Donna M. Ennis, C.P.F provides leadership across all EI2 units to develop collaborative funding opportunities and provide support and services to assure the integration of diversity and inclusion into EI2’s programs and operations. A certified professional facilitator, Ennis serves as director and operator representative for the Georgia Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center and the SE MBDA Business Growth Hub. In this role, she provides strategic direction, marketing, outreach, and operations for the Center and the Business Growth Hub and business assistance to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). Under Ennis’ leadership, the Centers have assisted companies in generating over $6.4 billion in contracts, financing, and sales and creating or retaining more than 6,000 jobs.
Known for her thought leadership and passion for developing MBEs and small businesses, Ennis has been at the forefront of helping MBEs learn and understand the role that technology plays in scaling businesses and has launched her Technology Enabled, Technology Owned platform. She established the NEXTTECH initiative for MBEs to bring technology solutions to federal agencies and corporations and launched the Healthcare Expert Alliance Round Table (HEART) for MBEs from all industries to connect with leaders in healthcare for opportunities, knowledge about trends, and relationship building. Ennis played a key role in MBDA’s five-city InVision Tour initiative for technology transfer, serving as a speaker and partner in the development of the program. She has mentored hundreds of business owners and frequently presents to audiences on minority business issues, business challenges, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Ennis received her Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University and a B.S. in communications from Boston University. She is the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Outstanding Voice awardee and one of Georgia Tech’s 2021 Faces of Inclusive Excellence. Ennis is also a graduate of the Leading Women@Tech program, an awardee of the Georgia Tech Women Out Front program and has been named a tenured Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League. She is on the Board of Directors of the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA) and the Atlanta Business League, and the Board of Advisors of Enhanced Capital. She is a mentor for Emory University’s Start: ME business accelerator and Georgia Tech’s MentorTech program.