Tara Furman
Tara Furman founded Knowing God Ministries (KGM) in 2007. A dynamic leader who inspires women to make a difference, Tara has spent more than a decade speaking to women of all ages and across denominations.
As KGM’s President, she also helps set vision for the nonprofit’s monthly luncheons as well as its annual women’s conference and mother/daughter retreat. Tara has self-published multiple prayer journals and Bible studies in addition to a book on marriage entitled “The 7 Day Challenge.” Before founding KGM, she spent 12 years involved in the international organization of Bible Study Fellowship.
An engaging and relevant speaker, Tara believes in the inerrancy of Scripture and its applicability to lives today. Her messages are personal and apply Scripture to topics that resonate with women, making her a sought-after speaker who is often invited back.
Tara grew up in Cary, NC where she married her high school sweetheart in 1995. They continue to live in Cary with their 2 children and Jake, their yellow lab (who should have been named Marley!) She is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Tara believes knowing God in the messiness of everyday life will forever change a woman’s life. It’s certainly changed her life!
Jennifer G. Gilson
Jennifer Gilson has more than 20 years of professional services experience in marketing, communications, business development, and operations. She has served as Director of Development for Cain Global Partners, working closely alongside U.S. Ambassador (Ret.) James P. Cain, and spent 16 years in senior marketing and business development positions with the Am Law 100 firm of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. Jennifer also helped launch AgTech Accelerator, a unique venture-backed organization making investments in early stage, ag-based technologies.
Jennifer received her BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Throughout her career, she has served on multiple boards and committees in addition to being an active member at Hope Community Church, a certified judge for USA Jump Rope, and an inductee into Cary High School’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Lisa T. Grimes
An entrepreneur, speaker and executive coach, Lisa T. Grimes is a Managing Director of Habergeon, LLC, and co-author of Remember Who YOU Are: Achieve Success. Create Balance. Experience Fulfillment. She enjoys being active in her church and community. Lisa currently serves as Board Chair for Knowing God Ministries and Lighthouse Ministries; she’s also on the Board of the Fill Your Bucket List Foundation. Lisa has spent more than 20 years in a variety of corporate positions and she also enjoyed a decade in residential interior design – absolutely delighting in decorating homes for Christmas!
Lisa is married to her high school sweetheart, Ed, even though she attended UNC-Chapel Hill and he went to NCSU. They live in Cary, NC, and they have two adult sons and were recently blessed with a daughter-in-law.
Lisa knows firsthand how BIG of a God we serve – and she loves nothing better than connecting people – to Him and to others. She’s passionate about helping women lead full and authentic lives – purposefully prioritized and surrounded by beauty.
Debbie Wilson
Debbie W. Wilson is an ordinary woman who has experienced an extraordinary God. Drawing from her personal walk with Christ, twenty-four years as a Christian counselor, and decades as a Bible teacher, Debbie speaks and writes to help women discover relevant faith.
She and her husband, Larry, founded Lighthouse Ministries in 1991. They, along with their two grown children and two standard poodles, enjoy calling North Carolina home. Share her journey to refreshing faith at her blog DebbieWwilson.com