Our Team
Career Girls® Board of Directors
The members of our Board of Directors come from very different backgrounds and have built success in a variety of careers. They all share a strong commitment to the Career Girls’ mission and share their unique abilities to benefit our team.
While growing up in Connecticut, Linda Calhoun was fascinated with the arts, sciences and technology. Determined to create a career based on these interests, Linda studied hard in school and headed to college, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Boston University.
Starting her professional life as a public relations assistant, Linda went on to plan fine art events for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; develop public databases and policies for the state government of Connecticut; and work as a foreign affairs consultant for The World Bank.
Thanks to her multi-faceted career, Linda has had the chance to travel across the United States and live around the world. She is the co-founder, along with her husband Ed Calhoun, of the EL Films production company. She is also an established, independent artist.
Linda’s community involvement activities includes serving on the Board of Directors, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Foundation; member Alliance for Girls Advisory Board; as chair, International Relations Member Led Forum, Commonwealth Club of California; member of the Board of Trustees, World Affairs Council, San Francisco; and president, Board of Directors, Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Jason is a Digital VP at McKinsey & Company, where he leads a team of experts advising clients on sales technology and growth. He has over 11 years of experience in sales and growth leadership roles at sales technology consultancies, focused primarily on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms like Salesforce. Jason also has over 20 years experience in high tech, from startups to large companies, in a variety of high growth settings. Jason graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Psychology.
Ed graduated with a degree in Economics and Business from Hendrix College and obtained his CPA license after working as an auditor for Ernst & Young in Little Rock, Arkansas. After obtaining his broker's license, he then pursued a career in real estate development, construction and management. He oversees video production and web development for the CareerGirls.org website, and is dedicated to mentoring future generations through the continued growth and reach of Career Girls. Ed is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Foundation.
Kelly is a fifth grade public school teacher at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy in the heart of the Castro District of San Francisco Unified School District. In addition to being a teacher-educator committed to ideas balanced with and in equity, social, and racial justice; she writes curriculum and works with various groups that base their efforts focused on children, families, and communities. Kelly is a San Francisco Teacher of the Year.
Shiree brings a vast network and practical experience from the nonprofit world. She attended college to study history, and now, more than twenty years later, she has held a number of increasingly responsible leadership roles in galleries and museums that display history, art, and cultural riches from America, Europe, and Africa. Shiree played an integral role in the grand opening of the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD in San Francisco, California in 2005) —one of the only Museums in the world focused exclusively on African Diaspora culture.
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Kate is a business strategy professional with experience helping companies achieve sustainable competitive advantage through strategic planning and growth opportunities. She is currently Business Strategy Director at Essence, a global advertising agency. She holds a BA in Linguistics from UCLA and an MBA from Cambridge University in England where she lived for 4 years before moving back with her family. She is mother to a daughter and passionate about strong female role models and workplace diversity.
Beverly is a Senior Scientist at Leidos (formerly SAIC) in Washington DC and has over 19 years of experience in research, prototype development and transition of image exploitation tools in the areas of optical microscopy, motion imagery analysis, and IR spectroscopy for defense and agricultural remote sensing. As an accomplished scientist, Beverley brings real world wisdom to support our efforts to encourage girls to consider careers in STEM. She's also one of our very first and favorite Career Girls Role Models.
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Jennie brings experience in strategic planning and operational excellence, spending close to 10 years in the tech industry at Google and Youtube, where she is currently head of development programs for emerging YouTube creators. Prior to this, Jennie worked in management consulting and in television and film production. Jennie is from Dublin, Ireland and has a BA in Psychology from Harvard University and a Masters in Management and Organization Studies. Throughout her studies and career, Jennie has always been passionate about job satisfaction and helping people find the right roles.
Jeff is a seasoned and well-rounded senior human resources executive. He is currently the head of human resources at ITVS, a non-profit media organization focusing on producing independent documentary films that reflect underrepresented and underserved communities. Over the course of his career, he held various leadership and human resources positions at Warner Bros. Entertainment, IAC, Shutterfly, CBS, MTV Networks, and Showtime Networks. Jeff is also very proud of his internship with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in New York City, where he worked in the Mediation division.
