Presenters, Moderators & Mentors

Eliza Crater Harris is Chief Creative Officer of Sister Parish Design, the storied American heritage brand founded by her great-grandmother, design icon Sister Parish. Eliza carries that legacy forward, overseeing product development, textile production, visual merchandising, and marketing for the company.

After graduating from the University of St. Andrews in 2011, Eliza built her career in New York City’s decorative arts world, training with the country’s foremost traditional design firms. Experience spanning set design, interior design, and product design shaped her eye and prepared her to join the family business in 2018.

Under Eliza’s creative direction, Sister Parish Design continues to celebrate the spirit of great American houses guided by the belief that decorating is an act of dreaming, and that Sister Parish is, at its heart, a family of dreamers.

Margot Shaw is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Flower Magazine. Now in its 19th year, the publication features homes, gardens, entertaining, and lifestyle. Margot is a sought-after speaker at antique and garden shows, museums, botanical gardens, and interior design centers nationwide. She is the author of two books: Living Floral: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers (2018) and Flowering Outdoors: Gardens & Parties (February 2026), both published by Rizzoli.

Christy started her career in New York City, where she was a photographer for seven years. After moving to Charlottesville, she opened And George, an antique and home store, with her mother. As the business grew, Christy realized there was a lack of successful advertising opportunities for small businesses and was driven to find a solution—and so, in collaboration with Susie, The Scout Guide was born. Christy leads creative direction and branding across the business as co-founder.

In 2008, Susie started Scout Charlottesville, a blog where she wrote about the local treasures she discovered while exploring her town. The response was overwhelmingly positive; readers embraced Susie’s voice and coveted her unique finds, and the businesses that she mentioned saw their sales figures increase. In collaboration with her friend and co-founder Christy Ford, The Scout Guide borrowed from that successful formula to grow into the franchise it is today. Susie leads advertising and franchise sales across the business as co-founder.

Kit Hoover is currently the longest tenured host of the nationally NBC syndicated programs and the Emmy-nominated nightly entertainment show “Access Hollywood” and the daily lifestyle entertainment show “Access Daily with Mario & Kit.” Kit launched the top trending COOP with Kit Podcast in 2024. The COOP brings on some of the most iconic women in entertainment, sports and business that are just hitting their stride. Securing her latest job at forty, the Atlanta-native mother of three has always been up for an adventure and challenge. Hoover made her television debut in 1995 as a cast member on the original season of MTV’s “Road Rules,” which sparked her interest in pursuing a career in television. Soon after, she became the entertainment reporter for “American Journal.” Then onto Fox News in 1999 as a correspondent for “FOX Files.” In 2003, she joined ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” and served as a guest judge on ESPN’s reality contest, “Dream Job.” Additional hosting roles include TLC’s lifestyle makeover series, “Real Simple, Real Life,” ABC’s “Shaq Vs.,” a reality show starring Shaquille O’Neal and Lifetime’s “Celebrity Home Raiders.” Keynote speaker at the 2024 NBC Women’s Leadership Conference. Lead MC for 2024 POSSIBLE Miami Correspondent for the Rio and Paris Olympics. Her book “Rowdy” will be published in 2025. Kit is a master facilitator, moderator and speaker. Hoover received a Track and Cross Country scholarship to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she earned a B.A. in Communications 92’. Hoover continues to practice her love of fitness by running, biking, hiking, and playing tennis and pickleball.

Stephanie Summerson Hall graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and later earned her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Following law school, she practiced business and corporate tax law in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for more than a decade.

In 2019, Stephanie founded Estelle Colored Glass, a luxury home décor brand celebrated for its hand-blown colored glassware inspired by the vibrant collections of her grandmother, Estelle. Since launching the company, Stephanie has received numerous accolades for her entrepreneurial
leadership, including being named a 2021 Tory Burch Fellow.

Most recently, Stephanie was named an Inc. Magazine 2026 Female Founders 500 honoree, recognizing her impact as one of the nation’s most innovative and influential women entrepreneurs. Through Estelle Colored Glass, Stephanie continues to blend timeless elegance, heritage, and
modern design, creating pieces that bring beauty and joy to everyday living.

I am the founder and chief curator of Well + Wonder Artist Collective, an online gallery dedicated to making art collecting approachable, personal, and joyful. I launched the company in 2015 after spending five years in portrait brokerage and art sales, driven by a belief that original art should be accessible to collectors at every stage of their collecting journey.

