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Chattanooga Business Radio

Women in Business

Elaine Merritt of Sandler Training and Jane Kaylor of Ronald McDonald House Chattanooga

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Elaine Merritt // Sandler Training Twitter Linkedin Facebook

Elaine Merritt has more than 25 years of sales, media and training experience, including developing marketing and business development strategies for local and national businesses. She has conducted sales and management training for businesses ranging from car dealerships to beverage distributors.
Elaine is a Sandler Award winner and conducts training for Sandler using the adult learning curriculum. Sandler Training is a global training organization of over 500 Sandler® trainers located in major cities throughout the United States and more than 29 countries, with materials translated into 15 languages. For over forty years Sandler has helped sales organizations, ranging from small- and mid-sized businesses to Fortune 1000 companies, improve the effectiveness and efficiencies of their sales and management processes.
While living in Muncie, Indiana, Elaine was an independent business owner, and she specialized in customer service, leadership training and sales. In addition to her professional training experience, Elaine was an assistant professor at Ball State University in the Telecommunications Department.
Elaine is a past national president of the American Business Womens Association and a past Top Ten American Business Woman. She is a southeast regional director for BNI (Business Networking International).

Jane Kaylor // Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga Twitter Linkedin Facebook

Jane Kaylor is the President & CEO of RMHC of Chattanooga. She has put 26 years into the development of the RMHC through Non-profit management, fund development, grants and scholarship administration.

Over the past 10 years, the Ronald McDonald House of Chattanooga has provided a “home away from home” for more than 800 families with patients in the hospital who have had respiratory problems, nearly 700 families whose children were born prematurely, and over 300 families of children receiving craniofacial evaluations and surgeries.

In 10 years, families from 37 states across the U.S. have called the Ronald McDonald House “home”, serving over 400 families every year in its 14-bedrooms, and the staff looks forward to serving twice as many in years to come.

Women in Business – Session 6

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Katie King // Katie King Law Linkedin Facebook 

“How do you negotiate your value?”

Katie King is our introduction into the Corporate Women in Business series – “uncut”. On the show, Katie is talking about combining her experience of living in Chattanooga and expertise to move from a major utility company to her solo law practice.

“After working ten years as in-house counsel for a large energy and technology company, I decided to start listening to what used to be a whisper and grew into a shout from my heart.  I decided to leave what was in many ways a dream job because I felt in my soul I was not doing what I was called to do.

I wish to be the kind of woman my daughter will be proud to know when she is grown.  I wish to use my time, talents, energy and voice to help my clients achieve their dreams, to be a positive influence in my community, and to create opportunities for others.”

Women in Business – Session 5

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Mary Sedrick // BrightBridge Inc. Linkedin Facebook 

Mary Sedrick is the Director of the Women’s Business Center at BrightBridge Inc. Her experience lies in years of problem solving which stems from her engineering education. She also possesses a results-oriented customer caring background. Mary offers management consulting services and training sessions and events free of charge for women to not only learn about business but to make those vital connections through networking.

If you would like to contact Mary, call 423-648-9253 or email msedrick@BrightBridgeInc.org

Jacqueline Merritt // U.S. Small Business Administration Linkedin Facebook Twitter 

Jacqueline Merritt is an Economic Development Specialist in the U.S. Small Business Administration. Jacqueline runs workshops, such as the WE (Women Entrepreneurs) symposium, offers formal certification application information and help, provides loans, and even personal counseling with clients at times. She promotes that “the best marketing is quality service and quality products.”

If you would like to contact Jacqueline, call 615-736-7465 or email Jacqueline.merritt@sba.gov

Women in Business – Session 4

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Kristina Montague // The JumpFund Twitter Linkedin Facebook 

Kristina Montague is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the JumpFund, a Chattanooga based angel fund whose mission is to invest women’s capital in female-led companies with growth potential in order to generate a strong financial return and elevate the role of women in business. Most recently, Kristina served as Assistant Dean of External Affairs at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga’s College of Business, where she developed her passion for supporting and encouraging women as business leaders.  There, she worked closely with students and faculty to develop “business world ready” graduates and connect UTC with the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chattanooga. Kristina has also held leadership roles with two successful “start-up” public schools, Normal Park Museum Magnet and the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, the city’s first charter school, and served as a program associate at the Public Education Foundation.

