Facilitators
The Cohort Facilitator (CF) serves as a mentor and guide for a specific group of participants as they work to complete the Certificate in Retail Operations. He or she works to assist those in their assigned cohort as they engage with both the content and the learning process. The CF monitors the online classroom and supervises the experiences and activities in the face-to-face cohort meetings.
Mary Landgrebe, Retail Inventory Solutions
Mary Landgrebe, Retail Inventory Solutions
With an extensive background in retail operations and development, Mary comes from a family legacy of independent retailers. She was drawn to Management One(TM) because of her belief that the Winning@Retail process would provide business owners a competitive edge that they deserve and have long waited for. Mary understands the challenges of running a retail operation because she has lived it. Her passion lies in the success of her clients through the planning process and successful achievement of goals. Mary knows that businesses can be dramatically impacted through proper inventory management resulting in improved cash flow and profitability.
Mary has spent many years in all levels of retail management and most recently as a district manager for a corporate retailer, managing 18 locations. This experience combined with her expertise in retail development assisting business in leasing, building and opening business makes her uniquely qualified to assist retailors. Mary has a passion for building relationships while using proven processes enabling business to achieve their goals.
Mary is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a degree in Organizational Leadership. Mary currently lives in Norfolk, Virginia.
Traci Powers, Once Upon A Child Newport News and Clothes Mentor Newport News
Traci Powers, Once Upon A Child – Newport News
Traci Bunn Powers is a native of Newport News, VA. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. Immediately after Graduate School, she spent twenty years in Non-Profit Leadership in North Carolina and Virginia. She opened her first retail resale store in 2009 in Newport News, VA and she opened her second retail resale store in 2012.
She brings years of business acumen with specialty in Human Resources, Sales Leadership, Marketing, and Team Development. She has created programs to drive efficiencies in her stores that have been implemented in stores across the country. In addition, she has served on numerous boards in Virginia and is Chair of the Board for Just Compassion, a non-profit that addresses the lack of dental care in the western part of Virginia.
She has been very active in the Retail Alliance since 2009 and both her stores have been nominated several times for Retailer of the Year. She has been married to her husband Bruce for 22 years and they have 3 children, 3 dogs, and periodically different numbers of foster cats.
Subject Matter Experts
Subject matter experts (SME) serve as guest speakers at cohort gatherings.
Kate Beadle, State Farm
Kate Beadle, State Farm
Kate Beadle is a Corporate Responsibility Analyst for State Farm® where she has worked for 23 years. She grew up in Virginia Beach and lived in Norfolk prior to relocating to Charlottesville. Kate manages a philanthropic portfolio for both Virginia and West Virginia, working with non-profits in the areas of safety, education and community development. In addition, she manages the national education portfolio. Kate works with State Farm agents on engaging with their community and building their brands. Follow Kate on Twitter @SF_KateBeadle.
Jamie Beadle, State Farm
Jamie Beadle, State Farm
Jamie Beadle is a 27 year employee of State Farm. He has been involved with catastrophe planning and response for 22 years. Outside of work Jamie is active as an EMT and Swift Water Rescue Technician for his local volunteer fire rescue organization.
Don Blankinship, Director of Sales & Marketing, TechArk
Don Blankinship, Director of Sales & Marketing, TechArk
Don is a sales and marketing veteran with deep experience across many industries. His diverse perspective and creativity help guide every client to achieve their unique business goals. With nearly twenty years in advertising, marketing and sales he’s learned that a sale itself is not the objective, it’s the byproduct of truly understanding and caring about what clients need. Always committed to doing the right thing and putting others first, Don serves on the board of StartWheel and the United Way of South Hampton Roads as Marketing Chair and Executive Committee member.
