Donna Lovelace
Donna Lovelace is the embodiment of a "can-do" attitude. Current Vice-President of Augusta Mortgage Company, Donna's positive attitude and passion for her work is an inspiration to not only her peers, but her competitors as well. She is very heavily involved and respected in the community as is proven by her receiving the 2008 Women of Excellence Award in Business.
Donna's advice for girls and young women: be positive, know that the sun will shine again, that you are strong, resilient and that a higher power loves you. Further, always give your best, even to those who may not seem worthy, for they may be your greatest reward.
A working professional for most of her life, one of Donna's mottos is "Making the Dream of Homeownership a Reality." She is committed to her clients and always treats them with honesty and integrity. She makes herself available on weekends and evenings when needed and keeps a stash of toys in her office for families that must bring their children in for meetings.
Donna is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Augusta where she has served as its Secretary, Treasurer and President. She is also active with the Builders Association of Metro Augusta, where she has served as Associate Vice President and as the Chairman of its Associates Council.
Her commitment to her clients and her work is evident in an initiative Donna joined about 5 years ago. This initiative is called the East Central Georgia Partnership in Homeownership and is intended to help educate first-time homebuyers and promote homeownership for the low to low-moderate income individuals. Donna and four of her colleagues took the initiative and turned it into a non-profit organization. Now, classes offered by the Partnership are free and open to anyone in the CSRA, even those who may not be financially ready to purchase a home. Due to these classes, homebuyers are more prepared to afford their home, and when they are able to purchase their dream home, they can contribute as consumers back to the local economy. Donna currently serves as the Education Chair and was past President of the Partnership.
Donna's colleagues have also recognized Donna as an outstanding member of their community. She was awarded the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia's Gold Award in 2003 and 2005, was the Sales and Marketing Council's Mortgage Banker of the Year in 1999, and Mortgage Bankers Association of Augusta's Outstanding Leadership Award in 1997.
Donna is a long-time member of the Girl Scouts. Not only was she a Girl Scout herself, but she has also been a troop leader, President of the Board of the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council, and a member of the Council Realignment Committee that oversaw the recent realignment of six councils into one. Donna is also the recipient of the Honor Pin and the Thanks Badge, two of Girl Scouts highest awards for Girl Scout adults.
Donna states that her husband Jim, now retired to the greens, garden and grandchildren, has helped her reach for excellence by always telling her to go for it. Her inspirations include a retail manager who told her when Donna was just 14 that a woman could be whatever she wanted as long as she applied herself. Her long time friend, LaForest (Tree) Myer, who passed away this past year, also inspired her. Donna calls Tree a pioneer of women and says that she will miss sharing a lunch with Tree today at the Women of Excellence event, as she has for the past 10 years.