W O M E N WHO LEAD M A Y
Magazine
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ISSUE 03
Co-Founder Stephanie Bolton James
Featuring
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WPG FOUNDER & PRESIDENT Stephanie Bolton James CELEBRATING 11 YEARS! 11TH ANNUAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE May 21, 2021
The 11th Annual Women's Conference "This Is Our Time"
Our Annual Award Luncheon Ceremony. Congratulations to the Community Awards Recipients. The exceptional women chosen have been selected because of their commitment to educating women in business and the example they have set in our community as they have successfully navigated their amazing journey,
Connect. Grow. Learn.
WOMEN WHO LEAD
Magazine
CONTENTS WOMEN OF PRINCE GEORGE'S SPECIAL EDITION
04 JACKIE LOPEZ President, Premier Enterprise Solutions, LLC
06 DENISE SMITH CEO, D. Geneva Photography, LLC
08 MONICA BARNETT Chief Image Curator and Founder, Blueprint for Style
10 STEPHANIE BOLTON JAMES Co-Founder, Women of Prince George's
12 TARA GATES ANDERSON CEO, TGA Unified, LLC
14 QIANNE PERRIN SAVOY Co-Founder, Moore & Moore Merch aka The Merch Studio
16 DR. SHARON H. PORTER President, SHP Enterprise, CEO, Perfect Time SHP LLC
WOMEN WHO LEAD Dr. Sharon H. Porter, Editor-In-Chief
INFO@WOMENWHOLEADANTHOOGY,COM 240.458.0198
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MAY 2021 | ISSUE 03
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Magazine
About Women of Prince George's "Women of Prince George's provides a forum for personal and professional growth through networking and educational opportunities." Women of Prince George’s is the premier professional resource for established entrepreneurs and businesswomen in the Greater Prince George’s area. We provide an educational experience, access to exclusive networking across industries, inspiring case studies, and a series of events to support business growth. Eleven years ago, the power of women coming together to learn something new, to stretch themselves, and to support one another was harnessed and a community was launched. The Mission of Women of Prince George's The Women of Prince George's uses our strategic roster of business relationships in the Washington D.C. area to create mutually-beneficial relationships between key businesses and local women. We connect professional women and entrepreneurs with neighboring markets and provide exposure to businesses targeting Prince George’s County community. We aspire to educate women, which strengthens our families and builds our communities, thus, increasing our economic position as a global leader.
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Board of Advisors Stephanie Bolton James Founder and President
Featured Board of Advisor Members
Jackie Lopez
Monica Barnett
Tara Gates Anderson
Quianne Perrin Savoy WOMENWHOLEADANTHOLOGY.COM
Denise Smith
Dr. Sharon H. Porter 03
Jackie Lopez 04
Q&A With Jackie Lopez WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? JL: I want to utilize my professional and business skills to assist in achieving the WPG mission and vision. More specifically, every January we sponsor a jumpstart event which provides training, education, networking and matchmaking for entrepreneurs and professionals. I want to see the program reach a minimum of 250 women attendees each year and ensure the information provided or individuals met through matchmaking results in actual contract wins or new jobs. I also want to see our annual conference become the premier, must attend, women’s event in Prince George’s county. WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? JL:-Our incredible economic growth, being the county which has gone from majority white to majority Black as the medium income increased, the concentration of successful black professionals, business owners, and politicians and the amazing civic pride WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? JL: We understand per the census bureau that Black women are disproportionately represented in lower-wage jobs and are underrepresented in high wage jobs in the scientific and technical community. Women of Prince George’s provide opportunities through networking, mentoring, and education to increase women’s business and professional acumen and equip them with tools for success. We also provide opportunities to hear from entrepreneurs, coaches, and influential speakers who provide the inspiration women need to succeed. WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? JL: My passion for assisting other women and Stephanie Bolton’s leadership. Prior to joining the board, I participated in some of the WPG events and was very impressed with Stephanie’s zeal and commitment to equipping women in this county with the tools needed for professional and business success. The WPG mission was aligned with my passion, purpose, and skills and it offered an excellent opportunity to serve my community.