My love of art began in childhood and was further cultivated during my time at Vanderbilt University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English. While in college, I studied art and architecture in Florence, Italy—an experience that deepened my appreciation for the power of art to tell stories, shape spaces, and connect people across cultures.

What began as a small collection of six emerging artists has grown into a thriving community of nearly sixty artists working throughout the Southeast. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of building Well + Wonder into a destination for thoughtfully curated original artwork and fostering meaningful connections between artists and collectors. Our gallery serves both first-time buyers searching for their very first piece and seasoned collectors looking for fresh perspectives and meaningful additions to their homes.

Today, I am proud to champion a roster rich with Southern female artists and to have helped thousands of collectors discover original art they love. Along the way, Well + Wonder has partnered with lifestyle brands including Serena & Lily and has been featured in publications such as House Beautiful, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, and Flower Magazine. I was also honored to be selected as a fellow in the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program Class of 2020.

As a Louisville native, it is especially meaningful to live and work in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, alongside my husband, Scott, and our two children, William and Francie. Whether I’m curating a collection, mentoring an artist, or helping a first-time buyer find the perfect piece, I remain passionate about bringing original art into everyday life and building meaningful connections through collecting.

There are spirits and then there’s spirit, and Christa Cotton embodies both. A native of Leesburg, Georgia, Christa moved to New Orleans after helping her parents establish Georgia’s first legal distillery since Prohibition while in college at Auburn University. After a stint in advertising, Christa founded New Orleans Beverage Group and acquired the El Guapo trademark in 2017.

Specializing in zero-proof bitters, El Guapo has expanded into syrups and mixers and is Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified. The company debuted at #166 on the Inc. 5000 Regionals list for fastest growing companies in the US in 2024.

Christa is the recipient of the 2025 Tory Burch Foundation Founder Award, a 2025 Wine Enthusiast Future 40 honoree, a seven-times Good Food Award winner, LEE Initiative mentor,  immediate past president of Les Dames d’Escoffier New Orleans and recipient of Les Dames d’Escoffier Legacy Award: Fine Spirits recipient, and a Fellow in both the Tory Burch Foundation and the James Beard Foundation. She successfully raised seven figures in investment capital and relocated from 1,800 square feet to a 32,000 square foot production facility and warehouse in Mid-City New Orleans.

Christa and El Guapo have been covered in Vogue, Southern Living, Real Simple, Garden & Gun, Martha Stewart and Fedex Small Business national ad campaigns. She lives Uptown in a pink 1902 double shotgun with her daughter, Flora, husband, Brian, and Bernese Mountain Dog, Archie Manning.

Founded by Sue Sartor, SUE SARTOR is known for artisan-crafted dresses and original hand-illustrated prints inspired by art, architecture, flora, and fauna. After studying Art History at Tulane University and beginning her career in the Calvin Klein Women’s Collection showroom, Sue developed a refined approach to timeless, feminine dressing rooted in craftsmanship and thoughtful design.

Each print begins as an original hand-drawn study and is brought to life through traditional hand block-printing techniques in the brand’s workrooms in India. Produced in intentionally limited batches, every piece reflects a commitment to artistry, exclusivity, and enduring quality.

At the heart of the collection is the signature Flounce™ Dress- an effortless silhouette that has become synonymous with the brand’s joyful elegance and wearability. Collaborations and exclusives have included Tuckernuck, Anthropologie, Julia Amory, Petite Paloma Boots, Meg Braff Designs, and Blackberry Farm. SUE SARTOR continues to expand through its boutiques in New Orleans and Dallas, as well as online, offering timeless pieces designed to be worn and loved for years to come.

Onward Reserve was founded in 2012 by TJ Callaway. Onward is his vision for an authentic brand- one that is laid back but unwavering in quality. Onward dresses men for life’s great moments. Days in the field or on the golf course with friends, football games, engagements… Onward wants to create memories with you.

Onward Reserve is strongly influenced by TJ’s hometown, Thomasville, GA. Thomasville is a uniquely charming, historic and beautiful town- known to many as the Quail Hunting Capital of the world. Men dress well in the field, on the golf course and on the town. History and traditions are kept and community matters. Onward Reserve’s 14 retail stores embody the spirit of Thomasville through hospitality, decor and product selection.

