Women of Wealth Magazine

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Women of Wealth

SPRING 2017

JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD

SAYCON SENGBLOH

How SCANDAL made SAYCON SENGBLOH the HOTTEST TOPIC on TV, “THE PRESIDENT’S NEW LOVE INTEREST”

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JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD

Features 10 Janice Bryant Howroyd 46 Darryl & Tracy Strawberry COVER STORIES 34 Latonja Eppinger 68 Saycon Sengbloh

Women Of Wealth Magazine takes its Brand Global with the addition of the Nigerian and Jamaican Distribution

26 58 Departments QUEEN OF NIGERIA

ATTORNEY GILLIAN MULLINS

HER STORY 16 Cheryl Jackson 22 Lauretta Pierce THE WOW VIEW 26 Nigerian King & Queen PRESERVING HISTORY 30 Natasha L. Rogers

CONVERSATIONS WITH SUCCESSFUL WOMEN 40 Katrina McGhee 52 Dr. Stephanie D. Barnes 58 Attorney Gillian Mullins GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT 64 Dr. Jackie Mohair 74 Thyonne Gordon TRAVEL 78 Chill out in Cancun

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KIDS AND TEENAGERS (KAT) 82 Madelyn Davis 88 Chloe Jae MBQ 93 Dr. Linell King 95 J.T. Williams

Women of Wealth EMPOWERING WOMEN

CEO & PUBLISHER PRESIDENT VP OF CORPORATE OPERATIONS GLOBAL AND NATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND BRAND MANAGEMENT EDITOR AT LARGE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR AND HOST OF WOW TV JR. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR/SENIOR DESIGNER COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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SPRING 2017

Dr. Lei Lewis Frank Lewis Brandy O Neal Damon Baptise Tierney Johnson Pasha Carter Shondalon Hoffler Somalia Hoffler Richard Brickus III Fran Sherman Remi Osi Sheryl Nance-Nash Nykole Wyatt Lydia Pace Ayana Finch Sheryl Nance-Nash Pamela Johnson Marilyn Helgeson Remi Osi Kenneth Turner Photography Jared Zem Photography Michelle McBride XRAY Dee Moore Alyiah Thomas Satia Thomas Sonya Savoy Liliana Giddens Info@womenofwealthmagazine.com www.womenofwealthmagazine.com womenofwealthmagazine@gmail.com Magazine Availability Issues are available at Barnes and Noble and national airports.

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Publisher’s View

An Open Letter to my Loyal Readers:

T

o my many readers, I truly hope you have enjoyed reading about the many women in Women Of Wealth Magazine who have shared their life story with you from quarter to quarter. We thoroughly enjoyed interviewing and writing about them. We noticed that the women experienced day to day challenges just as we do even with their success. I found that the interesting part of their stories was how they went from the challenge to the winners circle. I refer to that as redefining their stairway to success, an exercise that we all must do from time to time. Even if success was handed to us on a silver platter, life is too unpredictable to rest on ones laurels. We must always remain alert for the next opportunity to redefine our path to success or redirect our success at the top in order to stay on top.

Personally, I have found that life is like a chess game, you must always remain focused, disciplined, alert and prepared so that when it is your turn to make the next move you are able to move even when there does not seem to be a move available to you. I recall the story that someone told me and now I will share it with you. There was this museum filled with many things and one of the things was a chess board sitting on this table. People would walk up to the table and study the board from all different angles and soon walk away shaking their head, as far as they could see the game was over, the King was trapped. One young man walked up to the board, took a seat at the table and stared at the board. He stared and stared seemingly for hours and then he could be heard way down the corridor shouting!

The King has another move! The King has another move!

Whenever it appears that I am truly boxed in. I see no way out of the situation. I stop squirming and will myself to be at peace. I remind myself that the King always have another move. I turn it over to Him. When the noise becomes louder than life; the seasons change with barely a notice, the still quiet voice within you grows even quieter and no one you really trust seems to be near you anymore. I know, it may not seem so, but it is a good space to be in. The Space is called the Valley of Decision. Here you will find the time to ask yourself, ponder and reflect on where I go from here. When I was in that same space, I took time to reflect and I noticed that WOW Magazine accomplished so much in 2016. Doing very well in 2017. We have moved forward by placing the Magazine on the digital platform as well as increasing its visibility throughout Airports around our nation. In addition, we began forward movement in another direction when we launched our Billionaire Roundtable Intensives.

We experienced huge success with this phenomenon as we

traveled the nation, playing with certified billionaires and multi-millionaires. In addition, we established our Fabulous 5 Cover Speakers Tour. An empowering move that serves as the foundation and framework for the WOW Speakers Bureau. With the Fabulous 5 we have traveled too various cities within our nation empowering the greatness in women that are already successful but want to enlarge their space or be stretched in the space that they are in. We have launched 2 more magazines, KAT, our Kids and Teen Magazine and MBQ, our Men Of Wealth Magazine.

Many women Entrepreneurs claw their way to the top of the CEO Ladder and then one day find themselves in the Executive Directors seat of their life and now they must write and direct and produce the next chapter of their movie, you see all life is but a stage. The beauty of it all is now well you learn how to perform in the role that you have been cast in by yourself or someone greater than you.

You want to write the chapter with excellence so that the footprint you are creating in this green space we call earth will become your legacy. So I say to you, keep living out loud, looking ahead with a forward, fierce and courageous look and no one will be able to forget you and what you contributed to the green space that you were designed to occupy.

Please expect more from us in 2017 as the WOW TV LifeStyle Series enters your living room and onto your mobile device, your social media and internet platforms.

