Charlotte Women of Impact

A true trailblazer across professional sports, Kristi Coleman is the CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE) and President of the Carolina Panthers.In December 2024, Coleman was named CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment, overseeing all business operations for TSE including the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Football Club and Bank of America Stadium. Coleman also serves as President of the Carolina Panthers, a role she has held since February 2022, becoming only the second-ever female president in NFL history.In her roles, Coleman is responsible for navigating the dynamic challenges of operating in a multibillion-dollar industry – from fostering relationships with league officials, partners and stakeholders, spearheading innovative business opportunities and enhancing fan engagement, to overseeing all aspects of the organization’s business initiatives and developments.Coleman originally joined the Panthers in 2014, and in her decade with the organization, she has risen from Controller to her executive leadership roles today – a testament to her work ethic, proactive mentality and comprehensive skill set. Recently, Coleman represented TSE as the leader of the Bank of America Stadium renovation project, ultimately securing the Charlotte City Council’s vote for a joint $800 million renovation plan. She also negotiated the extension of the stadium’s naming rights deal with long-time partner, Bank of America, and spearheaded the Panthers’ new indoor practice facility project.She is deeply committed to the community, sitting on the Board of Trustees for Queens University of Charlotte and the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation, the Executive Committee of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, the Board of Directors of Charlotte Sports and Charlotte Center City Partners and the President Advisory Board of Clemson University. She is also a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council and serves on the finance committee of Girls on the Run.Coleman’s achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award (2020), the Sports Business Journal Game Changers Award (2024), and the Queens Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year honor (2024).

Lindsey Michael Longo is an accomplished automotive executive with a dynamic career spanning leadership roles in dealership operations, corporate strategy, and marketing. Currently serving as Dealer Principal/Vice President at both Beach Chevrolet and Beach Buick GMC, Lindsey has a proven track record of transforming underperforming stores into top performers. After acquiring Beach Chevrolet in January 2024, she quickly drove impressive sales results, surpassing monthly objectives and reenergizing the store’s performance. At Beach Buick GMC, she revitalized the dealership within 15 months, achieving high rankings in Buick and GMC metrics and growing its commercial presence as a Business Elite Dealer. Her commitment to elevating dealership standards is also reflected in her active involvement with the Women’s Retail Network.In addition Lindsey plays a key role in strategic operations for Capital Auto Group, her family’s business, supporting General Managers across multiple brands and 30+ locations in the Carolinas. Her responsibilities span across sales optimization, BDC productivity, OEM relations, marketing and profitability improvement. Before her current roles, she honed her skills as an Account Director at Sokal Media Group, managing dealership clients across multiple states and leading the shift from traditional to digital and traditional marketing strategies. Lindsey is a 2022 Auto Remarketing "40 Under 40" honoree and a proud graduate of the National Automotive Dealers Association Academy, Class of 2023. She is actively involved in industry and community initiatives, serving as Co-Chair for the Make-A-Wish Central and Western NC Wish Ball Committee and supporting automotive education through partnerships with Wake Technical Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. She is also a member of National Association of Minority Automotive Dealers, WOCAN ally, and General Motors’ Women’s Retail Network.

Michelle Connley-Gore is a marketing expert with 23 years of experience in the areas of marketing strategy, communications planning, brand identity, advertising, creative/design process management, digital content management, BIPOC-targeted marketing, community relations, and event design & management.Michelle earned her chops at global ad agency Leo Burnett Worldwide in Chicago on the U.S. Army national advertising business. Michelle then went on to hone her skills at national agency, Carol H. Williams Advertising, working on the General Motors, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Disney accounts. Working in the areas of account and event management, Michelle managed TV and print productions, the media planning process, public relations strategy, inter-agency campaign management, and integrated media campaigns. Following her advertising career, Michelle decided to pursue her passion for supporting underserved communities of color by taking a national brand management role at the KIPP Foundation, working in both their Chicago and San Francisco offices. As the Senior Marketing Communications Manager at KIPP, she led the work in creating KIPP's brand guidelines, national messaging, annual Report Card, affiliate branding and collateral materials, and collaborated across KIPP's 30+ regions to provide guidance and tools to hundreds of staff who now serve 200,000+ students and alumni nationwide.In 2015, Connley-Gore founded MDC Marketing Group, a strategic marketing and communications firm based in Charlotte focused on ensuring that businesses, government entities, and nonprofit organizations thrive. MDC’s clients include: Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Works, Care Ring, The Belk Foundation, Mecklenburg County ABC Board, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Foundation For The Carolinas, University of California San Francisco/The LOOP, Steve Smith Family Foundation, Read Charlotte, KIPP North Carolina, and more.Michelle holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has also participated in Columbia Business School's Executive Education program "Developing Leaders for Nonprofit Professionals." 