About Jackie Lopez Jackie Lopez is an information technology executive and President of Premier Enterprise Solutions, LLC, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She has earned a reputation in both the public and private sector as a respected business leader and mentor who delivers innovative cloud, healthcare information, and supply chain technology. Her many clients include the Federal Departments of Veteran Affairs, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Health and Human Services, U.S. Air Force, Homeland Security, and the Defense Health Agency. Jackie assists her clients to identify underperforming information technology assets and inefficient supply chain processes that impact healthcare service delivery. She proposes alternative services such as cloud technology that encompasses, application evaluation, assessment, and cloud migration strategies, in addition to value engineering supply chain solutions.
Jackie founded Premier in 2012 as a woman-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small business. As an Air Force veteran who honed her skills in enterprise Information Technology and Acquisition, she is an accomplished leader with a proven record of success leading both public and private enterprises. Prior to entering the private sector, Jackie Lopez served as the Director of Defense Department programs at the GSA Federal Systems and Integration Center (FEDSIM), where she oversaw the acquisition and management of large-scale enterprise information technology contracts. Jackie’s career in information technology began as an Air Force Officer where she was assigned numerous progressive assignments culminating in her last detail in AF/XOO as the Branch Chief overseeing the Pentagon’s Top Secret Air Force Operations Network. Jackie serves as an advisory board member of the Women of Prince George’s where she mentors and develops programs to educate and train business and professional women in the county and metropolitan area. Jackie is a graduate of Montgomery County’s Veterans Institute for Procurement Grow Program and the SBA Emerging Leaders Program. In 2013, Jacqueline was named “One of the 25 Influential Women in Business – Making a Difference,” by Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine. In 2020 Inc. 5000 cited Premier Enterprise Solutions as one of America’s 5,000 fastest growing companies ranking it at #463 and one of the 100 fastest growing veteran companies. These honors were followed by the Washington Technology magazine’s ranking of Premier Enterprise Solutions as #8 on its 2020 Washington Technology Fast 50 List and #17on the 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals: DC Metro.
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Denise Smith 06
Q&A With Denise Smith WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? DS: My hope is that we can be a premier resource for education and business development for women business owners in and around Prince George’s County. WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? DS: -What is unique about our county is the diversity of the people, and the pride of the people who live here. We are uniquely situated next to Washington, D.C. and we have the power to stand out in this entire region. WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? DS: -We give people a place to come when they need assistance with training, development and relationship building. Our board is made up of a dynamic group of women, in various fields, bringing unique perspectives and ideas to women business owners who want to build and grow. WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? DS: I absolutely love entrepreneurship and I love being among women who love helping other women WIN. As entrepreneurs, we are empowered and we take our lives into our own hands and show the world that there is nothing we can’t do. We dream, we build and I want to help you succeed. That is what being a part of Women of Prince George’s means to me.
About Denise Smith Denise Smith is a passionate business consultant with over 22 years helping aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses, and she is the CEO of D.Geneva Photography, LLC, a commercial photography company. She has held such recent positions as communications director in the Office of the State's Attorney for Prince George's County, Maryland; outreach and education/training manager for the county's Supplier Diversity Office and press information officer in the Office of the County Executive. Denise is the Host of "Level Up," a business television show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start, manage and grow their business, and the Facebook & Instagram Live show, "All Things Small Business." She brings together influential names in business, finance, and politics for discussions on key issues shaping our world today, and specifically in tune with issues affecting small businesses.
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Monica Barnett 08
Q&A With Monica Barnett WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? MB: As an Advisory Board member, I hope to work with other powerful leaders to provide increased awareness, exposure, support, and business to women of PG county. WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? MB:-What makes Prince George’s County unique is its close proximity to the national Capitol, DC, and Virginia. With such a high percentage of African-Americans who are achieving and growing, PG County presents fertile ground to test and grow the concept of supporting our community and seeing how many times the dollar can flow through the community. WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? MB: Women of Prince George’s does a great job of highlighting female-owned businesses in the area and sharing resources for the betterment of women-owned businesses WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? MB: Because Stephanie asked!! Seriously, I joined because I thought I’d be able to connect with other powerful women in the area to expand my network while simultaneously being able to find ways to help other black-run businesses grow and excel.