Carrie Kerpen is the founder and CEO of The Whisper Group, the #1 Exit Readiness Advisory Practice for Women-Owned Businesses. Prior to launching The Whisper Group, Carrie cofounded Likeable Media, one of the world’s first social marketing agencies, which was named the 6th Best Place To Work in New York City. After successfully navigating the sale of Likeable to a 1200-person technology firm, 10Pearls, in 2021 Carrie researched The Exit Gap, producing an annual report on the disparities in exit values of female-led companies. She went on to build The Whisper Group, the largest collective of exited female founders who advise women entrepreneurs through their best exit.

She is the author of WORK IT: Secrets For Success From The Boldest Women In Business and THE WHISPER WAY: The Secret Formula For Women Entrepreneurs To Scale and Sell For Life-Changing Money, as well as the host of The Exit Whisperer, a podcast featuring exited female founders. Carrie is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and lives in Port Washington, New York with her husband, her three children, and her dog Homer.

Lycette Designs was founded in 2015 by Jessica Chaney. A childhood surrounded by needlepoint led her to a part time job in college at the iconic needlepoint shop “The Point of It All” in Washington DC. It was during her time there that she fell in love with the needlepoint community.

After graduating from George Washington University with a major in marketing and a minor in fine arts, she managed the same needlepoint shop in DC and and immersed herself in learning about the industry- the designers, fiber lines, finishing, and the heritage of the craft. She noticed a desperate need for colorful, cheeky canvases that were grounded in classic elements of design and interior decoration. Soon thereafter she headed up north to Vermont to reset and construct the bones of Lycette. There she designed her first collection of needlepoint canvases that launched in the spring of 2016.
Two years later she opened Lycette’s Palm Beach flagship store, a charming storefront on South County Road with a brick façade, an enchanting bay window, and oodles of natural light. A few years later, Lycette opened a second location in Newport, RI.

Lycette’s passion for needlepoint is evident whether you are shopping online or in store, with an atmosphere that evokes lush Palm Beach winters, New England summer hydrangeas, and the effortless elegance of classic interior design. Jessica hopes her great-grandmother’s name, Lycette, brings a smile to your face and that the exclusive lines of colorful, cheeky canvases enchant you and spark your imagination. Most of all, she hopes Lycette inspires you to needlepoint your own heirlooms that will be cherished for decades to come. Happy Stitching!

Lauren Hopkins is the founder and principal of LBH PR Co., a strategic communications firm specializing in established and emerging lifestyle brands. With more than 20 years of experience in public relations and brand building, Lauren has devoted her career to shaping stories and connecting brands with the audiences who matter most.

In 2013, she founded LBH PR believing the strongest client relationships begin with knowing a brand deeply and becoming genuinely invested in its success. Her experience spans art, hospitality, design, and style, with clients including Little English, Sea Island, Sunshine Tienda, Inslee Fariss, and Spoonflower.

Lauren’s work includes traditional media and tastemaker relations, collaborations, events, and communications strategy, supported by an extensive network and a keen instinct for what makes a brand worth talking about. She connects clients with the right people and opportunities to build relevance, reputation, and lasting relationships.

Laura Cox Kaplan is a communications and influence expert whose 30-year career spans government, business, media, and nonprofit leadership.

Throughout her career, one common thread has defined her work: mastering the art and science of how individuals influence outcomes. Her approach blends practical strategies, compelling storytelling, and research-backed principles from positive psychology to help leaders build and sustain influence in ways that strengthen resilience, trust, and connection—while creating meaningful impact.

Laura is the creator and host of She Said/She Said, a top-rated podcast and multimedia platform where she shares her own thought leadership, research, and strategies for building intentional influence, alongside in-depth conversations with women who have leveraged their influence to shape business, public policy, industry, academia, and their own lives. Through solo episodes, masterclasses, and curated guest interviews, she delivers actionable, real-world tools leaders can apply immediately. 

Recognized as one of Washingtonian’s “100 Most Powerful Women,” she is also a frequent keynote speaker, writer, and former adjunct professor at American University.

She began her career as a press secretary on Capitol Hill before serving in senior roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. She went on to spend more than a decade on the executive management team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she led global public policy and regulatory affairs across 150+ countries.

She serves on several boards, including The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, The Sandberg-Goldberg-Bernthal Family Foundation (which oversees LeanIn.org), The Policy Circle, and the Bullis Board of Trustees. She has also been a corporate board director for more than a decade, including service on the board of CoStar Group, Inc. and Hunt Companies.

Laura holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and American University, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and two children. 

