In 2001, SunTrust recruited Debbie to move to Atlanta, GA and build a new high net worth brokerage group entitled “Alexander Key Investments”, focused on high net worth individuals and corporations looking for unique investment solutions.  She wrote most of the marketing and sales brochures for the products she was responsible for, provided “buy lists” for the advisors to use
with their clients, and traveled through the Southeast speaking at advisor and client events on the brokerage services industry.

In 2007, Debbie decided to make a career shift, going to the sales side in her industry.  She joined Charles Wellborn, in his investment advisory and financial planning practice, still at SunTrust Investment Services.  They formulated the Wellborn Group and manage $400 million in client assets.

Debbie is from Dayton, Ohio. She graduated from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, a women’s college on Baltimore, MD, with a degree in mathematics.  Her personal passion is helping people, whether that be personally or professionally.  She herself has used a career coach from time to time to help keep her focused on the next challenge that comes her way.
Rita Izaguirre is Senior Vice President Diversity & HR Compliance for SunTrust Banks, Inc one of the nation’s largest financial services holding companies with total assets in excess of $170 billion.  SunTrust is located throughout the Southeast, with over 1,600 branches and almost 3,000 ATMs. In her role, Rita is responsible for SunTrust’s employment brand driving corporate strategy and execution of diversity activities and talent acquisition. She also oversees regulatory compliance and operational risks associated with the human resources function for the Company. Rita joined SunTrust August 2009, and has extensive experience in human resources and employment law.

Prior to joining SunTrust, Rita was the Compliance & Diversity Leader for General Electric Healthcare where she managed human resources compliance, diversity and employer of choice efforts in the US and Europe. She practiced law in the US and Latin America, and in 1997 moved to the Human Resources field where she has held a variety of roles with Fortune 100 companies, as well as public sector organizations.

Rita holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Barry University, a Law degree from Nova University and a Certificate in Organization Development from Georgetown University. She is admitted to the Florida Bar; also holds the SPHR designation. Rita taught Managing Workforce Diversity in the graduate OD/ HR program at American University in Washington, DC, and has been published on the Intercultural Management Quarterly.

Rita is a member of the board of Year Up, a national organization that provides urban youth educational tools to achieve their potential.  Rita is married and lives with her husband, Amado, in Atlanta, GA.

Ms Tirabasso has led teams that have delivered all phases of organizational change initiatives, from strategy development, business model creation, process design excellence, and systems implementation. She has also advised more than 20 client organizations to significantly improve their operating and financial performance, cost structure and service quality by eliminating trade-offs between cost and service.  She has deep experience in strategy, program and change leadership, optimizing costs, business process reengineering, merger integration, shared services and outsourcing, and systems implementations.

In addition, Ms. Tirabasso developed a Service Delivery Maturity Model to help organizations develop targets and optimize operations across the dimensions of strategy, services, structure, and operations & technology.  Ms. Tirabasso is the Lead Consulting Partner responsible for bringing all Deloitte Consulting services to clients.  Her functional experience includes finance, human resources, and information technology, marketing, legal, sales, customer service, and corporate communications.  She also leads Deloitte Consulting’s Women’s Initiative (WIN) for the Southeast United States.

Ms. Tirabasso is a sought-after speaker.  She recently addressed The Conference Board on “Moving beyond the Traditional Boundaries of Shared Services.”  She has also spoken several times to the Mortgage Bankers Association.  She is often quoted in industry and trade publications such as Bank Technology News, and was acclaimed for authoring “The Silver Lining in Lending:  Turning Doubters into Online Believers.” Ms. Tirabasso received the “Reengineering Team of the Year Award” from Computer World magazine for the best example of integrating business process and technology to implement significant performance improvement at one of her clients.  She was also one of 20 recipients of the “Woman of Inspiration” Award from the City of Atlanta and the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

Her most recent articles include “Next Generation Service Delivery for Consumer Product Organizations,” “Enhancing Value from your Service Delivery Organization:  Leap Ahead or Lag Behind,” and a look into how companies are using social discounting to penetrate the millennial generation titled, “Deal or No Deal?”

Ms. Tirabasso earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis on Marketing, Communications and Quantitative Business Analysis from Cleveland State University.  She lives in the Vinings area of Atlanta, GA, where she enjoys free time with family and friends, exercising, sports of almost any kind, and traveling, with a passion for destination spas.

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is one of the largest and fastest growing philanthropic service organizations in the country. With over $740 million in assets, The Community Foundation strengthens the 23-county Atlanta region by providing quality services to donors and innovative leadership on community issues.

