KEYNOTE

Dr. Emeka Akaezuwa is Founder and CEO of Gaviri Technologies. He has over 20 years of management and technical experience in building mission-critical, customer-facing information retrieval systems.  Prior to founding Gaviri Technologies, Dr. Akaezuwa worked as Director of Digital libraries at Elsevier where he was involved in developing the world's largest science, technology and medical online information retrieval system. While at Elsevier, he also was Director of the IT Consulting group that developed information systems worldwide for corporate, academic and government clients. Before joining Elsevier, Dr. Akaezuwa was Advanced Technology Manager for all of Dow Jones and Company’s information retrieval systems. In 1995, Dr. Akaezuwa became an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems at Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ, where he taught senior level courses in Management Information Systems at the School of Business.

Dr. Akaezuwa graduated with a Ph.D in Information Systems and Structures from Rutgers University, New Jersey. He has received numerous awards for his work in information retrieval, and has two patent-pending applications on portable search technology and on search-based file management, synchronization and encryption protocols. Dr. Akaezuwa is a founding Trustee of the Global Literacy Project - www.glpinc.org, a non-profit group dedicated to bringing literacy to underprivileged regions of the world.

Program Presenters

Nikki Bland, Ardyss (bio and photo unavailable)

Edwin Fox, Marshall Capital Management - www.marshallcapitalmgmt.com 

Edwin R. Fox has been a Financial Representative for 9 years. His expertise is in providing strategies for individual investors and small business owners on retirement planning, and tax advantage investments. Edwin assists clients on how to plan their investments for funding, homeownership, higher education, retirement income, and business start-ups. He has been a personal investor for 25 years. 

Edwin has created the Dream Builder Series, financial literacy seminars that provide a framework for connecting homeownership, saving and financial education for a brighter future. His goals are to change the human behavior and beliefs of people when it comes to finance. So often in life people want to change the future of their lives, but fail to address the root causes of their financial setbacks. These seminars will focus on addressing these causes.   

Julia Lindsey, Our Little Books

Our Little Books co-founder Julia M. Lindsey has practiced pediatric  for twenty-eight years. She has owned several businesses and applied for grants related to her area of practice. Author of The Little Book of Joy, Joy Is Simply a Choice and The Little Book of Abundance, Abundance is Simply a Choice, Julia is committed to personal development. She also presents trainings on personal and business goal-setting.  Julia helps business owners become experts in their fields by showing them how to promoting their own little book, which can accomplish both personal and business goals. 

Shawn Livingston (photo unavailable)

Shawn Livingston is public services librarian aka reference librarian for the University of Kentucky Libraries.   For over 16 years he has assisted students, faculty, and community members locate, digest, and apply all manner of information to their research needs.  His particular research specialties include United States government documents, European Union policies and information, military history and public policy.   Mr. Livingston has also written articles and entries for renowned history publisher ABC-Clio.  In addition, he serves as an adjunct faculty in the School of Library and information Science, instructing new librarians in the ways of reference and basic search. 

As a member of several professional library organizations, Mr. Livingston has taken his photography hobby to a higher level, serving as the unofficial photographer for numerous events.   On November 4, 2009, Mr. Livingston served as the Official Photographer for the inaugural Seed 2020 event .   Prior to becoming a librarian, he spent two years teaching reading for the Fayette County Public Schools.   Mr. Livingston holds a B.A. in Psychology from Transylvania University and an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Tyra Oldham, Leverag

Dr. Tyra Oldham, experienced business professional, leader, consultant and educator within manufacturing, construction, product development, logistics, distribution and business development. She has an extensive background in business, business solutions with expertise in Knowledge Management, Organizational Development, Organizational Change, Operations, Supply Chain, Intercultural Communications and Relational Development. As a consultant, coach, trainer and educator she has delivered strategies to businesses and professionals in the public, private sphere nationally and globally as the, CEO of LEVERAG.

Her focus is in empowering people to achieve their goals especially women and MBEs. She supports corporations in Strategic Business Development Solutions, Joint Ventures and strategic alliances to support organizations to achieve long-term domestic and global success. She speaks, teaches, trains and develops businesses professionals to empower, promote innovation, collaborations, system change and understand the power of diversity.  Oldham is Managing Partner of LAND a Green development and alternative energy company building sustainable and green communities for a better world.

