Coppell Women's Alliance Entrepreneurship Panel

"You'd think that the state of entrepreneurship and the state of women's entrepreneurship are one in the same ? but that isn't always the case. For women, wide involvement in the business world is still relatively new, and we continue to face our own unique challenges and barriers to entrepreneurship." ? Kiera Abbamonte

At this December luncheon presented by Mr. Cooper, Dr. Christa Slejko, President of Dallas College - North Lake, will moderate a panel of entrepreneurs as they detail their journeys and provide insights to their success. In attendance will be students from Coppell High School, so be there as these four powerful speakers share their wisdom with the next generation of female entrepreneurs!

Panelists: 

LEAH FRAZIER, OWNER, THINK THREE MEDIA
Leah Frazier is a 2-Time Emmy Award-Winning and 10-Time ADDY Award-Winning entrepreneur and was recognized as one of Dallas' most successful women for 2015. She is a multi-licensed attorney turned marketing and communications guru, who unapologetically left the practice of law to pursue her entrepreneurial ventures. In 2020, Leah was recognized by Dallas Innovates as one of the Future 50 Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth for tech, innovation and disruption and as a winner of the 2020 ?Inno on Fire? award from American Inno?s North Texas Inno media outlet, for her service to the startup, small business and entrepreneurial community. Just recently, Leah was named as one of the ?top 10 inspiring black women in the marketing and communications industry to follow? by Top Rank Marketing, and also as the 2021 Black Women in Media Trailblazer Award in the Media category. 

Leah has built a multi-faceted empire as an award-winning journalist, publicist, media personality, digital marketing expert, and in-demand consultant to notable brands.

Leah is the CEO and proud owner of Think Three Media ? an award-winning creative marketing and communications agency focused in the areas of content marketing, social media marketing, communications, and public relations services for brands spanning the industries of fashion, beauty, fintech, public speaking, the performing arts, food, lifestyle, and more. The company?s podcast, PR Yourself with Leah Frazier® teaches PR tips and tricks to small businesses, and ranks in the top 5% of podcasts in the world.

Leah?s work has been featured and mentioned in Forbes, Vogue.com, NBC, CW, CBS Local, Chase TV, Fox TV, Good Morning Texas, Haute Living Magazine, D Magazine, CEO Blog Nation, and many other outlets as an expert in PR and entrepreneurship. Leah has cultivated top-tier partnerships with Toyota, the Dallas Mavericks, Belk, Cantu Beauty, Marshall's, Via Spiga, Vogue, Brahmin, Neiman Marcus, Warner Bros., Shoedazzle, Yosi Samra Shoes, and more.

Leah co-authored her first book in 2018, The Success Factor, which reached #1 as a Best Seller for Women and Business reads, and was also awarded an African-American Literary Award. Her second co-authored title, Promise: A Global Women?s Devotional became a best seller in 2020 as well. She recently released her first eBook, Lessons from the Bottom: Losing One?s Self to Gain Success earlier this year, and is working on her signature PR Yourself ® book to be released in early 2022.

RENEE GILMORE, PRESIDENT, FIREMANS PAVING CONTRACTORS
Renee Gilmore is the President of Firemans Paving & Supplies, LLC (DBA Firemans Paving Contractors) and the wife of firefighter Aaron Gilmore. Firemans Paving Contractors is an award-winning company that became certified as a Women?s Business Enterprise (WBE) in 2016.  The company has been recognized as the 2018 & 2020 WBE of the Year for the under $5 million category by the Women?s Business Council ? Southwest (WBCS) covering a 4-state region.  A 2018 & 2021 recipient of the Lillie Knox Investment Award thru the WBCS.  A 2019 Luna Award Nominee for Established Service Firm of the Year as recognized by the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA).  

Renee attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has more than 20 years of corporate executive experience with half of those in the construction industry.  Renee is a results-driven leader with a strong track record of performance in start-up, turnaround and high paced organizations. Renee leads by example in living according to the ?Code of Honor? values system propelling the company forward based on the themes of Focus, Integrity, Respect & Excellence.  She credits her faith along with a strong foundation of ethics and wise counsel in personal and professional life to be the true meaning of success and happiness.  Renee and Aaron are blessed with one son, Aidan.

FELICIA JOHNSON, FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE GATSON GROUP
Felicia is the Founder & Managing Director of The Gatson Group, a diversity and inclusion consulting firm offering certified diversity training and strategic consulting.

Felicia formerly served as the Global Manager of Diversity and Inclusion for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Head of Diversity for Cabela?s, Inc., and co-led global diversity efforts for Nissan North America.

In addition to serving as a Certified Speaker, Coach & Trainer with The John Maxwell Team, Felicia holds an MBA from the University of Dallas, is a recipient of the prestigious University of Dallas Tower Award, an Advisor with the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business From Business to Leadership Certificate Program, a Board Member with the 1000 Dreams Fund, and serves as Board Vice-Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee with the Irving Las-Colinas Chamber of Commerce.

TARA STORCH, AUTHOR & PUBLIC SPEAKER
Tara Storch is first and foremost a wife and mom. She is the proud mother to three children - Taylor, Ryan and Peyton. She?s been married to her husband Todd for 28 years. They live in the Dallas, Texas area.

Tara is a marketing professional, award-winning author and community leader. She strives daily to make an impact on the world around her. Tara and her husband Todd, co-authored the award-winning book, Taylor?s Gift, which was recognized as the ?Most Inspirational Book? at the Books for A Better Life Awards in New York City. She was honored with the Legacy Award from the Texas A&M Women Former Students Network for the powerful impact she has made within the nation. She and her husband were also recognized as ?Heroes Among Us? by People Magazine.

She is a Real Life Expert with Donate Life Hollywood, member of the Philanthropy Advisory Council for the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) and recently completed her term on the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) Board. Her expertise as a donor mother and leadership expert in marketing and non-profit are regularly sought out by many in the business and medical community.

Opening up about her journey of finding hope and purpose after the loss of her daughter Taylor, she speaks publicly across the nation about her powerful ?Outlive Yourself? message. Sharing her journey on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Ellen Show, People Magazine and other national and international media, she brings a message of inspiration that is touching lives around the world.