God has indeed enlarged our territory. For additional information about Women Of Wealth Magazine or to be in one of our amazing magazines you can reach us at info@womenofwealthmagazine.com. To send letters to the publisher, you can do so at shondalon@ womenofwealthmagazine.com. For more information, please visit us at www.womenofwealthmagazine.com.

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THE VISIONARY

People ask so often what advice I can give to a woman who wants to be successful in business and I say “The same advice I’ll give to a man; start out how you can end out. Teach people how to treat you by how you treat yourself.”

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Janice Bryant Howroyd

J

anice Bryant Howroyd, or JBH as she is fondly called, is an exciting combination of foresight, fortitude, and faith. Her vision is uniquely evident from her decision to start a business at a time when no role models were blazing a trail, and her fortitude from her ability to lead her organization through years of economic changes to be the beacon that it is today. Today she is one of the wealthiest and most influential African Americans in the nation (http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/14/from-beyonce-to-janice-bryant-howroyd-14black-women-who-changed-business-and-finance.html). She is the Founder and CEO of The Act-1 Group ( www.act1group.com), an award-winning staffing and human resources enterprise with multiple divisions across 21 countries. The organization is a multi-billion dollar revenue driver.

Howroyd is a woman who believes in service, innovation, and the importance of reaching beyond the ordinary. She was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Board of Advisors for the White House Initiatives on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She is a wife, mother, businesswoman, entrepreneur, educator, ambassador, author, mentor and Presidential Special Appointee and we are excited to welcome her to the Women of Wealth family!

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WOW: Tell us about your decision to delve into Human Resources? How did that come about?

JBH: As a little girl growing up in Tarboro, North Carolina and one of eleven kids, I didn’t even know what Human Resources was. I understood the concept of people working because everybody in my community worked. But beyond teachers and preachers, I didn’t have any role models for what professional African Americans looked like. So, I have to say that God championed me and enabled me to sustain through my education and my work experience to gain a better concept of how people work well together.

When I started my company in 1978, I had no long term business plan at all. I had tried to get a job I believed was right for me and didn’t find it, so I decided that there was a gap I could fill in staffing and human resources. Early on, I learned what the core of business really is. Finding problems, developing solutions and packaging that in a very user-friendly way; that’s the way it works WOW: As a young, beautiful African American woman in business, how did the men see and relate to you back then when you got your company started?

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JBH: You know, our father taught us years ago that people will treat you and your home the way you treat you and it. At the time, we’d have lots of friends come to our house to hang out, and as children, we would be tempted leave a mess, or with the boys, occasionally wreck things. He repeatedly told us that people would treat our home the way we treat it. And I remember a particular time when he turned to us girls and said, “By the way, young men will treat you the way you expect to be treated.” Many years later my mother told me the same thing about how to train my husband, and I’ve never forgotten that. With respect to business, a lot of those values are still precious for me.

People ask so often what advice I can give to a woman who wants to be successful in business and I say “The same advice I’ll give to a man; start out how you can end out. Teach people how to treat you by how you treat yourself.”

It is also crucial that you be very thoughtful about people in the process Understand that, in business, the client is a part of your team. Your team doesn’t stop when you walk out of the door of your business. Your enterprise has to integrate well with needs and expectations, and do it in a very friendly way. Those are simple things I learned growing up in my home.

It is important to understand what success is to you. True success happens from within. It’s not measured from without.

WOW: Let’s talk about wealth and riches. In your opinion, is there any difference between the two?

JBH: Absolutely. Riches can be gotten in so many ways, and may come and go Wealth, on the other hand, builds upon itself. You could be rich and able to afford a few things, but you’ve got to keep at your trade to keep that money coming in.

When you’re wealthy, your money can be trained to earn money for you in a dynamic and sustainable way.

However, being rich or being wealthy are neither the full indicator of success.

Mother Theresa was successful, but she died penniless. Dr. Martin Luther King was highly successful, but his family wasn’t swimming in money when he passed away. We’ve got to be very thoughtful about how we measure success.

Contrarily, Elvis had all the money in the world, and he died brokenhearted, not feeling successful. It is important to understand what success is to you. True success happens from within. It’s not measured from without.

WOW: What do you think God meant when He said: “I’m the one that gives you the power to get wealth?”

JBH: I think God measures us, not regarding what we accomplish for ourselves, but how we enable others to live their best lives. I learned something vital from Zig Ziglar, and that is ‘You can get anything you want in life if you just help other people get what they want.’

These are important values we have taught our children, ‘You have everything you need to be everything you need to be.’ And when you think about it, success is not a destination. It is a very enjoyable and strategic journey.

WOW: What do you say to a woman who has been struggling for years trying to make it in business?

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I believe having mentors can be very helpful to women in business Getting the right mentor, however, is critical.

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JBH: I’d say maybe rethink the business? This is crucial and is not an indicator of failure at all.

Many successful people, as measured by their income or their ability to employ people, became successful and had great results only after having tried other things. Many individuals who look like overnight successes have had a long journey during which they tried several things before finding accomplishment in a particular area. If something is not working after a long time, it might be best to rethink your strategy.

WOW: Does mentorship help?

How do you think that factors into business success?

JBH: Mentoring is a co-operative process. I’m often asked by people if I would mentor them, and I always ask them to tell me what mentoring means to them. Mentoring engages time, resources, hopes, dreams and strategies. It involves a full life’s work.

I’m mentoring a young woman right now, and God could not have sent a more beautiful woman into my life. She’s a Junior in a University who is very definite about her goals and understands that she may need to be flexible in how she approaches her strategy. This young woman comes from a family who have brought her up with a great set of morals, and she’s living those values in such a beautiful way. Mentoring for us works really well because we’re both in agreement about what we’re doing, and we’re in alignment about how we’re doing it. So, mentoring is more than just a series of phone calls; it requires that we understand each other and make sure that it’s a mutually beneficial opportunity.

