Natalie Madeira Cofield is the President and CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), the foremost national trade association representing microbusinesses and small enterprises. Cofield is an award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, political appointee, and economic activist with a robust track record of empowering small businesses and underserved communities. She has offered her expertise and strategic insights to prominent CEOs of billion-dollar organizations, senior advisors to the White House, mayors of major cities, and community leaders across the nation. Her contributions have earned her recognition as one of the most powerful women in business by Entrepreneur Magazine.  

Chelsea J. Maxwell is a Senior Research Associate at the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. Maxwell is a trained social worker with a Bachelor of Social Work with minors in political science and sociology from Dordt University (formerly Dordt College) and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. Maxwell is a mission-driven professional with nearly a decade of experience advancing social and economic justice through community-grounded research and advocacy.     

Tynesia Boyea-Robinson is President and CEO of CapEQ, which she founded in 2011. As an entrepreneur, Six Sigma black belt, and technologist, Tynesia helps businesses achieve their true potential through social impact. She has been religiously leading and writing about enterprises that “do well and do good” for over a decade. As President and CEO of CapEQ™, she demonstrated how business and community goals can align towards mutual outcomes, helping Fortune 500 clients like the Carlyle Group, Marriott, and others change the way the world does business. In her previous role as Chief Impact Officer of Living Cities, Tynesia was responsible for ensuring $100M of investment produced outcomes that improved the lives of people across the country. 

Laura Bryce, CEO of Hallstatt Holden, is a leader in sustainability and innovation, dedicated to building resilient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible corporations and communities. She collaborates with leading brands and government organizations to reduce carbon footprints, address climate risks, strengthen supply chains, and transition to renewable energy. With a proven track record in driving digital transformation across industries such as energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and the public sector, Laura fosters creativity, investment, and industry partnerships to bring innovative solutions to market. She is a strong advocate for diversity of thought, which she believes is key to developing strategies that tackle complex environmental, economic, and social challenges. Laura is also a champion of the arts, artists, and the preservation of biodiversity and natural resources. 

Donna Gambrell, President and CEO of Appalachian Community Capital, is responsible for attracting and directing investments to Community Development Financial Institutions (or CDFIs) and other mission-driven lenders in Appalachia. These lenders, in turn, use the investments to make loans to small business owners, including to minority- and women-owned businesses, in underserved communities throughout the region. Since it began lending in 2015, ACC has deployed over $32 million to help finance renewable energy projects, manufacturing sites, elder care facilities, restaurants, ecotourism, and downtown redevelopment, among other projects. Ms. Gambrell serves on several CDFI boards. She is also the board chair of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of over 70 executives that was formed in 2018 to identify solutions to closing the racial wealth gap in the communities served by the members.

Pauline Gebon, Vice President of Member Success at the National Minority Supplier Development Council, is a 20-year supplier diversity executive known for her authentic advocacy for diverse suppliers both within the company she works with and the organizations she partners with. Pauline has multiple recognitions for her advocacy and expertise while leading MetLife to being named among the top corporations for the inclusion of diverse suppliers in procurement. In her role at MetLife, Pauline provides leadership and strategic direction as the global head of supplier inclusion and development. Pauline also provides her leadership to NMSDC where she serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and the NMSDC Leadership Team. She also supports WBENC as a valued member on the Membership and Revenue Generation Committee and Board of Director with BCF and the NYNJMSDC.

Coles Jennings is Director of Corporate Sustainability at the Climate Community Collaborative. Coles combines 15 years of engineering experience with a passion for sustainability, energy conservation, and affordability. One of his core beliefs is that the key to a sustainable future lies in decoupling pollution and production. Through his years of consulting for building design and performance, he has completed energy and sustainability assessments and designed system upgrades for commercial and government facilities all over the world. Coles is thrilled to put this experience to work helping organizations in the community reduce their resource footprints and realize better returns on their energy investments. Coles graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia, an AEE Certified Energy Auditor, and a LEED Associated Professional.