Officers + Board of Directors

 

Jenna’s love for Savannah’s unique architecture blossomed while attending Georgia Southern University. After a fulfilling career in music therapy, where she worked with hospice patients and individuals with developmental disabilities, she transitioned to construction management at SCAD. This shift ignited her passion for design and led to various roles in home production, remodeling, and sales.

Specializing in residential redevelopment, Jenna brings a creative eye and a hands-on approach to transforming spaces. Her background in music therapy fosters strong, empathetic client relationships, while her construction experience equips her with the skills to oversee property assessments and renovations with precision. From commercial projects to new and remodeled homes, Jenna ensures every project runs smoothly through consistent communication with clients and contractors.

As a Realtor, Jenna has embraced the dynamic real estate industry, excelling in property investment, market analysis, and development. She has helped businesses grow in Savannah by securing warehousing, office, and residential spaces. Her construction expertise also provides homebuyers and sellers with valuable insights into home improvements and renovations.

Jenna is deeply involved in her community, actively supporting organizations like Citizens Advocacy and Habitat for Humanity. She currently serves as the President-Elect and Membership Chair for the National Association of Women in Construction, Coastal Georgia, and was honored with the President’s Award in 2023

Jenna Barzaga

PRESIDENT

Kelsey has a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in professional communication and leadership from Georgia Southern University. She is currently a senior marketing coordinator for Choate Construction Company and serves on the company’s corporate Building Up committee, putting philanthropy in action. Prior to Choate, she spent over four years working as a marketing communications specialist for a global telecommunications company, managing their international trade show program.

She also served on Georgia Southern’s strategic planning committee to create a five-year plan that would guide the university’s future programs and initiatives. Kelsey is vice president of the board for her local NAWIC chapter and a board member for Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center in Guyton, GA.

Outside of work and professional organizations, Kelsey spends most of her time with family, reading books, listening to podcasts, and exploring downtown Savannah.

Kelsey Elam

Vice President

Autumn Frazier is a Customer Service Specialist at Walsh Custom Surfaces, where she strives to ensure client satisfaction and enhance the customer's experience. Originally from the small town of Gray, Georgia, Autumn has embraced the vibrant culture of Savannah, relishing the opportunity to explore the city’s rich history and lively atmosphere.

In 2021, she graduated from Middle Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing. During her time in college, Autumn interned at a general contracting firm, where she discovered her passion for the industry and the importance of strong customer relationships.

For the past two years, she has been an active member of NAWIC, currently serving on both the golf and marketing committees. This year, she is excited to expand her involvement by taking on the role of Secretary. Autumn is honored to have received the 2024 New Member of the Year award and NAWIC National's Emerging Professional Award.

Outside of her professional commitments and NAWIC activities, Autumn loves finding new restaurants to add to her favorites list, antique collecting, taking long walks along the marshes, and spending quality time with her friends, family, and her dog, Gracie.

Autumn Frazier

SECRETARY

Ashley Field is a North Carolina native and the daughter of a general contractor that specialized in historic remodeling. Working alongside her father on these projects fueled her passion for all things historic that continues today. She has worked in construction in North Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, Georgia and South Carolina garnering a diverse experience in both residential and commercial building for various areas of the country.

In 2010, Ashley & her husband moved to Savannah, Georgia and purchased a 1967 home on Burnside Island to renovate. Continuing her passion for history she delved into the history of Savannah, its architecture and the preservation practices that apply to the area. In 2018 she partnered with Steven Bodek Historic Renovation working on projects throughout downtown Savannah and its diverse neighborhoods.

In, 2021 Ashley received her Georgia Residential/Light Commercial General Contractor’s license and her SC Residential Contractors License. That same year she joined NAWIC’s Coastal Georgia Chapter with the goal of inspiring and assisting women to pursue licensing as well. Less than 10% of general contractors in the US are women and she hopes to see that number grow exponentially in her lifetime. Ashley has been a member of the NAWIC board since joining and continues to work alongside those dynamic women to promote women in construction.

Currently Ashley stays busy consulting for two construction companies in Georgia, a construction company in South Carolina, is one half of a partnership for house flips, and has her own construction company. She plans to add a female partner to her own company in January 2025.

In 2024 Ashley, her husband, cats and house rabbits moved to Richmond Hill. When she isn’t working or renovating her own home, she explores the coastal empire or pursues her international travel goals.

Ashley Field

DIRECTOR

Mercedes Banks-Williams was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York, but her military service brought her to Savannah, where she decided to stay after meeting her Savannah-born husband. A graduate of Columbia College, Mercedes is an Army veteran and former corrections officer. While law enforcement was one of her callings, she discovered her true passion in real estate. Since becoming a Realtor in 2015 and earning her Real Estate Broker license in 2021, Mercedes has enjoyed the flexibility and freedom to balance her successful career with spending quality time with her family and being actively involved in her children’s extracurricular activities.

In 2021, she founded MBW Realty to expand her real estate ventures into government contracting, investing, and development. Mercedes loves traveling, fishing, camping, and visiting amusement parks with her husband, 10-year-old son, and 6-year-old daughter. Her dedication to helping fellow veterans led her to establish the Charlie Mike Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists homeless veterans in finding housing. Mercedes is driven by the goal of making homeownership a reality for everyone.

Mercedes Banks-Williams

DIRECTOR

Born in Australia to a British father and Nicaraguan mother, Yolanda Morris traveled and lived around the world until she was 21, residing in remote places such as the Sahara Desert in Mauritania, Zambia, Costa Rica, India, and the United Kingdom. In 2010, she relocated to Washington D.C. to achieve the International Baccalaureate and later attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she completed her B.F.A. in Graphic Design.

