SPEAKERS & BIOS

ANTIONETTE BALL

CEO & Founder, Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, Inc. (WEOP)

Antionette Ball, is a visionary nonprofit leader, program innovator, author, and advocate dedicated to advancing women’s economic power. Ms. Ball continues to position WEOP as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and economic opportunity. She is the author of Women-Owned Small Business Guide to Winning Contracts, served as editor of A Woman’s Perspective magazine, and has written numerous articles addressing business growth and women’s economic advancement. She has also secured more than $1 million in funding for WEOP while building a powerful ecosystem of corporate, government, academic, nonprofit, and community partners. She has served on numerous boards and actively engaged on committees and community impact projects in partnership with other organizations.

KIM GREENE HUGHES, ESQ.

Founder, CEO, K.G. Hughes & Associates

Kim Greene Hughes, Esq. is the principal attorney and owner of K.G. Hughes & Associates, LLC, a law firm she founded in 2006 to provide exceptional legal counsel with integrity, personalized service, and a commitment to community. For nearly 30 years, Kim has represented individuals, families, businesses, lenders, investors, nonprofits, and government entities throughout Georgia in real estate, corporate law, and estate planning. Recognized as Invest Atlanta’s Top Closing Attorney for five years and honored with Atlanta Housing’s 2025 Building Futures Award, she also serves as Special Assistant to the Attorney General, representing the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in affordable housing transactions statewide. Kim is currently a board member of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, the Empire Board of Realtists, and Focused Community Strategies.

TONYA HICKS

President/CEO, Power Solutions, Inc.

Tonya Hicks, an accomplished leader, and trailblazer in construction, energy, and promoting women’s empowerment. As the President and CEO of Power Solutions, Inc., Managing Principal of Women Do Everything, LLC, andFounder/President of she-EV, Inc. Tonya has made significant contributions in several male-dominated industries. With a passion for excellence, Tonya’s journey began as she broke barriers, becoming the first woman to become a Journeyman Inside Wireman Electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 917 and the first Black Woman to become an IBEW Journeyman Electrician in the State of Mississippi.

KIM SCHOFIELD

Georgia State Representative, District #63

State Representative Kim Schofield serves the citizens of House District 63, which includes areas of Southeast Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Forest Park and Hapeville. She was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 2017 and currently serves as Secretary of the Urban Affairs Committee. Kim's professional career spans across healthcare, financial, transportation, education and nonprofit agencies. Kim has more than 15 years of experience in consulting, coaching, teaching, training workshops and engagement seminars, bringing alignment within political, corporate, community, law enforcement, healthcare and faith-based organizations.

PAMELA J. SMITH

President and CEO, Smith Real Estate Services

As President and CEO, Ms. Smith is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s operations including financial management, marketing, business development, project administration and management. Guided by her vision and leadership, SRES has experienced consistent growth, since 1984, and it has become nationally known for its technical capabilities. The firm has successfully managed real estate projects throughout the southeast, Washington, D.C., and in the Caribbean. The projects range in scope from project management services for multi-million dollar, mixed-use development projects; due diligence services for loan assets sold

in the secondary mortgage market; and land acquisition services for infrastructure and greenspace programs; and construction management services for 5.4 billion dollar Airport Improvement Program. Ms. Smith currently serves on the Board of Director’s for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, Inc. in Atlanta.

Dr. Tope Mitchell

Invest Atlanta, Director of Technology and Entrepreneurship, Executive Director of the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative

Dr. Mitchell is a sociologist, technology executive, award-winning entrepreneur, and strategist advancing innovation, economic development, and inclusive growth. She is the Director of Technology & Entrepreneurship at Invest Atlanta, leading efforts to attract, retain, and grow technology companies, and as Executive Director of the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), the nation's only municipally funded accelerator for women founders. She also represents Invest Atlanta in collaboration with the City of Atlanta's Office of Technology and Innovation. She is also CEO and co-founder of Reflekt Me, a VC-backed retail technology company helping brands increase engagement and conversion through inclusive personalization.

DR. KIM CARTER EVANS

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Trufund

Dr. Kim Carter Evans is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of TruFund Financial Services, Inc., a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where she provides executive leadership for the organization's enterprise operations, strategic growth, and organizational performance. With nearly 23 years of experience in business, community, and economic development, she is widely recognized as a thought leader in community finance, economic mobility, organizational leadership, entrepreneurship, and equitable economic development. During her tenure at TruFund, Dr. Carter Evans has helped secure more than $65 million in philanthropic, federal, corporate, and private-sector investments supporting small business lending, entrepreneurial education, equity investment, and business advisory services for thousands of entrepreneurs.