So, yes, I believe having mentors can be very helpful to women in business Getting the right mentor, however, is critical.

WOW: So, we read that you were the first African- American Billionaire?

JBH: Well, I don’t know about that really. I’m not interested in being first.

What I’m interested in is making sure that I’m not the last.

Every person who achieves an element of success in business and gains some level of notoriety, or peer respect, is someone who has earned opportunity by virtue of other people’s work as well as their own. So, my truth is that nobody gets anywhere alone. And it would be disrespectful and dishonest to suggest that any business I’ve built was uniquely from my solo strengths. I have been fortunate to work with so many amazing people who support the dream. What I believe I have given this business is the ability and the consistency of disciplined work. Lots of people want things, but they’re not prepared to give the disciple to achieve them.

WOW: What does the concept of legacy mean to you?

JBH: Eternity. As a woman of faith, no door opens or closes in my life that is not accompanied by prayer. The greatest thing, I believe I have learned from my prayer life is to pray in gratitude - regardless of what’s going on. Because faith without works is dead, I am disciplined to do what needs to be done in order to live a life of positive impact. It is good to remember that everything we do in life has breath and gives breath. WOW

The Act-1 Group (www.act1group.com) Twitter: @jbryanthowroyd Instagram: @jbryanthowroyd Facebook: Janice Bryant Howroyd Website: askjbh.com

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HER STORY

Jackson W

omen of Wealth Magazine was fortunate enough to witness firsthand the favor that God has bestowed upon this Woman of God, so aptly named Cheryl “Action” Jackson.. Jackson serves the world through her nonprofit, Minnie’s Food Pantry, named after her now deceased mother, Pastor Minnie Hawthorne-Ewing D.D. We attended, what has now been dubbed by Women Of Wealth Magazine, the “Nonprofit Gala of the year.” The event was attended by, amongst others, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Celebrity Star on the hit TV Series, Shark Tank. Oprah Winfrey sent a $100,000 donation and The Dallas Mavericks Team was there to support their teammate, Devin Harris, who was being honored.

It was a breathtaking event, and when the gala was over, there was not a dry eye in the house; God had moved again in a miraculous way. We were also finally able to talk with Dr. Cheryl Jackson who gave us the story of the organization and her passion for touching lives in a significant way.

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The biggest obstacle women owned businesses face is being true to each other and ourselves.

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It’s difficult not only starting a nonprofit but keeping the operation going. You must have a strong gift of gab and the ability to hear the word NO thousands of times, but don’t let it shake you.

WOW: Cheryl tell us about your family.

CJ: I have been married to Artis Jackson for over 30 years. I have 2 handsome sons and gorgeous daughters and 4 grandkids.

WOW: What are you passionate about?

CJ: I am passionate about feeding the hungry, using my life to make a difference and living my life to see God’s face in peace.

WOW: Are you a champion for diversity and mentorship?

CJ: I believe everyone needs a mentor and everyone can be a mentor because we are all on different levels in life and we can help each other reach our desired level of success.

WOW: How do women business owners find a good Mentor?

CJ: They find people that are successful and they ask them strategic questions that will help them get to the level they want to go. They should also ask someone they admire and respect to be their mentor. A direct ask of any question gets you a direct answer.

WOW: What steps do you suggest women take to expand their small businesses.

CJ: Do the research first. I would then suggest taking baby steps, starting a business isn’t easy and if you begin too fast you may fall and never recover. It’s like a child learning how to walk for the first time, they take baby steps until they are confident they can move forward to the next place they are trying to go.

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WOW: What do you think is the biggest obstacles that women owned businesses face and how should they go about overcoming these obstacles.

CJ: The biggest obstacle women owned businesses face is being true to each other and ourselves. It is sad that we can’t come together in a pure form to help each other succeed. The only way we can overcome the obstacles is for us to be a real friend, support each other and trust unconditionally.

WOW: Equality for women is lacking in so many ways, can you share your opinion on that?

CJ: Equality for women vs men will never be equal, however, since we know that, we must play the game more strategically. It’s a man’s world, there’s no doubt about that but if women stick together, we can be strong and powerful.

WOW: Tell us about your climb to the top.

CJ: Honestly, I haven’t reached the top. I am still in the process. The journey has been a challenge and a series of ups and downs. I started my charity, Minnie’s Food Pantry with a whisper from God to feed the hungry. I asked my husband if I could clean out our pantry at my house and I asked my friends to do the same. I had enough finances to last for two months. I relied on my faith to take

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me every step of the way. The favor of God helped me go from a 500-square foot building to over 18,000 square feet and providing over four million meals to people around the world. Our organization has grown from a grassroots organization to being featured on Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, Entertainment Tonight, The Talk and many other national television shows.

Oprah Winfrey and Mark Cuban recently donated $100,000 to our charity.

The climb has taken me and my staff through some tough times, I lost my mother, Minnie Ewing, who was the matriarch and namesake for Minnie’s Food pantry. I have questioned what climbing to the top really means.

In April, Minnie’s Food Pantry opened our first location outside of Texas and we started the Pantry Project as a program of Minnie’s Food Pantry, thanks to the connection of Lauretta Pierce who was an ambassador to help facilitate the connecting of our organization with the Bronx Regional High School. I have learned along the way that the saying, “It’s lonely at the top” is a true saying. Be careful what you pray for.

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WOW: Do you think America is ready for a woman to be president?

CJ: Yes I do.

WOW: How hard is it to start a Non-profit?