For Cheri, born with a knack for instantly connecting with people, The Southern C seemed like a natural progression. From operating a successful online and print publishing business (Bulldawg Illustrated and guide2athens) with her husband to scouting the latest unique finds from upcoming businesses for a regular column, it’s Cheri’s enthusiasm and inspiration that has made The Southern Coterie and its live events – the Southern C Summits – a must visit for entrepreneurs looking to make valuable connections. A lifelong learner constantly on the lookout for the newest talent in the South, Cheri has an authentic passion for meeting, greeting and giving entrepreneurs a platform to speak about their brands. “Cheri’s strategic brain is an integral part of The Southern Coterie and her energy is contagious as she supports and cheers on our community,” says Whitney. A fifth generation coastal Georgia native, Cheri splits her time between Athens and St. Simons Island.

After a successful career as a scout, stylist and contributing editor for some of the biggest names in print media like Coastal Living, Southern Accents, Southern Living and Better Homes & Gardens plus various special interest titles, Whitney took time off to focus on her favorite job – being a mom to four – but the scouting didn’t end there. Whitney draws on her years of curating unique places and people for the lifestyle magazine industry to create connections, find strategic partners and cultivate a talented team of writers and presenters. “Whitney has her finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the world of female entrepreneurs and founders, which makes her a visionary for The Southern Coterie events, networking and community.” says Cheri. Born in the quintessential southern town of Elba, Alabama, Whitney now calls the seaside village of St. Simons Island, Georgia home.

Emily McCarthy is a fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her bold use of color, modern silhouettes, and timeless style. With a background in fine arts and design, she founded her namesake brand in 2019, growing it into an 8-figure business with a flagship store in Savannah, Georgia, a booming e-commerce platform, and 400+ wholesale retailers. Emily’s collections empower women through confident, expressive style rooted in craftsmanship and joy. A working mother and visionary leader, she blends creativity and strategy while inspiring others through her dedication to intentional living, family, and the art of fashion.

Natasha Murphy is the founder of Built Best. After 20 years of agency experience, including founding and selling her own boutique web development firm, she created Built Best to focus on what truly matters: helping established e-commerce businesses thrive through thoughtful technical partnership.

She specializes in helping e-commerce stores with $1M+ in online revenue tackle their most pressing technical challenges – whether that’s optimizing their technical SEO, streamlining inventory management, or implementing strategic marketing automations. Her approach combines analytical problem-solving with hands-on execution: she doesn’t just identify opportunities, she implements them.

What sets Built Best apart is their commitment to long-term partnership. Some of Murphy’s client relationships span more than a decade, evolving from initial site builds to comprehensive technical strategy and ongoing optimization. This depth of relationship allows her to understand not just the technical requirements, but the business context behind every decision.

Caitlyn Wells is COO of The Whisper Group, where she builds the operational systems that ready founders for successful exits on their own terms. In 2020, she founded Upwell Strategies on the belief that no business should depend on any one person to run (not even its founder) and spent six years building custom systems with over 120 founders across client experience, team development, and operational strategy. She joined The Whisper Group as fractional COO in 2024, and in 2026, Upwell became the Group’s first acquisition, bringing that operational expertise in-house and giving Caitlyn her own exit story.

Molly McCartan is Chief Revenue Officer of The Whisper Group, where she leads new business, strategic partnerships, media assets, and enterprise solutions. With more than 13 years of experience across M&A, growth strategy, and business development, Molly previously oversaw M&A at a high-growth firm, where she led hundreds of acquisitions and evaluated businesses from the acquirer’s side of the table. Today, she brings that buyer-side experience to her work advising founders, giving her a unique perspective on both sides of a transaction. She understands how acquirers evaluate businesses, what drives enterprise value, and what founders can do well before a sale to build a more valuable, transferable, and exit-ready company.

Carrie Kerpen is the founder and CEO of The Whisper Group, the #1 Exit Readiness Advisory Practice for Women-Owned Businesses. Prior to launching The Whisper Group, Carrie cofounded Likeable Media, one of the world’s first social marketing agencies, which was named the 6th Best Place To Work in New York City. After successfully navigating the sale of Likeable to a 1200-person technology firm, 10Pearls, in 2021 Carrie researched The Exit Gap, producing an annual report on the disparities in exit values of female-led companies. She went on to build The Whisper Group, the largest collective of exited female founders who advise women entrepreneurs through their best exit.