Stephanie Ringer, Creative Workplace LLC - www.creativeworkplace.com 

Stephanie Ringer retired from the Criminal Justice Arena in June of 2001.  While working with the Indiana Department of Correction, she taught team development for the Emergency Preparedness Units for many years.  She joined Aflac in June 2001 and then became a District Sales Coordinator in January 2002.  Stephanie achieved the   Founder’s Award for Management Excellence two times and was asked in 2005 to be a Regional Sales Coordinator for Aflac in the Louisville Metro market.   Stephanie developed her District team into the number one Regional Aflac Team in Kentucky West for 2 years running in 2006 and 2007.   Her dedication to team and training is what separated her office from the other Aflac Regions.  She believes in the team concept and how it enriches people’s lives.  She achieved the Founder’s Award for Mangement Excellence 9 times as a Regional Sales Coordinator.

In February 2007, Stephanie, Jessie Bunn and David Muth purchased the WorkShop.  The WorkShop is a one of a kind meeting facility that inspires creativity as soon as you walk in the door.  They have focused on opening the doors of  WorkShop to all businesses and welcome other trainers and consultants.   In 2009, Stephanie and Jessie Bunn became the sole owners of WorkShop. In her role as Operation’s Manager,  Stephanie is the creative force behind WorkShop’s vision.  Stephanie loves to motivate others to be the best they can be, drive business to people to help them succeed, show our out of  town guests what Louisville has to offer and find ways to enhance the lives of  children and the elderly. 

Chavantee Snow, Thai Café (bio and photo unavailable)

Carmel Stauffer, State Farm Insurance - www.staufferagency.com

Carmel Stauffer is a multiple-line insurance and financial services agent. Her office, located at 300 W Woodlawn Avenue, Suite 103, opened for business on August 1, 2008.  Stauffer is a graduate of Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan with a degree in family and consumer science.  She resides in Kentucky with her husband of 12 years, Kirt. Stauffer is a member of Greater Louisville Inc., the Hispanic Latino Business Council, and the Southwest Chapter of Business Network International.  Stauffer and her bi-lingual staff invite the public to visit their office to discuss their insurance and financial services needs.  They specialize in the sale and service of auto, fire, life, health, and business insurance as well as financial products.  She can be reached at (502) 375-1744.

State Farm® insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 76 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com®.

Toni Steinhauer, Toni Steinhauer LLC - www.tonisteinhauer.com  

Toni Steinhauer is a graduate of the University of Louisville's Speed School Master of Engineering program. She runs a database, internet, and software services firm in Louisville, Kentucky. Her clients include the Auto Channel, Future Farmers of America (National FFA), and Schumann Antiques. She is a founding member of the Intellas Group, LLC.

Nicole Turner, Mahogany Salon

Nicole Turner is a licensed cosmetologist and Owner of The Mahogany Salon located in the Mellwood Arts Center.  Nicole has over ten years of professional experience as a hair stylist, specializing in natural hair care. She graduated from the School of Hair Design in 1999. She’s also completed several business management courses at Sullivan College and the University of Louisville.  She continued her professional training by completing specialized classes in hair coloring perfected by Goldwell, Loriel Professionals, Redkin and Schwarzkopf. She has also received specialized training in cutting techniques by Pivot Point, Eufora and world renowned leader Patrick Bradley. Her hair care training includes such products as Design Essentials, Bumble & Bumble, Eufora, and Moroccan oil.  These are all international leaders in professional hair care and styling products

Nicole began her career by working at some of Louisville’s most prestigious salons such as Ecotage and Salon 600.  After 4 successful years in Louisville she moved to Atlanta and worked for two premiere salons- Too Groovy and Philip Watt salon, which helped her gain expertise in caring and styling natural hair.  Upon returning to Louisville, Nicole’s client list quickly grew to over 250 customers.  Utilizing her entrepreneurial spirit and her desire to become a salon owner, Nicole began laying the foundation for The Mahogany Salon.  Nicole’s mission for the salon is “to bring superior service and product solutions that will make it easier to have beautiful, curly, kinky or wavy hair”. 

Deborah Williams, Semonin – www.deborahwilliams.semonin.com

Deborah Williams is a licensed Realtor and affiliated with Semonin Realtors in Elizabethtown.  Deborah wants to open a full-service small business-consulting firm and establish a local Personal and Career Mentoring Center for women that will empower them to overcome life’s challenges and become successful and productive in their day-to-day lives.  She has a background in Business Management and has worked in both Advertising and Marketing positions. Deborah holds an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing from Sullivan University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Oral Roberts University.

Deborah is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and seeks to do just that no matter where she finds herself.  Deborah has used her talents to teach continuing education classes on leadership, becoming an effective team leader, and building effective teams.  She is the past President of Radcliff Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s Program, on the Board of Directors for Hardin County Habitat for Humanity, a published writer and provides business-consulting services in the areas of business plan writing, marketing, and customer service.