Our Team
Meet our Founder, Chasta Hamilton!
A dancer since the age of 2 and a business owner since the age of 22, Chasta believes the performing arts can change the world and is manifesting that standard as the Founder & CEO of Stage Door Dance Productions in Raleigh, NC.
Girls Geared For Greatness is a non-profit extension of that vision as we support, train, and encourage strong, successful, disciplined, and talented female leaders through our engaging, timely, and relevant programming.
With a variety of experiences under her belt, Chasta is perfectly poised to gauge the pulse of programming needs.
Some accomplishments include:
Park Scholarship Recipient at North Carolina State University (Class of 2007)
Featured in the She Changed The World: Women Breaking Barriers Project for the North Carolina Oral History Records (2019)
Goodman Award Recipient for Regional Leadership Excellence in the Area of the Arts (2012)
Triangle Business Journal's 40 Under 40 (2014)
Triangle Business Journal's Future Star Recognition at Women In Business Awards (2016)
Founder/ Editor of The Dance Exec, an online resource center and seminar series for dance educators. TutuTix acquired the site in 2016.
Featured in KNOW Women Raleigh (2018 and 2019)
Author of Trash The Trophies: How to Win Without Losing Your Soul (2020)
Titled a "Disruptor" in the Dance Studio Industry for her innovative, game-changing business model. (2020)
TEDx Speaker: You Weren't Built to Break (2021)
For more information, please visit www.chastahamilton.com
Meet Our Connectors
Sara Thames
Sara is thrilled to be a part of Girls Geared for Greatness! Sara works to implement programming and serves as our data analyst and program consultant.
Credential Highlights:
BA in Psychology and Neuroscience from Bowling Green State University
MA in Counseling from Wake Forest University with a Specialization in School Counseling
National Board Certified Counselor
Specialization in Trauma and Crisis Management
Previous jobs include: Advocate and Case Manager for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; PreK-12 School Counselor; Program and Evaluation Director for Read and Feed
Current positions: Crisis Counselor Supervisor with Crisis Text Line and Brand Vision/ Strategy for Stage Door Dance Productions
Jamie Allen
Jamie has a passion for helping people, especially women, understand their strengths and empower them to creatively use them. She worked in student ministry for over 20 years and now serves as a non-profit program manager helping design creative programming for all ages. Jamie has a love for visual and performing arts. She resides in Raleigh with her husband and 3 children.