Tyson Begly

CFO/COO, Consultant, Tech Investor & Community Leader

With over 20 years of experience, Tyson Begly has excelled in guiding companies through growth and strategic initiatives across a diverse range of industries. His career spans from startups to Fortune 500 companies, from Wall Street investment banks to Silicon Valley private equity firms, as well as roles in non-profit and political sectors.

Currently, Tyson serves as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Investments for Highline, a fiber broadband company dedicated to enhancing connectivity in rural regions of America. In this role, he oversees strategic growth initiatives through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and federal funding efforts.

Previously, Tyson held the positions of CFO and COO at Delta Data, a private equity-backedfinancial technology firm recognized as one of the top 40 innovative technology companies in Georgia. At Delta Data, he played a pivotal role in securing a growth equity investment from Accel-KKR, a renowned Silicon Valley private equity firm, and contributed significantly to the company’s growth leading up to its acquisition by Terminus Capital Partners. Prior to Delta Data, Tyson’s career began in consulting at Accenture and Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, where he worked with Fortune 500 clients on large-scale technology projects, postM&A integrations, and industry-wide compliance initiatives.

In addition to his professional achievements, Tyson is a distinguished community leader. He currently serves on the Georgia Technology Authority Board, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. Recognized as one of Columbus’ “Top 5 Under 40” by Columbus & The Valley Magazine, he is also an alumnus of Leadership Columbus and graduated from the Leadership Georgia Class of 2022. His leadership roles include serving as a city-wide Councilor on the Columbus City Council, Secretary/Treasurer for the Development Authority of Columbus, Chair of the Public Safety Advisory Commission, and Board Chair for Open Door Community House.

Tyson holds a Bachelor of Computer Engineering degree with Summa Cum Laude honors from Auburn University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where he earned Dean’s List honors. He graduated as valedictorian from high school in Enterprise, Alabama, in 1998.

Tyson’s family includes his wife, Bekah, and their two children, Hudson and Amelia.

Karprice Bentley-Brown

Principal, Brewer Early Innovation Academy

Jennifer Bickerstaff

General Counsel and Chief of Staff, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley

Jennifer is a Chattanooga native and attended the University of Georgia for undergrad and law school.  She has lived in Columbus for over 20 years and has adopted Columbus as her hometown. Jennifer practiced law at Page Scrantom, was a member of the general counsel office at AFLAC, and recently served in the family office at Synovus advising families on wealth transfer, family governance, and philanthropy, in particular managing family foundations. She is currently the General Counsel and Chief of Staff of the United Way. Jennifer strongly believes that mindful awareness and intentionality are the keys to a successful and purposeful life and that the power of community can drive change. Jennifer is a certified yoga instructor, loves being outdoors, and lives in Columbus with her husband and their four children.

Dr. Asante’ Hilts

CEO, Valley Healthcare System, Inc.

Dr. Asante’ Hilts is the CEO of Valley Healthcare System Inc, a community health center offering comprehensive, preventative health care for the Chattahochee Valley.  Dr.  Hilts is a passionate health administrator with over 13 years of community health experience. Dr. Hilts was born and raised in Rochester, NY. And completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Master’s Degree in Public Health, and Doctorate degree in Social Behavior and Community Health from the State University of New York, University at Albany.  

Dr. Hilts has worked in public health at the local and state levels in research, evaluation and program implementation in HIV/STI prevention, environmental health, and emergency preparedness. In 2018, Dr. Hilts left the New York State Department of Health and relocated to Columbus, Georgia accepting the District Program Manager position with the Georgia Department of Public Health overseeing public health programs for the 16 counties of the West Central Health District.   

Dr. Hilts serves on several boards including Midtown Inc., Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, Coumbus Family Connections, Columbus Three River Area Health Education, Columbus House of Hope, and Cure Violence Columbus.  As a public health practitioner and epidemiologist, Dr. Hilts is committed to integrating the social determinants of health into health care, program planning and service delivery. Dr. Hilts is also passionate about mentoring students and is currently a faculty member at Columbus State University and Mercer University.  

Dr. Hilts is a committed Volunteer at the Columbus Dream Center serving residents in need in the Chattahoochee Valley.  Dr. Hilts is a member and serves as a Minister at Faith Nation Church in Columbus.  In 2024 Dr. Hilts celebrated 20 years of marriage to her husband Edward and they have four children: Justice, Freedom, Truth, and Wisdom.  

Pamela J. Hodge

Deputy City Manager of Finance, Planning & Development, Columbus Consolidated Government

Pamela J. Hodge has been with the Columbus Consolidated Government for 20 years.  She serves as the Deputy City Manager of Finance, Planning and Development since April 2015.  Previously, she served as the Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director from 2004-2015.  She oversees the implementation of the city’s $400 million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, $300 million Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, $50 million Synovus Park minor league baseball stadium renovation project, as well as various other infrastructure projects.  In her professional capacity, she serves as an ex-officio member of the Business Improvement District Board, city liaison with the Development Authority, and participates with the Pension Board and Columbus Building Authority.  Prior to moving to Columbus, Georgia in 2001, Pamela served for over 10 years with Sarasota County in Sarasota, Florida and Monroe County in Key West, Florida in governmental finance positions.  She also held professional banking positions in Key West, Florida and Orlando, Florida.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas in 1988.

Pamela is married to Keith and has four grown married sons and four grandchildren.  She attends Calvary Baptist Church. 

