Women's Leadership Council

Kathleen Avila, Managing Member, Avila Retail Development and Management, Albuquerque, NM
Kathleen Avila has been instrumental in the growth and development of the retail firm she and her husband John own and operate. Avila Retail is an enterprise comprised of specialty shops located in airports that sell a variety of hand-crafted items from small local artisans to larger local manufacturers; the firm received the 2005 Ethics in Business Award and the SBA Small Business of the Year Award. Kathleen is one of the Founders and past chair of Chair of Women in Philanthropy; she currently serves as the Major Gifts Board Chair on the United Way of Central New Mexico Board of Directors.

Maria Mas Blet, Senior Vice President & Philanthropic Consultant, Miami, FL

Maria is a senior member of Wachovia’s Nonprofit and Philanthropic Services team. Maria is responsible for the administrations of 150 relationships representing the bulk of Florida’s nonprofit and philanthropic business including several grant making irrevocable trusts, private foundations, and endowments for Florida’s nonprofit organizations. Maria has built her 25 year financial career on maintaining the highest level of customer service with high profile family relationships. Maria served as the Chair of United Way of Miami-Dade’s Women’s Leadership Initiative in 2007. Maria is the Chair of the 2009 United Way Women’s Leadership Summit.

Johnnetta B. Cole, Ph.D., Chair, The Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute

Dr. Johnnetta Cole’s career as a college and university professor and administrator spans three decades. She made history in 1987 by becoming the first African American woman to serve as President of Spelman College. Her work as a college professor and president, her published works, her speeches, and her community service consistently address issues of racial, gender, and other forms of discrimination. In addition to 52 honorary degrees, Dr. Cole has received numerous awards, including the TransAfrica Forum Global Public Service Award, the Dorothy I. Height Dreammaker Award, the Radcliffe Medal, the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, the 2001 Alexis deTocqueville Award for Community Service from United Way of America, the Award for Education presented at the 90th Anniversary Celebrations of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and The Joseph Prize for Human Rights presented by the Anti-Defamation League. In May 2004, she became the first African American to serve as Chair of United Way of America’s Board of Trustees.

Susan Esper, Partner in the Financial Services Industry Practice, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston, MA

With over seventeen years of public accounting experience, Susan has specialized in the financial services industry throughout most of her career, with primary focus on investment management clients. Susan currently serves as an Audit Partner on a number of Deloitte’s largest investment management accounts with responsibility for oversight of client services coordination and delivery. In addition to her client service responsibilities at Deloitte, in 2004 Susan assumed the leadership role in the New England Practice for Deloitte’s Women’s Initiative Network (“WIN”). Established in 1993, this national initiative focuses on the development of its talented women professionals and identifies opportunities for them as future leaders within the Firm.

Sally Garza Fernandez, President, The Fernandez Group, Tucson, AZ

Sally leads a consulting practice that provides business management consulting to American and Mexico-based companies. Specifically, she leads all aspects of the practice including financial management, information systems, business development, and client relations. Her extensive community work includes membership on the United Way of America's Board of Trustees, United Way of Greater Tucson’s Board of Directors, the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, and the Southern Arizona Technology Council. Sally has been recognized among Notable Hispanic American Women, Tucson 40 under 40, and Who’s Who in Hispanic Americans. .

Kye Kilpatrick Fox, President and CEO, Urban Advisory Services, San Antonio, TX

Kye is a full time community volunteer and philanthropist. She is also president of Urban Advisory Services, a consulting firm she and her husband own. Previously, Kye worked in USAA’s community relations department where she was in charge of the United Way campaign. Kye’s United Way involvement is extensive and includes service as a core founder of San Antonio and Bexar County’s Women’s Leadership Council, United Way’s board of trustees, and Chair of United Way’s Youth at Risk Community Initiatives Committee. Additionally, Kye has sat on the board of several organizations including Free Trade Alliance and the Winston School.

