Thurbert E. Baker has served as Georgia’s Attorney General since 1997.  He has won three statewide elections for Attorney General, and in his most recent election, he carried 122 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

As Attorney General, Mr. Baker has focused on fighting crime, corruption and consumer fraud. He wrote both Georgia’s groundbreaking mortgage fraud statute as well as Georgia’s financial identity fraud statute, allowing law enforcement to break up and imprison fraud rings operating in Georgia. Mr. Baker has fought to protect Georgia’s children by proposing and successfully passing legislation that increased penalties for child pornographers and closed loopholes in our child pornography laws.

Prior to his service as Attorney General, Mr. Baker served five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives, including three terms as Floor Leader for then-Governor Zell Miller. During his time in the legislature, he authored legislation that created the HOPE scholarship program and enacted Georgia’s “Two Strikes and You’re Out” law that puts the worst repeat violent offenders in prison for life without parole.

Attorney General Baker received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his law degree from Emory University School of Law.  While at Chapel Hill, Mr. Baker was a member of the fencing team and the 1975 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) individual sabre champion. In 2002, the ACC recognized Mr. Baker as one of the top fencers in conference history.

Attorney General Baker has taken an active role in the National Association of Attorneys General, where he has been elected by his colleagues to serve as National President during the 2006-07 term.  In the community, Attorney General Baker serves as a trustee for his church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, as well as on Emory University’s Board of Visitors. Attorney General Baker lives in Stone Mountain with his wife, Catherine, and their two daughters, Jocelyn and Chelsea.

Currently serving  Interface FLOR Commercial, Inc. as a Relationship Coach, Strengths Coach, and Business Consultant since 1996, she is the founder of The Possible Woman concept, is a facilitator for Women’s Wisdom Groups, and is certified by the Gallup Organization as a presenter of  the “How Full Is Your Bucket?” workshop.  Marj is a public speaker on such subjects as  "Living Your Strengths", "The Ageless Wisdom of Women", "Keeping Your Job, Your Family, and Your Sanity, Too", "Secrets of Success in Relationships", and  "Social Sustainability".

Her lengthy career includes teaching at all levels from Kindergarten to University; School Administrator and Public Counseling Agency Director; more than thirty Years in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; speaker to service organizations; University Counselor Training course designer; relationship coach to business organizations; certified to deliver various programs to teachers, business executives, churches, and health service workers. She has authored two books, Couples Night Out and The Possible Woman.

A native of Texas, Marj is happily married since 1964 to Dr. Paul Barlow.  They have five children, three grandchildren, and one great-grand-daughter.  Marj and Paul live in Austin, TX where they are currently planning a “green by design” home, honoring their passion for environmental and social sustainability.

Helen Berg serves as chief information officer (CIO) for IBM Internet Security Systems. With more than 25 years of experience in the information technology (IT) field, Berg is responsible for providing the technology vision and leadership needed to develop and implement information technology initiatives in a constantly changing marketplace. Berg is the primary leader in planning and implementing enterprise information systems to support both distributed and centralized global business operations for Internet Security Systems.

Prior to joining IBM Internet Security Systems, Berg served as senior vice president of global application development and integration for InterContinental Hotels Group. Her key responsibilities included the delivery of all IT services for the Americas region and the development of all global systems. Additionally, Berg served as director of systems design and integration for Lockheed Martin Enterprise Information Systems, where she managed development and operations of software systems and services for the aeronautics sector. 

Berg earned a master’s degree in business administration from The Citadel and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Carolina. Berg also participated in the Georgia Institute of Technology Strategic Leadership Institute and Carnegie Mellon University’s Management Challenge Institute. She is an active board member of several technology and leadership associations, including the American Electronics Association, the Georgia CIO Leadership Association and the Cyber Crime Institute at Kennesaw State University.

As senior vice president and chief information officer, Becky Blalock directs information technology strategy and operations across the 120,000 square miles and 9 subsidiaries of Southern Company. Her responsibilities encompass a $268 million budget that includes infrastructure, networks, desktops, applications, telephony and cyber security.

Since beginning her career at Georgia Power in 1978, Blalock has developed broad management skills in various positions. Most recently, she was vice president of Georgia Power’s Community and Economic Development Department, responsible for marketing and positioning the state of Georgia in a global economy. Under her leadership the department was internationally recognized as one of the top economic development organizations in the world and she was named one of the “Top 10 Outstanding Young Leaders in Economic Development in America.” In addition, Blalock has served in leadership positions in corporate communication, external affairs, the office of the CEO, accounting, finance, and customer service.

