Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business
Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is excited to announce the second 2025 FIN FIT (Financially Fit) event will be held on Thursday, August 28 from 8:30am-12:30pm at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton, GA. We are proud to partner with The Tifton Chamber and ACE-Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs for this free small business event. This event is free and open to all Georgians. Free continental breakfast and workbook is included with registration.
Our panelists will discuss how to fearlessly raise capital to finance your small business as well as discuss the details of the Invest Georgia Exemption (IGE). IGE can be a powerful tool for Georgians looking to raise capital and fund their new venture or just grow their already thriving business. Our workshop portion will cover the topics of developing your fundraising goals, preparing your fundraising package, what to consider before you say yes, and managing your investor relationships for continued success and sustainability.
AGENDA
8:30am:
Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00am:
Opening Remarks & Welcome Message
9:10am:
Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A
10:50am:
Break/networking
11:00am:
Learning LAB by Marguerite Pressley Davis
Developing your fundraising Goals
Preparing your fundraising package
What to consider before you say yes
You’ve raised! Managing your investor relationships for continued success and sustainability
12:25pm:
Closing Statements, Noula Zaharis, Assistant Commissioner of Securities, Division Director Securities & Charities Division, Georgia Secretary of State
12:30pm:
Program Concludes
Panelists
Donna Lowry
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 degree 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.
Marguerite Pressley Davis
Founder & CEO, Finance Savvy CEO®, Angel Investor & Small Business Advisor
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 through 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.
Nema Ethridge
Area Director, UGA Small Business Development Center, Albany, GA
Nema Etheridge joined the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in 2021 with more than 15 years’ experience working with Georgia small businesses. Prior to joining the SBDC, she served as the marketing director for a Georgia-based coffee company that serves customers in wholesale and e-commerce settings. Prior to that, she worked as an international business reporter in metro Atlanta. Over the years, Nema has worked in a variety of roles in small business, gaining experience in branding, communications, digital marketing, management, and strategic planning. She has a BA from McGill University, an MPA Georgia State University and an MBA from Georgia Southwestern State University.
John Falotico
Owner & Operator, Central Jewelry | Pastor | Entrepreneur
John Falotico is a third-generation owner and operator of Central Jewelry, a landmark business in downtown Tifton, Georgia, proudly serving the community since 1953. With a strong background in both ministry and business, John holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ministry from Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Pastoral Ministry.
In addition to his work in ministry, John brings over 16 years of experience in wholesale jewelry manufacturing, sales, and marketing. Since taking the helm of Central Jewelry in June 2020, he has led the business to remarkable growth, achieving triple-digit increases and earning four Best of Tifton awards as well as three Best of Georgia honors.
John is a dedicated bi-vocational pastor, a passionate community leader, and a firm believer in the value of small business. He is married to Hope and together they have three wonderful sons.
Senior Vice President / Regional Credit Officer, South Georgia Banking Company
Jared is a lifelong resident of Tift County with deep-rooted connections to the community. With over 15 years of experience in the banking industry, he currently serves as Senior Vice President and Regional Credit Officer at South Georgia Banking Company. Prior to his current role, Jared held positions in commercial credit and commercial lending, where he developed a strong foundation in evaluating credit risk and supporting local businesses.
In addition to his professional career, Jared is actively involved in community service. He serves on the Tifton Council for the Arts, the Downtown Development Authority, the South Georgia Regional Commission Loan Board, and Coastal Plain CASA. He has also previously served as both Chairman and board member of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the growth and development of the region.
Tommie Beth Willis
South Georgia Regional Director, ACE – Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs
Tommie Beth, South Georgia Director of ACE – Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, was born and raised in Colquitt County and resides in Moultrie, GA. 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 20 years of business management experience. Tommie Beth serves on the Boys & Girls Club Moultrie-Colquitt County Board of Directors, Southern Regional Technical College Marketing Program Advisory Committee, and represents Colquitt County on the Southwest Georgia Workforce Development Board.