Career Girls School Counselors Advisory Board
Dr. Edwards served as school counselor for six years and became a counselor educator in 2008. She is certified as a school counselor in Alabama and Georgia and a Nationally Certified Counselor. For the past three years she has served as the Associate Dean of the College of Education at Alabama State University. She is a member of the American Counselor Association, the American School Counselor Association, the Alabama Counseling Association, and the Alabama School Counselor Association. She contributes to the profession by serving on the American School Counselor Association Board of Directors and the Alabama School Counselor Association Board.
Maria
Maria Grovner is the Program Coordinator for School Counseling at the Georgia Department of Education. Part of her responsibility includes providing career information and resources to school counselors throughout Georgia in an effort for it to trickle down to students and parents. Prior to this role, Maria was a school counselor for 19 years. Throughout Ms. Grovner’s tenure as school counselor, she has coordinated activities for student leadership groups. Maria is involved on a leadership level with state and national organizations. She graduated from Georgia Southern and Troy State University. Ms. Grovner is currently enrolled at University of Georgia to obtain Educational Leadership certification.
Prior to joining the faculty at Liberty University in 2010 and Mercer University in 2014, Dr. Hibbert began working as a Professional School Counselor for the Atlanta Public Schools in 2007, serving at both the elementary and secondary levels. Dr. Hibbert is a Licensed School Counselor (preK-12), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She is and has been a member of many professional organizations including the American Counseling Association (ACA), American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and the Atlanta School Counselors Association (ASCA). Dr. Hibbert has authored professional publications as well as co-authored a book.
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After working as a Power Engineer for two and a half years, I realized my true calling was to serve as an educator. I taught Math at the middle and high school levels for thirteen years. Currently, I am the Intervention Coordinator at Heritage High School. My role is to coordinate the supports necessary for ALL of our kids to experience success. At HHS, that includes a school supply closet, food pantry, clothing closet, three mentoring programs, peer tutors and more! I am excited to join the Career Girls team and look forward to helping the program reach even greater heights!
Lori
Lori Nelson managed a successful warehousing and distribution center prior to receiving her Professional School Counseling degree from Clemson University. Lori is a National Certified Counselor, National Board Certified Teacher, Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern, who received the RAMP designation from the American School Counseling Association for Paris Elementary’s School Counseling Program. She is involved with leadership roles within her school district and PSSCA. She is committed to helping her students develop and enhance their academic, social and career knowledge in preparation of active literate, lifelong learning.
Ebony Payno
Ebony Payno, M.A. has been instrumental in assisting families since 2003. Ebony earned her masters degree in School Counseling at Clark Atlanta University and ignited her career with Fulton County Schools in 2006 where she has served as a high school counselor at various high schools in North and South Fulton County. Ebony has had extensive experience counseling students through C5 Georgia, CAU Upward Bound, and CAU and CSULB Educational Talent Search programs. She is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, ASCA, GSCA, NACAC, and the founder of Succeed with DRIVE, a college and career readiness program.
Jackie is certified as Professional School Counselor, Elementary and Middle School Teacher, as well as Teacher Support Specialist. She is currently an Elementary School Counselor in Georgia’s Cobb County School District, enjoying her 38th year as an educator in the district. She is passionate about school improvement and about helping students to overcome current and future obstacles to learning and growth. She believes in the supreme importance of preparing students with the necessary skills and attitudes for a productive future.
Sonya is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, a Nationally Certified School Counselor, and is currently an Elementary School Counselor in the City of Atlanta. Sonya is very passionate about working with students in the area of Career Development and has done so with students in grades Pre-Kindergarten thru 12th, for more than twenty years. In recent years, she has been a leader in supporting and implementing Career Related experiences for students and professional development opportunities, for School Counselors, who work with students on the elementary and middle school levels.
Career Girls Crew
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Emma Endres
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