She is the author of WORK IT: Secrets For Success From The Boldest Women In Business and THE WHISPER WAY: The Secret Formula For Women Entrepreneurs To Scale and Sell For Life-Changing Money, as well as the host of The Exit Whisperer, a podcast featuring exited female founders. Carrie is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and lives in Port Washington, New York with her husband, her three children, and her dog Homer.

For Cheri, born with a knack for instantly connecting with people, The Southern C seemed like a natural progression. From operating a successful online and print publishing business (Bulldawg Illustrated and guide2athens) with her husband to scouting the latest unique finds from upcoming businesses for a regular column, it’s Cheri’s enthusiasm and inspiration that has made The Southern Coterie and its live events – the Southern C Summits – a must visit for entrepreneurs looking to make valuable connections. A lifelong learner constantly on the lookout for the newest talent in the South, Cheri has an authentic passion for meeting, greeting and giving entrepreneurs a platform to speak about their brands. “Cheri’s strategic brain is an integral part of The Southern Coterie and her energy is contagious as she supports and cheers on our community,” says Whitney. A fifth generation coastal Georgia native, Cheri splits her time between Athens and St. Simons Island.

There are spirits and then there’s spirit, and Christa Cotton embodies both. A native of Leesburg, Georgia, Christa moved to New Orleans after helping her parents establish Georgia’s first legal distillery since Prohibition while in college at Auburn University. After a stint in advertising, Christa founded New Orleans Beverage Group and acquired the El Guapo trademark in 2017.

Specializing in zero-proof bitters, El Guapo has expanded into syrups and mixers and is Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified. The company debuted at #166 on the Inc. 5000 Regionals list for fastest growing companies in the US in 2024.

Christa is the recipient of the 2025 Tory Burch Foundation Founder Award, a 2025 Wine Enthusiast Future 40 honoree, a seven-times Good Food Award winner, LEE Initiative mentor,  immediate past president of Les Dames d’Escoffier New Orleans and recipient of Les Dames d’Escoffier Legacy Award: Fine Spirits recipient, and a Fellow in both the Tory Burch Foundation and the James Beard Foundation. She successfully raised seven figures in investment capital and relocated from 1,800 square feet to a 32,000 square foot production facility and warehouse in Mid-City New Orleans.

Christa and El Guapo have been covered in Vogue, Southern Living, Real Simple, Garden & Gun, Martha Stewart and Fedex Small Business national ad campaigns. She lives Uptown in a pink 1902 double shotgun with her daughter, Flora, husband, Brian, and Bernese Mountain Dog, Archie Manning.

Christy started her career in New York City, where she was a photographer for seven years. After moving to Charlottesville, she opened And George, an antique and home store, with her mother. As the business grew, Christy realized there was a lack of successful advertising opportunities for small businesses and was driven to find a solution—and so, in collaboration with Susie, The Scout Guide was born. Christy leads creative direction and branding across the business as co-founder.

Eliza Crater Harris is Chief Creative Officer of Sister Parish Design, the storied American heritage brand founded by her great-grandmother, design icon Sister Parish. Eliza carries that legacy forward, overseeing product development, textile production, visual merchandising, and marketing for the company.

After graduating from the University of St. Andrews in 2011, Eliza built her career in New York City’s decorative arts world, training with the country’s foremost traditional design firms. Experience spanning set design, interior design, and product design shaped her eye and prepared her to join the family business in 2018.

Under Eliza’s creative direction, Sister Parish Design continues to celebrate the spirit of great American houses guided by the belief that decorating is an act of dreaming, and that Sister Parish is, at its heart, a family of dreamers.

Emily McCarthy is a fashion designer and entrepreneur known for her bold use of color, modern silhouettes, and timeless style. With a background in fine arts and design, she founded her namesake brand in 2019, growing it into an 8-figure business with a flagship store in Savannah, Georgia, a booming e-commerce platform, and 400+ wholesale retailers. Emily’s collections empower women through confident, expressive style rooted in craftsmanship and joy. A working mother and visionary leader, she blends creativity and strategy while inspiring others through her dedication to intentional living, family, and the art of fashion.

Hannah Groseclose is the founder of Hinge Creative Co., a branding house in Athens, Ga that specializes in brand identity for women-led businesses. As a designer and entrepreneur, she’s passionate about the impact of branding on the bottom line for women in business. She’s a mom to two little girls Tate and Reese, and as a UGA alumna, she and her husband call the Dawgs every Saturday in the fall.

