About this Event
Join us for a panel conversation about the book Luminaries: Women Leaders Who Light the Way with Molly Mae Potter, Carrie Quintanilla and Tim Crane, moderated by Charlynda Scales.
Molly Mae Potter has built an extraordinary career from helping patent Mars Rover technology at NASA to serving as an Air Force flight test engineer and becoming the first woman selected by her special operations unit for a mission in Afghanistan. Following her service, she successfully advocated for Pentagon policy changes expanding access to service dogs for veterans with PTSD and has continued to lead through advocacy and service. In 2016, she competed in Ms. Veteran America and won the title, gaining a new platform for her advocacy. Now, as one of thirteen contributing authors in Luminaries, Molly is helping inspire the next generation of leaders. On its first day, the book reached #1 Best Seller in three Amazon categories, a testament to the impact of these powerful stories.
Carrie Quintanilla is a transformational leader, strategist, and co-founder of ModOps Consulting, a mission-driven venture dedicated to strengthening local businesses—the heartbeat of vibrant communities. Over a 30-year career in corporate leadership, she built a reputation for exceeding expectations, leading high-performing teams, and transforming organizations from the inside out. At Dell Technologies, she shaped innovation, led large-scale transformations, and spearheaded strategic programs across business units.
Tim Crane brings more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning entrepreneurship, Fortune 100 operations, and industrial technology transformation. Currently President of Dynamic Aviation, he previously served as Vice President of Autonomy & Automation at Caterpillar Inc., where he led global teams deploying robotic, sensor, and AI-driven systems that advanced safety and productivity across mining and construction industries.
Charlynda Scales is a decorated U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, serial entrepreneur, and impact strategist whose career spans national defense, food entrepreneurship, and community economic development. She has directly influenced over $5 billion in federal acquisition programs and raised more than $5 million in philanthropic capital for inclusive entrepreneurship.
When her grandfather's 1956 barbecue sauce recipe came into her hands, she did not just preserve a family legacy — she turned it into a national brand. Mutt's Sauce has been featured by Shark Tank's Daymond John, landed on QVC, and become a symbol of what happens when purpose meets execution.
A Harvard Kennedy School and Dartmouth Tuck graduate, TEDx speaker, and published author, Charlynda brings audiences something rare: the discipline of two decades in uniform and the lived reality of building a business from scratch.
Event venue & nearby stays
Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem Academy and College, 430 Leaders Avenue, Winston Salem, United States
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