Secure Your Finances: Your Best Defense Against Fraud

Moderator

Capitol Correspondent and Host of Lawmakers and Lawmakers: Beyond The Dome on GPB-TV

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, financial, and cultural diversity 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 for several programs, including Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Donna is a seven-time regional 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).

In 2013, her peers inducted her 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 14th 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. 

Chief Risk Officer of Homrich Berg

Kruti joined Homrich Berg in 2021 as Chief Risk Officer.  Kruti brings over twenty years of risk management and consulting experience in a variety of leadership roles.  She most recently served as the Global Head of Conduent’s Risk Center of Excellence.  Prior to her role at Conduent, Kruti was a Senior Vice President in Corporate Risk at Wells Fargo.  In this role, she spearheaded several organizational initiatives to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Wells’ risk function.  Prior to Wells Fargo, Kruti worked for SunTrust Bank in several roles including Head of Operational Risk for Wholesale Banking, Director of Risk Strategy and Governance for Consumer Banking, and Vice President of Supplier Management, Global Outsourcing.  Prior to joining SunTrust, Kruti worked in professional services for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Accenture, and BearingPoint, specializing in change management, performance effectiveness, and process transformation.

Kruti holds a BBA degree in Finance and Marketing from Georgia State University, completed studies at the Consumer Banking Association (CBA) Executive Banking School, and is a Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist (CFIRS). She lives near the Emory area with her husband and two sons.  In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling.

Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Southeast Region

Anna Burns is the Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Southeast Region. Prior to becoming Regional Director, Anna served as Assistant Regional Director and as an attorney in the Southeast Region, where she litigated a variety of matters, including cases against payment processors and nonbank lenders, nationwide false advertising cases, and debt relief schemes.  Prior to joining the Commission, Anna practiced in the areas of business litigation, consumer protection and trade litigation, and securities and shareholder litigation at an international law firm in both its Atlanta and Washington, D.C. offices.  Anna received her undergraduate degree from Emory University and is a graduate of Emory University School of Law.

Partner at Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP

Kamal Ghali is a partner at Bondurant and a top-ranked trial lawyer recognized in the 2022 edition of “Best Lawyers in America” and “Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.” 

A former federal prosecutor, Mr. Ghali has handled some of the biggest civil and criminal cases in the country including billion-dollar commercial disputes, complex criminal fraud investigations and prosecutions, and contentious investor fights involving corporations and LLCs. He has deep experience in high-stakes business litigation, often involving racketeering (RICO) and fraud allegations; government investigations and white-collar criminal cases; and a range of cybersecurity matters. Before returning to Bondurant, he served as a U.S. Department of Justice white-collar and cybercrime prosecutor for over six years, including as a deputy chief at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta. He previously served as a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. (NDGA) and U.S. Circuit Judge Frank M. Hull (CA11), and he leads Bondurant’s White-Collar Criminal Defense and Cyber & Digital Litigation Practices. 

Senior Director at the FINRA Investor Education Foundation

Christine N. Kieffer is Senior Director of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation for which she directs research and develops programs for law enforcement, victim advocates, and consumers to advance investor protection and fraud prevention initiatives. She also serves on advisory boards to the National Adult Protective Services Association and the Cybercrime Support Network. Christine holds a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University with double majors in Economics and Mathematics.