Meet the Team
Our dynamic team of leading ladies who are dedicated to impacting the world one girl at a time
As the Development Director for Glowing Girls, Inc. Atlanta, Jackie responsibly manages GGI’s resources and coordinates its fund-raising activities to ensure that the needs of the organization are satisfied. A native Atlantan, Jackie is currently an Executive Manager with the IBM Corporation, however, she has held various management positions at IBM for more than 25 years.
Jackie has always had a passion for volunteering and working with nonprofits. Inspired by having volunteered as an Economics Junior Achievement teacher at local high schools, participating in numerous high school Career Days, and working with other charitable functions, Jackie’s passion is focused on helping young people in their career development.
Her passion led to her involvement with GGI Atlanta where she now merges her corporate experience with her volunteer spirit to support GGI Atlanta's activities. Despite an individual’s circumstances, Jackie feels that everyone can achieve their own personal success in life.
Jackie Hill
Development Director
Marlene brings two very distinctive characteristics to GGI Atlanta, over 25 years of operations experience and a heart for helping youth. As a commercial property manager for several companies, including Coca-Cola and AT&T, she has excelled in the areas of customer service, financial stewardship, contract management, talent management, and leadership. Additionally, one of the most rewarding aspects of both her professional and personal life is helping people, particularly young women, achieve their full potential.
This began early in her career when she had a temporary employee who did not know, what many consider, very basic life skills. Marlene then began to realize how many young women didn’t have the advantage she had of a mother and sisters who taught her fundamentals that all young women should be taught. With that knowledge, her passion for helping as many young women as she could began.
Marlene has served as a board member for City of Refuge in Atlanta, an advisory council member for Safehouse Outreach in Atlanta, a team captain for projects for Make-a-Wish Foundation, a youth Sunday School leader and teacher, and countless other volunteer opportunities with a variety of non-profits and schools. As Executive Director for GGI, she takes great joy in helping young women navigate through the challenges of life in an effort to help them avoid pitfalls and gain wisdom. “If you just do what you know in your heart is right, even if it's not what you want to do, your life will be so much easier”, is only one of her commonly shared philosophies on life.
Marlene is a native of Atlantan and has lived in metro Atlanta all her life. She has a husband of twelve years, John, and a 13-year-old son, Shawn.
Marlene Collins-Hamler
Executive Director
Basja Tibbs is the Programs Director of Glowing Girls, Inc. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. When she isn’t chowing down on various Asian cuisines, she spends her time reading personal development books, watching her favorite beauty bloggers, and traveling as often as possible (for the love of food).
At Glowing Girls, Inc., Basja serves as a key mentor and directs the courses, information, and education provided to the girls of GGI, including The Female Body Portrayed in Mainstream Media and How to Trade Fear with Gratefulness. Basja utilizes a significant portion of subject matter from her undergraduate degree in Sociology and pairs it with developmental content to create relevant and dynamic teachings.
Basja possesses a passion for growth and personal development along with an inherent desire to inform and equip girls of all ages. She considers it a privilege to mentor, teach, coach, and train, today’s youth in hopes to create real, lasting change.
Basja Sparla
Program Director
Kelsey Spencer
Logistics Manager
Kelsey Spencer is the Logistics Manager for Glowing Girls, Inc. Her key responsibilities include comprising and organizing data for strategic planning while working closely with the Executive Director to ensure successful execution of programs and events. Kelsey graduated from Georgia State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business in Finance. She currently works as an Account Owner at IBM, Global Financing where she manages a financing portfolio for technology distributors.
As a first-generation college graduate, Kelsey thoroughly understands the importance of community and strong mentors for development and growth. With two disabled parents, Kelsey quickly had to learn to navigate through life independently with extensive advisement from strong women along the way. Through her own experiences, Kelsey can attest to the power of an organization like Glowing Girls, Inc.
Kelsey has the passion for mentoring and the professional skill set needed to drive results and impact. She is eager to lead and serve to aid in the vision of impacting the world one girl at a time.
_edited.jpg)
Shaleen Garba
Creative Director
As the Creative Director of Glowing Girls, Inc. Atlanta, Shaleen creatively manages GGI's website, social media accounts and teaches art lessons at each annual GGI Conference. After spending much time with the amazing "Glowing Girls" of GGI, Shaleen knows it takes a village of loving and invested people to reach each girl effectively. It's a beautiful thing!
Shaleen studied fine arts at the Academy of Art University and worked at the Mable House Arts Center in Mableton, GA, for almost a decade. She taught art classes to children, regularly led the Underground Railroad art project for local field trips, and participated in gallery shows and community theatre. She is currently employed at Georgia State University in the College of Education and Human Development, where she has worked since 2013.
Outside the office, Shaleen is a contemporary artist who communicates her art through the language of color, organic shapes, and expressive mark-making. Influenced by Pablo Picasso's Rose Period, she uses cheerful orange and pink hues to show play and lightheartedness. Her work has been displayed at the Atlanta College of Art in Atlanta, GA, New York City's Times Square billboards, the Sewell Mill Cultural Center and Serendipity Labs, Atlanta for her solo exhibitions, Yonkers, New York, the M.A.D.S. Art Gallery in Milan, Italy, the Art 4 You Gallery in Dubai, and many juried shows.
Glowing Girls, Inc. Atlanta is an organization that Shaleen knows changes lives. She has witnessed true positive change and growth in the girls associated with GGI, knowing that it is an absolute honor to be part of such a valuable nonprofit.
Rhonda Smith is the Volunteer Child Advicosy Director with Glowing Girls, Inc. and is responsible for gathering GGI's outstanding volunteers. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Kennesaw State University in 2016. Rhonda has worked with children for 22 years, from running her own daycare to working in the Division of Family and Children Services as a supervisor with foster care. Rhonda has worked with girls for over 16 years by coaching cheerleading and mentoring.
Rhonda is a big advocate for children who feels like their voice isn't being hard Rhonda is passionate about encouraging, motivating, and helping one find their WHY. Rhonda loves to help young ladies mind their goals in them—helping them find out how important they are to the world and helping them find their purpose.
When Rhonda is not working, she spends time with her grandchildren, seeing the light shine in their eyes, watching a good love story, or walking. Rhonda has partnered with GGI because of the heart of what the non-profit has. Knowing that GGI wants to help young girls learn who they are and how much they are loved is something Rhonda wanted to be a part of. Being a partner of GGI over the years, Rhonda has seen young ladies grow and blossom.
Rhonda Smith
Child Advocacy Director
_edited.jpg)
Amy N. Weaver
Independent Living Program Life Coach and Trainer
Whitney Gates
Clinical Director at Open Door Home