After graduation, Yolanda worked with an advertising agency and took on personal clients and commissions from various companies, start-ups, and local businesses. In May 2022, she joined Re:Purpose Savannah full-time and is now leading the Community Engagement and Marketing Department, combining her design skills with a passion for deconstruction.

Yolanda Morris

DIRECTOR

With over a decade of experience in the energy consulting industry, Nicole founded Be Smart Home Solutions in 2022. Her passion for Building Science Professional career was ignited during an internship while studying at Savannah State University. This passion led to nearly ten years of expertise in weatherizing homes, conducting energy audits, and educating future green construction workers.

Nicole collaborates with community partners to provide education and weatherization training. Participants learn to perform energy audits and implement efficiency improvements, thereby enhancing the overall energy performance of homes and reducing their carbon footprint. She also serves as an Energy Auditor connecting communities with complimentary energy-efficient retrofits. Nicole has successfully integrated weatherization with renewable energy within the LMI community.

In 2023, Nicole expanded her expertise to include solar energy. Be Smart Home Solutions became a Shine on Partner with Cherry Street Energy, resulting in the installation of solar panels in eight city and county facilities. Subsequently, her company extended its services to residential solar through the Georgia Bright Program, offering workforce development opportunities to 16 individuals with challenging backgrounds. Nicole is committed to providing education and career opportunities through her work. The Georgia Solar Energy Association awarded her with the 2024 Woman of the Year Award. 

Nicole is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, encouraging individuals to explore careers in construction. Through Be Smart Home Solutions, she is building a prominent woman minority-owned energy consulting firm. She is committed to empowering women in the construction industry and creating a more equitable workplace. Looking forward to serving as President-Elect of the NAWIC Coastal 380 Chapter.

Nicole Lee

PRESIDENT ELECT

Dr. Courtney Grunninger Bonney, PhD, AICP is the President and co-founder of Rhowe Design + Build, a multi-faceted commercial construction and development firm. Courtney has a broad range of experience from her earlier roles as both a professional urban planner and university professor, specializing in historic preservation, urban design, and community revitalization. This broad expertise allows for a comprehensive understanding of the design and development process which is applied to her role at Rhowe Design + Build. Courtney is also engaged in advocacy through volunteer work in the community with Historic Savannah Foundation, as well as the Coastal Georgia chapter of NAWIC. She lives in Savannah, GA with her husband James and three wonderful boys, Rhodes and Westley, who are the inspiration for their business name, and new addition Gray. 

Courtney Bonney

TREASURER

Jessica’s background includes fashion design, retail management, sales, social media management and content creation. Her positive demeanor, entrepreneurial spirit, and can-do attitude help with all facets of her current role at Alair Savannah as director of operations. The variety of day-to-day activities engages many of Jessica’s past experiences as well as allowing her chances to innovate, create and energize with the team. Anything related to collaborations, clients, community or culture is under her umbrella. She shares her life with her husband, Mamadou, and their cat, Parker. She loves to read, swim, journal, do puzzles, play board games and tend to plants. She also loves cooking, eating and talking about food. Her home is filled with artwork, as collecting is a huge passion of hers. She also loves travel, far and wide, as long as it scratches the itch for new adventures.

Jessica has been a NAWIC member since 2019. She has served as board member, president, president-elect, committee chair for the community impact committee, marketing chair, and WIC week chairperson. She is also involved with the HBA Young Professionals group, Historic Savannah Foundation 13th Colony, Telfair Museums.. She has been on various non-profit boards as well as being involved at her church, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah.

Jessica Leavitt Ouattara

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Kristina Giles is the Operations & Sales Manager at Contractors Depot, a local family owned and operated construction materials distributor and supplier. A business major from GCSU, Kristina opened a new Contractors Depot store branch in Jacksonville, FL before pursuing a Masters in Building Construction at Georgia Tech. While in Atlanta, Kristina joined Gilbane Building Company where she held various roles throughout her 8 year tenure working on projects in Georgia, South Carolina and New York. In 2019, she returned to Savannah to work full time in the family business. Kristina is an active member in NAWIC’s Coastal GA chapter and the Junior League of Savannah, and enjoys running, the beach, and spending time with her friends, family, and fur-children, Hattie + Pip!

Kristina Giles

DIRECTOR

Robin Grenchik joined Custom Cabinets as CFO in the summer of 2017 after spending the prior year consulting for the cabinet company and other growing businesses. Although Robin had no experience in the cabinet industry, she had spent several years as COO and Project Developer with Circa Lighting, planning and managing the renovating and build out of showrooms across the United States, as well as two of Circa Lighting’s corporate office locations. Robin has also experienced many a construction / renovation project in her own history of serial entrepreneurship, renovating multiple properties in downtown Savannah for her businesses as well as her own two historic homes.

Robin attended Georgia Southern University, spending her first three years in the Early Childhood Development program before switching her major to Accounting. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and thus spent most of her career working for likeminded companies and owners on the brink of major growth. Her contributions include developing structure and implementing processes and procedures, including employee support and development, to enable successful growth and profitability of the company.

Robin grew up in Augusta GA, but relocated to Savannah after college and now considers it her home for life. Robin is recently an empty nester since her only son just relocated to Philadelphia, so in her free time, she enjoys boating on the Savannah waterways, wining and dining in Savannah’s many great restaurants, hiking, traveling with friends and reading.

Robin Grenchik

DIRECTOR