ACE elects new Chairman to 

Board of Directors

Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) announced that Courtney I. Smith has been elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Smith replaces Dorothy Yates Kirkley, who will remain an active Board Member as immediate past chair.

"Courtney has roots in both rural Georgia and urban Atlanta. He has deep relationships within the communities ACE serves and knows how critical small businesses are to these areas," said Grace Fricks, ACE Founder and CEO. "Courtney has spent his banking career and personal life in service to others and that makes him an ideal board chair as ACE continues to grow."

Smith has an impressive background as a Community Development Professional with experience in creating community reinvestment opportunities, leading self-sufficiency programs, generating small business and micro-lending activities, and managing retail and commercial banking activities.

"I am honored to be succeeding Dorothy Yates Kirkley as Chair of ACE's Board of Directors," said Courtney I. Smith.  "I'm excited to have this opportunity as the organization continues to build new partnerships and to serve small businesses throughout the state of Georgia.  I look forward to working with the Board and the staff to achieve more success in 2015 and beyond."

Smith joined PNC Bank in 2013 and leads the bank's Community Development efforts for the Greater Georgia and Alabama markets.  He is passionate about asset development initiatives and enjoys promoting financial literacy activities.  Actively involved in the community, Smith currently serves on the United Way of Greater Atlanta's Regional Community Investment (Chair) and Community Engagement Committees and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Decatur Alumni Chapter, Board of Directors. Recent Honors and Awards received include being named as the 2014 Kappa Alpha Psi (Decatur Alumni) Kappa Man of the Year; the 2014 Atlanta Tribune- Men of Influence Award; the 2013 Kappa Alpha Psi (Decatur Alumni) Officer of the Year; and the 2012 College and Career Readiness Award, Atlanta Partners For Education (B.E.S.T. Academy High School).

Smith previously served on the ACE Board in the role of Secretary.

ACE appoints new Advisory Council Chair

Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), a non-profit community lender, announced that Susan Nethero has been appointed as the Chair of the Advisory Council. ACE's Advisory Council is a strategic thought leader, collaborator and catalyst for action guiding ACE.  As chair, Nethero will also leverage her entrepreneurial experience for WISE (Women Investing In Successful Entrepreneurs), an ACE initiative focusing on supporting women entrepreneurs. 

"The most meaningful contribution a successful entrepreneur can make is to give someone else a hand up," said Grace Fricks, ACE Founder and CEO. "That is what Susan is doing. She does not forget that someone helped her be successful and now she pays it forward. "

Nethero is an entrepreneur, investor, keynote speaker and marketing strategist, who is passionate about new business development and professional mentorship of entrepreneurs. She is currently a managing director for Golden Seeds, the largest angel investment firm in the country dedicated to funding women owned and managed businesses in the USA.

As founder of Intimacy Specialty Stores, Susan's entrepreneurial experience in marketing, strategy and business development spanned a 20 year commitment where she built a specialty lingerie chain in major markets across the USA and grew revenues to $38 million in sales. Her expertise in marketing, sales and customer satisfaction helped Intimacy achieve national acclaim. Known as "the Bra Whisperer," she has made appearances on OPRAH, DR. OZ, THE TODAY SHOW and many more. She also spent 20 years in the corporate world with executive strategic assignments for Marketing Corporation of America, Time life Video, and Xerox Learning Systems, all world-class marketers.

Nethero also serves on the Advisory Boards for Blamtastics, Garnish & Gather, and she advises consumer companies such as Julie Bee's, Memi, and La Lure. She is an active Foundation board member for the Committee of 200, the Regional Chair for Southeast, and on the Membership Committee.

"I am honored to serve as Chair of the Advisory Board for ACE/WISE as the organization continues to empower women and foster entrepreneurial growth," said Susan Nethero. "I am deeply committed to providing the resources and support to the staff and fellow advisors so we can create innovative solutions and services for businesses to prosper."