About Us

Joanne is a seasoned public health expert with a distinguished career spanning 30 years in healthcare. With a strong academic and practical background, Joanne has been instrumental in pioneering research, notably with East Tennessee State University (ETSU), where she contributed to peer-reviewed studies on cardiovascular risk and helped lay the groundwork for ETSU’s Center for Addiction Studies. In 2020, Joanne became a board-certified health coach, focusing on providing compassionate care to individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Her practice is particularly attuned to supporting clients with learning challenges or concurrent mental health issues, like autism and eating disorders. Joanne is deeply passionate about The Magnolia Project, viewing it as a transformative initiative capable of altering the life path of those facing difficult times. Joanne’s personal experience as the daughter of a woman with autism and as a mother to children with autism fuels her commitment to creating a supportive community that offers a ‘hand up.’ Joanne believes that programs like Magnolia are essential for providing the much-needed support that is often hard to find for many women. With her extensive experience and heartfelt dedication, Joanne brings invaluable insights and leadership to the Magnolia Project, championing its mission to foster growth and change in the community.

Hilary Porta is Founder of R3 International, Inc. & Principal and CEO of H Porta et al., a bespoke boutique strategy and leading-edge transformational consultancy based out of North Carolina with satellite offices in Florida and the United Kingdom. Hilary is trusted by start-ups to Fortune 500 CEOs, industry titans, professional athletes, motorsports professionals, Hollywood film producers, actors/influencers, members of elite military forces, attorneys, financial advisors, higher education, high-performance professionals and serial entrepreneurs globally to architect a life and business with intention and purpose that creates generational impact. Hilary’s frameworks have been implemented by the most prominent organizations in the world. From sharing international stages with the likes of Dr. Deepak Chopra + hundreds of experts globally to hosting Masterminds, VIP Intensives, retreats and facilitating workshops, Hilary is also a contributing writer to 35+ publications, including Forbes, Medium, Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, Tiny Buddha, PsychAlive, The Conscious Magazine, Chief Information Officer and a handful of other publications.

Kathie ‘Kat’ Scalf is a Tri-Cities native who has been living in the Nashville area since 2019. Her passion for uplifting other women stems from overcoming her own past circumstances with the guidance of powerful females, and she hopes to pay it forward by being that light for even just one person. Kat became involved with Magnolia Project in its infancy from 2016-2018 and has previously served as a board member for the Carter County Community Foundation, as well as having served on planning committees for the Johnson City chapter of American Cancer Society’s annual Hope Gala and the Crumley House Polynesian Beach Party. As the Southeast Regional Manager for Happenstance Whiskey – Nashville’s only 100% woman owned whiskey company – and an active member of the Nashville chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, empowering women to achieve their highest potential has remained at the forefront of her priorities since her move to Middle Tennessee. She continues to split her time with monthly visits to the Tri-Cities and looks forward to positively impacting the community through her continued work with Magnolia Project.