Ms. Philipp’s local, regional and national leadership responsibilities include previous service as a board member of the Council on Foundations, the Southeastern Council of Foundations, Independent Sector and the National Center on Family Philanthropy. Honors received include being named one of the “100 Most Influential Atlantans” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and one of 175 “Emory History Makers” by Emory University.

Working for Mayor Kasim Reed, Duriya manages all operating departments including Aviation, Police, Fire, Corrections, Watershed Management, Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Planning and Community Development as well as several support departments and external agencies. She led the Atlanta Streetcar project that was awarded a $47M federal grant in 2010 and is set to become the first spur of light rail transit within the Atlanta region in 2013.

Since joining Mayor Reed’s administration in 2010, Duriya has led major mayoral initiatives to completion. She managed development of the administration’s first budget proposal, which added 100 police officers and opened all recreation centers after closing a budget gap of over $40M. She also led the city’s negotiations with Delta Airlines and other carriers in 2010 that amended their lease agreement with the city to add $30M in airport revenues. The lease amendment enabled the timely financing of the international terminal that is set to open in 2012. Duriya also worked with Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman to develop the proposals and analysis for pension reform that passed in June 2011, which is projected to save the City $500M over 30 years.

Duriya began her tenure at the City of Atlanta in the Finance Department in 2007 and completed the city’s first public infrastructure assessment that quantified a $750M backlog in investment. In 2008 she assumed the role of Performance Management Director in the Mayor’s Office to drive the citywide performance management program (ATLStat). She acquired significant experience in citywide operations and performance improvement before joining Mayor Reed’s administration in January 2010 as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Duriya holds a Masters in Public Administration and International Development from the Kennedy School at Harvard University and was awarded a fellowship on merit of professional promise. She received a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Hampshire College, under a full scholarship. Prior to joining the City of Atlanta, Duriya’s experience was focused on international policy
analysis and included positions with the World Bank, The Center for Global Development and the Center for International Development at Harvard University. Her research focused primarily on trade, education policy and impact evaluation. Her work was also cited in the World Bank’s 2004 World Development Report.

Duriya moved to Atlanta from the Boston area in 2004 and enjoys living near Candler Park with her family.

As a team leader for Aon in Atlanta, Kristin is responsible for delivering solutions to her clients surrounding a broad range of issues including Directors and Officers Liability, Enterprise Risk Management, property and casualty program placement, and a variety of human capital offerings.

Her background in M&A and Capital Markets allows Kristin to bring a wide range of industry specialization, and she has particular expertise with the private equity, financial institutions and real estate sectors.

Kristin graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law. She also completed post-graduate executive education programs in finance at New York University and Harvard Business School. Kristin is FINRA Series 7 and 63 licensed.

Pat Falotico is Vice President, Global Sales Center Transformation for IBM. She has spent 26 years with IBM, leading on a broad range of projects, including technical sales, sales management, service business development, software distribution, marketing and development of business partner relationships on the local, regional, national and international level.  She also serves as IBM’s Senior State Executive for Georgia and Senior Location Executive for Atlanta, providing leadership for IBM in the community and across the state, linking our Corporate Citizenship and Spirit activities with strategic IBM initiatives, and leveraging the resources of IBM to achieve strategic business goals

In her current role as Vice President of Sales Center Transformation, Pat is leading a number of optimization projects to improve deployment and productivity of IBM’s 3500 person inside salesforce  worldwide. Prior to her current position, Pat has led large field and inside sales organizations focused on the Small & Medium Business (SMB) Marketplace at regional and national levels. Pat is the Board Chair for Communities in Schools (CIS) of Georgia; the local affiliate of a leading national organization focused on increasing student graduation rates.   As a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2007, Pat is now an active member of the alumni and board member and served as the Program Chair for the Class of 2010.  She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Metro Atlanta.

Pat holds a B.S. in math and computer science from Manhattan College.  Originally from New York, Pat now lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband and two children.

Shan Cooper is Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and General Manager of the company’s Marietta, Ga., facility. She is also in charge of the company’s subassembly sites in Meridian, Miss., and Clarksburg, W.Va. She was named to her current position in January 2011.  As General Manager, she is responsible for the more than 8,000-employee Marietta operation, which designs, produces, modifies and maintains military aircraft for the United States and air arms of nations around the world. Marietta programs include the C-130J Super Hercules, F-22 Raptor, P-3 Orion, C-5M Super Galaxy and F-35 Lightning II.