About Monica Barnett Monica Barnett is your Chief Image Curator and the Founder of Blueprint for Style, a wardrobe styling and personal branding company based in Washington, DC. She is an author of two books (Without Saying A Word: The Silent Power of Style, and The Creatives' Closet), a speaker, a style & branding coach, and the curator of your Visual Resume™. While her subject matter expertise is expansive, she rounds out her styling advice and branding insights to come back to putting your best foot forward in an effort to build bridges and expand influence to ultimately drive outcomes. Monica Barnett has over 13 years of styling and branding experience and has been featured on many stages around the world but the focus is always on the importance and power of the first impression. Across Ms. Barnett’s distinguished career as a wardrobe stylist, she has had the privilege to partner with major corporations such as Marriott International, NBC Universal, Comcast, Georgetown University’s Schools of Business and Law, and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to fine-tune their employees’ style and brand; and the opportunity to work with corporate executives, politicos, and world-class athletes. The goal is always to develop a more intentional approach to curating one’s outward appearance to align with one’s lifestyle and aspirations.
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Stephanie Bolton James 10
Q&A With Stephanie Bolton James WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? SBJ: I hope to continue the advancement of the change in our community as it relates to a shift in opportunities presented to women to advance their lives. Through the efforts of like-minded women, success is inevitable when the mission is clear. WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? SBJ:-What makes our county unique is that we have the highest population of women-owned businesses in the state according to the Baltimore Sun 2018. It is refreshing to see so many leaders across many industries from medical to political that look like us. Additionally, this county has significant land available for development. We support financial backing and can provide construction contractors for these large-scale opportunities. While other counties around the beltway have overdeveloped we are still in the game.
WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? SBJ: -Women of Prince George's helps the community by providing needed factual information to women. Our annual Community Leadership Awards recognizes talent in our community and lets them know they are valued WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? SBJ: I wanted to be the change we wanted to see. The talent in our community is endless and I wanted to be sure we showcase our successes and provide the resources to get there.
About Stephanie Bolton James Stephanie Bolton James oversees Event Management with Ken Bolton and Associates, a consulting firm with offices in Houston, Texas, and suburban Washington DC. Her 25+ years of experience in hotel sales and event management, combined with her talents in creative marketing, provided Stephanie with a unique angle in joining her family business in 2009. Stephanie has contributed her talent to top luxury hotel chains including Marriott, Hilton, Associated Luxury Hotels, Turf Valley Golf Resort, and Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. Currently, Stephanie is the Senior Sales Manager at Westin Crystal City in Arlington Virginia, where she handles all local corporate and government accounts. Prior to this position, Stephanie contributed her creative sales talents at Modus Hotels, a well-known boutique and lifestyle branded hotel chain. Through her time and experience in the market, Stephanie noticed that there was a need for a professional organization to connect and support fellow businesswomen in the Prince George’s County community. In 2010, she co-founded Women of Prince George’s, a resource where local women business owners and professionals could connect, grow, learn, and ultimately enhance their business position. Women of Prince Georges hosts annual meetings, events, and industry-specific modules, facilitates meaningful business connections, and gives access to an influential professional network. Women of Prince Georges's signature event is the annual meeting, where professionals from across the region gather to hear the latest industry trends, learn from powerful speakers, and engage in elite networking. We aspire to educate women, which strengthens our families and builds our communities, thus, increasing our economic position as a global leader. As a descendant of Black Wall-street (Born in Tulsa Oklahoma) supporting entrepreneurship is my duty!
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Tara GatesAnderson 12
Q&A With Tara Gates Anderson WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? TGA: I aim to contribute my service and expertise to provide WPG members and women in our county the opportunity to connect and grow their business and network through the workshops, conferences, and growth opportunities we offer. WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? TGA:- What makes the WPG’s unique is the commitment of our members. Our dedication to consistently support the needs of women in our county in creative and interactive ways sets up a part. WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? TGA: -We help the community by providing beneficial experiences not just cookie-cutter events. We help women in Prince George’s County be serving as a resource for women to become educated in the areas of business growth and professional and personal opportunities. WPG also helps women to get connected to build their networks throughout the county to build their brand and a name for themselves in their area of expertise. WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? TGA: I chose to be a part of The WPG because I experienced and appreciated our Founder Stephanie Bolton James unselfish commitment to seeing women in our Prince George’s County win! I knew I wanted to pour into other women and be apart of something great!
