our leadership
Executive Committee
Co-President - Programs and Scholarship
alice smith
Alice Smith is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Health Coach. She is the founder of Alice Approved, a nutrition education and counseling service. Her motto is for women to “eat more, weigh less, and never diet again”! You can find her posting wellness tips to her Alice Approved social media sites or out for a walk or hike!
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Co-President, Operations and Communication
Leslie Speas
Leslie is the President of InfluenceHR Consulting. Through her company, she helps leaders retain, engage and develop their talent. She is passionate about helping individuals meet their God-given potential and helping organizations create a culture of engagement and well-being. Leslie is also an author and a writer for Forsyth Magazines. She is also on the Board with Moji Coffee and More and the Advisory Committee for Winston-Salem Street School. She is a District Director with NC Society for Human Resources Management.
Secretary
Carolyn Bennett-Sullivan
Carolyn Bennett-Sullivan has over 30 years combined Sales, Marketing, Wellness and Business experience. Her diversified background includes the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, retail, personal development and golf and entertainment industries in Sales, Business Development, Training, Marketing and Operations. Carolyn has worked for Fortune 500 Companies like Pfizer to start ups like Softgolf. She's the CEO of SAVVY Heart LLC, TEDx Speaker and author of " Get the "F" Out! Liberating Fear and Letting Love In" book and workbooks and Vice President of Softgolf.
Treasurer
Christina Canterbury
Christina is a Virtual Assistant and the owner of 2Do 2Done Virtual Assistant. She provides business support services to entrepreneurs and small business owners. She is the proud mother of two amazing daughters. She loves plants, books, cooking and music. When she isn't working, she enjoys being outdoors doing yardwork or walking with her fur baby.
Vice President of Membership
RITA BOTTOMS
Rita is the ultimate connector and the perfect fit for VP of Membership. Rita is currently VP of Sales and Client Relations. Through her 25-plus year career in Recruiting and Staffing, she has connected many people to the right jobs and many companies to the right people. She is passionate about helping her clients hire the right talent. In this same vein, she will help us connect the right women to TWC! Rita is actively involved in many professional and community organizations including Winston-Salem SHRM, Surry SHRM, HRMAG, North Carolina SHRM, the Kernersville Chamber, Greater Winston-Salem, TWC, Fellowship of Christian Women in Business, and a volunteer at her church - to name a few. She was also involved with our previous organization, Professional Women of Winston-Salem. She truly loves connecting and giving back to the community! Rita would love to chat with you about membership in our great organization.
Committee chairs
Scholarship Program Chair
Margaret Weir
Peg, a lifetime member of The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), is a past President (2014-2016), former Chair of the 2015, 2013, 2012 Global Forum Planning Committee and previously the Vice President, Finance & Treasurer. In 2019, Peg assumed the role of TIAW World of Difference Awards Co-Chair and the TIAW Advisory Group. She is a member of the Financial Women’s Association (FWA), which is TIAW’s charter member. Peg received the TIAW World of Difference Mandy Goetze Award in 2019 and a World of Difference 100 Award in 2010.Peg holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BA from Siena College. She has completed several doctoral courses in management with Walden University. For over 10 years, Peg was an adjunct professor with Syracuse University in the iSchool, teaching IT Capital Planning in the Information Management graduate program. Peg is an avid traveler and resides in Winston Salem, NC home.
Hospitality/Special Events
Debi Reynolds
Deborah "Debi" Reynolds is a Human Resource Consultant with Marsh McLennan Agency, and is based in the Piedmont Triad region of NC. Debi supports small and medium size business through human resources consulting and support. She has twenty years of experience in recruiting, benefit administration, employment policies, employment relations, and EEOC compliance. Debi also provides on-site leadership and employee training programs including sexual harassment prevention. Debi enjoys spending time with her friends, family and being Rosie's mommy.
Website Vice-Chair
Jennifer M. Szescula
Jennifer is a self-motivated, organized, and tenacious manager of projects of all kinds. She's worked as a business administrator in both for profit and non-profit and is well versed in financials, operations, purchasing, and event management. She is passionate about listening to one's Still Small Voice in all areas of life. She helps others as a systems thinker and brings all her experience together for creative, effective and efficient solutions.