Jackie Thomson is the founder of of Counsel PR, a consultancy she launched in 2022 after more than a decade co-owning Charleston-based lifestyle PR firm Leapfrog. She specializes in helping female founders in the design and style space grow their brands through influencer marketing, brand collaborations, and strategic partnerships, alongside traditional media relations and events. With a background spanning luxury fashion at Gucci and Reem Acra to lifestyle PR leadership and brand development, Jackie brings a sharp eye for positioning and a hands-on approach to building authentic and lasting brand visibility.

Lycette Designs was founded in 2015 by Jessica Chaney. A childhood surrounded by needlepoint led her to a part time job in college at the iconic needlepoint shop “The Point of It All” in Washington DC. It was during her time there that she fell in love with the needlepoint community.

After graduating from George Washington University with a major in marketing and a minor in fine arts, she managed the same needlepoint shop in DC and and immersed herself in learning about the industry- the designers, fiber lines, finishing, and the heritage of the craft. She noticed a desperate need for colorful, cheeky canvases that were grounded in classic elements of design and interior decoration. Soon thereafter she headed up north to Vermont to reset and construct the bones of Lycette. There she designed her first collection of needlepoint canvases that launched in the spring of 2016.
Two years later she opened Lycette’s Palm Beach flagship store, a charming storefront on South County Road with a brick façade, an enchanting bay window, and oodles of natural light. A few years later, Lycette opened a second location in Newport, RI.

Lycette’s passion for needlepoint is evident whether you are shopping online or in store, with an atmosphere that evokes lush Palm Beach winters, New England summer hydrangeas, and the effortless elegance of classic interior design. Jessica hopes her great-grandmother’s name, Lycette, brings a smile to your face and that the exclusive lines of colorful, cheeky canvases enchant you and spark your imagination. Most of all, she hopes Lycette inspires you to needlepoint your own heirlooms that will be cherished for decades to come. Happy Stitching!

Kit Hoover is currently the longest tenured host of the nationally NBC syndicated programs and the Emmy-nominated nightly entertainment show “Access Hollywood” and the daily lifestyle entertainment show “Access Daily with Mario & Kit.” Kit launched the top trending COOP with Kit Podcast in 2024. The COOP brings on some of the most iconic women in entertainment, sports and business that are just hitting their stride. Securing her latest job at forty, the Atlanta-native mother of three has always been up for an adventure and challenge. Hoover made her television debut in 1995 as a cast member on the original season of MTV’s “Road Rules,” which sparked her interest in pursuing a career in television. Soon after, she became the entertainment reporter for “American Journal.” Then onto Fox News in 1999 as a correspondent for “FOX Files.” In 2003, she joined ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” and served as a guest judge on ESPN’s reality contest, “Dream Job.” Additional hosting roles include TLC’s lifestyle makeover series, “Real Simple, Real Life,” ABC’s “Shaq Vs.,” a reality show starring Shaquille O’Neal and Lifetime’s “Celebrity Home Raiders.” Keynote speaker at the 2024 NBC Women’s Leadership Conference. Lead MC for 2024 POSSIBLE Miami Correspondent for the Rio and Paris Olympics. Her book “Rowdy” will be published in 2025. Kit is a master facilitator, moderator and speaker. Hoover received a Track and Cross Country scholarship to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she earned a B.A. in Communications 92’. Hoover continues to practice her love of fitness by running, biking, hiking, and playing tennis and pickleball.

Laura Cox Kaplan is a communications and influence expert whose 30-year career spans government, business, media, and nonprofit leadership.

Throughout her career, one common thread has defined her work: mastering the art and science of how individuals influence outcomes. Her approach blends practical strategies, compelling storytelling, and research-backed principles from positive psychology to help leaders build and sustain influence in ways that strengthen resilience, trust, and connection—while creating meaningful impact.

Laura is the creator and host of She Said/She Said, a top-rated podcast and multimedia platform where she shares her own thought leadership, research, and strategies for building intentional influence, alongside in-depth conversations with women who have leveraged their influence to shape business, public policy, industry, academia, and their own lives. Through solo episodes, masterclasses, and curated guest interviews, she delivers actionable, real-world tools leaders can apply immediately. 

Recognized as one of Washingtonian’s “100 Most Powerful Women,” she is also a frequent keynote speaker, writer, and former adjunct professor at American University.

