Women In Business, November 2024

Join the Augusta Metro Chamber and BNI for Trailblazing Women! We will be joined by Nancy Glaser from the Augusta Museum of History, Margaret Woodard with the Downtown Development Authority, and Sue Parr former President and CEO of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Nancy J. Glaser - Executive Director of the Augusta Museum of History

Nancy has served as the Executive Director of the Augusta Museum of History since July 2005. Under her administration, the Museum has been recognized not only as one of the preeminent heritage leaders in the area but also for its contributing role in economic development of the Central Savannah River Area. Since arriving in 2005, Ms. Glaser has overseen several major facility upgrades, including a $1.3 million HVAC and Fire Suppression renovation and the installation of a state-of-the-art Collections Storage furniture, allowing for better accessibility for historical research for academics and the general public.  Additionally, a successful series of special events, including the annual Holiday Gingerbread Village and the Museum Express program, have been added. She supervised the Augusta Museum of History's 2019 re-accreditation process from the American Alliance of Museums and continues to serve as one the teams that accredits and/or re-accredits museums across the United States.

Her Museum career expands over four decades of experience and includes serving as the Museum Division Director at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, Kentucky (the Kentucky History Center, the Military History Museum and the Old State Capitol); Executive Director of the Richmond Children’s Museum in Richmond, Virginia; and the Assistant Chief of Operations at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. 

Since her arrival in Augusta, she has played an active role as a community leader, serving on the Board of Directors of the Family Y, the Board of the Kiwanis Club, The Board of the Destination Augusta, the Board of Directors for Destination 20/20, was an Advisor for North Augusta’s new municipal building's Heritage Center, and as a 2007 graduate of Leadership Augusta.  

Ms. Glaser earned her undergraduate degree from Peabody College, Vanderbilt University and her graduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Sue E. Parr - Former President and CEO for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO for Parr Policy Consulting LLC

After a 34-year career retirement from chamber of commerce executive management, Sue Parr is now President of Parr Policy Consulting, LLC, a niche research and political advocacy firm specializing in business friendly regulatory and tax policy at the local level. She is also an active volunteer on local and state boards serving as an advocate for a more successful Augusta region.

Prior to retirement, Ms. Parr was President and CEO of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and held that position since 2005. As President, Ms. Parr oversaw the organizational operations and program implementation of the Chamber serving a member constituency of 1,200 businesses and organizations throughout the Greater Augusta. Under her leadership, the Chamber grew to serve as a regional leader for advocating business-friendly public policy as well as focusing on strategic economic and community development initiatives. At the local level, the Chamber has served as a strong advocate for infrastructure investment around transportation, housing and quality of life assets in order to ensure a growing urban core as well as developing the strongest partnership to-date between public education and the business community. The Chamber serves to inform leaders at the state and federal levels on economic assets and policy needs important to the region’s growth and ensures its members are active participants in advancing the collective mission of growing the region’s economy through educational events, academies and other programs focused on business growth.

Parr is a native Michigander where she spent 16 years with the Lansing Regional Chamber prior to coming to Augusta. She is an accredited Georgia Certified Chamber Executive, a graduate of the US Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management at Notre Dame and as a 30+ year veteran of the chamber industry, Parr has presented on various topics at national and state chamber conferences. She was named to Georgia Trend’s Top 500 Georgians in 2023 and has been named for the last six years as a Most Influential Georgian by James Magazine. Parr has received the Legacy Award from the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives which is the association’s highest award for the chamber profession.

Now in retirement, Sue is seeking to resurrect a once well played golf game and dedicate her time to home and family while continuing to advocate for the Augusta community where her and her husband, Bruce, have made their permanent destination.

Margaret Woodard - Executive Director for the Downtown Development Authority

DDA Executive Director Margaret Woodard is a Nashville, TN, native whose career spans decades in both the public and private sectors. With two degrees under her belt in Civil Engineering and Building Science, Margaret began her career in project management with Turner Construction, Aladdin Resources, and Kercheval Engineers before returning to the southeast in 2002 to act as the Main Street Manager for the Heart of Brevard in Brevard, NC. She transplanted to the CSRA in 2005 and has served the community in economic development and business recruitment roles for the Downtown Development Authority. As a public servant, Margaret has previously invested in giving back on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross, Augusta Regional Commission, Greater Augusta Arts Council, and Boys and Girls Club. She serves on the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Board and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta.