Meet the #Academy15 Team – “The Talks”

It’s almost time for the inaugural College Panhellenic Academy. In one week, Panhellenic officers from the U.S. and Canada will travel to Indianapolis to grow in panhellenic spirit and skill. On the first night, #Academy15 will open with “The Talks” – words of empowerment and inspiration for fraternity and sorority members from eight experienced guest speakers. Much like the style of TED Talks, our idea behind “The Talks” is to highlight how our experiences and stories can teach a lesson to future leaders. Meet the minds behind “The Talks” and get ready to hear special messages of encouragement to start the flow of creativity.

Ginny Carroll

Ginny Carroll is passionate about building capacity and empowering women. Not only does she have her own consulting business that focuses on helping non-profit organizations build capacity, but she also founded a charitable organization – Circle of Sisterhood Foundation — that works to provide opportunity through education to girls and women around the world. Ginny is a strong proponent of the fraternity and sorority experience, evidenced by several national awards presented to her for fostering positive change to advance the fraternal movement.




Jessica Gendron Williams

Jessica Gendron Williams is the CEO of Phired Up. She's funny (just ask her). She's also smart, bold and passionate about fraternities and sororities. Jessica attended Eastern Illinois University and then Indiana University. She is pushing the fraternity/sorority movement to change more lives ... and change the world. 







Jamie Manuel  

Jamie Manuel is a graduate of Ball State University and a member of Phi Gamma Delta. After graduating with his MBA from the University of Oxford, he founded ::ourscript, a company that leverages the power of groups and prescription exercise to increase sustained participation in fitness programs.







Chris Smithhisler

Chris Smithhisler graduated from Hiram College with a bachelor’s degree and from Western Illinois University with a master’s degree. She is currently the director of character education for Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. She lives in Zionsville, Ind., with her husband, Pete, and twin daughters Olivia and Hadley.




Mat Forrest

Mat Forest began his career in governmental affairs in the West Palm Beach, Fla., Mayor’s Office, serving in three different administrations. For almost a decade, Mat submersed in local government operations, marketing and media campaigns, public speaking, project management and the production of festivals and events. He joined the state lobbying firm of Ballard Partners in 2007 and works with clients in a variety of fields including local governments, gaming, arts and culture, tourism and transportation. 




Tina McIntosh

Tina McIntosh, current president and CEO, founded Joy’s House, an adult day service, in 1999 at the age of 27. Today, Joy’s House serves families of greater Indianapolis and is a vital, thriving not-for-profit organization serving thousands of families. Tina has been honored with numerous awards, her most prized being Graduate of the Last Decade from Ball State University, Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year, Circle of Merit from Ball State University’s College of Science and Humanities and being named as one of Indianapolis Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty.




Steve Latour

Steve Latour is the chief executive officer of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity which is headquartered just outside Kansas City, Mo., in Warrensburg. He previously worked as the vice president for Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity and as the senior director of development for the Alpha Sigma Phi Foundation. In his role with Sigma Tau Gamma, Steve has made it his personal mission to visit each of the fraternity's 68 chapters. He's already halfway there!





Erin Fischer

Erin Fischer is the owner and CEO of the Leadership and Training Studio. She has spoken in 45 states, recruited in Hungary, volunteered in Hawaii, taught in Brazil and has been on stages with thousands of people in the audience, all with the focus of developing people while building teams and organizations. Erin’s forum is the stage, but her focus is super-cognitive skills. She wants to support the growth of people by giving them time to think, reflect and gain new knowledge.