Board of Directors

Lennox deFreitas

Software Delivery Manager
NCR

Board Chair

Lennox deFreitas is a result-driven IT leader with over 20 years of experience in various industries, including Telecommunications, Banking, and Cable. He currently serves as a Software Delivery Manager at NCR. His primary responsibly is to project plan, coordinate, and manage the software development process along with managing a team of Developers and QA Engineers. Before his time at NCR, Lennox served as a QA Enterprise Delivery Lead and as a Scrum Master for COX Communications for 10 years. He is a proud graduate of Alabama A&M University, where he served as Vice President of the Caribbean Students Association and is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Naima Judge

Managing Director and Market Investment Executive
Bank of America Private Bank

Internal Affairs Chair

Naima Judge is a Managing Director and Market Investment Executive with Bank of America’s Private Bank. In her role, she manages a team of professionals who work with high net worth individuals and families to create, grow and pass on their wealth. She has 20 years of experience in investment management. Naima has an undergraduate degree in International Business and Finance from Northeastern University and a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Corporate Accounting from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of business. Naima, in her capacity with The Bank of America Private Bank, has been a corporate partner with YearUp, a national not-for-profit organization focused on closing the opportunity divide for youth ages 18-24. Naima is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and recently relocated to the Atlanta area with her husband and her two children.

Tommy Lester

President
SWAN Development Partners

External Affairs Chair

Tommy Lester, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, has worked for more than 20 years in Atlanta’s financial services community with roles in commercial lending and relationship management at various banks and financial institutions. He is also a longtime entrepreneur with business interests that include more than 2 decades of owning and operating investment real estate. An alumni of Atlanta Public Schools, Tommy received a BS in Marketing from Hampton University, and an MBA from the Georgia Tech College of Management. He is active as a board member with the DeKalb Private Industry Council, Raising Expectations, and Big Kidz Foundation; and is an alumnus of Leadership DeKalb, the Georgia Academy for Economic Development’s Regional Leadership Development program, Project REAP, and the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Leadership. Since 2016, Tommy has served as President of SWAN Development Partners, which manages the acquisition, rehab, and disposition of single-family homes and small commercial properties around Atlanta, with a focus on market-rate affordability and neighborhood stabilization.

Margaret Atkinson

Project Transition Consultant
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Margaret Atkinson is a Project Transition Consultant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRBA). She has over 10 years of experience in strategy, project management, change management, and organizational effectiveness. Prior to joining the Bank, Margaret was in the Strategy practice at Accenture, where she advised state, federal and private sector clients. Margaret has Bachelors of Arts from The George Washington University.

Katherine Branch

Founder & CEO
Green Gate Marketing
Vice Board Chair

Katherine is the founder and CEO of Green Gate Marketing, a social enterprise that marries her love for branding and marketing with service to the greater community. Founded in 2014, Green Gate is an award-winning, people-centric agency, powered by a handpicked team of talented creatives. Katherine has worked in marketing and advertising across multiple industries including healthcare, technology, travel, hospitality, and the nonprofit sector.

Micheal Marable

Information Risk Program Manager, Information Protection
The Coca-Cola Company

Micheal Marable is a results-driven IT Leader with a proven track record of delivering global world-class solutions. Micheal currently serves as Principle Customer solutions leader at Amazon Web Services. His primary responsibility is to deliver Amazon global cloud initiatives. Additionally, Micheal is distinguished by his ability to identify, leverage, and develop talent. Throughout his career, he has helped clients, peers, and subordinates recognize their unique capabilities and position themselves as “A” players by addressing career strategy, leadership development, professional positioning, and visibility.

Micheal has a contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in people that inspires them to become prouder, stronger, and more valuable contributors to their organizations. He has also led innovative initiatives to build top-performing teams. Clients appreciate his straight talk, often unconventional perspectives, and the depth of his “real world” executive experience. Prior to his time at Amazon, Micheal served in various technical and leadership roles for Coca-Cola, General Motors, American Red Cross, Delta Airlines, and Walmart. His professional experience spans approximately 20 years in the information technology and customer relation management field.