CJ: It’s difficult not only starting a nonprofit but keeping the operation going. You must have a strong gift of gab and the ability to hear the word NO thousands of times, but don’t let it shake you. When I started my charity, I didn’t have a mentor or even a clue as to what my next steps were but I knew that my foundation had to be strong and that’s the reason for our success. We built this charity on integrity, trust and passion. When you are consistent and you don’t waiver in your message, sooner or later someone will hear you and respond to your call. For me that someone was Oprah Winfrey, Mark Burnett, Mark Cuban and Torii and Katrina Hunter

When you are consistent and you don’t waiver in your message, sooner or later someone will hear you and respond to your call.

WOW: Thank you so much for this interview Cheryl. Now tell our readers how they can help Minnie’s Pantry continue to thrive and how they can reach you.

CJ: To learn about Minnie’s Food Pantry visit the website at www.minniesfoodpantry.org to learn about Cheryl Action Jackson and speaking opportunities visit www.CherylActionJackson.Com. WOW

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HER STORY

Lauret t a Pierce

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Sacred Scars

H

er story is one of redemption and the power of freedom and possibilities. Lauretta Pierce, once a victim of abuse and insecurity, is now in a position to bless others with lifechanging opportunities. Pierce is an entrepreneur and business owner known for her successful product, Covenant Cookies. Her brand also includes gourmet products like Covenant Coffee, Lauretta`s Sweet Messages, and Fixx My Boo Boo Kids Skincare products. The story, however, started in a dark and challenging period of her life.

Breaking the Cycle Of Abuse Finding herself in abusive relationships wasn’t what she planned, but somehow Pierce was locked in a vicious cycle from which she didn’t have the power to escape. She had suffered brokenness for years from a domestic violence lifestyle and had a habit of being attracted to men with abusive and manipulative tendencies. “During the time when I suffered this way,” Pierce says, “I didn`t think there were answers. I believed the abuse would automatically stop.”

After many physical attacks, however, she no longer felt a desire to live. According to her, fighting back seemed hopeless or even more deadly. She hid scars, bruises and breaks from loved ones for fear of their involvement.

Her boyfriend at the time who was the father of her youngest child, would violently beat and verbally and emotionally abuse her. “When you are manipulated long enough you become desensitized,” says Pierce.

“You don’t know anything else, and I had no strength during the abuse. I only asked him not to kill me in front of my kids. There was nothing left for me.”

The day came when she thought it was indeed over for her. Her boyfriend had viscously attacked her leaving her bleeding and so fatally injured that she was almost unrecognizable. She was able to get help, and he was arrested, and that became the relief for which she had prayed. “That freed me,” says Pierce who, with only $35 in her pocket, fled to North Carolina with her children to get a fresh start.

She was able to pick up the pieces of her life, but the weight of her past still took a toll on her. Soon she began drinking as a way to numb the pain, and the cycle continued until she knew she couldn’t go one more day in that condition. One day while driving the words of a Kirk Franklin song broke through her heart and gave her hope. She knew she had to make a change and she was able to find the strength to do just that.

I began to volunteer at homeless shelters etc. and had an idea to put Bible verses and inspiration in fortune cookies and doors began to open.”

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New Opportunities On how her business/ministry began Pierce says, “I started in 2005 as a ministry to give something back. I began to volunteer at homeless shelters etc. and had an idea to put Bible verses and inspiration in fortune cookies and doors began to open.” After three years of giving her cookies away, she got the opportunity to work with a magazine in Atlanta. The partnership gave her important recognition and soon her business was awarded Atlanta`s Most Unique Business. She named it Covenant cookies and hasn’t looked back since. She has since added more businesses and products to her brand.

If someone can hurt you and not care, they can kill you as well. They don`t care about you. Get out.

On Helping Others Find Hope Because of her experiences, Pierce is passionate about helping women recognize and break free from abuse. “Know that there are answers, shelters, organizations that will help,” she says. “You are valuable and a woman of worth.” She believes that abuse never just stops; it must be stopped and encourages women who find themselves in such situations to get out and seek help. “If someone can hurt you and not care, they can kill you as well. They don`t care about you. Get out.”

Pierce continues to partner with many organizations, shelters, schools, etc. to bring hope to those that need it most. She gives her time and resources to Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plato Texas, The Darryl Strawberry Autism Foundation, and many others.

Coming Full Circle Pierce desires to continue to make a difference in the world by touching, changing and inspiring as many lives as possible with all her endeavors. The pains of the past, from the abuse and the insecurities to the struggle of single motherhood, have all brought her to a place strength and fulfillment. She is an inspiration to many today through her business and inspirational speaking. According to her, “I want to inspire others by the dramatic turn that my life has taken.” WOW

You can visit Covenant Cookies on Facebook and other social media by following the below links: Facebook: Testimony: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tOV6fjxjIbc. Email her at laurettapierce1@aim.com.

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THE WOW VIEW

I

n this issue of “THE WOW VIEW” Global Women Empowerment Foundation in partnership with Women Of Wealth Magazine is delighted to report that the “44th President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award Legacy Celebration and the Royal Kingdom Reception and Banquet at the Eagles Landing Country Club in Atlanta, Georgia on April 23, 2017 was a huge success and filmed for television. One of the highlights of this prestigious evening was the introduction of His Royal Majesty, MATTHEW EDIRI EGBI, OWAHWA II, JP, FoD, THE OKOBARO OF JEREMI - UGHIEVWEN KINGDOM and Her Royal Highness, FELICIA OGHENEBRUPHIYO. EGBI, THE CROWN QUEEN (ONIEMOVIKORO) OF UGHIEVWEN KINGDOM. They were extremely excited to visit the United States and looking forward to their next visit to meet the president in person. Stay tuned to more highlights of this amazing Event in our next issue.

