprises. And while succeeding in their businesses, they are also making time to support the women around them.

Over the course of the next year, Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project will share the names of more Women to Watch and will honor the entire group at its March 2022 Women’s History Month gathering.

Antionette Ball / Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer / Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project
As the co-founder of Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEOP), Antionette has helped thousands of women start or expand their businesses.  She launched WEOP in 1999, in partnership with her twin sister Marionette Ball.  WEOP’s mission of economic advancement is demonstrated through programs, community involvement, strategic partnerships and initiatives.  She has written numerous business articles; her first full-length publication, Women Owned Business Guide to Winning Contracts, was published in 2018.

Vonda Echols / Director of Community Development / Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs
Vonda is an unsung hero who has helped hundreds of women-owned small businesses secure capital and loan forgiveness through her work with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs. She has extensive experience coaching small businesses and uses these skills to educate and support entrepreneurs who are considering taking out a loan.  Vonda collaborates closely with Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, serving as a touch point for referrals. Her work advocating for underserved women to access capital has made her part of the success stories of dozens of the organization’s clients.

Mia Martin / Founder and Creator / Modern Créatif
Mia has managed thousands of retail and wholesale relationships during her 14-year career in sales and marketing at a Fortune 10 company. Now, she uses her skills to help hundreds of professionals position themselves as subject-matter experts, enhancing their brands and businesses through marketing, branding and professional presentation strategies. She is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and a board member of the Kettering Executive Network.   Mia is a strong advocate for organizations like Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project. She serves countless entrepreneurs referred through the organization; goes out of her way to connect women entrepreneurs with each other; volunteers her time to conduct workshops; and mentors aspiring business owners.

Betty Davis / Vice President / KerBe Experiential Marketing
Betty is the founder of KerBe Experiential Marketing, a company that has created successful, attention-grabbing events for major brands including Ford, Walmart, AARP and ChickMaster. She has worked on automotive displays, giveaways, contests, marketing events and trade show productions.  Her marketing company has extensive experience creating innovative live productions and trade shows.  She has been instrumental in supporting events organized by Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project – both as an advisor, and by making sure the event itself runs smoothly. Her work has been critical to the success of the organization’s conferences and fundraisers.

Yolanda White / Founder and CEO / DAYO

Yolanda is a seasoned executive who spent 17 years at The Coca-Cola Company before leaving her role to start DAYO, a women’s loungewear brand that launched in 2018. She has two decades of experience working with top-tier brands and most recently was The Coca-Cola Company’s Assistant Vice President and Global Group Director.  She was recognized by Brand Week magazine in 2002 as one of the “Marketers of the Next Generation” and by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “2013 Top 50 Women Executives in Advertising and Marketing.”  She is both a generous supporter of Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, and a regular presence on-stage at the organization’s events. She has emceed numerous events, interviewing esteemed guests including Chili from TLC and Stacy Abrams.

Terri Gleaton / Vice President / Elite Realty Group
Terri is a top-producing Realtor who generates millions of dollars in real estate sales each year. In addition to her own success, she is also a certified mentor for new real estate agents. Ms. Bridges has been recognized as Agent of the Year for two consecutive years by The Empire Board of Realtors in Metro Atlanta.  She serves on the board of several nonprofits and recently launched a YouTube show, The Good Life, Atlanta Knows Best.  Terri spearheads WEOP’s Advisory Board and continues to provide the organization with donations, referrals and strategic partnerships.

Glenda Stinson / Supplier Diversity Development Consultant / Georgia Power
Glenda, a supplier diversity professionals, excels at supporting supply chain development, while enhancing businesses’ competitiveness and knowledge of requirements for contract and bid opportunities. She has been instrumental in leading and developing initiatives to grow and develop suppliers.   For more than five years, Ms. Stinson has played a major leadership role with the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project – serving as the Board Chair. 

Hermence Matsotsa / Founder and Principal Consultant / UbuntuSpeaks
Ms. Matsotsa has led health and community development projects with organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Fulbright Scholar Program and the United States Peace Corps. Her innovative work combines her deep public health expertise with her knowledge of workforce development training, strategic and intercultural communication, team building, employee engagement, program management and supervision.  Ms. Matsotsa is an active member of Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project. She regularly volunteers her time to conduct workshops that share her extensive skill set with other members of the organization.

Sue Ann Hong / President and CEO / Center for Asian Pacific American Women
Before becoming a nonprofit leader, Ms. Hong was an executive with State Farm Insurance Companies, where she managed up to 1000 contract employees at a time and supported customers and State Farm agents in 23 states. Her skills span diversity and inclusion, corporate business and technology portfolio management.  Today, she advances the Center for Asian Pacific American Women’s vision of building Whole Person Leaders, one person at a time.   The Center for Asian Pacific American Women has forged a trailblazing partnership with Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project that shows the power of women taking collective action. Together, the two organizations launched Atlanta’s first multicultural women’s conference in 2019, which is continuing into 2021. Under Ms. Hong’s leadership, the conference is expanding this year to partner with four additional organizations that represent Latina, Native American, Indian and Asian women.

Kim Schofield / Georgia State Representative
Ms. Schofield was elected in 2017 to represent House District 60, which includes areas of Southeast Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Forest Park and Hapeville.  As a small business owner, she continues to advance the stability for women-owned businesses as a member of the Small Business Development, Interstate Cooperation and Health and Human Service committees.  She is also an appointed member of the Atlanta Commission on Women.  Ms. Schofield openly shares her experiences and her message about the importance of civic engagement for women owned small businesses.  She also volunteers her time to conduct workshops for Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, and helps keep the organization informed about legislative proposals that could impact women-owned businesses.

This has been the March 2021 Ten Women to Watch list. In honor of Women’s History Month, we applaud these women for giving back, and for all that they do to support other women. Stay tuned for our monthly list featuring dynamic women with a desire to give back to their communities, to Atlanta, and beyond. For additional information visit WEOP’s blog: hercollectivevoice.com.