TERESA MAXWELL MacCartney is the executive vice chancellor of operations with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. She is a 1995 graduate of Cairo High School and is the daughter of Juanita and Larry Maxwell of Grady County.
One professional woman on the statewide stage and four important women on the local level are this year’s speakers at the “Women in the Workforce Luncheon” sponsored by the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce and First National Bank. Teresa Maxwell MacCartney, executive vice chancellor of operations with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, is the featured speaker for the luncheon. Other panelists are local women Annette Higdon, Crystal Wells, Tilda Brimm and Karen Holder.
The luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, noon until 1:30 p.m. at Davis Park, behind Roddenbery Memorial Library. Reservations are being taken now for seats, which are $12 each. To make a reservation, go online to
www.fnbdc.com and click on a link found at the bottom of the web page, or go in person to First National Bank or the chamber of commerce. The theme of this year’s luncheon is “mint to be.”
“Our goal is that participants leave inspired, motivated and hopefully encouraged by these women who will share stories of their own struggles with succeeding in the workplace while maintaining a positive balance at home,” says Lorenda Smith, Vice President of Marketing & Retail of First National Bank.
In addition to the speakers, participants will enjoy a catered lunch and door prize giveaways.
Teresa Maxwell MacCartney has worked with the Board of Regents since January. Prior to that, she served as the state chief financial officer and director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, 2012-2019. In January, a new building of the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta was co-named in her honor. The Shaffer MacCartney Building is named for Michael Shaffer and Teresa MacCartney, who both played central roles in establishing the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta. MacCartney is a 1995 graduate of Cairo High School and daughter of Juanita and Larry Maxwell of Cairo. She and her husband, Andrew, have two children and reside in Marietta.
Tilda Brimm is assistant superintendent of the Grady County School system. A 1980 graduate of CHS, Brimm attended Valdosta State University for her bachelor’s degree and Albany State University for her master’s degree. She later earned an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Nova Southeastern University. She is mother of three children, Constance Elone Brimm, Richard Wadis Brimm and Iris Michael Brimm.
Annette Higdon is owner of Grace & Mercy Counseling Center. Higdon earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Thomas University and master’s degree in Human Services specializing in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University. The daughter of Betty Gurley and the late Deacon Arthur L. Gurley, she is married to Deacon Wesley Higdon Sr., and they have three children, Pastor Sonja Donalson, Elder Sherika Hubbard and Wesley Higdon Jr. They also have seven grandchildren.
Karen Holder is owner of Home Slice Pizza in Cairo who worked 18 years before that as a nurse with Cairo Medical Care. Born and raised in Grady County, Holder was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. That diagnosis prompted her to give up nursing to open her “funky little pizza joint.” She and husband Jamie have two sons, Mason, 12, and Payne, 9.
Crystal Wells has more than 20 years of healthcare experience and serves as administrator of Grady General Hospital. She earned an associate degree in Nursing from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, and a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Valdosta State University in Nursing. For 12 years she worked as a staff nurse in critical care, medical/surgical, orthopedic and pediatric specialties collectively. She also held nurse management roles, and in 2008 was named director or nursing at Grady General. In 2015, she was promoted to hospital administrator. She is married to Chip Wells and is mother of two children, Tanner, 14, and Alex, 7.
“These women, while from different industries and professions, will openly discuss the challenges and blessings they have faced as women in the workforce,” said Lorenda Smith.