Founders Federal Credit Union, one of the largest and most innovative credit unions in the nation, was founded in 1950 in Fort Mill, South Carolina, to provide financial services to the employees of Springs Industries, Inc.Nicki Nash is the Chief Marketing Officer and Spokesperson of Founders Federal Credit Union. Her career at Founders began in 1994 in the marketing department. Since then, she has served as Vice President of Business Development and Senior Vice President of Marketing. She began her role asChief Marketing Officer in 2003.Founders has over $4.8 billion in assets, over 274,000 members, 44 locations, over 820 employees and is one of the strongest credit unions in the nation.EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND• B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications specializing in advertising and public relationswith a minor in political science, University of South CarolinaCURRENT PROFESSIONAL OR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS• Member, USC’s Palmetto College Board of Visitors• Secretary, Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra Board• Member, York Technical College Foundation Board of Directors• Member, Winthrop Eagle Club Board of Directors• Member, Performing Arts Center Board of Directors• Member, York County Regional Chamber Board of Directors• Dean’s Leadership Council, CIC, University of South Carolina

With a passion for educating and empowering others, Robin M. Mermans is a champion of change in the way the world views divorce and co-parenting. As a Collaborative Family Law attorney, certified mediator, co-parenting coach, and trusted guide, Robin is committed to helping families resolve conflict. She is the founder and principal attorney of ROAD to RESOLUTION, where she uses her life experience to guide others in the co-creation of healthy pathways for navigating life-changing journeys.Licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina, Robin is a trained Collaborative Attorney and a Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Mediator. Robin uses her legal expertise as a volunteer attorney for the Council for Children’s Rights, the 26th Judicial District SelfServe Center, and the Neighborhood Advocacy Center. She has been named a 2024 North Carolina Leader in the Law by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and is a member of the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society.Robin is a board member for the North Carolina Collaborative Attorney Network as well as a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals. She also serves as a director for The Merancas Foundation, a director for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, and an impact investor in the Carolina Ascent Football Club. Robin lives in Charlotte with her husband, Andy, and their five children. In her free time, Robin enjoys volunteering, exercising, adventure traveling, and supporting local businesses.

As the head of the Project Management Office, Loss Mitigation, Risk Management, and Marketing, Shaundra Warren plays a pivotal role in ensuring the effective and efficient governance of our strategic formation and enterprise risk. Her responsibilities also extend to strategic businessplanning across the organization, a task she handles with exceptional skill and foresight. Shaundra’s career at Sharonview has been marked by a series of significant promotions. She started as Assistant Vice President of Loss Mitigation in December 2016, and within two years, she was elevated to the role of Vice President.Her exceptional performance led to her appointment as Senior Vice President of Risk Mitigation in December 2020. Then, in November 2021, she was further promoted to the Executive Leadership Team, assuming the role of Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk and Organizational Change Management. She has made great strides in our loan collections, asset recovery, and financial wellness programs. Under her leadership, our asset quality has improved vastly, earning 100% of our VPP goal for multiple years running.Earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Wingate UniversitySpent 20 years leading third-party debt recovery and call centeroperations and being a consultant to small businesses and call center startupsActive board member for the Credit Union Collection Professionals (CUCP)Is an avid sneaker collector

As a trailblazer and champion for women in banking, Smith held a number of senior leadership positions for Bank of America during her 34-year career with the company. Those included such roles as the head of Global Human Resources, where she transformed the bank’s hiring, employee benefits, and diversity and inclusion efforts and subsequently Chief Administrative Officer. Among her numerous recognitions include American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking, Business North Carolina’s Most Influential Business Leaders in North Carolina, and Charlotte Businesswoman of the Year by Queens University.In 2021, Smith was named the Citizen of the Carolinas, the CLT Alliance’s most prestigious award given to a Carolinian who has made great strides in the betterment of the quality of life in the Charlotte region and the country through years of accomplishment in community leadership. She has been an ardent supporter of equitable economic mobility in Charlotte, including serving as the inaugural Co-Chair of the Leading on Opportunity Council. Smith is the chair of Bank of America Alumni Network and also sits on the boards of HCA, Every Mother Counts and is the Co-Chair of the Charlotte Sports Foundation.Smith was also the Chair of the Executive Committee for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce in 2017, one of the CLT Alliance’s two predecessor organizations. She currently serves as Interim President & CEO for the CLT Alliance.