Michele Griswell, Community Volunteer, Des Moines, IA

In the ten cities in which she has lived, Michele Griswell has consistently found unique opportunities for service. Her interest in strengthening communities stems from her long-time involvement with children and youth, as well as her work as a secondary school teacher. Michele has been a hospital volunteer, a leader of after-school study groups for inner-city middle school students, and a mentor to a homeless high school student. An active member of United Way of Central Iowa’s Women’s Leadership Circle, she and her husband Barry are prominent leaders of the Tocqueville Society, both locally and nationally.

Susan M. IveyChairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Reynolds American Inc, Winston, Salem, N.C.

Susan is one of the few female chief executives among the Fortune 500. With more than 20 years of U.S. and international experience, she served as head of international brands and earlier as director of marketing in China for British American Tobacco. As a member of The Committee of 200, she is a member of an international organization of female chief executive officers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who provide mentoring, education, and support for aspiring women business leaders. Susan’s lifelong experience with United Way includes service as campaign chair of Metro United Way in 2003 and of United Way of Forsyth County in 2007.

Mary Denise Kuprionis, Vice President, Secretary and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, The E.W. Scripps Company, Cincinnati, OH

Denise began her career with the company as secretary to the editor of The Kentucky Post. She has since served in numerous leadership positions, including managing executive compensation matters, administrative functions, legal matters, governance issues and special projects. She has been involved in many professional, civic and philanthropic activities. Currently, she serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees of the College of Mount St. Joseph and serves as member of the board of trustees of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She has received many community honors; most recently, the “Woman of the Year – Corporate” from the Cincinnati USA Chamber’s WE Celebrate Business Awards.

Carol MacPhail, Partner, Deloitte Tax, LLP, Pittsburg, PA

Peggy Pace, President, Sullivan- Sullivan-Pace PLLC Commercial Meditation, San Antonio, TX

Prior to her work with Sullivan-Pace PLLC, a firm practicing alternative dispute resolution, particularly pre-litigation mediation for business entities involved in commercial disputes, Peggy worked in oil and gas litigation with Cox and Smith Law Firm as a Shareholder in San Antonio and with Gordon, Arata, McCollam & Duplantis in New Orleans. Peggy’s philanthropic endeavors include being a founding member Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council, board member of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, member of the Public Policy Committee and member of the Coordinating Council Committee. Furthermore, she was the former President and Capital Campaign Chair of St. Peter St. Joseph Children’s Home, where she helped raise over $6 million dollars for the construction of a Recreation Therapy and Education Center.

Susan B. Parks, Chief Executive Officer, WalkStyles, Laguna Nigel, CA

Sue is the founder and CEO of WalkStyles, Inc., a healthy lifestyle company dedicated to providing products and services that help consumers incorporate walking into their daily lives. She founded WalkStyles with the mission of creating a walking lifestyle that motivates users, tracks healthy achievements and benefits their overall physical and mental wellness, while offering easy-to-use and fashionable products. Prior to founding WalkStyles, Sue held the number two position at both Kinko’s and Gateway as well as key executive roles at US West. She is also the energetic founder of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund (WPF) of Orange County’s United Way. The WPF channels funds into programs that help women and girls regain their independence.

Conchita Robinson, President & CEO, C Robinson Associates, Inc. Atlanta, GA

Conchita founded C Robinson Associates, Inc. which supports organizations and individuals in their quest to gain competitive advantage through effective use of “Leadership Strategies for the 21st Century.” At the foundation of the organization, Conchita Robinson, President & CEO, has over 20 years of leadership experience with “for-profit” and “not-for-profit” organizations. As a committed business and community leader, Conchita has provided professional coaching and consultative services for over a decade to a variety of individuals and teams. Dedicated to community improvement Conchita serves her community and nation on several boards and committees.

Melanie Sabelhaus, Chair Emerita, United Way’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, Baltimore,MD

As former Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administrator, Melanie Sabelhaus served as second-in-command in managing an agency with more than 80 offices across the country. After a career as an executive at IBM, she started Exclusive Interim Properties Ltd. In Baltimore. She is the immediate past national chair of United Way’s Women’s Initiative and twice co-chaired the National Summit on Women in Philanthropy. Melanie is a recipient of the 2002 Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland’s Pro Urbe Award, and the Ohio University’s School of Business Award for Achievement in Business.