Questions for you, Do you have a Brand that is ready for International exposure? What if you could put your Brand in the hands of Royalty? What if you could spend an evening with the King of Nigeria and place your Brand in his hand? If you are interested, email us at gwefinc@gmail.com. Until next time, this is your entertainment editor, Shondalon Hoffler signing off.

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PRESERVING HISTORY

Nat asha BIRMINGAM NEGRO SOUTHERN LEAGUE’S

L. Rogers

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY: DEMETRIUS PASCHEL

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I

t’s a partly cloudy day in Birmingham, Alabama, intermixed with a soothing gentle breeze blowing from the east with occasional sunshine emitting the cumulus clouds. Present and distant sounds of automobiles honking provide colorful conversation and personality to the steel city. Pedestrians and workers navigate the sidewalks as some divert to an entity nestled on Birmingham’s Parkside, a patch worn on the sleeves of the local district due to the opening and success of Railroad Park and the economic resurgence that resulted from its success. The patrons enter and exit in a rudimentary, yet off speed cadence.

Tucked away at the corner of 1st avenue south and 16th street stands the Negro Southern League Museum, the largest African American Sports Museum in the country. The museum tells the story of African-American baseball from a Birmingham, Alabama perspective.

As patrons enter, they are greeted by Natasha Rogers, museum director. Actively engaged, she greets each patron with a warm and ingratiating smile. She is attentive, knowledgeable and engaging. The museum begins to hum. There are laughs and intimate discussions with young and old, short and tall, blue and white collar. The interior soon becomes a vast array of people, personalities, genders, and ethnicities. All appear engaged in the interest and charm of Negro league memorabilia and history.

Visitors start the self-guided tour. Many eagerly move along the tour like a determined runner advancing to the next base.

Others pause for photos, occasionally overwhelmed by the authenticity and appeal. There appears to be a cultural ambiance. It is aged, wise and plentiful.

North of the entrance are the offices. To the left is the director’s office. It is a jazzy space filled with color, cheer and duty. A large dry erase board with a to-do list etched with a pink marker is displayed in a succinct, neat penmanship. It is a vibrant place; accented with personality, character, and wit. And those who know museum director Natasha L. Rogers, know the museum emanates her dynamism.

“I want to build a world-class museum that the residents of Birmingham, Alabama can be proud of and the visitors enjoy. I want to help preserve the history of the Negro League and educate the world on Birmingham’s contribution to America’s favorite past time,” Rogers explained.

Why build a Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham, Alabama?

There are a number of reasons that include:

I want to help preserve the history of the Negro League and educate the world on Birmingham’s contribution to America’s favorite past tiem

1. There are more former “living” Negro league players in Birmingham than any other place in the country 2. The city of Birmingham sent more baseball athletes to the Negro leagues than any other city in the country

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3. Birmingham is home to the Birmingham Black Barons. They were an active club from 1920 to 1963. The Birmingham Black Barons had more seasons as a professional league team than any other city in the country. !

There has been talk of a Negro league museum in Birmingham for many years.

Through the leadership of the current mayor, William A. Bell, Sr., the dream of the museum finally became a reality.

4. Lastly, Birmingham is home to Rickwood, the oldest ballpark in the nation. It was home to the Birmingham Black Barons and Birmingham Barons

Rogers gets succumbed with emotion when she sees the survivors of former Negro league players visit the museum. It is a testament to servicing a need in the Birmingham community.

“They cry tears of joy, proud of the accomplishments of their loved one. Some are disappointed that they are not here to experience the museum and see how important their contribution was to the fabric of our community and the sport of baseball,” Rogers explained.

Rogers gets a burst of energy thinking of how proud her great grandfather would be to know that she was asked to serve as director of the historic museum.

“My great grandfather, Clarence Orme, whom I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting, played for the Kansas City Monarchs. So working to preserve its history is in my DNA,” she added.

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Why was Natasha L. Rogers chosen to lead Birmingham’s Negro Southern League museum?

Rogers has navigated the city of Birmingham, Alabama with success, grace and determination.

She is an honors graduate of Birmingham’s HBCU, Miles College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications and a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A broadcast journalist by trade, she interned for CNN Newssource Sales in Atlanta, Georgia. Rogers was also selected to the esteemed NBC Page program in New York, New York where she had the opportunity to work with Dateline NBC and Weekend Today. This allowed her the opportunity to interface with network elites and gain valuable insight and application from one of the top networks in the country.

She later moved to Monroe, Louisiana and worked as a general assignment reporter for the local CBS affiliate KNOE. Following a 10 year career in broadcast journalism, Rogers made the transition to public relations for Miles College.

She secured national media coverage on ABC and BET and played major roles in the planning, implementation and execution of college fundraisers, generating over $300,000 for institutional sponsorships.

Rogers strategically joined Railroad Park Birmingham as the special events coordinator and was instrumental in Railroad Park being one of the best parks in the nation. She is the architect of the Railroad Park’s Get Healthy on the Railroad program, a seven-month exercise program providing free weekly exercise classes and serves over 7000 people each year.

Rogers is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Women’s Network, and Public Relations Society of America, where she has held multiple leadership positions. She has continuously advanced her professional portfolio through Leadership UAB, Who’s Who in Black Alabama, served as a role model for a Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama’s fundraiser, Wonderful Outstanding Woman (WOW) Award recipient by the Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP, Birmingham Business Journal’s selection for Top 40 under 40, and a member of Leadership Birmingham.

Rogers’ passion for the museum and her life’s work is unique. She reigns with an eagerness and perseverance that sets her apart from many. Like the museum, she is indeed another rare, esteemed treasure tucked away in the heart of Birmingham.

The patrons and appointees of Birmingham scored an authentic homerun with Natasha L. Rogers. WOW

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COVER STORY

Latonja Eppinger THE POWER IS IN EMPOWERING WOMEN

Today, I’m a successful entrepreneur, dedicated mother and community servant. My purpose in life has changed. My job and purpose is to empower.

