Women Who Work

Join us for a discussion centered around leadership, team-building, and professionalism with female leaders in the Athens community. 

Panelists include:


Jo Barnes, Georgia Conflict Center
Jodi (Jo) currently serves as Georgia Conflict Center's Operations Manager and is Collaborator-in-Chief for 14 Words for Love, LLC. She is a first-gen who has a PhD in human resources and strategy from Terry College (UGA), a Master of Arts in labor and industrial relations (University of Illinois) and a Master of Science in organizational communication (Illinois State). She considers her most important work to be that of continuous learning in the areas of social group identity, finding opportunities to strengthen relationships during conflict, and more fully engaging people at work. She's currently on the board of the Athens Tutorial Program and has consulted for several Athens organizations as well as Fortune 500 companies spanning several industries. 


Sarah McKinney, Athens Area Community Foundation
Sarah McKinney began serving the Athens Area Community Foundation as President/CEO in March 2017. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and continued her education, obtaining Certificates of Gerontology, Leadership, and Basic and Advanced Nonprofit Financial Management. Today, as a professional working in philanthropy, Sarah's role is centered on helping convene the interest of donors, nonprofits, and community institutions to build, distribute, and preserve philanthropic assets that will enhance quality of life in the Athens Area for generations to come. 


Kiarra Trammell, Encourage H.E.R Academy
Kiarra Trammell, a proud native of Athens, GA, is a devoted mother of two and a seasoned lifestyle coach. With personal and professional experience overcoming various challenges, she provides valuable mentorship to friends, colleagues, and aspiring entrepreneurs. As the founder of Encourage H.E.R. Academy, Kiarra has established a supportive environment for adolescent girls and young women, helping them thrive through mentorship, educational resources, and nurturing support to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. She is also a motivational speaker, award-nominated author, and certified First Aid/CPR Instructor, recognized for her inspirational and results-oriented approach. 


Holly Ward, Shore Coaching Services
Holly Ward, Ph.D is the CEO and an Executive Coach at Shore Coaching Services. Her career focus has been spent inspiring others to achieve success. She has seen firsthand how supporting individuals with a commitment and desire to grow opens new and exciting personal and professional opportunities. Her extensive experience providing professional development in the area of leadership, communication, and team development along with coaching support has made a positive impact for many. She received her PhD from the University of Georgia and Instructional Coaching certification from the University of Kansas. She is also a Certified Mediator. She completed her Certificate of Leadership Excellence in Leading Teams with the Harvard Professional Development Program in 2023. She believes in the power of coaching as a support system to inspire individuals in professional environments to fulfill their greatest potential. She highly values the privilege of supporting individuals through coaching.