Kristi Lee (Moderator) is the CEO of ElegantLee Design. She has over 36 years of experience in marketing, retail, and business strategy for corporate America and private consulting. Kristi has been responsible for product and marketing decisions for 2,300 Albertson’s Food and Drug stores in 38 states, and negotiations with national brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Maybelline and Revlon. Kristi was one of the Founders of ACEL. She helped create the Professional Development and Mentorship programs and has served as Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors for 4 years. In 2011, Kristi was the recipient of the Positively Powerful Woman Award for Non-Profit Leadership.

Rhonda Bannard is the founder of Earth Gives and Inspired Connections, a non-profit that builds connectivity between people and environmental and climate nonprofits doing critical work on climate change. She has served nonprofits, associations and companies in the areas of marketing, communications, strategic planning, fund development, event/program development, board development and collaborative partnerships, and more.  Rhonda continues to mentor women, and has received honors such as the Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame (2019); The Phoenix Business Journal’s 30 Outstanding Businesswomen (2015), and as a finalist for the 2020 ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year.and pets.

Christy Moore is the Founder & Owner of Social Spin, Inc., botha profit-driven laundry service and an award-winning social justice enterprise. Social Spin brings nonprofit partners to Social Spin locations, to provide care, services and employment assistance and opportunities. Christy recently expanded this mission through the creation of the Social Spin Foundation, a nonprofit committed to ensuring that everyone has access to clean clothes. She received GPCC’s Athena Young Professional Award, Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, National Association of Women Business Owners – Phoenix Business Impact Award, ONE’s Organizational Accomplishment and Innovation Award, YWCA’s Advocacy Award.

Rekha Nair is the daughter of immigrants and a Phoenician. She is a proud graduate of Arizona State University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law (L’12).  She is a former math teacher, public defender, and has been fighting to protect and expand the rights of immigrants and their families in Arizona since 2014. She co-founded and currently leads the Phoenix Legal Action Network (PLAN), a nonprofit that partners with local immigrant-led organizations to advance immigrant justice.  She loves chocolate and speaking Spanglish; she abhors injustice and most fruit.

Kat Proffitt is a Sales Executive at Dräger. She has over 15 years of consultative B2B experience, over 11 years in medical sales, and demonstrated early entrepreneurial instincts by investing in real estate in her late 20s. After several years in the corporate environment managing multi-state territories, Kat began to crave community and connection. She was able to channel that energy into several small business ventures, where she identified a passion for local entrepreneurship and the community that it can create. Kat is a Valley Leadership Institute alumna (Class 41) and has been involved in various aspects of ACEL over the last 5 years.

Attending our ‪#‎ACELing2023 Conference, but need a hotel ?