Marcia Futterman Brodie, Business Performance Specialist for BizConnect Hampton Roads
Marcia Futterman Brodie, Business Performance Specialist for BizConnect Hampton Roads
Marcia Futterman Brodie, Business Performance Specialist for BizConnect Hampton Roads, has been in sales and marketing in both the private and not-for-profit sector for over thirty years. Additionally, she currently handles all of the marketing and public relations for Beth Sholom Village. Because of her career experience in sales, sales management, marketing and public relations she partners with BizConnect Hampton Roads to help business owners better themselves in business. Marcia also coaches individuals on interviewing strategies, communication skills, and how to make your presentations a success.
One of Marcia’s most popular workshops, the BizConnect BizTools Workshop, Ditch the Pitch, teaches business owners and members of the business community how to “tell their story,” an important part of selling yourself and your business.
Dawn Brown, InSource Consulting,Inc.
Dawn Brown, InSource Consulting,Inc.
Dawn is the founder and President of InSource Consulting, Inc. InSource Consulting, Inc..has been operating for 13 years and is an independent business consulting firm that works with small to mid-size companies to provide valuable analytical, bookkeeping and training assistance. InSource serves a multitude of sectors of the business community, specializing in the financial system set up, systems integration, and tax preparation/review. Dawn is known for “unscrambling the egg” – finding the fundamental problems with how a business processes data, fixes it and works with the client to establish more efficient processes moving forward.
Dawn has 29 years of experience in the accounting field. Her strength is business analysis, however she worked in several capacities including accountant, financial analyst, operations/business analyst, pricing manager and marketing manager/sales for 2 major construction material suppliers. In addition, Dawn was a member of a team which created and implemented a division-wide Customer Service Training Program, as well as, a company-wide Advanced and Intermediate Sales Management Training Program.
Starting in 2015, Dawn started working with companies in the Bahamas. Creating efficient daily processes to tie Point of Sale systems to QuickBooks and tools to help process payroll accurately have been two skills that have been invaluable to companies in a country with a challenged bookkeeping work force.
Dawn is a graduate of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, with a degree in Accounting. She is currently a mentor for the university’s nationally ranked entrepreneurship program. Dawn lives in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Jim Clark
Jim Clark, State Farm
Jenny Crittenden, Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust
Jenny Crittenden, Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust
Jenny is the Executive Director for the Main Street Preservation Trust in Gloucester, Virginia. She has 14 years of non-profit management and business and downtown development experience. She has presented at the local, state and national level on entrepreneurial development and topics related to the retail industry.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Retail Alliance and as Legislative Co-Chair to the Virginia Retail Federation. She also serves on the Retail Alliance Foundation. Jenny has developed and managed grant programs and co-authored an interior grant program in 2013, the first of its kind for downtowns in Virginia. In 2015, Jenny led the team under the Governor’s Community Business Launch Program in Gloucester, named “Launch Gloucester” that ultimately yielded six new businesses and another six as a result of the excitement and press surrounding the program. She oversees capital projects related to downtown development and works closely with property owners for adaptive reuse projects. Jenny also serves in the capacity of Executive Director for the Cook Foundation, a local 501c3 arts non-profit. She has overseen multiple mural installations and has extensive event planning and fundraising experience. She is also the Co-Chair for the Marketing Committee for the annual Gloucester Arts Festival.
Barbara Ewell, Retriever Merchant Solutions
Barbara Ewell, Retriever Merchant Solutions
Barbara is an experienced customer service representative with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. She is skilled in negotiation, budgeting, advertising, sales, and sales management.
Barbara has been with Retriever Merchant Solutions since 2013 after having been with them as one of their clients for several years. Having been a small business owner, she remembers how hard it was to keep the bottom line healthy.
Barbara is a graduate of Tidewater Community College, a Hampton Roads Chamber Ambassador, and a SCORE of Hampton Roads mentor.
Experienced Customer Service Representative with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Budgeting, Advertising, Sales, and Sales Management. Strong support professional graduated from Tidewater Community College.
Robert G. Gurnee, Suburban Capital, Inc (Retired)
Robert G. Gurnee
Robert (Bob) Gurnee is a highly experienced businessman having worked in various industries throughout Hampton Roads for over four decades.
