Convention Speakers
Keynote speaker
Gina Schaefer (Wittenberg)
Gina Schaefer is a visionary entrepreneur and dynamic keynote speaker, best known as the founder and former CEO of a chain of Ace Hardware stores. With nearly 22 years of experience, she transformed a single hardware store in a neglected neighborhood into a thriving enterprise with 13 locations across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Gina's business not only provides essential services but also empowers the community, including the recovery community, by fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. Her passion for business ownership as a tool to combat inequality led her to begin selling her business to her employees, creating over 130 co-owners.
Gina’s journey is chronicled in her book Recovery Hardware, which highlights the power of second chances and community revitalization.