She began her career as a press secretary on Capitol Hill before serving in senior roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. She went on to spend more than a decade on the executive management team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she led global public policy and regulatory affairs across 150+ countries.

She serves on several boards, including The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, The Sandberg-Goldberg-Bernthal Family Foundation (which oversees LeanIn.org), The Policy Circle, and the Bullis Board of Trustees. She has also been a corporate board director for more than a decade, including service on the board of CoStar Group, Inc. and Hunt Companies.

Laura holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and American University, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and two children. 

Lauren Hopkins is the founder and principal of LBH PR Co., a strategic communications firm specializing in established and emerging lifestyle brands. With more than 20 years of experience in public relations and brand building, Lauren has devoted her career to shaping stories and connecting brands with the audiences who matter most.

In 2013, she founded LBH PR believing the strongest client relationships begin with knowing a brand deeply and becoming genuinely invested in its success. Her experience spans art, hospitality, design, and style, with clients including Little English, Sea Island, Sunshine Tienda, Inslee Fariss, and Spoonflower.

Lauren’s work includes traditional media and tastemaker relations, collaborations, events, and communications strategy, supported by an extensive network and a keen instinct for what makes a brand worth talking about. She connects clients with the right people and opportunities to build relevance, reputation, and lasting relationships.

Over her tenure at Leapfrog PR, Libba guided many of her clients, both large and small, to become prominent brands among the shelves of national retailers. A storyteller at heart, she looks for common threads – pride in the process and an authentic history – in all of the companies she works alongside. Now as a founder of the creative consultancy Add Lib, she focuses on only a handful of carefully selected clients who have a truly great story – business owners in the south who have products and services that are inspired by heritage (a recipe, an orchard, a kettle built to last, kinship) and built on people’s need to gather, connect and foster relationships. She advises some of the South’s best-loved brands including Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, Caroline’s Cakes, Sea Island Forge, Schermer Pecans, and The Southern Coterie #tscsummit. She thrives on mentoring entrepreneurs and small business owners. To celebrate these relationships, she offers a pro bono Small Business Mentorship program with three to five women participating each year.

An Atlanta native, Libba found her passion for all things edible as a post-grad student at New York’s French Culinary Institute (International Culinary Center). She segued into restaurant public relations at Baltz & Co. and the Dunn Robbins Group, promoting brands in the food, wine, and spirits industries. Following a move to her husband’s hometown of Charleston, Libba joined Leapfrog to continue her craft, as an owner from 2009 to 2021. She recently founded Add Lib in 2022.

Libba is a graduate of the University of the South, Sewanee. Libba and her husband, Chris, are raising their two sons a stone’s throw from the Ashley River.

Margot Shaw is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Flower Magazine. Now in its 19th year, the publication features homes, gardens, entertaining, and lifestyle. Margot is a sought-after speaker at antique and garden shows, museums, botanical gardens, and interior design centers nationwide. She is the author of two books: Living Floral: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers (2018) and Flowering Outdoors: Gardens & Parties (February 2026), both published by Rizzoli.

I am the founder and chief curator of Well + Wonder Artist Collective, an online gallery dedicated to making art collecting approachable, personal, and joyful. I launched the company in 2015 after spending five years in portrait brokerage and art sales, driven by a belief that original art should be accessible to collectors at every stage of their collecting journey.

My love of art began in childhood and was further cultivated during my time at Vanderbilt University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English. While in college, I studied art and architecture in Florence, Italy—an experience that deepened my appreciation for the power of art to tell stories, shape spaces, and connect people across cultures.

What began as a small collection of six emerging artists has grown into a thriving community of nearly sixty artists working throughout the Southeast. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of building Well + Wonder into a destination for thoughtfully curated original artwork and fostering meaningful connections between artists and collectors. Our gallery serves both first-time buyers searching for their very first piece and seasoned collectors looking for fresh perspectives and meaningful additions to their homes.

Today, I am proud to champion a roster rich with Southern female artists and to have helped thousands of collectors discover original art they love. Along the way, Well + Wonder has partnered with lifestyle brands including Serena & Lily and has been featured in publications such as House Beautiful, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, and Flower Magazine. I was also honored to be selected as a fellow in the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program Class of 2020.

As a Louisville native, it is especially meaningful to live and work in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, alongside my husband, Scott, and our two children, William and Francie. Whether I’m curating a collection, mentoring an artist, or helping a first-time buyer find the perfect piece, I remain passionate about bringing original art into everyday life and building meaningful connections through collecting.