Juana S. Slade, Director of Diversity, AnMed Health, Anderson, SC

Juana directs the diversity management initiative for South Carolina’s fifth largest health system. While under Juana’s direction, AnMed Health has developed a comprehensive, integrated diversity program to better manage the organization’s increasingly diverse patient population and workforce. She is also actively involved in community service, actively serving in a variety of organizations, including the Leadership Anderson Board of Regents, Partners for a Health Community, and Westside Community Center. In July 2007, Juana began a two-year term as “Chairman of the Board” of United Way of Anderson County..

Kim Sport, Community Volunteer, New Orleans, LA

Since Kim’s retirement from a prestigious career within the legal profession including positions at the Louisiana Supreme Court of Director of Community Relations for the State Judiciary and Executive Council to the Chief Justice, she has devoted much of time and energy to philanthropic causes. Kim has been apart of several organizations in various leadership capacities, including United Way of Greater New Orleans, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Race for the Cure, New Orleans Cancer Institute of Memorial Medical Center, CASA, and Emeril Lagasse Foundation for Children. She has been honored with numerous community awards, including was selected a 2004 Louisiana Heroine by the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) and received the Contemporary Art Center’s (CAC) 2004 RainMaker Award for her volunteer efforts encouraging women to become leaders in the community.

Ann Stallard, Executive Vice President, Graphic Communications Corporation, Lawrenceville, GA

Ann has been successful businesswoman and community leader for over 25 years. Ann is an active public speaker and published author on entrepreneurship, volunteerism and civic engagement especially on the issues of diversity, economic empowerment for women and the needs of children around the world. She has served on the White House National Initiative on Women’s Business Ownership Task Force and, she was the first businesswoman to be elected National President of the YWCA in 1991. Ann served on the global board of the World YWCA in Geneva, Switzerland, where she chaired the world nominating committee. The Atlanta YWCA selected Ms. Stallard as A Woman of Achievement in 1995. Ann was chosen as the 2004 Turknett Leadership Character Award for CEOs in recognition of her integrity in business and contributions to civic life. She is a member of the board of Trustees for United Way of America, and was on of the founders Women’s Legacy of United Way in 1999.

Barbara M. Washington, Vice President and Philanthropic Consultant, The Merrill Lynch Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Management, Pennington, NJ

Barbara Washington is an executive with Merrill Lynch’s division that is dedicated to fiduciary administration and charitable investment solutions. Previously, she was Chief Real Estate Investment Officer in New York’s Office of the State Comptroller. Barbara provides stellar leadership to her community as well, as she is a member of Jack & Jill of America, Inc.’s Atlantic City Chapter and was recently elected as its Corresponding Secretary (2007-2009). In April 2007, as part of its Family Leadership Legacy Awards, the foundation named Barbara and her family Jack & Jill of America Family of the Year. Barbara is a volunteer on Merrill Lynch’s Hopewell Responsible Citizenship Committee and is a Troop Committee Volunteer with The Girl Scouts of the South Jersey Pines. Barbara is providing leadership to help build New Jersey’s statewide Women’s Leadership Council network.

Sue D. White, President, Donathan Properties, Inc. Greensboro, NC 

Sue is owner and president of Donathan Properties, Inc., a real estate development and management firm for several large residential complexes in Cary, Chapel Hill, Charlotte and Wi n s t o n - Sa l e m. In 1983, Sue Donathan. Sue White built her first 200-unit apartment building in 1983, founding Donathan Properties. Today she employs over 60 people and has over 2,000 units in North Carolina, offering upper-end apartments as a quality housing option. Sue serves her community in many capacities, including as an officer of the Board of the United Way of Greater Greensboro and Tocqueville Women's Leadership Steering Committee. She is also active in the fight against breast cancer in many ways including her service as Board member of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.