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WOW: Latonja, what a pleasure speaking with you! Let’s get started right away and tell us about the Eppinger family.

LE: Simply put, we are a family of 6. I inherited 3 and and gave birth to 1.

We’re a big family of loyal, philanthropy and honor.

WOW: Sounds like a winning family. Tell us about your spouse.

LE: My husband is The Chief information Security officer of Carnival Corp he is also the VP of compliance and highly honored in his field of Global technology and sits on the board of the Carnival Corporation. Honestly, he’s such a devoted person and he gives everything his all. He played professional ball in Germany and is a dedicated community leader hailing from Cleveland Ohio. I am original from Milwaukee Wisconsin but recently moved from the suburbs of Minneapolis where we resided for 6 yrs. I worked a contract with The Vikings football team while my daughter worked as a cheerleader for the organization.

Carnival came into the picture 3 years ago which lead us from snow to the Miami Florida beaches. My life’s journey has led me from corporate world to entertainment to finance and now nonprofit.

: : I have a third project that includes cruising with women and empowering them to embrace each other’s platforms while educating each other in what we’re doing.

WOW: That sounds exciting and with the moves, I’m guessing you’ve had an exciting life. Let’s explore it in phases. What would you say about Latonja in the past?

LE: That young lady grew up very early. I was a quick learner and started college at 17 years old. The Latonja ‘that I left in the past, is very different from the Latonja of today. I moved from the Midwest to Washington DC to go to Howard University. What a challenge! While at Howard University, I saw leadership and power within African American men and women that was changing lives every day. I developed great ventures with former mayors and politicians. It was at that point I knew I was in the right city.

For me to embrace that, started me on a different path where I began to feel my power. I knew I was smart enough but now, I felt I had a voice. I became politically involved in campaigns and learned about the city and the laws that govern the people. I was learning how to change the world – just like the leaders I looked up to. When my light bulb came on, I just knew that this was my journey to use my voice and I only had to figure out what I would do to embrace women and make the world a better place. I was changing and becoming powerful within myself so it was only inevitable that I would also change others. I learned to become assertive and to ask for what I wanted and meet the challenges before me.

I returned to Wisconsin as a stockbroker at age 22 to take care of my mother.

She had breast cancer – stage 3 and I had a choice to graduate from Howard or go home and take care of my mother. I decided to do both – that’s the type of woman I was becoming. I went to summer school and went home and my mother didn’t think she would see me graduate but she watched me walk across that stage. I made sure of that.

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Going back to Wisconsin was really a sacrifice and a different type of challenge. Things were not as progressive in Wisconsin but, I knew I wasn’t going to lose my mother at 22 years old. I was determined that part of my journey was to save my mother another part was to finish school and I was going to be a stockbroker. There were a lot of transitions but I knew I had to go through them.

To throw an even crazier piece into the puzzle, I also went to Los Angeles.

A friend was a casting agent and asked me to come out for a role on Days of Our Lives. I wasn’t really interested but I went for the screening and began coaching for the part. I ended up in the Lee Strausburg School – which was the same school Robert Deniro went to. It was there that I learned that the acting life wasn’t for me. However, I could see myself on the production side. When I returned to DC, I got a job with BET and worked with Donnie Simpson. After that, I went to the news station and became an Associate Producer.

WOW: Having heard your past, I now ask, what about the present day Latonja.

LE: Today, I’m a successful entrepreneur, dedicated mother and community servant.

My purpose in life has changed. My job and purpose is to empower. The past was more of a journey and now I’m committed to a cause. It’s a cause to see the differences and to create a legacy. I want to know now what I can do to let my daughter and other girls learn from my journey. How do I help them not make the mistakes I made or that other women have made? How do I keep them focused on reaching their dreams? My focus on helping girls reach their goals and helping them be empowered in believing in what they can accomplish is so clear. I really want to make a difference in young people’s lives.

My crystal ball says I will become one of the most successful entrepreneurs that I can become in 2017.

WOW: What projects are you working on?

LE: I’m working on several projects. The first is a reflection of what I just mentioned in my purpose and supports my daughter’s foundation, Glam It Up. She started this at 10 years old and she’s now 12. My purpose is to teach her leadership skills so that she can become and embrace the CEO path she’s on. This project encourages other girls to take leadership roles too.

My other project is launching my transportation company with Cooper Elite. We launched in Florida and we’re coming into ATL. Making this one of the largest entitles in FL with VIP clients and service, this transportation service is not a typical one. We have community partnerships and each year will give monies to organizations that are resources in and for the community.

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WOW: Perfect! Any other projects?

LE: I have a third project that includes cruising with women and empowering them to embrace each other’s platforms while educating each other in what we’re doing. This Corporate to Cruise project will help us learn from each other.

WOW: Have you looked forward into the future and saw your vision? What would that look like?

LE: You’re asking about my crystal ball? As a child I used to look into the future and that’s why I became Entrepreneur of the Year at Howard University at the age of 17. I always knew exactly what I wanted to do and how I would do it.

My crystal ball says I will become one of the most successful entrepreneurs that I can become in 2017. My crystal ball says I have some goals I need to achieve and by embracing women and partnering with the right people, I know I will accomplish these goals.

WOW: Nice. Now, what does the footprint look like that you’ve built on this earth?

LE: That’s a nice way to put it … my footprint. There’s a poem people use as a footprint and it goes something like, “Step by step, day by day, moment by moment… I will not stop until I reach the end and my legacy will be that I’ve accomplished everything that I will accomplish on my journey of life. Until that is done my job won’t be done. When I walk this path day by day, step by step, moment by moment, every thing counts every day and every action. Until that day when it’s over for me. “ My legacy is when it ends for me – when it is accomplished.

