Chapter Officers

Members of the Greater Atlanta IIBA Chapter Board of Directors serve as the Officers of the Chapter. They serve two year terms, and terms are staggered with approximately one-half the Board elected each year; to provide new ideas and thoughts to the leadership of the chapter and continuity and mentorship to new Board members. If you are interested in advancing your leadership skills and see how decisions are made in an organization ran by a Board of Directors, please contact one of the people below to see how you can Get Involved!  

President 

Julie Russell
 
Julie has over 20 years of experience as a results-driven leader specializing in driving organizational success through strategic decision-making, collaboration, and data-driven insights. Skilled in managing complex projects and implementation, she excels at aligning stakeholders, optimizing processes, and delivering measurable results. A champion of organizational change, Julie leverages data and metrics to inform strategy, improve performance, and ensure that business objectives are met efficiently and effectively.
 
Julie holds a Bachelor of Communication and Masters in Adult Learning, Training and Development. In her free time Julie enjoys cycling and has had the opportunity to bike in Croatia, Italy, and France.

Vice President (VP) Professional Development 

Lloni Soogrim

 
Lloni Soogrim is a skilled Business Analyst with a strong focus on process improvement. With expertise in workflow analysis, process mapping, and data-driven decision-making, she helps organizations streamline operations and achieve efficiency gains. Her core competencies include requirements gathering, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement methodologies, which she uses to identify bottlenecks and implement impactful solutions. Known for her strategic approach and attention to detail, Lloni excels in transforming complex processes into streamlined, actionable steps that enhance productivity and drive organizational success.

 

Vice President (VP) Marketing & Communications 

Rashed Chowdhury

 

Rashed brings over 20 years of experience as a strategic technology leader with a focus on digital transformation, operational efficiency, and customer success. As a Partner at SalesHub, he guides organizations in leveraging Salesforce and AI to streamline processes, enhance performance, and drive meaningful business outcomes. He is known for building high-performing teams, aligning stakeholders, and delivering scalable enterprise solutions across industries.

Rashed holds degrees in Computer Science and is a published author and educator. Outside of work, he enjoys mentoring, travel, and exploring emerging tech trends.

Vice President (VP) Operation

Deonte J. Watters, MSLD, CCMAP 

Deonte is a strategic change leader with over 14 years of experience driving organizational transformation across business operations, procurement, and strategic planning. He is passionate about helping leaders navigate complexity and embrace change as a catalyst for growth.
He is passionate about empowering organizations to build resilient, change-ready cultures by blending systems thinking, emotional intelligence, and execution discipline. He has successfully led digital transformation efforts, managed cross-functional integrations, and influenced enterprise-wide adoption of new technologies and processes.
 
Previously, Deonte served as Vice President of Business Operations at Mythics, LLC, where he led high-performing teams through enterprise-wide change initiatives focused on aligning operational efficiency with long-term strategic goals. Prior to that, he held key roles supporting NASA Langley Research Center and the City of Chesapeake, where he managed large-scale IT procurements and high-stakes negotiations. His leadership abilities were further sharpened during his military service as a Cryptologic Technician First Class in the U.S. Navy.
 
Deonte holds a Master of Strategic Leadership Development from Clayton State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership with a concentration in Change Management from Oral Roberts University. He also holds an advanced certification in commercial contract management through the World Commerce and Contracting Association. In addition to his consulting and leadership work, Deonte is a motivational speaker and mentor, inspiring others to lead with purpose in a world of constant change. He believes every leader—regardless of title—has the capacity to drive meaningful transformation.          

 

Vice President (VP) Membership

James "Sam" Beeson

 
James "Sam" Beeson has over a decade of experience in the Information Technology space with a proven track record as a Business Analyst, Technical Analyst, IT Consultant, Product Owner, and Project Manager.
Sam has been proficient in multiple integration efforts, the execution of APIs, database inquiry, and managing dynamic teams in Agile frameworks to foster environments of innovation, collaboration, and success.

Sam is passionate about education, servant leadership, and continual improvement. Sam has a Masters In Business Administration and holds certifications in SQL, Python, and Scaled Agile Methodologies. 
In his recreational time, Sam enjoys fitness, hiking, fishing, and camping.
 

 

Incoming Vice President (VP) Membership

Faridah Koledoye

 

Faridah Koledoye is a skilled business transformation consultant with nearly a decade of experience working as a business analyst and project manager on innovative digital transformation initiatives. Faridah’s expertise spans program and project delivery, digital product transformation, and IT methodology redesign. She has successfully partnered with Fortune 500 clients across media & entertainment, technology, telecommunications, and consumer product industries to deliver large-scale technology solutions that drive measurable business growth, operational efficiency, and improved customer engagement. She is also experienced in agile delivery, risk management, and building governance frameworks that enable organizations to scale effectively.

She holds dual BBA degrees in Computer Information Systems and Managerial Sciences (Operations Management) from Georgia State University. Her professional certifications include SAFe Advanced Scrum Master, Scrum Master, Product Owner/Manager, and Six Sigma Yellow and White Belt.

Outside her professional endeavors, Faridah is passionate about fostering community, supporting the educational sector back home in Nigeria and staying creative through the arts and fashion.

Treasurer

Sheldine Brathwaite  

 
Sheldine is a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) with over 20 years of experience driving strategic enterprise transformations across leading organizations in the finance industry. As a seasoned Senior Business Analyst, she brings deep expertise in managing and delivering complex initiatives involving business process improvements, design thinking, systems integration, and full-cycle systems implementation.  
 
Her portfolio includes a wide range of successful projects-from enterprise-wide transformations to the design and development of custom in-house applications. Sheldine is recognized for her ability to bridge business needs with technical solutions while maintaining a strong user-centric focus in every engagement. 
 
Committed to continuous learning and innovation, Sheldine approaches every challenge with curiosity, analytical rigor, and a passion for delivering meaningful, measured results.