About Tara Gates Anderson Tara Gates Anderson is CEO of her branding and marketing corporation, TGA UNIFIED, LLC. She works with professional athletes, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and major corporations to elevate and expand their brands. Her career spans over 15 years in the entrepreneurship, business, and media communications arenas. She has over 25 years of experience in education in both the public and non-profit sectors. She is a former high school principal, educator, and trainer. She is an influential speaker and host at conferences and events throughout the U.S. Tara has been featured on ABC Affiliate, News Channel 8- Let's Talk Live Morning Show, Huffington Post, The PULSE on CTV, The Capitol Women’s Source Magazine, and various Radio Shows and Podcasts. She was awarded the 2017 Women Doing It Big Award in NYC for her contributions to women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship
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Quianne Perrin Savoy 14
Q&A With Quianne Perrin Savoy WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? QPS: As A board member my primary goal is to bring my whole self to the organization. Bringing real life expertise, Creating synergies, garnering support on behalf of the organization. WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? QPS:- Prince George’s County Maryland is unique because it’s a small county within a large region where there is plenty of opportunity, So many resources, very little barriers to entry, access and Wealth and a willingness to see businesses flourish! WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? QPS: -Women of Prince Georges provides a network of diverse women lifting and building, growing and sharing! When one of us wins we all win. In a world where some of our businesses only exist when we have an opportunity to meet and share The Women of Prince Georges offers a unique opportunity to continue conversations that would be hard to have without this type of network. WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? QPS: It’s definitely the genuine camaraderie and lasting relationships for me!
About Quianne Perrin Savoy Quianne is the Co-founder of Moore & Moore Merch aka The Merch Studio her work experience in event production, event marketing & film publicity, paved the way for her to combine her passion for helping brands to be more visible, helping brands to think outside the box and helping brands to look good while doing it. Quianne is a wife and mother of three. Her greatest accomplishments include being a Mom and also, being named one of Prince George’s County‘s top 40 under 40 as well as Prince George’s County Who’s Who by Prince George’s Suite Magazine.
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Dr. Sharon H. Porter 16
Q&A With Dr. Sharon H. Porter WWL: As an Advisory Board member of Women of Prince George’s, what do you hope to achieve? SHP: I hope to uphold the mission of the organization to assist with bringing exposure to entrepreneurs and connecting professional women in the Greater Prince George's County, MD area.
WWL: In your opinion, what makes Prince George's County, MD unique? SHP:- What makes Prince George's County, MD unique is the community of driven, motivated, educated, and successful AfricanAmericans that live and work in this community. WWL: In what ways do Women of Prince George’s help the community? SHP: -Women of Prince George's helps the community by continuously providing education, networking and valuable resources to entrepreneurs. WWL: Why did you choose to be a part of Women of Prince George’s? SHP: Any organization that focuses on the community, women and entrepreneurship is an organization that I am led to be a part of the membership. The organization's mission aligns directly with my core values and focus as an educator and entrepreneur.
About Dr. Sharon H. Porter Dr. Sharon H. Porter (Dr. Sharon) is the President of SHP Enterprise, the umbrella entity of Perfect Time SHP LLC, Coaching, Consulting, and Book Publishing Form and SHP Media and Broadcasting. She is the Executive Director and Founder of The Next In Line to Lead Aspiring Principals Leadership Academy (APLA), where she trains, mentors, and coaches assistant principals from across the U.S. who desire to take the helm as principal. Dr. Sharon is Co-Founder, owner, and Editor-In-Chief of Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine, is the host of The I Am Dr. Sharon Show, and is Cofounder and Vice-President of Media and Communications for WNM Ventures LLC. She has over 28 years of experience as a school principal, Leadership Development Coach, assistant principal, Instructional Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator, and elementary and middle school classroom teacher, and is currently serving as an elementary principal in Maryland. She is the author, visionary, and publisher of The Next In Line to Lead book series, The Women Who Lead Book series, and The HBCU Experience Anthology, book series. Dr. Sharon is a graduate of Howard University, Walden University, Johns Hopkins University, National-Louis University, and Winston-Salem State University. She is a part of the 2019 Harvard University School of Education Women in Leadership Cohort. She is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, International Association of Women (IAW), American Business Women's Association (ABWA), Professional Women of Winston-Salem (PWWS), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She serves on the Board of Advisors for The Women of Prince George’s and Envision, Lead, Grow (ELG), Inc, and Executive Team of Black Women Education Leaders (BWEL), Inc.
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