Officers + Board of Directors

NAWIC Coastal Georgia Board Expectations
NAWIC Coastal Georgia Board Position Definitions
 

Nicole Lee

PRESIDENT

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.

Autumn Frazier

SECRETARY

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.

Lohgan Vasquez

DIRECTOR

Lohgan has a B.S in psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology and minor in Global Women’s Studies from Brigham Young University in Utah. She is currently an Operations and Marketing Associate at Rhowe Design + Build, recently celebrating her one-year anniversary. She joined NAWIC when she started at Rhowe and has been part of the golf committee.

 Previously, Lohgan worked as a research assistant at BYU focusing on EEG analysis and vocal emotion assessment, then transitioned into healthcare analytics before burnout led her to explore other paths. After working for her dad, an electrical engineer, she chose to pivot her career-a decision she’s glad she made.

 In her free time, Lohgan enjoys book clubs, pilates, reality tv, concerts with friends, collecting books and vinyls-all alongside her partner, Jayce, and orange cat, Meow Meow.

Ruth Hutson

DIRECTOR

Ruth Hutson is a specification sales agent for SESCO Lighting-the largest lighting manufacturer's representative company in the country.  Prior to working for SESCO, she worked as a theatrical lighting designer concentrating on productions with music including over 150 operas, events at premiere venues like the Hollywood Bowl, O2 Arena, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  She has lived in Savannah, GA for 20 years and taught lighting design and themed entertainment design at the Savannah College of Art & Design for 16 years.  Ruth is an avid gardener, mahjong enthusiast, and shares parenthood of her two boys with her husband and cat.

Heather Radtke

DIRECTOR

Heather Radtke graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. In 1990, she started part time with Speros working on marketing projects for her college classes and after graduation she became a full time Speros employee.

Heather moved quickly through the ranks with Speros.

Heather’s first position was Customer Service Representative training the end users on the proper use of their new technology. She was present for most cut-overs, and she observed many installations, this peaked her desire to learn the best possible practices for completing projects. She learned every aspect of the installation process including blue prints, building codes, cabling, main distribution frames, dial tone and meeting project time schedules. She became very efficient and knowledgeable about how the hardware worked, how to install it and she moved into the sales field in the mid 1990’s.

Heather has been a million dollar producer for the Company over the last several years and is an asset to the success of Speros. She has been involved and helped to make all aspects of the technology we sell and service a big success.

View our 2023-24 Annual Report

Kelsey Elam

Vice 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.

Robin Grenchik

TREasurer

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.

Courtney Bonney

Director

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. 

Kristina Giles

Director

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!

Jenna Watkins

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

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 for the National Association of Women in Construction, Coastal Georgia, and was honored with the President’s Award in 2023