A native of Seattle, Kristina received her B.A. from Vassar College and served as a Teach for America corps member in rural Louisiana before pursuing her Masters in Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Washington. Her long-time engagement in philanthropic and non-profit ventures underscores her commitment to encourage women to invest in women for both the economic and social benefit.  Kristina is the current board chair of the Creative Discovery Museum, vice chair of the Young Women’s Leadership Foundation and serves on the board of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Normal Park Education Fund, Launch Chattanooga, and Footprint Foundation.  She is also an active member of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute and Chattanooga Downtown Rotary and was recognized as a 2013 Woman of Distinction by the American Lung Association.

Amanda Jelks of Jelks Law

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Amanda Jelks//  Jelks Law Twitter Facebook Linkedin 

Amanda Jelks is a Chattanooga native who attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for undergrad and the University of Memphis for law school, both on academic scholarships. She has experience working with the corporate legal department of Pinnacle Airlines (now known as Endeavor Air) during her last year of law school and then spent five years at one of the largest regional firms in the area (Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, PC) where she handled complex business matters.

Amanda launched Jelks Law in the summer of 2015.  Her law practice focuses primarily on providing a peace of mind to entrepreneurs through her business legal services and estate/succession planning.  As an entrepreneur herself, Amanda “understands not only the legal concerns entrepreneurs have but also has a real world view of what it takes to operate a successful business.”

NAWBO Nashville Coverage – April 2016 Meeting

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National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

Becky Bayne // Becky’s Graphic Design Twitter Linkedin Facebook 

Pascia Smith // BeautyCounter Twitter Linkedin Facebook 

Jamie McGee // Tennessean Twitter Linkedin Facebook 

Caitlin Weeks // Grass Fed Girl Twitter Linkedin Facebook 

Paige Manuel // To The Core Coaching Twitter Linkedin  

 

Women in Business – Session 3

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Kelli Munczenski // Sawdust + Sod Twitter Linkedin Facebook 

Kelli Munczenski is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sawdust + Sod, hooking you up with over 500 local home contractors in ONE online marketplace and on ONE easy to use app.  Instead of wasting hours (or days) finding, vetting, and waiting for contractors, Sawdust + Sod automates word of mouth and lets you do all of that (and more) in about 60 seconds. Search. Book. Pay. Review! Home Maintenance Services, installations, handyman services, landscaping, lawn care, property restoration, remodeling, you name it! With Sawdust + Sod, there is never an out of pocket expense for Contractor participation.

They are honored to have been selected as one of the ALPHA startups at Collision Conference this year. In late April, Sawdust + Sod got the chance to demo their concept with the best of the best tech startups in the world…at the largest tech conference in the country…with only 10% of applicants selected! They are now working on adding additional locations in Knoxville and Nashville in the fall of 2016.

 

Chanda Maldonado // Chambers Welding & Fabrication, Corp.  Linkedin Facebook

Chanda Maldonado is Owner and President of Chambers Welding & Fabrication, Corp. Chanda handles many buckets and wears lots of hats. Chambers Welding & Fabrication, Corp. is a full service welding company offering custom fabrication, welding and metal repair. They have over 15 years of experience and their professional welding fabricators provide superior service in our welding shop and field service.

Judy Herman // Judy’s Counseling Services Twitter Linkedin Facebook

As a licensed professional counselor and mental health service provider (LPC-MHSP) Judy Herman writes, counsels, and speaks from a holistic Christian view that empowers authentic living. She specializes in helping couples create emotional safety and connection in their relationships – guiding them to be heard, understood, and valued so they can gain confidence and skills to be connected and cared for.