2023-2025 EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter Executive Board
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Dr. Gail Hamilton
President
President
Profession: Entrepreneur
BEE Connected Solutions
Florida
Sonya D. Sims
Vice President
Vice President
Profession: Educator
Orangeburg, SC
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Founder, Chapter Advisor and
2018-2021 Past President
Profession: Entrepreneur
CEO Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
Stephanie Balaam
Chapter Administrator
Profession: Financial Industry
North Carolina
Baysia Hunt
Financial Director
Profession: Student Member
EmpowerHer Chapter
Young Leaders Society Member
SCSU Orangeburg, SC
Jessica Burgoyne
2021-2023 Past President
Profession: Executive Director
Edisto Habitat for Humanity
Orangeburg, SC
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter Brilliance Awards Honorees
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Sonya Sims
Sonya Sims
2022
Founders Empact Honoree
2022
Founders Empact Honoree
Profession: Educator
Orangeburg, SC
Annie Bovain
Annie Bovain
2022
Woman of the Year
2022
Woman of the Year
Profession: Entrepreneur
CEO UniRobe Apparel
Orangeburg, SC
Jeanette Brown
2023
Founders Empact Honoree
Profession: Retired
Orangeburg, SC
Sonya Sims
Sonya Sims
2023
Woman of the Year
Profession: Entrepreneur
Florida
Le Sabre Scott
Le Sabre Scott
2022
Protégé'
Profession: Entrepreneur
Virginia
Cheryl Nugent
Cheryl Nugent
2022
Business Associate of the Year
2022
Business Associate of the Year
Profession: Entrepreneur
Kentbury
Orangeburg, SC
Sonya Sims
Sonya Sims
2023
Protégé'
Profession: Student Member
EmpowerHer Chapter
Young Leaders Society Member
SCSU Orangeburg, SC
Sonya Sims
Sonya Sims
2023
Protégé'
Profession: Student Member
EmpowerHer Chapter
Young Leaders Society Member
SCSU Orangeburg, SC
Fred Holmes
Jessica Burgoyne
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2023 VIP Honoree
2018 - 2023 Ambassador
2023
Community Partner of the Year
Profession: Entrepreneur
Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and
Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
Profession: Executive Director
Edisto Habitat for Humanity
Orangeburg, SC
2023
Visionary Leader Honoree
Profession: Entrepreneur
CEO Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
Fred Holmes &
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2018-2023 Business Partner of the Year
Profession: Entrepreneur
Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and
Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
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Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2019
Woman of the Year
Profession: Education
Retired
Orangeburg, SC
Dr. Brenda E. Austin
2020
Woman of the Year
Profession: Banking,
Community Development
Orangeburg, SC
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Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2021
Woman of the Year
Profession: Military
Retired
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA's National Board of Directors
and Stephen Bufton Memorial Education Fund (SBMEF) Trustees
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
ABWA 2021-2024
National Board of Directors
& SBMEF Trustees
National Board of Directors
& SBMEF Trustees
Profession: Entrepreneur
CEO Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2023 -2024
ABWA National President
& SBMEF Trustee
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2022 -2023
ABWA National Vice President
& SBMEF Trustee
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
2021 -2022
ABWA District 1 Vice President
& SBMEF Trustee
ABWA's Top Ten American Business Women of ABWA
Dr. Brenda E. Austin
ABWA 2023
Top Ten Business Woman
Profession: Banking,
Community Development
Orangeburg, SC
Sonya D. Sims
ABWA 2024
Top Ten Business Woman
Profession: Educator
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA SC Area Council Executive Board
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Jessica Burgoyne
2022-2024 Vice President
Profession: Executive Director
Edisto Habitat for Humanity
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA National Recognition Honorees
ABWA National Recognition Honorees
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Shonita Bennett Montford
Shonita Bennett Montford
2022
Recipient of a full
MBA scholarship from
North Central University.
Profession: Educator
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA 2022
ABWA 2022
North Central University Graduate Scholarship
Dr. Brenda E. Austin
Class of 2022 ABWA-KU MBA Essentials Graduate
School of Business
The University of Kansas
Class of 2022 ABWA-KU MBA Essentials Graduate
School of Business
The University of Kansas
Profession: Banking,
Community Development
Orangeburg, SC
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Class of 2022 ABWA-KU MBA Essentials Graduate
School of Business
The University of Kansas
Class of 2022 ABWA-KU MBA Essentials Graduate
School of Business
The University of Kansas
Profession: Entrepreneur
CEO Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
Sonya Sims
Class of 2023 ABWA-KU MBA Essentials Graduate
School of Business
The University of Kansas
Profession: Educator
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA Hand of Friendship Inner Circle Recognition
ABWA Hand of Friendship Inner Circle Recognition
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes
Diamond Star Inner Circle
100+ CLUB
for sponsoring 100 new members
Diamond Star Inner Circle
100+ CLUB
for sponsoring 100 new members
Profession: Entrepreneur
CEO Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and Event Venue and Rachelle's Island Tea
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
Dr. Brenda E. Austin
Inner Circle Member
for sponsoring 11+ new members
Inner Circle Member
for sponsoring 11+ new members
Profession: Banking,
Community Development
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
Sonya D. Sims
Inner Circle Member
for sponsoring 11+ new members
Inner Circle Member
for sponsoring 11+ new members
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
ABWA Recognition
Inner Circle Members
Profession: Educator
Orangeburg, SC
ABWA Level 1 Best Practices in League Management
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter Recognition
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
2018-2019
2018-2019
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
2019-2020
2019-2020
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
2020-2021
2020-2021
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
2021-2022
2021-2022
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC
EmpowerHer ABWA Chapter
Orangeburg, SC