After a long career ranging from real estate management to financial investment, Bob officially retired in 2017, but you can take the man out of the business but you can’t take the business out of the man. He has served on the Board of Directors for Retail Alliance since 2003 (including being President of the Board) and continues to do so and also currently sits on the Virginia Advisory Board at Dollar Bank.
Bob spent the last decade of his career at Suburban Capital, Inc as Senior Vice President. He owned and managed 20 shopping centers in single purpose LLCs and owned and managed 8 self storage facilities in single purpose LLCs.
Prior to that, Bob was Vice President Real Estate at Dollar Tree Stores in Chesapeake from 1994 to 2007 and Controller at Armada/Hoffler Enterprises from 1986-1993.
He was educated at University of Virginia and graduated with a BS in Commerce.
Lori Janke, Once Upon A Child Newport News / Clothes Mentor Newport News
Lori Janke, Clothes Mentor Newport News / Once Upon A Child Newport News
Lori is co-owner of Once Upon A Child Newport News and Clothes Mentor Newport News. She has over 21 years’ experience as an HR generalist with experience in retail, whole distribution, IT, and architecture/engineering industries. She has practiced HR in the US, Canada, and 13 countries in Europe.
She holds a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and bachelor’s degree from Campbell University. She additionally holds the Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and Human Resource Certification Institute Global Professional in Human resources professional (GPHR) certifications.
Tobias Janke, Once Upon A Child Newport News / Clothes Mentor Newport News
Pamela Katrancha, Garden Gazebo
Pamela Katrancha, Garden Gazebo
Tobias Janke, Clothes Mentor Newport News / Once Upon A Child Newport News
Tobias Janke is co-owner and operator of Once Upon A Child – Newport News and Clothes Mentor – Newport News, two award-winning retail-resale stores that have been in operation since 2010. Both stores are being continuously recognized locally and nationally for sales, operations, and customer service/satisfaction. In these stores, Tobias focuses on operations (IT systems, facilities, compliance, business processes), finance (accounting, AP/AR, payroll, analysis, budgeting, planning/forecasting), and projects (store build-outs, renovations, relocations, lease negotiations, security). He has also served on national advisory boards for both brands and is a frequent contributor/presenter at the brands’ national meetings.
Prior to local small business ownership and operation, Tobias spent 11 years working for large corporations in supply chain operations, marketing, and IT in the US and in Europe.
Tobias is a graduate of Campbell University with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration and Management (BBA). He also holds a Project Management Professional certification (PMP). Tobias resides in Providence Forge, VA with his wife Lori and their 11 year old son.
Misty Leinberger, Pixel Financial Group
Misty Leinberger, Pixel Financial Group
She is the all powerful Wizard of Pixel. Even when you can’t see her, she’s busy working her magic behind the curtain and reaching out when she sees a tax or compliance disaster about to happen. She has her BA in Accounting and Administration and her MBA with an emphasis in Finance. She’s be working that magic since she entered the world of Accounting at the age of 15 years-old. She’s very passionate about her work with Small Business and it’s not unusual for the Mama Bear in her to come our when she believes her clients have been treated unfairly. One of the most important part of her jobs is to educate her clients so that they can be part of the solution to their problems and be proactive about their growth!
Kaycee McCoy, Create/Captivate Digital Marketing
Kaycee McCoy, Create/Captivate Digital Marketing
Hi, I’m Kaycee McCoy, a digital marketing & branding expert based in Norfolk, Virginia.
The entrepreneurial spirit runs through my veins. My parents were successful small business owners, but they ran blue collar companies like crude oil drilling and rock hauling. Growing up in that environment gave me a unique perspective on life; the moral of the story is that entrepreneurship was the norm and I’ve had a penchant for small business my entire life. At the ripe age of 5 years old I was happily answering the business phone and talking on the CB Radio to our truck drivers. And while most kids were babysitting or running lemonade stands in middle school, I was carefully crafting greeting cards and creating bracelet companies. Small business life is a part of my DNA: it’s who I am.
