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The Atlanta Business Chronicle and The Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University are hosting the 15th Annual Womens Leadership Forum on April 5, 2013. Womens Leadership Forum is a tribute to the growth of women’s leadership and an inspirational way to gather ideas from the brightest minds – all focused on empowering females in future and existing roles. This power-packed half-day event includes a networking breakfast, two motivating keynote speakers, a seated luncheon and four inspiring panel discussions.
Julie Bryant Fisher/Metro Atlanta Chamber
An award winning journalist, writer and broadcaster Bryant Fisher has nearly 20 years of media experience working across the fields of print news, radio, television and public relations.
In her current role as Senior Manager, Communications & Marketing for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, she oversees communications, media and marketing strategy for the economic development team, coordinating multiple industry sectors to steer communications initiatives, media relations, original marketing collateral and new visibility opportunities for MAC-led initiatives.
In her role as Managing Editor of Atlanta Business Chronicle, Bryant Fisher was part of a three-person editing team for the city’s premier business paper, reaching more than 200,000 readers a week. She was also a contributing news anchor for the Chronicle’s nightly GPB business reports, a frequent emcee and speaker at local events and a guest on CNBC.
Before coming to work for the Chronicle, she was a staff writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She also worked as an award-winning general assignment reporter at the Tulsa World. She has been a news director and radio morning show co-host in Greenville, South Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She is a 2008 German Marshall Memorial Fund Fellow, a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2007 and an active community volunteer, serving on the boards of the Serenbe Institute and the Georgia Council for International Visitors.
Leona Barr-Davenport/Atlanta Business League
Leona Barr-Davenport currently serves as President & CEO of the Atlanta Business League (ABL), Atlanta’s oldest minority business development and advocacy organization. As such, she works with the board of directors to provide increased access to business opportunities for minorities with specific emphasis on the development of businesses owned or operated by African-Americans. Her background combines more than thirty (30) years experience in the areas of customer service, program development, organizational management & fundraising for associations and youth oriented programs.
A native of Johnsonville, South Carolina, Leona received a B.S. Degree in Business Administration & Economics from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1999, Leona was awarded the inaugural Dean’s Community Improvement Scholarship totaling $28,000 in the School of Business Administration by Clark Atlanta University. She completed the requirements for a Master of Business Administration with a Marketing concentration in the Weekend Working Professionals Program in August 2001.
Leona serves on the Advisory Boards and committees for BusinessNOW of Goodwill Industries of Atlanta, Inc. and the Atlanta Coalition of 100 Black Women of Atlanta. Her current board affiliations include Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Child Care Advocacy, Crossroads Community Ministries, Economic Development Corporation of Fulton County, Minority Entrepreneurship Education, Inc. (Secretary), the Clark Atlanta University School of Business Board of Advisors and the National Business League. She is a 1999 Leadership Georgia graduate, 2002 Leadership Atlanta graduate and graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy.
Leona resides in Sharpsburg, GA, with her husband, Jewel L. Davenport. She is a member of Antioch Baptist Church North where Reverend Dr. Cameron Madison Alexander is pastor.
Ann Cramer/Coxe Curry & Associates
Ann Wilson Cramer is a Senior Consultant with Coxe Curry & Associates. In this role, she provides strategic consultation to nonprofit clients to strengthen their capacity in the critical areas of board development, volunteer engagement, corporate relations and fundraising. She is also available to the business community to provide guidance on the issues of corporate citizenship and social responsibility.
Prior to joining Coxe Curry, Ann served as Director for IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for the Americas. In that position she was a member of the senior management staff overseeing the company’s approach to corporate citizenship, strategic philanthropy and overall social responsibility.
Ann has served on numerous local nonprofit boards, including the Alliance Theatre Company, Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Georgia Public Education Foundation and Public Broadcasting Atlanta, and currently chairs the board of Atlanta Partners for Education. Nationally, Ann has chaired the United Way of America’s National Corporate Leaders Council, the Conference Board’s Business Education Council and the Executive Committee of both the U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center and the Institute for a Competitive Workforce. In 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented her with its first Business Civic Leadership Achievement Award.
Ann is a graduate of Salem College with a degree in mathematics. In 1991, she received Salem College’s Alumnae Leadership Award in recognition of her commitment and service to community service. Ann and her husband, Jeff, are long-time residents of Inman Park and are active members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. They are the proud parents of two adult children.