Dr. Greg Shealey

Entrepreneur, Mobile App Developer, Author

Dr. Greg Shealey is the President of National Property Institute LLC, a general contracting and real estate company based in Lithonia, Georgia. He is also the founder of iQuick Tools, a mobile application technology firm that has developed multiple mobile applications on both the Apple and Android platforms. From his extensive construction and real estate experience, he began his foray into the mobile app development industry. Despite having no technical or computer technology background, Dr. Shealey began designing apps specifically for his own use in his construction and real estate business. In fairly short order, those apps were being purchased by users all around the globe. iQuick Tools has developed well over 30 apps, including social and game apps. From his extensive construction and real estate experience, he began his foray into the mobile app development industry. Despite having no technical or computer technology background, Dr. Shealey began designing apps specifically for his own use in his construction and real estate business. In fairly short order, those apps were being purchased by users all around the globe. iQuick Tools has developed well over 30 apps, including social and game apps.

Dr. Shealey is also an author and business community leader. In his book, The App Millionaire: How to Make “Sleep Money” with a Micro-Business, Dr. Shealey exposes his business philosophies. Dr. Shealey is an avid participant in the Atlanta Metropolitan business and social community as, among other things, the founder of Business Minds of Georgia, an Atlanta-based entrepreneurial think tank, and a judge for local youth educational competitions. Dr. Shealey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Georgia State University, a Master’s Degree in Biomechanics from Illinois State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Shealey resides in Atlanta, Georgia and has two beautiful daughters.

Chika Ugboh

Manager, Tech Engagement & Strategy
Walmart Ecommerce

Chika Ugboh works as program manager for one of Walmart's newest initiatives, Spark Delivery. Spark Delivery is solving industry's last mile delivery challenge. She leads feature development of the app and platform and partners with operations to improve program level metrics and strategic enhancements. Chika was an operations manager at the Owens Corning plant where she was accountable for providing support for a 24/7 manufacturing operation, shift leaders and associated processes. Prior to this role, she was a participant in Owen's Corning Manufacturing Leadership Program for a year and half in Kansas city. She holds a master's degree in engineering management from Dartmouth College and a bachelor's in chemical engineering from MIT. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors whether its on the soccer field, tennis court, or park.

Mackenzie Walsh

Public Affairs Specialist
Tripler Army Medical Center

Mackenzie Madden is the Associate Director of Communications for Hummingbird Firm, a group of community engagement strategists, providing strength in communications planning and execution. Previously, Mackenzie served as the Associate Director of Westside Communities Alliance, where she earned a reputation as a bridge-builder and facilitator. The WCA was a network of academic and community partners working collaboratively to tackle local challenges in Atlanta’s Westside through research, education, and community engagement. In this role, she gained extensive knowledge of local leaders, culture, and neighborhood challenges. While working at an institute of higher education, she was able to consistently create mutually beneficial service learning opportunities for non-profits and civic associations; lead and organize public think tanks; conceptualize and visualize quantitative and qualitative data; and foster a range of organizational relationships.

Mackenzie earned her Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2013. When not working, you can find her teaching spin classes at Clark Atlanta University, running with Movers and Pacers in Atlanta or Girls on the Run in Norfolk, or traveling the world!

Justin Ward

Global Lead of Cyber Services
The Coca-Cola Company

Justin Ward is Global Lead of Cyber Services for The Coca-Cola Company. Serving as second in command to the Chief Information Security Officer, Justin leads the company’s global information security services for the operating units, bottlers and subsidiary partners. Justin also manages the cyber component for the global insider risk program, the information security policy and standards, the vendor governance program and the Bridge innovation program.
Having served over 20 years in the IT/infosec industry, Justin joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2012 on the risk assessment team responsible for mitigating cyber risk for both internally-deployed and externally-hosted solutions. After serving as Manager for that team, his scope was expanded to Director to also lead the regional security managers responsible for delivering security services to global business units and bottlers.

In 2019, Justin served as the Executive Assistant/Chief of Staff to the SVP and Chief Information and Integrated Services Officer where he was responsible for facilitating the strategy and execution of IT services for the company’s functions and business units worldwide.
Before joining The Coca-Cola Company, Justin served in various technical and leadership roles at Microsoft, Avanade, KPMG, Florida Power & Light and United States Gypsum, based in Chicago, IL and Miami, FL from 2000-2012.
Justin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University.