Aimee Larson, SHRM-SCP is the President and Chief People Officer at Conway Restaurant Group, a Charlotte-based hospitality company founded in 2005. Since December 2021, Aimee has been instrumental in driving the company's strategic growth and operational excellence. She leads executive leadership alignment, optimizes revenue streams, and enhances guest experiences through innovative technologies. Conway Restaurant Group’s portfolio includes Napa on Providence in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood, Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill, SC, and the most recently opened Napa Bistro & Wine Bar | Stonecrest. Aimee also oversees HR strategy, talent pipeline development—including partnerships with local colleges—and initiatives that strengthen the company’s people-first culture.  

A marketing professional who’s perpetually curious about the science of motivating audiences, she’s a self-proclaimed “marketing nerd.”  That curiosity led her to leadership opportunities in broadcast tv and radio, cable, out of home and digital.  Sandra and her business partner head a marketing and advertising firm, Impact Marketing Partners, and work with businesses around the country. She and her husband, Jim, have five children. They live in Charlotte with their dogs, Gus and Hank.  She and Jim enjoy traveling together and planning the next adventure.  For fun, Sandra loves golfing, running, singing and anything outdoors - - hiking, boating, ziplining - - she’s even tried surfing, but that didn’t end so well.  Sandra has degrees in broadcast journalism and voice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A die-hard Tar Heel, she has a closet full of Carolina Blue, but also pledges her allegiance to the Carolina Panthers.Along the way, she’s been fortunate to participate in community and industry boards. Board Associations in the past include:North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Board of TrusteesLeukemia and Lymphoma Society Board of DirectorsUptown Men’s Homeless Shelter Board of DirectorsDave Ramsey Executive Advisory CouncilChairman Isabella Santos Foundation Currently, Sandra’s a member of the Dress for Success Advisory Board.

An Account Executive for five years with NCR Corporation, Sharon specialized in software solutions for the medical, educational and governmental marketplace.   She moved on to The Center for Chemical Dependency at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and as the Grants & Research Director was privileged to work on groundbreaking HIV research.   A resident of South Florida for 26 years, Sharon was introduced to the local non-profit community as a volunteer for Kids In Distress.  She went on to serve as the President of the KIDs Auxiliary.  A founding partner of The Alchemy Group, a non-profit consultancy firm, Sharon assisted local organizations with their strategic planning, board development, grant writing and achievement of their fundraising goals.  Clients included JM Family’s Deliver the Dream, The Epilepsy Foundation of South Florida, Broward Meals on Wheels, Young at Art, and The Chris Evert Children’s Hospital.   Sharon served for 5 years as the Executive Director of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Foundation, moving to NSU Florida as the Executive Director of Advancement, Alumni Relations, and Community Partnerships from 2012 -2018.   In her role at NSU, Sharon served as the primary liaison with the university president for community philanthropic events and with university deans and their national alumni community.   She served on the Board of Directors for Gilda’s Club and the Jason Taylor Foundation while residing in Florida.   Owner/CEO of Renewal by Andersen of the Carolinas since 2018, Sharon is a leading executive in the Home Improvement industry.  She remains committed to serving her community, serving on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, and the NSU Assaf College of Nursing Advisory Council.   Sharon has earned a Masters in Management of Human Services from Brandeis University, and a BS in Marketing from Siena College.

In September 2024, Kiara officially joined New Hope as the first-ever Mental Health Ambassador. In this groundbreaking role, she uses her lived experiences to create social media content focused on mental health issues. Kiara also engages in speaking engagements with New Hope’s current residents and staff, offering one-on-one conversations and leading small group discussions to provide support and encouragement. Kiara Grace is a wife, a mother, and a woman who has transformed her life through resilience and perseverance. While her family is a central part of her identity, Kiara's journey extends beyond those roles. Overcoming severe mental health challenges in her adolescence, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and attempts, Kiara was admitted to psychiatric hospitals eight times and spent time in group homes and residential facilities before finding healing at New Hope. After completing the New Hope program nearly 15 years ago, Kiara returned to high school, excelling and graduating at the top of her class. Today, as an Event & Marketing Specialist at Wake Technical Community College, Kiara helps students confidently pursue their careers, driven by her passion for guiding others toward success. In addition to her role at Wake Tech, she is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a focus on adolescent psychology at North Carolina Central University. Kiara is committed to supporting young people and families in crisis by sharing her continued story and relationship with mental health, showing that there is always a ‘brightside’ to mental health. Through transparency, compassion, and a "Human First" mentality, she strives to empower and positively impact those she serves.