Pete Laven

Vice President & General Manager, The Mississippi Braves
General Manager, Columbus Professional Baseball Club

Laven joined the M-Braves after spending the 2018 baseball season as Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Chicago Dogs (American Association). Before 2018, Laven spent five years as President of Salvi Sports Enterprises, overseeing two Independent League franchises, the Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League) and Gary SouthShore RailCats (American Association).   

Laven spent 13 seasons with the Arkansas Travelers, a Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Following the 2006 season, the Travelers’ final season at Ray Winder Field, which also featured the Texas League All-Star Game, Laven was recognized as the 2006 Texas League Executive of the Year. In September 2006, he received the first-ever “Closer Award” as the top salesperson in Minor League Baseball. After three years as the club’s Assistant General manager (2004-06), Laven was promoted to General Manager by the team’s Executive Committee in 2007 and served as the Travs’ GM for six seasons.  

Laven, who also served as President of the Pearl (MS) Chamber of Commerce in 2023, is a native of LaGrange, Illinois, He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1991 with a BA in Journalism. He and his wife, Holly, have one daughter, Kellan (13). 

Reggie Lewis

Co-founder, Cure Violence Columbus

Reggie Lewis is the co-founder of the gun violence initiative Cure Violence Columbus that is an epidemic health model approach to reducing gun violence and bringing equity and prosperity to all marginalized communities. 

He was a former Columbus Police Officer assigned to the Motor Squad Division before being given an opportunity to work for TSYS as a client service analyst. He worked his way through the ranks and is now a Director of Applications Systems Development Consultants for the Bank of America Consumer Division of TSYS, a Global Payments Company. He was a 2012 recipient of the TSYS President’s Circle award, which is the highest accolade given to employees. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Southern Rivers, House of Heroes, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and the Muscogee Co Library.  

He is an alumnus of Leadership Columbus 2015-2016 and Leadership Georgia 2018-2019 leadership programs and currently is the Program Chair over the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Leadership Columbus Program. He is an avid motorcycle rider who loves to do track days at Barber Motorsports Park and loves to travel with his wife Holly. 

Dr. Stuart Rayfield

President, Columbus State University

As an educator and higher education leader for over two decades, Dr. Stuart Eddings Rayfield returned to Columbus State University in 2023 as its sixth president. Her deep-rooted connection with the university and Chattahoochee Valley began in 2006—first as an assistant professor and continuing as the university’s Frank D. Brown Distinguished Chair in Servant Leadership and director of its Servant Leadership Program. She also served as interim associate provost for undergraduate education. 

Her leadership extends far beyond Columbus State. In 2016, she was appointed by the University System of Georgia as interim president at Bainbridge State College, immediately after at Gordon State College, and later at the University of West Georgia. She held system roles as interim executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, overseeing the system’s entire academic enterprise, and as vice chancellor for leadership and institutional development. In this latter capacity, she supported management, leadership transitions, training and orientation for USG’s 26 public colleges and universities, and the University System Office. 

Dr. Rayfield holds degrees from Rhodes College, the University of Alabama, and Vanderbilt University. She is married to David Rayfield, a lawyer and partner with Waldrep, Mullin & Callahan LLC in Columbus. They have two daughters, Vivian and Celia. 

Natalia Temesgen

Associate Professor, Columbus State University

Natalia Naman Temesgen is a playwright, TV writer, and educator. Her plays have been produced in Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Columbus, GA. She has written TV episodes for “Dear White People” (Netflix), “Julia” (HBO Max), and “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu).  

Natalia was a 2021 Artist in Residence and recipient of the Film Focus Fellowship at Serenbe Institute. She received the American Playwriting Foundation’s 2019 “Relentless Award” Honorable Mention for “Lawnpeople,” a political drama dealing with immigration, identity, and motherhood. Her play “Ace: The Eugene Bullard Story” is an epic bio-play about the first African-American fighter pilot. In 2022, her first play for young audiences, “Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story,” debuted at the Springer Opera House. 

Natalia is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Columbus State University and has contributed to American Theatre Magazine, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, and the Columbusite.   

Randi Warren

Corporate Counsel, Aflac

Randi is Corporate Counsel at Aflac where she has responsibility for its intellectual property portfolio and serves on the Corporate Transactions team.  She is a graduate of her mother’s alma mater, Spelman College and Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. Randi has also received professional certifications through Yale University and Wharton School of Business.  

Most recently, Randi was appointed a Community Member of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. Board of Trustees.    

Randi is currently serving in her second year as the Board Chair of United Way Chattahoochee Valley. As chair, she has been instrumental in advancing their mission to reduce poverty and foster positive change in the community.  Additionally, Randi was appointed to serve as a member of the Inclusion in the Profession Committee of The State Bar of Georgia.  This committee is tasked with promoting inclusion and belonging within the legal profession.  

She is an active member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), the State Bar of Georgia’s Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession (CPIP), the Young Professionals of the Greater Columbus GA Chamber of Commerce, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Macon (GA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and the Columbus, Georgia Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NAASC). 

Randi’s impact extends beyond her legal expertise. Since she was three years old, Randi has donned tutus and later advanced to pointe shoes. Her talent in dance has taken her all over the country, studying at prestigious institutions such as the University of South Carolina, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Steps on Broadway.  

Randi continues to have a profound impact on her community and profession, setting an inspiring example for others to follow.