Sharolyn Wynter

Financial Services Manager in the Technology Practice
Deloitte Consulting

Sharolyn Wynter is a Financial Services Manager in the Technology practice at Deloitte Consulting. She has over 8 years of domestic and international experience providing solutions for government and private sector clients across the globe. Her areas of expertise include data migrations, risk management, robotics (process automation), and legal & regulatory compliance. The Detroit native holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Spelman College and Master of Science degrees in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University. Ms. Wynter is an avid traveler who is passionate about STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) and helping those in her community.

Lyric McGhee

Salesforce Administrator
NCR Corporation

Lyric McGhee is a Salesforce Administrator at NCR Corporation. Lyric has been an Administrator at NCR since becoming Salesforce certified in 2018, gaining a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience with the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. In addition to her IT experience, she obtained her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University in May 2020.

Lyric spent most of her teenage years and young adult life sleeping on couches and moving from home to home in search of stability while staying dedicated to her goals of being the first in her family to graduate from high school and college. While in college, Lyric started her working career at the age of 19 as a cashier at Walmart. She went on to offer her services in many other areas, such as interning at Atlanta City Council under Andre Dickens, interning at the Westside Future Fund, Graduate of Techbridge’s Technology Career Program and First cohort for Chick-Fil-A’s Servant Leadership program called “Fellows.”

Lyric prides herself on integrity, accountability and helping those in need. Her values were built when she joined Raising Expectations (RE) in 2007 at the age of 12. Raising Expectations is a nonprofit after school program dedicated to helping the children and families on the Westside of Atlanta. She gives much of her credit to the program, consisting of co-founders and mentors that helped her stay focused, gain opportunities and provide mental and physical support. She is a true believer that it takes a village to raise a child and that if we work together, we all can uplift the children of the future as RE had done for her. As a proud Graduate of Raising Expectations, Lyric was honored when nominated to be a Board Member. As a Board Member of Raising Expectations, she looks forward to providing her knowledge, expertise and dedication to helping the organization prosper. Currently, Lyric is planning to get her Advanced Certification in Salesforce, pursue her career as a Producer, and expand Raising Expectations.

Heela Popal

Principal, State and Local Tax (Abandoned and Unclaimed
Property)
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Heela has over 19 years of unclaimed property experience and holds a CFE designation. Heela is a Principal/ Partner with PwC and the East Region Leader of the Abandoned and Unclaimed Property ("AUP") practice based in Atlanta, GA. She specializes in unclaimed property project management, audit defense, high level risk assessments, state voluntary disclosure initiatives, and the quantification of unclaimed property liabilities. She also works with clients to implement policies and procedures related to unclaimed property compliance reporting and tracking. Heela’s industry specialties with unclaimed property issues are consumer business, automotive, manufacturing, life sciences & healthcare, retail, and telecommunications.

Heela has co-authored several articles on unclaimed property: “Uniform Law Commission finalizes revisions to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act” PwC Tax Insights November 2016; “Tracking the myriad of changes in abandoned and unclaimed property, featuring Delaware legislative changes,” PwC AUP Briefing/ Issue 10/ October 2014; “Managing abandoned and unclaimed property in the retail Industry: Key gift card restructuring and transfer pricing considerations,” PwC AUP Briefing/ Issue 6/ May 2013, “What Organizations need to know about Unclaimed Property in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry,” @ Regulatory Health Sciences Newsletter, Summer 2007; “Florida Gift Card and Credit Memo Exemption: New Law Expands Florida’s List of Noteworthy Unclaimed Property Exemptions,” @ Regulatory Unclaimed Property Services Newsletter, October 2007; “The Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act: Considerations for CPA’s”, Florida CPA Today, December 2009, and "Unclaimed Property in the Health Care Industry: Navigating Troubled Waters, Checkpoint May 2011. Heela currently serves as the President for the Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization (UPPO) for the 2016-2017 governance year and is a frequent speaker on unclaimed property issues with different trade associations.

Prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers, Heela served in a similar role as a Senior Manager in the Unclaimed Property Practice of Thomson Reuters and a Manager in the Unclaimed Property Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Prior to specializing in Unclaimed Property, Heela worked in the Multi-State tax department of Deloitte Tax LLP where she specialized in working with the California Enterprise Zone tax credits, other tax credits and incentives, sales and use tax, and other multi-state tax issues.