WOW: Even as you speak the footprints are so clear I see other’s walking in the same footprints and that’s amazing. Thank you for sharing that.

LE: That is my journey. Until you have a vision and understand your footprint, you won’t have a calling.

When you take it step-by-step and day-by-day and not take advantage of any time -- then you will accomplish your vision step by step.

WOW: I think you’ve said it all. Thank you so much for the interview. I so appreciate the time you spent with us!

LE: Thank you! I would like to invite your readers to be a part of our Corporate to Cruise project that will set sail on Carnival Cruise Lines in October, 2017. If you would like to participate, please email us at leppng@gmail.com.

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CONVERSATIONS WITH SUCCESSFUL WOMEN

K

atrina McGhee believes that within each of us lie the seeds of unimaginable success.

Helping others to nurture theirs has been the hallmark of her life’s work. She is a through-bred professional and serial entrepreneur who has passionately combined her love for transforming communities with her gifts for leadership and business. She is the founder and CEO of Loving on Me, a multi-media lifestyle brand dedicated to inspiring and equipping women to love themselves more, and the former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization focused on breast cancer research and awareness. She’s also an author, loving mother, and a passionate community advocate. Recently she sat down with WOW to chat about her exciting career path and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Tell us about your family.

I’m a mom of an amazing 27-year-old son who is my greatest joy in life. I am also blessed to be part of an extraordinarily loving and resilient family. My parents, whom I admire so much, both grew up in Louisiana picking cotton. They were raised with a strong sense of faith, family, and responsibility, and instilled those same values within my brother and me. My father in particular has been one of my greatest career role models. He grew up very poor, but always believed you could be more than what you see, allowing him to go from the cotton field to college and then on to a professional career. That “anything is possible” spirit lives within me too, and throughout my many transitions has been a fundamental truth that I hold dear.

How did you get started as an entrepreneur? Tell us about your journey.

I’ve had a very unusual career path. My undergraduate degree was in Accounting and I started out at an oil and gas company as a Royalty Analyst. I remember being so excited because I graduated with one of the highest paying jobs in my class, but I soon realized accounting was not for me. Like many things in life it wasn’t what I thought it would be, so while still working full-time I went back to school to get an MBA, even though I had no idea what I wanted to do.

When they finally forced me to choose an area of focus, I decided to go with marketing. Those were the classes I enjoyed the most, and this time around I was determined to do something I loved. So after graduation I bopped around a bit working with a couple of marketing and sports agencies before stepping out on faith to form a boutique marketing agency with a friend, and then finally landing a job at the national center of the American Heart Association, There I found home. I finally had a position that seamlessly married my love of marketing, business and strategy with my passion for helping people. I eventually became their National Director of Marketing, launching a $7 million national women’s campaign that would lay the groundwork for their now wildly successful Go Red for Women movement.

It was work that I loved but I was traveling way too much. My son was at a pivotal age, and I wanted to be the one to raise him. So I decided to come out of the corporate world and go back into business for myself. This time I started two businesses: an online retail store featuring African American collectibles and home décor, and a consulting company focused on healthcare marketing. This allowed me to feed my passion for creativity while also continuing my commitment to the health and well-being of women. I grew both of those businesses for about four years until my son was almost finished with high school, and then joined Susan G.

First and foremost, always remember that “You are enough.’

Regardless of what you achieve in this life, you are a beloved child of God and that gives your life value, purpose, and meaning.

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Komen for the Cure as their Director of Cause Marketing, eventually becoming their EVP and Chief Marketing Officer.

After working in the non-profit field for nearly two decades, I left Susan G. Komen and embarked upon my next great adventure, training this generation of change makers to transform our world. Through my consulting company, Katrina McGhee Enterprises, I serve as a strategic advisor to some of America’s most beloved charities, offering training courses in fundraising, personal branding, leadership and presentation skills. I also started Loving on Me, and launched a global movement which is changing the lives of women around the world.

So this is where I am now, running what are my 19th and 20th businesses. It’s been an incredibly fulfilling journey, albeit a circuitous path. As a serial entrepreneur who believes in being led by the Spirit what I’ve learned is when you pursue your passions in life your higher purpose will be revealed. The key is to follow the path that’s right for you, without comparing or competing with those around you.

What advice do you have for women who are struggling to do it all even as they find their path, both in life and career?

First and foremost, always remember that “You are enough.’ Regardless of what you achieve in this life, you are a beloved child of God and that gives your life value, purpose, and meaning. I believe the reason so many of us are overwhelmed, working ourselves to severe illness and early graves, is because we forget this fundamental truth. Instead of embracing our inherent value we waste time in pursuit of external validation, rather than bolstering our internal self-worth.

But when we understand that the “me” we were created to be is enough, we approach this business of living differently. We have no need to do it all, instead focusing our energy on what sets our soul on fire. It is from this perspective that we are poised to achieve unimaginable success.

Second, I want to tell you that I believe in you. I believe you are smart and strong and capable of bringing the vision you have for your life to fruition. As women, we often forget how important it is to affirm each other. So if no else is speaking life into your dreams, let me be the first. You are a masterpiece, and your best is yet to come.

U.S. $11.99

You authored a book titled Loving on me. What inspired you to write this book? And what message did you want to deliver with it?

From the womb to the tomb there is a war on our self-worth. Loving On Me: Lessons On a Journey from Mess to Message is our battle plan for winning. The story begins in 2012 as I’m leaving Susan G. Komen, when a professional crisis turned into a personal calamity. Out of nowhere I began to experience panic attacks, high anxiety and pain so severe I thought I was having a heart attack and stroke combined.

