Fearless Fundraising for Small Businesses - Brunswick

Moderator
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. 

Co-owner of Dynamic Landscape Design and Pressure Washing & CEO/Founder of Dynamic Business Consulting

At 19 years old, Jimmy started his career in the Pest Control industry as a technician with Peachtree Pest Control in 1993, which his uncle Steve Arnold started in 1976 in Atlanta.  He worked his way up to several positions as a Sales rep and into Service Management. In 1995, he and his wife moved to Brunswick to start their new Branch for Peachtree Pest Control. As the years went by, they grew at a rapid pace and branched out to Savannah, Warner Robins, Jacksonville and Ormond Beach. At their peak, they had approximately 120 employees. 

In 2011 he and his cousin purchased the entire business from his uncle and in 2013 they split the business, where Jimmy kept Warner Robins, Savannah, Brunswick, Jacksonville, Ormond Beach and the Southern part of South Carolina. They continued to grow through the years making Acquisitions along the way in several markets. Jimmy had been approached through the years by Acquirers and turned many down. In 2019 and 2020, Jimmy was approached by 2 different companies at the peak of their industry acquisitions and he and his wife decided it was an opportunity to take some chips off the table with the market so high. They finalized a deal on December 31, 2020. 

Jimmy worked for the Acquirer in their M&A side of the business presenting approximately 30 million in Acquisitions.  

As 2021 ended, Jimmy knew it was time for something different.  He started consulting outside the Pest control industry with small businesses. At the start of 2024, after 3 years of a non-compete, he started consulting in the Pest control Industry as well. 

Jimmy has found a passion for helping small business owners understand business fundamentals. The true blocking and tackling in any business; focusing on Operational, Customer service, SOPs and Financial items with a core focus on P&L management and review. 

He also has ownership in several new businesses, Dynamic Landscape and Pressure Washing.

Founder & CEO, Finance Savvy CEO™ and creator of Your Profit Playbook™

Marguerite, a former Wall Street financial analyst, business strategist, and top ranked business money expert, was named Atlanta’s 40 Under 40 by Atlanta Business Chronicle, co-authored “Girl Power Uncensored” with her chapter “From Wall Street To Helping Main Street”, is an accredited angel investor, host of the podcast “Finance Savvy CEO”, the creator of Your Profit Playbook® - the leading business financial planning training program for small business owners, and Founder & CEO of financesavvyceo.com.  Marguerite spent the early stages of her career as a senior analyst at Goldman Sachs, controlling an over $2 billion portfolio of private equity, alternative energy, and commercial real estate investments. She transitioned after business school at the NYU Stern School of Business into a successful career in Mergers & Acquisitions as a Manager at Deloitte Consulting, advising Fortune 500 companies through the full deal cycle from target screening, deal structuring, valuations, and due diligence, all the way through day 1 readiness and post-merger implementations. Marguerite continued to push the ceiling when she sought to make wedding planning less stressful and more fun for brides by creating Tulle la la, a global retail technology company that combines technology with a project management-based approach to wedding planning. In 2018, Tulle la la won the modern luxury diamond award for Best Wedding Technology. Marguerite had a successful exit from the company within 5 years, and today, Tulle la la continues to serve thousands of brides across the globe each year. Marguerite now focuses her attention on her EdTech FinTech platform, Finance Savvy CEO, created to help close the gender & racial wealth gap by focusing on profitable entrepreneurship. Finance Savvy CEO supports business owners on an ongoing basis, through programming and members-only access, to increase the financial health of their business and intentionally create long-term organic financial sustainability. Marguerite is passionate about building generational wealth through entrepreneurship and is always excited to help entrepreneurs navigate their pathway to profitability.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Marshland Credit Union

Mary brings over 30 years of extensive experience in financial services to Marshland Credit Union as its Chief Executive Officer. With a profound commitment to member satisfaction, community engagement, and financial stewardship, she leads the strategic direction and operational excellence of the credit union.

Under her leadership, Marshland Credit Union has seen remarkable growth and innovation, embracing technology while maintaining a steadfast focus on personalized member service. She spearheads initiatives that prioritize financial inclusion, empowering members to achieve their financial goals and dreams.