Mrs. Cooper previously served as Vice President of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), based in Gaithersburg, Md. An experienced operational leader, she was responsible for all aspects of the Human Resources function for 36,000 employees based in 48 U.S. states and 64 countries. Before moving to IS&GS, Mrs. Cooper was Vice President and Deputy of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company with responsibility for Human Resources operations and site security for more than 27,000 employees across the country. At the same time, she served as Human Resources Site Lead for the Marietta, Meridian and Clarksburg sites.

She joined Lockheed Martin in 2002 as Senior Manager, Diversity Workforce Management. While at corporate headquarters, she progressed through positions of increasing responsibility before being named Vice President, Diversity and Equal Opportunity Programs in 2004. Before joining Lockheed Martin, Mrs. Cooper held leadership positions with Lucent Technologies and consulted with various other Fortune 500 companies. She has received several national honors, including the Women of Color in Technology Corporate Responsibility Award and the YWCA Tribute to Women of Achievement. She was named to Diversity MBA Magazine’s 2009 Top 100 Under 50 Executives and one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Most Influential Georgians in 2012.

Mrs. Cooper is on the board of Boy Scouts of America Atlanta Area Council, the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee. She also is a member of The Executive Leadership Council and the Marietta Kiwanis Club. She sits on the Board of Trustees for the Woodruff Arts Center and the WellStar Foundation, both in Atlanta.

She holds an MBA from the Roberto C. Goizueta Business School at Emory University and is a graduate of the Rutgers Global Executive Masters in Human Resource Leadership Program.

Since 2004 Stephanie has appeared frequently on television and radio teaching savings tips, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, NBC Nightly News, Fox Business, The Doctors, The View, Dr. Oz, The 700 Club, The Mike and Juliet Show, and CNN.

Over 5.8 million members belong to her free grocery deals website www.couponmom.com. Stephanie holds a degree in finance and has ten years of experience in sales and marketing with both Procter & Gamble and Marriott Hotels. In 1995 she retired from the corporate world to stay home with her sons. In 2001 she founded her free website www.couponmom.com committed to helping consumers save money and feed the hungry by increasing food donations to hunger organizations with the Cut Out Hunger program.

The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half, released in January 2010, became a New York Times Best Seller in its first month of publication. Websites, newspapers, and magazines across the country have featured Stephanie’s savings advice including USA Today, MSN.com, AARP, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, Parenting, Woman’s World, Quick & Simple, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Chicago Tribune, the Orange County-Register, the Seattle Times and the Denver Post.

Cut Out Hunger shoppers nationally have donated tons of food to hunger organizations in their communities. In 2004 the Coca Cola company honored the Cut Out Hunger program by selecting Stephanie to be a torch runner in their Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. Coca Cola selected participants for their “ability to inspire others and make a positive difference in people’s lives.” In 2003 the Dannon Company recognized the Cut Out Hunger program in their Families Feeding America contest. In 2002 North Fulton Community Charities named Stephanie one of their “Volunteers of the Year” for the food donations generated by the Cut Out Hunger
program.

Stephanie lives with her husband and two sons in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carol Godfrey is Vice President of Marketing and Product Development for Southwire’s Energy Division. In her current role, Carol is responsible for developing new product and service offerings including strategic partnerships, new product manufacturing, and acquisitions. Carol oversees a product management team, works closely with operations management during new manufacturing, develops strategies for merchandising, and engages with the internal and external sales agent through who bring all products to market. Carol is heavily involved with maintaining a presence for Southwire in the Power and Renewable Energy Industry and working to expand Southwire’s market share and mind share in North America.

Over the last 25 years she has held marketing, sales and manufacturing leadership positions including managing national and regional teams of direct sales and manufacturers sales representatives. Her marketing leadership includes oversight from full lines of commercial, construction and utility solutions to new product R&D and industry-leading innovation initiatives.

Carol has unique qualifications in that she has an extensive sales and marketing background coupled with a broad baseline of manufacturing experience and a degree in industrial engineering with an emphasis in statistics from Auburn University (BSIE ’86). She approaches complex challenges and engineering puzzles with common sense and pragmatism. She has worked for leading national organizations including Southwire Company, Hubbell Incorporated, Alcan Aluminum Corporation, Ralston Purina Company and Tampa Electric Company.

From her involvement in community through Southwire’s many outreach programs, to her other civic and non-profit endeavors, you’ll often find her demonstrating her personal sentiment of “Care Intensely”.  A native of Louisville, KY, Carol and her husband, Gary Godfrey (Auburn BSIE ’86), live in Atlanta.