Blalock has received a host of honors, including being named one of Computerworld Magazine’s 2006 Premier 100 IT Leaders and the 2006 Power Woman by Atlanta Woman Magazine, inducted into the 2005 Atlanta YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and named 2003 Georgia CIO of the Year, Global Category, by the Georgia CIO Leadership Association; one of the top 50 IT leaders in utilities worldwide by RaderEnergy; a “2003 Diva” by Business to Business Magazine; and one of the women “Making a Mark on Atlanta” by Atlanta magazine. She lives in Marietta with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Alexandria.

As President of the Foundation for Women’s Resources, Bonner is the founder of both the Leadership Texas program and Leadership America.  She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Austin Technology Incubator, the Lone Star Girl Scout Council, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Paramount Theatre, the Austin Area Research Organization, and Women in Communications.

In 1996, Bonner had a dream that by the turn of the new century she would build the first comprehensive national women’s history museum.  The Women’s Museum:  An Institute for the Future opened its doors in historic Fair Park in Dallas, Texas in 2000 and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.  The Women’s Museum highlights the unique and diverse stories of American women’s history.  Using the latest in technology and interactive media, the museum’s exhibits and programs expand the understanding of women’s participation in shaping this country.  For more information about the museum visit: www.thewomensmuseum.org.

Bonner is the author of What I Want Next…30 Minutes to Reveal Your Future (Sag Harbor Press, 2006).

Today’s work world holds more possibilities for women to succeed than ever before. And, according to Cary J. Broussard, one of the country’s top advocates for women in business, the road to career success can be fun. In her new book, FROM CINDERELLA TO CEO: How to Master the 10 Lessons of Fairy Tales to Transform Your Work Life, Broussard makes business lessons easy and accessible by applying the wisdom of classic fairy tales to contemporary work life.

Cary Broussard has been a leader in public relations, sales and marketing for the past 20 years.  She has held numerous positions, including deputy press secretary to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker in Washington, D.C.; director of public information for the American Cancer Society; director of public relations for the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis (and has many tales to share about touring with the Peabody Ducks to gain media exposure for the hotel); Here she learned the power of a unique aspect to gain awareness and drive sales.

Before launching her book tour and consulting business, she was leading diversity officer for Wyndham International and senior vice president of a program she created in 1993, called WOMEN ON THEIR WAY®. She managed the marketing, public relations, human resource and sales campaigns targeted to diverse populations and women.  While at Wyndham, she was named One of the Top 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry by MeetingNews magazine, twice named one of the “Most Powerful Women in Travel”by Travel Agent magazine. And this year, designated one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Marketers by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.  Christine Cashen delivers a fast –paced, hilarious program with useful content that makes her a sought after speaker worldwide.  For more than 10 years, she has jazzed an amazing variety of audiences throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Christine is an authority on sparking innovative ideas to handle conflict, reduce stress and energize employees.

Before hitting the speaking scene, CC was a university admissions officer, corporate trainer and broadcaster. Christine holds a Bachelors Degree in Communication and a Masters Degree in Adult Education. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP).  CSP is an earned designation awarded by the National Speakers Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers to recognize demonstrated commitment to the speaking profession through proven speaking experience.  Fewer than 10% of the speakers on the planet hold this designation.
 
Christine has been featured as a creativity expert in HOW Designs at Work magazine and is a co-author of the book Mission Possible, Volume Eight. She has also developed the A Dynamic Speaker series of learning resources:  Get What You Want With What You’ve Got DVD, Why Can’t Everybody Just Get Along CD and Got Humor Video. Christine resides in Dallas with her husband and their two children. For more information go to www.adynamicspeaker.com.

Judith E. Glaser
Internationally Known Leadership Consultant

Judith E. Glaser is one of the most innovative and pioneering change agents and executive coaches in the consulting industry. She considers herself an Organizational Anthropologist, working with clients at the intersection of culture, leadership and brand. In 1980 she founded Benchmark Communications, Inc., a firm that works with CEOs and their teams helping them focus on competitive challenges in a world of moving targets with a direct line of site to the customer.

Her two books Creating WE: Change I-Thinking to We-Thinking & Build a Healthy Thriving Organization and The DNA of Leadership (Platinum Press, an imprint of Adams Media) , made Amazon Business Book Best Seller Lists in 2005 and 2006, and were also selected by both Forbes and Business Book Review as two of the top business books of 2005 and 2006. Creating WE has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Russian.

She has appeared on the NBC Today Show, ABC World News, Fox News Channel, News 12 Connecticut, NY 1, Martha Stewart Show and the Family Network talking about We-Centric Leadership, Bully Bosses and Culture Transformation. She has been quoted many times in the NY Times, WSJ, Crain’s, Newsday, Star Ledger, Harvard Management Review, AMA World and other print media talking about her Revolutionary Workplace Approaches. She is contributing Editor of Executive Excellence Magazine and is listed in the Excellence 100 Consultants.

Named CEO in January 2005, Joan Herbig is responsible for all Cambia business operations and is focused on growing the company's revenues and expanding its position as a leader in the security policy enforcement market.

