Borrow Smart: Dodging the Predatory Lending Trap
Borrow Smart: Dodging the Predatory Lending Trap
Join our webinar for a practical conversation designed to help small-business owners make informed borrowing decisions. Hear from our panelists about how to recognize predatory lending practices and avoid costly financing traps. They will share tips for evaluating loan offers, understanding terms and fees, and identifying responsible sources of capital. Leave with the knowledge and tools you need to borrow smarter and protect your business’s financial future.
The webinar is moderated by Award-winning Journalist Donna Lowry. Speakers for this free webinar include Marguerite Pressley Davis, Growth-Stage CFO | Angel Investor, Founder, Finance Savvy CEO®; Melissa Sneed, Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (Department); and Tommie Beth Willis, South Georgia Regional Director, ACE – Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.
Speakers
Moderator, Award Winning Journalist
Donna Lowry is an award-winning journalist who combines a passion for storytelling and a desire to empower others with communication and critical thinking skills surrounding political, educational, and financial issues.
Through her firm, Donna Lowry Communications, she provides consulting, writing, and producing services for educational, media, professional, and business outlets.
Donna serves as host/producer for several programs, including Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Donna is an eight-time Emmy award winner, a three-time national Gabriel Award recipient, and has garnered honors from countless organizations, including the National Association of Black Journalists, Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, Georgia Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).
Her media peers inducted Donna into the prestigious NATAS Southeast Silver Circle to recognize her lasting contributions to the broadcast industry.
Donna has a master's in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's in Mass Communications and Administration and Management from Chatham University.
Her professional affiliations include the Atlanta Press Club, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Southeastern Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS SE).
In her 15th year as a Girl Scout Leader, Donna has led girls ranging in age from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her community service affiliations also include Magnolia (GA) Chapter of Links, Inc., and Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Donna and her husband, Army Major (Ret) Bennet W. Reid, Jr., are the parents of three daughters.
Growth-Stage CFO | Angel Investor
Founder, Finance Savvy CEO®
Marguerite Pressley Davis is a Growth-Stage CFO, capital strategist, angel investor, and Founder of Finance Savvy CEO®, where she advises founders and CEOs on capital readiness, financial strategy, profitability, and scaling businesses for sustainable growth.
With a background spanning Goldman Sachs, Deloitte M&A, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, featured in Forbes, Barron’s, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider, Marguerite brings a practical and strategic perspective to how businesses prepare for growth, deploy capital effectively, and strengthen financial foundations before and after funding.
Through her work with founders and growth-stage companies, she helps business leaders better understand the evolving expectations around capital, operational discipline, and enterprise value creation, equipping them to make stronger decisions as they scale.
Marguerite is passionate about increasing access to capital and helping founders build stronger, more financially resilient companies.
Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (Department)
Melissa Sneed is the Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (Department). As the Senior Deputy Commissioner, she has oversight responsibility for depository, non-depository, operations, and special projects for the Department. Prior to being appointed Senior Deputy Commissioner, she served as the Deputy Commissioner for Supervision from 2016 through 2025. In this role, she had oversight responsibility for all Georgia state-chartered financial institutions including banks, credit unions, holding companies, non-depository trust companies, and merchant acquirer limited purpose banks. Melissa joined the Department in 1999 as an Assistant Financial Examiner and was promoted to District Director in 2008. She is also Certified Examination Manager. Melissa is a graduate of the University of Georgia with bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance.
South Georgia Regional Director
ACE – Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs
Tommie Beth Willis, South Georgia Director of ACE – Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, was born and raised in Colquitt County and currently resides in Moultrie, GA. At ACE, she focuses on bringing the resources of Capital + Coaching + Connections to Small Businesses across the region. Prior to joining ACE, she served as President/CEO of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce from 2016-2023. In addition to her work in community development, Willis has 30+ years of marketing experience and over two decades in business management. Tommie Beth represents Colquitt County on the Southwest Georgia Workforce Development Board. Plus, she is on the Board of Directors for South GeorgiaLEADS, a regional leadership program spanning 40+counties, where she serves as the Chair for the South Georgia Women’s Leadership Initiative. In addition, she is a graduate of Institute for Organizational Management (IOM), a professional development program for nonprofit and organizational leaders.