Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business-Kennesaw
FIN FIT “Fearless Fundraising your Small Business”
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is excited to announce FIN FIT (Financially Fit) “Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business” event which will be held on Monday, September 14 from 8:30am-12:30pm at KSU Center-Room 400 in Kennesaw, GA.
We proud to partner with Kennesaw State University – Coles College of Business, Cobb Chamber, and UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University for this free small business event. This event is free and open to all Georgians. Free continental breakfast and workbook is included with registration. This event is for educational purposes only; no products or services will be sold.
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 hands on learning lab 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.
8:30am
Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:10am
Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A
10:50am
Break/networking
11:00am
Learning LAB by Marguerite Pressley Davis, Growth-Stage CFO | Angel Investor, Founder, Finance Savvy CEO®
- 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
12:30pm
Program Concludes
Panelists
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.
Senior Business Consultant, UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University
Antonio Barrios serves as a senior business consultant for the UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University. Antonio has over 30 years of professional experience in several areas including finance, access to capital and management. He used to work as a Commercial Lender for Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs at CDFI and as SBA/Commercial Loan Officer for a community bank in Atlanta. He also developed expertise as an economic and financial analyst working for the Central Bank of Venezuela in the areas of financial planning and economic analysis. Antonio received his B.S. in Economics from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello and his MBA from Kennesaw State University.
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.
Founder and CEO of MerchLogix, Inc., Angel Investor
Nickolas (Nick) Downey is founder and CEO of MerchLogix, Inc., an Atlanta-based software company. Nick Graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and lives in Atlanta with his son Finnegan. Nick is a former member of the Atlanta Technology Angels and sits on the Board of Directors of several Atlanta organizations. Nick has served as a coach for the Georgia Tech Business Plan competition, and the Startup Runway Foundation.
Vice President, Small Business Banker, SouthState Bank
Jeanne’ Mack is a Small Business Banker with SouthState Bank serving entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the Metro Atlanta market. With more than 20 years of banking experience, Jeanne’ specializes in helping businesses secure financing solutions for growth, working capital, equipment purchases, acquisitions, and owner-occupied commercial real estate.
A graduate of the College of Charleston with a degree in Corporate Communications, Jeanne is passionate about educating business owners on access to capital and connecting them with financial resources that help create long-term success. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with businesses across a wide range of industries, providing guidance and customized banking solutions to support their goals.
Jeanne’ is actively involved in the Metro Atlanta business community and enjoys building relationships with entrepreneurs, community organizations, and economic development partners that foster business growth and opportunity.
She resides in the Atlanta area with her husband, Gabriel, Director of New Construction for Timberlake Cabinetry. Together they are proud parents of three daughters: Cydney, a registered nurse at Emory Hospital; Kayla, a nursing student; and Madyson, who is currently in middle school.
CEO, Rally Point Grille Franchising
Throughout her career, Carrie Roeger has leveraged the qualities of focus and determination to drive her toward success. She spent five years on active duty in the US Marine Corps, and in 1993 became the first female Marine to be awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Gold Jump wings.
In the years since her military service, she has carved out an impressive body of experience as a business leader in the residential construction industry, working her way through the ranks from administrative assistant to project management, marketing, purchasing, and eventually Chief Operations Officer for a leading residential developer. Her expertise and attention to detail enabled her to drive her company’s success in the areas of strategic planning, operations, budget management, problem-solving, training, and more. A highly respected business leader and colleague, Carrie’s work earned recognition as an industry leader for the company where she was invested for more than 15 years.
In 2015, Carrie and her husband, a fellow Marine Corps veteran, founded Semper Fi Bar and Grille. The family-owned restaurant was built to honor veterans, active-duty military, first responders and their families while creating a place where the entire community could enjoy great food, share stories and build connections.
Carrie entered the restaurant industry with no restaurant experience. She learned the business by doing it—marketing, financial management, strategic planning, leadership and everything else required to survive in one of the toughest industries in business. In 2022, the company took its next step and began expanding through franchising.
In 2023, Carrie led one of the most ambitious undertakings of her career: relocating Semper Fi Bar and Grille, rebranding it as Rally Point Grille, and opening the new restaurant just 500 yards from its original location—all within seven days. This herculean effort was a true team achievement, made possible by the exceptional leaders working alongside her. In 2024, Rally Point Grille expanded to a second location and launched a wildly successful food truck operation.
Carrie also earned her MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University in 2020 and served as an adjunct professor in Kennesaw State University’s College of Architecture and Construction Management. That same year, she founded White Stone Residential, LLC, which focuses on building and remodeling quality homes throughout North Georgia.
She volunteers with the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program and is a member of her local Marine Corps League.