Prior to Cambia, Joan was CEO of XcelleNet, Inc., the industry leading provider of Frontline Management solutions for remote and mobile systems. Joan also held various general management and marketing positions during her 10-year career at XcelleNet. Before joining XcelleNet, Joan was with Digital Communications Associates (DCA) from 1987 to 1995, where she served as Senior Product Line Manager responsible for marketing and product management of DCA's software product lines. Joan began her business career in customer support at IBM Corporation.

An active member of the Georgia technology community, Joan was named the 2001 Woman of the Year in Technology by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). She serves on the Board of Directors for AeA and the Technology Association of Georgia and the Board of Advisors for the Atlanta CEO Council. She earned a B.A. in French from the University of Louisville and a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky.

Marsha Sampson Johnson is senior vice president and chief diversity officer for Southern Company, the premier super-regional energy company in the Southeast and a leading U.S. producer of electricity.  A native of Jacksonville, Florida, she received her BA degree in Political Science and Government at Jacksonville University; and did graduate studies at Florida State University as a fellow of both the American Political Science Association and the National Institute for Mental Health.  She is a 1999 graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program (AMP 157).

Tory Johnson is the founder and CEO of Women For Hire (www.womenforhire.com), the only producer of high-caliber career expos and recruitment services connecting leading employers with professional women in all fields nationwide since 1999.

Johnson is also the Workplace Contributor on ABC's "Good Morning America," where she appears frequently to offer advice on a range of career topics, including achieving flexibility and advancement. In 2006, Glamour magazine dubbed Johnson the "raise fairy godmother" for her expertise in coaching a panel of women to ask for and get”salary increases. She's co-written three books on career success, including, most recently, Take This Book to Work: How to Ask For (And Get) Money, Fulfillment and Advancement, published by St. Martin's Press.

Sheila H. Mckellar is Senior Manager, Representative Development at Avon Product, Inc. She is the lead strategist for Recruitment and New Representative Development supporting a national sales team of over 600,000 Avon Representatives. Previously, she was Senior Manager, North America Communications, working directly with senior executives in building communications plans and crafting audio, video, and print messages.

Ms. Mckellar has 30 years of finance, operations, sales and communications experience with Avon. Avon has acknowledged her contributions to the development and growth of its businesses and operations with awards sponsored by the Chairman, President, and Regional executives. Ms. Mckellar also earned multiple world sales leadership titles during her stint in Sales.

She was named one of Georgia’s Most Powerful & Influential Women in 2000, and serves on the board of the Sindab Endowment Fund at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute.

A Chicago native, Ms. Mckellar is an alumnus of Roosevelt University, and attended the Stern School of Business at New York University. Today she resides in Lawrenceville, Georgia with her husband and two daughters.

Nancy Millett is a Partner with Deloitte Tax LLP in the Atlanta office. She is the Southest Region's Women's Initiative ("WIN") Leader and also the Manufacturing Industry Leader for the region.

As the Southest WIN Leader she is a member of the US WIN Leadership Team. She has responsibility for executing the WIN Vision of driving marketplace growth and creating a culture where the best women choose to be in the 23 Deloitte offices in the Southest. As the Manufacturing Leader she is responsible for executing the Industry strategy for building market share and serving Manufacturing Companies.

As senior vice president of communications and brand management, Christine M. Owens has global responsibility for Public Relations, Employee Communications, Customer Communications, Advertising and Brand Management. Owens is also a member of the UPS Management Committee, that oversees the day-to-day management of the company.

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native began her career at UPS in 1979 as a part-time temporary helper in Philadelphia during the holiday peak season. In 1980, she became a full-time UPS driver and was soon promoted into management as a supervisor in 1981. Owens advanced through a number of operational assignments in Metro Philadelphia prior to becoming District Manager of Northeast Texas.

Prior to her current position, Owens served as UPS's vice president for transportation where she directed the coordination, planning, and training for the UPS transportation network.

Owens earned a bachelor's in social science from Shippensburg University.

Dr. Chris Recknor, MD

In his role, Dr. Recknor is involved in the care of more than 20,000 patients in Hall County, and other parts of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.  He is a national speaker to physicians and community organizations on osteoporosis issues and currently serves on several advisory boards regarding osteoporosis treatment and care.  At the main facility (located at 2350 Limestone Parkway in Gainesville, Georgia), he is currently able to provide his patients with the latest medications and treatment for osteoporosis in conjunction with Physical & Occupational Therapy in an on-site Rehab Center consisting of a Heated Indoor Therapy Pool, Apartment Setting (simulated home environment), Therapy Gym and The Balance Center at UOC.  Dr. Recknor also provides his patients and the community the opportunity to participate in Pharmaceutical Research Studies, which provides the latest diagnostics and treatments available.

