Team

Donna Ennis
Project Director

Donna Ennis, project director, is responsible for the strategic direction, marketing, outreach, and operations for the Center.  She also provides assistance to Center clients in strategic, business and market planning; private and public procurement, finance, operations and business process improvement. Under Donna’s leadership, the Center has assisted MBEs in generating over $500 million in contracts, financing, and sales and creating more than 3,500 jobs.  The Center received the 2010 special recognition award from the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the 2006 Institution Award by the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance and has been an Outstanding MBDA Performing Center since 2005.

Ennis was named in 2010, 2011, and 2012 as one of Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League and is an awardee of the 2011 Georgia Tech Women Out Front program. She is on the Board of Trustees of Atlanta Unity Church and the Board of Directors for the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Boston University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia State University.

MBDA Business Center
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
75 5th Street, NW, 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Phone: (404) 894-2096
Fax: (404) 894-8194
E-mail: ude.hcetag.etavonninull@sinne.annod

Maria Mar Hill
Senior Business Advisor
Maria Mar Hill is a business advisor for the MBDA Business Center. As such, she is responsible for helping clients in business planning and development, marketing research and strategies, operations, financial planning, financial projections and access to capital through lending programs, investors’ participation, and grants and other funding sources. She also undertakes outreach efforts to attract qualified clients, partners, mentors, and other resources available to minority businesses.

Previously, Hill was the lead business consultant and director of the enterprise development group for GRASP Enterprises where responsibilities included program and personnel management. She also owned her own consulting business for several years. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Hill studied business administration in Barcelona, Spain, and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Florida Atlantic University. She also has obtained certification in systems administration from Oglethorpe University. Hill is trained as a lead auditor for ISO 9000 and Lean Management.

MBDA Business Center
Georgia Institute of Technology
75 5th Street, NW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA  30308

Phone: (404) 894-2096
Fax: (404) 894-8194
E-mail: ude.hcetag.etavonninull@llih.airam

Yvonne Dragon
Business Development Specialist

Yvonne Dragon is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the SBA portion of the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Program to ensure tracking and delivery of partnering and job creation metrics.  Her role also includes developing program initiatives and communication to key stakeholders including Established and Emerging Firms in the Health IT Cluster.

Dragon’s small business background includes a proven track record of advising entrepreneurs and small business CEOs.  She has served as a Small Business Development Center business consultant assisting over 100 small businesses through executive consulting and management team coaching. Her passion for entrepreneurship resulted in her maintaining productivity in the top 20 percent among her colleagues.  An entrepreneur herself, Dragon owned and operated a business consulting firm specializing in assisting small businesses and start ups in the engineering, construction and IT industries.  She also has worked in a family business as a Director of Marketing for an Atlanta civil engineering firm. In 2008, Yvonne was named one of Atlanta Business League’s Small Business Women of the Year. In 2010, Dragon was appointed by the Atlanta City Council to the Atlanta Commission on Women to lead change related to women’s entrepreneurship.

Dragon received her Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Entrepreneurship at Kennesaw State University.

MBDA Business Center/Health@EI2
Georgia Institute of Technology
75 5th Street, NW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA  30308

Phone: (770) 714-4264
Fax: (404) 894-8194

Julian Andrea Bailey
Marketing/Events Coordinator, II

Julian Bailey is responsible for developing, implementing and promoting special programs, marketing and communications projects for the MBDA Business Center. She maintains the MBDA CRM system and the Center’s website and conducts information research. She also participates in outreach activities to promote the Center; coordinate and attend workshops, trainings and conferences focusing on minority business development. In addition, she prepares marketing and communications pieces for the Center.  Bailey also serve clients and handle some administrative duties.

Bailey previously worked with Carter & Associates, a commercial real estate company in Atlanta, as a marketing coordinator. She was responsible for marketing and communications initiatives for their Property Management department and also served as editor for the department’s monthly newsletter, MakeContact. Prior to Carter, Bailey was employed with the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR)/Capstone Institute at Howard University for seven years. She was responsible for administrative and communications initiatives for the Center and successfully planned numerous lecture series, workshops, and programs that collectively united students, public figures, business leaders and university personnel. While at Howard, Bailey also served as editor of Capstone Action News, the Center’s monthly newsletter.

Bailey graduated magna cum laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at Troy University.

MBDA Business Center
Georgia Institute of Technology
75 5th Street, NW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA  30308

Phone: (404) 894-8150
Fax: (404) 894-8194
E-mail:  julian.bailey@innovate.gatech.edu

Mariah Callins
Student  Assistant

Mariah Callins is a student assistant for MBDA Business Center-Atlanta. She assists with the marketing, communications, and program coordination initiatives. She also works along on client projects as needed, conducts research and database management. In addition, she assists with event planning and outreach activities as well as participates in training and seminars focused on minority business enterprises.

Callins is a junior at Georgia State University, achieving to earn her bachelor’s degree in public policy and minor in computer information systems. Prior to working with MBDA Business Center-Atlanta, she worked as a resident assistant and student assistant for Georgia State University, while being a full-time student.

MBDA Business Center
Georgia Institute of Technology
75 5th Street, NW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA  30308

Phone: (404) 894-2096
Fax: (404) 894-8194
E-mail: ude.hcetag.etavonninull@snillac.hairam