Natasha Murphy is the founder of Built Best. After 20 years of agency experience, including founding and selling her own boutique web development firm, she created Built Best to focus on what truly matters: helping established e-commerce businesses thrive through thoughtful technical partnership.

She specializes in helping e-commerce stores with $1M+ in online revenue tackle their most pressing technical challenges – whether that’s optimizing their technical SEO, streamlining inventory management, or implementing strategic marketing automations. Her approach combines analytical problem-solving with hands-on execution: she doesn’t just identify opportunities, she implements them.

What sets Built Best apart is their commitment to long-term partnership. Some of Murphy’s client relationships span more than a decade, evolving from initial site builds to comprehensive technical strategy and ongoing optimization. This depth of relationship allows her to understand not just the technical requirements, but the business context behind every decision.

Stephanie Summerson Hall graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and later earned her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Following law school, she practiced business and corporate tax law in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for more than a decade.

In 2019, Stephanie founded Estelle Colored Glass, a luxury home décor brand celebrated for its hand-blown colored glassware inspired by the vibrant collections of her grandmother, Estelle. Since launching the company, Stephanie has received numerous accolades for her entrepreneurial
leadership, including being named a 2021 Tory Burch Fellow.

Most recently, Stephanie was named an Inc. Magazine 2026 Female Founders 500 honoree, recognizing her impact as one of the nation’s most innovative and influential women entrepreneurs. Through Estelle Colored Glass, Stephanie continues to blend timeless elegance, heritage, and
modern design, creating pieces that bring beauty and joy to everyday living.

Founded by Sue Sartor, SUE SARTOR is known for artisan-crafted dresses and original hand-illustrated prints inspired by art, architecture, flora, and fauna. After studying Art History at Tulane University and beginning her career in the Calvin Klein Women’s Collection showroom, Sue developed a refined approach to timeless, feminine dressing rooted in craftsmanship and thoughtful design.

Each print begins as an original hand-drawn study and is brought to life through traditional hand block-printing techniques in the brand’s workrooms in India. Produced in intentionally limited batches, every piece reflects a commitment to artistry, exclusivity, and enduring quality.

At the heart of the collection is the signature Flounce™ Dress- an effortless silhouette that has become synonymous with the brand’s joyful elegance and wearability. Collaborations and exclusives have included Tuckernuck, Anthropologie, Julia Amory, Petite Paloma Boots, Meg Braff Designs, and Blackberry Farm. SUE SARTOR continues to expand through its boutiques in New Orleans and Dallas, as well as online, offering timeless pieces designed to be worn and loved for years to come.

In 2008, Susie started Scout Charlottesville, a blog where she wrote about the local treasures she discovered while exploring her town. The response was overwhelmingly positive; readers embraced Susie’s voice and coveted her unique finds, and the businesses that she mentioned saw their sales figures increase. In collaboration with her friend and co-founder Christy Ford, The Scout Guide borrowed from that successful formula to grow into the franchise it is today. Susie leads advertising and franchise sales across the business as co-founder.

Onward Reserve was founded in 2012 by TJ Callaway. Onward is his vision for an authentic brand- one that is laid back but unwavering in quality. Onward dresses men for life’s great moments. Days in the field or on the golf course with friends, football games, engagements… Onward wants to create memories with you.

Onward Reserve is strongly influenced by TJ’s hometown, Thomasville, GA. Thomasville is a uniquely charming, historic and beautiful town- known to many as the Quail Hunting Capital of the world. Men dress well in the field, on the golf course and on the town. History and traditions are kept and community matters. Onward Reserve’s 14 retail stores embody the spirit of Thomasville through hospitality, decor and product selection.

After a successful career as a scout, stylist and contributing editor for some of the biggest names in print media like Coastal Living, Southern Accents, Southern Living and Better Homes & Gardens plus various special interest titles, Whitney took time off to focus on her favorite job – being a mom to four – but the scouting didn’t end there. Whitney draws on her years of curating unique places and people for the lifestyle magazine industry to create connections, find strategic partners and cultivate a talented team of writers and presenters. “Whitney has her finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the world of female entrepreneurs and founders, which makes her a visionary for The Southern Coterie events, networking and community.” says Cheri. Born in the quintessential southern town of Elba, Alabama, Whitney now calls the seaside village of St. Simons Island, Georgia home.