Contact Us

Lisa Robinson, Loan Officer

For assistance with obtaining a Green Loan:

404.797.7769

Lisa joined Georgia Green Loans after working for Regions Bank as Community Development Manager. Her previous experience includes working as an analyst for General Motors and Banc One, and a stint as a college instructor in Ethiopia, teaching Finance and Accounting. She has also worked as a commercial lender with Self- Help Credit Union in Durham, North Carolina and as a business consultant for the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development. Lisa received a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University and a MBA from University of Texas at Austin. She serves as Board President of Midtown Assistance Center, and also sits on the CaringWorks Board and the United Way Low Income Impact Board.

Elizabeth Penney, Director of Community Outreach, ACE

For media inquiries:

770.718.8992

Liz's experience includes ten years at the NH Small Business Development Center, where she consulted with small businesses, created educational and promotional materials, and assisted with management and strategic planning. She also served on the Association of Small Business Development Centers' national needs assessment committee. Other professional experience includes working as Assistant VP of Commercial Loans for Northway Bank, Berlin, NH; and as Controller and Business Development Specialist for North Country Council, Inc, Bethlehem, NH. Liz has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maine and an MBA from Plymouth State University.

Grace Fricks, President & CEO, ACE

706.348.6609 ext. 208

Grace is the founder and CEO of Appalachian Community Enterprises (ACE). Since 1999, Ace has provided $3.5 million in small business loans that created or retained 400 jobs. In 2008, ACE founded Georgia Green Loans, a statewide partnership program providing loans to help small businesses green-ovate.

Nationally known as a champion of small business development, Grace serves on the board of directors of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and is on the governing board of the National Association of Business Owners-Atlanta chapter. She is the recipient of the 2005 Founder's Award for Georgia Micro Enterprise Network during the same year that one of ACE's borrowers was honored as the Micro Entrepreneur of the Year. Formerly, Grace served on the Board of White County Rotary and on the Board of Trustees for North Georgia Technical College. She was also honored in 2002 as Advocate of the Year by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities in Georgia. Grace holds a B.A. in social work and psychology from University of Tennessee at Martin and an MBA from the University of Memphis.

Sandy Headley, Vice President of Lending, ACE

706.348.6609 ext. 203
Fax: 877.287.6081

Sandy has more than 20 years banking experience, working as a mortgage originator and mortgage processor/closer at Colonial Bank as well as an Assistant Vice President of Loan Recovery at SunTrust. She has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. She has served as a volunteer for Kiwanis, March of Dimes and United Way.

Green Advisory Council

Council Chair	Dorothy Yates Kirkley, Retired Attorney
Council Member	Charles Whatley, Director of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Atlanta Development Authority
Council Member	Lauren Speeth, founding CEO, Elfenworks Foundation
Council Member	Sam Moss, Gray Matters Capital
Council Member	Matt Ryder, Partner, NKF Consulting
Council Member	John Kirkley, Principal, Southeast Energy Environment and Design Finance
Council Member	Carolyn Wills, Economic and Community Development Consultant
Council Member	Johnna Barrett, Principal, Barrett Design, Inc.
Council Member	Ken Tam, Executive Director, Elfenworks Foundation
Council Member	William Neal, Innovation & Development Catering Consultant, Affairs to Remember
Council Member	Jonathan Tescher, Farmer Services Coordinator, Georgia Organics
Council Member	Tirza Hollenhorst, Co-founder and President, ifPeople
Council Member	Christopher Johnson, Co-founder and Chief Entrepreneur, ifPeople