This meeting will be held virutally.

Jessica Nicole Sinclair (Jess) is a mentor, educator and motivator. She has worked with girls and women for 20 years and believes that success often lies in seeing the gem within. Jess is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She holds degrees in Public Administration with a specialization in Non-profit Management (MPA, 2005) and English with a minor in Sociology (B.A., 2002). She was recognized in 2015 with the Unsung Shero Award by the Oasis Center for Women and Girls for her work with young and single mothers. She has worked in nonprofit management, development and program management for 15 years. As Director of K.E.Y.S. To Transformation, she is invested in seeing youth, young adults and families overcome challenges and thrive in the Sumter County community. Jess believes that transformed lives change communities, and that a community is only as strong as the citizens who make up the population. She is invested in being a part of community transformation, one person at a time. Her company, J. Nicole Coaching provides life strategies for girls and women who have experienced setbacks and are ready to move forward in their lives. Jess is also a member of the 2020-2021 class of South Georgia LEADS and an incoming member of the Board of Directors for the Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband Ralph have one daughter and one precious pup, named Myles.

Dr. Robert H. Bennett, III is a Professor of Management at GSW. He has authored or co-authored over 50 scholarly research publications or presentations. Robert was named a Sam Walton Fellow in the Enactus organization and serves on the National Faculty Advisory Board. He was named the 2016 Faculty Member of the Year at GSW. For many years, Robert has taught MBA students at the prestigious Kedge Business School located in Marseille and Bordeaux, France. Bennett served for nearly 12 years as Chairman, President, and CEO of Farmers Exchange Bank headquartered in Alabama. American Banker Magazine recognized FEB in 2005 as one of the top community banks in the country. Bennett served as President and Chairman of the Alabama Bankers Association in 2007-2009 and was a member of the Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association from 2008-2013. From 2005-2008 Bennett was Academic Director of the Alabama Banking School and was a faculty member there for 18 years. Robert also served on the faculty of the L.S.U. Graduate School of Banking four years. Robert has served on the boards of three community banks and has consulted with numerous organizations nationwide including all four branches of the military. He was recognized in 2002 as the Outstanding Young Banker in Alabama. Bennett’s doctoral dissertation from Florida State University on the decision processes of bank boards was presented by invitation in 1998 at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Robert was recognized as most outstanding male graduate in his undergraduate class at University of South Alabama and as most outstanding graduate of his M.B.A. class at the University of Georgia. He completed his Ph.D. from the Florida State University in 1996. He is a former president of the University of South Alabama National Alumni Association (1997-1998) and was a founder of the Mitchell College of Business Alumni Association. Robert is a past-chairman of the Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and served on the Foundation Board of Wallace Community College from 2002-2009. He was head of the Economic Development Council in Eufaula and member of the Board of Trustees at the Lakeside School. He was a member of Leadership Alabama Class XVII. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Eufaula First United Methodist Church and has been a long-time youth sports coach. Currently he is the varsity golf coach at the Lakeside School.

Realtors Jimmy Whaley and Cindy Pryor will present a review of the 2020 real estate market and an outlook regarding what we can expect in 2021.