Prior to joining Marshland Credit Union, Mary held key leadership positions in the financial sector, demonstrating a track record of driving organizational success and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability. Her visionary leadership and strategic foresight have positioned Marshland Credit Union as a trusted financial partner within the communities it serves.

Mary holds a BS in Business Administration from Meredith College, Raleigh NC and Graduate Certificate in Finance from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, complementing her practical expertise with a strong academic foundation. She actively participates in industry associations and community organizations, advocating for financial literacy and economic empowerment.

As CEO of Marshland Credit Union, Mary is dedicated to upholding the credit union's mission of delivering exceptional value to its members while making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families throughout the community.

Mary is a resident of Saint Simons Island, Ga.  She has been married to her husband, Jon, for 33 years.  They have three sons, Harris, Hampton (Julia) and Cooper.

Area Director of the Brunswick office of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC)

Mr. Lewis is Area Director of the Brunswick office of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center.  He is a Senior Public Service Associate.  He received both his BBA (Risk Management and Insurance) and his MBA from The University of Georgia.  

Mr. Lewis joined the SBDC in 1990 as a rural economic development consultant.  Soon afterwards he became the director of the Statesboro office. Since 1997 he has been the Area Director of the Brunswick office. Mr. Lewis's primary area of interest lies in financial analysis, business acquisition, financing, and other innovative methods of assisting business clients. His clients have obtained a total of over $90,000,000 in funding. 

He received the Flewellen Award for Consulting Excellence in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, and 2020. He holds certifications as both a QuickBooks Online Pro Advisor and a QuickBooks Payroll Pro Advisor. 

Founder and Executive Director of the esteemed Golden Isles Film Festival, Inc. & Creative Director of PM Cinematography

Pryce is a dynamic force in the film industry, serving as both the Founder and Executive Director of the esteemed Golden Isles Film Festival, Inc., and as the Creative Director of PM

Cinematography. Adopted to the United States from Guatemala in 1999, Pryce found his calling in the enchanting landscapes of the Golden Isles where his lifelong passion for the film industry began to take root.

By the age of 14, Pryce earned the highest rank of Boy Scouts to become an Eagle Scout. Today, he is a part of the Rotary Club of St. Simons Island and currently serves as the District Rotaract Representative for Rotary District 6920.

In May of 2023, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in General Business Administration from the College of Coastal Georgia. During his final academic year, he embarked on an internship with the prestigious Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship where he was awarded the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award. It was here that his vision for PM Cinematography began to materialize, transforming from a mere concept into a tangible reality.

PM Cinematography stands as a testament to Pryce's dedication to his craft, offering clients a unique and cinematic approach to film through a blend of videography and photography services. With an unwavering commitment to bringing his clients' visions to life, PM Cinematography has quickly become synonymous with authenticity and creativity in the industry.

Following around the time of his graduation, Pryce's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish the Golden Isles Film Festival (GIFF), also birthed from the visionary support of the Lucas Center. As the driving force behind GIFF, he is on a mission to elevate the film industry in the Southeast Region of Georgia, acting as a bridge between communities from Savannah to St. Mary's. The festival's programmatic approach emphasizes education, community engagement, and economic development, cementing its place as a hub and platform for aspiring and professional filmmakers in the region. The Inaugural Golden Isles Film Festival is set to take place in Historic Downtown Brunswick, GA, October 11-12, 2024.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and listening to music. With a relentless passion for storytelling and a commitment to driving positive change through his work, Pryce continues to leave an indelible mark to the Golden Isles community and future generations to come.

Founding Executive Director of the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship

Dr. Ande Noktes moved to the Georgia coast in March of 2022 as the founding Executive Director of the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship. She is a social entrepreneur who, over the last twenty years, has started three schools and coached and consulted hundreds of founders in growing their impact. Her undergraduate studies were at Colorado State University, and she has a master’s in philosophy from Assumption University in Thailand and an MBA from Emory. Her doctorate is in public policy from Northeastern University where she researched women entrepreneurs’ access to capital. During her time as Executive Director of the Lucas Center, over 500 entrepreneurs have participated in programs and coaching, and the Center has awarded over $60,000 in grant funds to help founders start or grow their businesses. Her consulting business has supported dozens of social enterprises, both for-profit and nonprofit, in strategic planning and growth, communications and change management, leadership planning and board development, and building and implementing mission-oriented revenue strategies.