There is no greater privilege in my professional life than to team up with aspiring entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small business owners of all kinds to make their business ventures come to life through captivating marketing services and campaigns.
Traci Bunn Powers, Clothes Mentor Newport News / Once Upon A Child Newport News
Traci Bunn Powers, Clothes Mentor Newport News / Once Upon A Child Newport News
Traci Bunn Powers is a native of Newport News, VA. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. Immediately after Graduate School, she spent twenty years in Non-Profit Leadership in North Carolina and Virginia. She opened her first retail resale store in 2009 in Newport News, VA and she opened her second retail resale store in 2012.
She brings years of business acumen with specialty in Human Resources, Sales Leadership, Marketing, and Team Development. She has created programs to drive efficiencies in her stores that have been implemented in stores across the country. In addition, she has served on numerous boards in Virginia and is Chair of the Board for Just Compassion, a non-profit that addresses the lack of dental care in the western part of Virginia.
She has a wealth of teaching experience and served on the faculties of James Sprunt Community College (NC), Mount Olive University (NC), and the The John Leland Center for Theological Studies.
She has been very active in the Retail Alliance since 2009 and both her stores have been nominated several times for Retailer of the Year. She has been married to her husband Bruce for 23 years and they have 3 children, 2 dogs, and periodically different numbers of foster cats.
Tim Ryan, StartWheel
Tim Ryan, StartWheel
Tim has extensive experience in entrepreneurism, early-stage startups, angel investing, and small business development. Tim is the President of Arcphor, a locally based business that works with early-stage startups and small businesses. Tim also serves as the Executive Director of StartWheel, an organization focused on consolidating and coordinating the entrepreneurial efforts across Hampton Roads, Virginia, and as a business analyst for the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center. Tim was the former Director of the Launchpad, an award-winning business incubator located in Greater Williamsburg and a Lead Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton.
Tim has an MBA from William and Mary and his undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems from St. Leo University. Tim is also a certified Project Management Professional.
Tim is an avid runner and has competed in 8 marathons and will be running the 2021 Boston Marathon in October.
Philip M. Scotti,
Philip Michael Fashion for Men
Philip M. Scotti, Philip Michael Fashion for Men
Philip M. Scotti is the owner of Philip Michael Fashion for Men, a men’s apparel store in operation for the past 11 years. Before owning his current store, he owned seven locations of an apparel store called Eagle Clothes from 1972-1990. When those stores went out of business, he went the corporate route, working as VP of Operations at S&K Menswear for 15 years. He chose to work for a corporate organization to learn from a larger business and mentors before venturing back into entrepreneurship.
Philip Michael Fashion for Men is a leading men’s apparel retailer in the Hampton Roads Area. Their ultimate goal is to provide patrons with the means to dress for success, while maintaining a balance among fashion, sophistication and affordability. They take great pride in their company, their commitment to customer service and in the products they sell.
William Warford, Director of Web Development & Digital Sales
Vista IMS (Internet Marketing Solutions), a Division of VistaGraphics, Inc
William Warford, Director of Web Development & Digital Sales for Vista IMS (Internet Marketing Solutions), a Division of VistaGraphics, Inc
William Warford is the current Director of Web Development & Digital Sales for Vista IMS (Internet Marketing Solutions), a Division of VistaGraphics, Inc. He has over 30 years of sales, marketing and product management experience. This experience includes positions with very well known companies such as IBM, GTE, BellSouth and Dominion Enterprises. He is extremely proficient in the areas of digital sales, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), SEM (Search Engine Marketing), Websites, Mobile Apps and most recently Programmatic Advertising. He is certified in Google AdWords and Google Digital Sales.
William is a graduate of Tennessee State University and a United States Air Force Veteran. Since joining VistaGraphics, he has been instrumental in launching their Target Audience Solutions (Programmatic Advertising) program.