Dr. Recknor received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.  His experience includes being a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a Certified Clinical Densitometrist and a Certified Densitometrist, a member of the American Medical Association, American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, National Osteoporosis Foundation, and he has served as a Regional Osteoporosis Board Member:  Alliance for Better Bone Health.

Janet Rechtman is founder of Rechtman Consulting Group, a firm that specializes in helping non-profit and community based leaders embrace the challenges of internal and external collaboration. With a background in advertising and marketing, Janet has more than 25 years of experience providing technical assistance, training and facilitation in the areas of strategic planning and implementation, organizational development, marketing and internal communications.

Janet has her BA from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and a Masters from York University in Toronto, Ontario. She is a certified mediator and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Ph.D in Leadership and Change at Antioch University, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Her articles, poetry and fiction have appeared in a wide variety of publications. She teaches a graduate course in non-profit marketing at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.

The Southeastern Association of Facilitators named Janet “Facilitator of the Year” for 2004. As a volunteer, Janet is currently chair of the board of the Foxfire Fund, Inc. and a member of the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and Leadership Atlanta. She is also past chair of the boards of directors for Senior Connections and YWCA of Greater Atlanta and a member of the Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club. She has conducted workshops at a number of national conferences including the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, the International Association of Facilitators, the Community Leadership Association, Southeastern Councils of Foundations, Georgia Gerontology Society and the International Leadership Association.

Barbara B. Rose has more than 25 years experience in management, feasibility studies, development, training, strategic planning, board development, facilitating and fundraising. After 11 years in development at Georgia Tech and four years as Vice President of Development of Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital (now Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta), Rose established New Generation Partnerships, Inc., a full service consulting firm for not-for-profit organizations.

In addition she has done fundraising consulting with organizations such as the National Museum of Patriotism, College of Business Administration at San Diego State University, California Human Development Corporation and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Ms. Rose is the co-author of Dollars for Dreams: Student Affairs staff as Fundraisers and author of Halls of Poison Ivy, a detective novel set in Atlanta.

Valerie Sokolosky is an internationally recognized author and speaker on leadership. She is the Publisher for Women's Enterprise USA, a national women's news magazine and served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the prestigious organization, Leadership America.  A widely published author of seven books. Monday Morning Leadership for Women is her latest release listed as a top seller on Amazon. As founder of Valerie & Company, a leadership development consulting company, her executive coaching and training in Fortune 500 companies has motivated thousands to achieve greater success – which has resulted in significant profits for these companies.

Valerie regularly contributes to many newspapers and trade magazines and was the featured monthly Executive Quiz author for Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine from 1991 through 2003.

Debbie Storey is currently Vice President – Merger Integration, responsible for managing the Integration activity for the BellSouth/AT&T merger.  Prior to this assignment she was Vice President Broadband Transformation PMO, managing the operational planning and oversight of BellSouth’s transformation from narrowband voice to broadband platforms and services.  Before assuming this role Debbie was the Vice President-Operations for BellSouth Advertising & Publishing Corporation (BAPCO), where she managed 1000 people and a $350M budget.  Prior to joining BAPCO, Debbie spent 16 years at Stevens Graphics, starting as a customer service clerk and advancing through sales, marketing, and operations, and ultimately being named Vice President and General Manager.

Debbie is currently President of the BellSouth Women’s Networking Alliance. She also serves on the Cole Society Advisory Board and the Investment Committee for United Way, the Terry College of Business Advisory Board, the Center for Puppetry Arts Board, and the Women’s Leadership Exchange Board.  She has been a mentor at Shamrock Middle School, Georgia State University, and the GA 100 program, as well as many internal BellSouth programs.
 
Debbie is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned her degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice.   She completed her Executive MBA at the Terry School of Business at UGA earlier this year.  She is married and has one son who is currently attending Arizona State University.

Pat Willis is the executive director of VOICES for Georgia’s Children, a statewide organization that supports research, communication, and advocacy for issues related to children and families.  She became the first director of VOICES in August 2003 after achieving over 30 years of accomplishments in the corporate sector, the public sector and in volunteer service.

During 20 years at BellSouth Corporation, she was the founding director and subsequent president of the BellSouth Foundation, an endowed trust devoted to improving education in the Southeast and Latin America.   Through almost $50 million of grants and programs, the foundation achieved national recognition and respect in the issues of teacher preparation, school leadership and education technology, and international recognition for Pronino, an education initiative in 10 countries of Latin America.

In Georgia, Ms. Willis is on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Advisory Board for Georgia’s State’s College of Health and Human Sciences.  Nationally, she is a board member of the Foundation Center in New York, the Center for Leadership in School Reform in Kentucky, and the Nonprofit Sector Research Fund at the Aspen Institute.  She also chairs the board of trustees of Marietta (OH) College, her alma mater.