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.

 

Treasurer

Cornelia Erwee

Cornelia is a detail-oriented Certified Business Analyst (CBAP) with over 20 years of global experience spanning Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Latin America. Specializing in Finance ERP implementations, deployments, and analysis.  Cornelia brings a curious and eager-to-learn mindset to every project, translating her passion for continuous learning into actionable, practical solutions.

 

"I never lose. I either win or learn." ~Nelson Mandela

Vice President (VP)  Marketing & Communications 

Bianca Mendes

Bianca is a results-driven professional with expertise in analysis, process improvement, and API integration within the small business insurance industry. She is committed to fostering collaboration, increasing engagement, and empowering business analysts by expanding the chapter’s reach. Bianca is passionate about leveraging strategic communication to connect professionals and foster meaningful development opportunities.
 

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.
 

President (Emeritus)

Steve Kraus

Steve is a strong leader with over 20 years management experience with Olan Mills, Fortune 100 Sears, and Deloitte & Touche. Focus on 'big impact' situations: cutting costs by up to 40%, raising revenues by 10%, increasing compliance by a factor of 9x, increasing inventory turns by 10%, reducing markdowns 5%, etc.
  • Manage both small teams and large staffs (45 people, budget of $20 million).
  • Ability to see the big picture and work with business leaders to find creative solutions to problems.
  • Process creation & improvement a specialty: Six Sigma Black Belt, plus extensive experience with Lean process implementation
  • Extensive experience with business startups, turnarounds, and new programs.
  • Effective presentation, teaching and mentoring skills.