On the outside I was at the top of my game but on the inside I was a hot mess, wondering how a path that seemed so right had gone so horribly wrong.

When the doctor told me my only course of action was to take a time out, I knew I needed to make some life changes, and fast.

No way was I meant to go through life sick, exhausted and filled with anxiety. There had to be more than what I’d known before.

Turns out I was right. It was during my season of rest and renewal that God revealed some powerful life lessons – incredibly simple, and yet so profoundly impactful when they’re applied. I was so excited I

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When we understand that the “me” we were created to be is enough, we approach this business of living differently.

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started sharing what I’d learned on a blog, and to my surprise women from all walks of life and from more than 100 countries wrote back to tell me that’s my story too. In one way or another we’d been working so hard to prove our worth, we’d somehow lost sight of ourselves. In trying to control everything, we eventually controlled nothing, most especially the runaway train that was our own lives.

Loving on Me was my love note to women, to help us get back in the driver’s seat of our own lives, and to move forward knowing we are enough. It reveals the answers that allow you to access the more God has in store for you - embracing faith, releasing fear, and experiencing the fullness of life for which you were designed.

It was during my season of rest and renewal that God revealed some powerful life lessons – incredibly simple, and yet so profoundly impactful when they’re applied.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I’m so excited because this fall we’re kicking off an exciting Go Get Your More tour. It’s six power hours of personal branding and positioning for doers who are ready to get things done. I can’t wait to pour into the hearts of dreamers and visionaries from around the country, who I’m confident will in their own way make our world a better place. We’re also developing a Loving on Me inspirational product line, making affirmations a part of everyday life, and I’ve already started working on my second book. WOW For more information on Katrina’s services or to book her for speaking/media, visit her website at www.KatrinaMcGhee.com.

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DON’T COUNT ME OUT

Strawberry

Darryl and Tracy

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astor’s Darryl and Tracy Strawberry are the founders of Strawberry Ministries and the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center. They are passionate about restoring lives and relationships through the power of God and the process of change. They are authors and speakers on a mission to spread the gospel and bring hope to the world. Their Passion is fueled by their personal experiences that have taken them from deep darkness and despondency to a place of restoration and hope.

Their Past Struggles Darryl a former New York Mets major league baseball player had always been talented and athletic, but a history of abuse and addiction by his father tainted his success and career. His father, Big Hank Strawberry, was one of the best softball players of his time but along with his success came his tendencies for drinking, abuse, rage and infidelity.

Darryl describes his childhood as a disaster a reality he couldn’t seem to get rid of even long after he grew up and came into his own as a professional athlete.

He began to drink, abuse drugs, and before long he had gone down a slippery slope divorcing twice during his baseball career and struggling to battle his drug problem. In 1992, through the invitation of a relative, Darryl attended a Christian event where he got saved but, unfortunately, his battle with addiction did not go away.

Tracy had a similar struggle. As a 30-year-old she found herself divorced twice, lost in a cycle of addiction and unhealthy relationships.

She was broken and lost living a lifestyle of defeat she so desperately wanted to escape. She tried everything; it seemed, to turn her life around but nothing seemed to work; change seemed impossible for her, and she started to lose hope.

Somehow Tracy found help to get off drugs and stay sober; then she met a woman who invited her to a Christian meeting where she gave her heart to Jesus. That changed her life. “From that day forward I started to grow and heal, and in time, my life completely changed,” she says. “It did not happen overnight, and the process of change was not easy. My entire life has been transformed by surrendering my life to Christ and living my life according to the Word of God.”

Darryl and Tracy met at a Narcotics Anonymous convention in 2003.

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“I live in the divine healing and transforming power of God and have a passion to lead others into that same Power!” Tracy says.

Marriage: The Early Days Darryl and Tracy met at a Narcotics Anonymous convention in 2003. Between them, they had a history of addictions, abuse, divorces, debt and so much more. By the time they met and got married, Tracy and Darryl had nine children between them. Tracy was recovering from her drug addictions and had just lost a custody battle for her children. Darryl was millions of dollars in debt, and still struggling with addiction to drugs and women.

Their marriage was difficult and once again they found themselves on the brink of a possible divorce.

They struggled to trust each other and make their marriage work. They had an emotionally destructive dynamic, unable to find a way out of the despondency.

Somehow they got settled into church and began to engage with God’s word. They listened to their pastor’s teaching, took them to heart and began to take definite steps to making their marriage work.

“I had to stop blaming Darryl,” Tracy says, “It was so easy to step into self-righteousness and point

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fingers, but I had my own issues to deal with.”

They decided to seek after God and trust Him to make a way when there seemed to be none ahead for them. Today their marriage is exciting blessed and fulfilling because they love and respect each other. Darryl encourages men to love and listen to their wives. “It doesn’t make you less of a man,” he says.

A Complete Turnaround Darryl and Tracy found true redemption and restoration in Jesus Christ. Today, they share their story as a powerful illustration of the true power of God and His redeeming love. They are on a mission to lead people to Jesus Christ and to restore lives and relationships through the power of God and the process of change.

“I live in the divine healing and transforming power of God and have a passion to lead others into that same Power!” Tracy says. “It is my purpose, desire, and passion to teach others how to overcome defeated living, live the Victorious Life and to fulfill their destiny in Christ.”

“I have a heart for people,” Darryl says, “especially those who are faced with conditions, situations or battles in their lives that often bring a deep sense of hopelessness to the soul. Much of my life has been filled with the battles that have left me without hope. However, that is not the case today. Today I have hope! No matter what comes your way, or how many times you may fall, you do not QUIT! You never give up! You get up, and you keep moving. If there is breath in your body, there is purpose and reason for your life. Sometimes that’s hard, if not impossible at times to see. I do not know why we have to go through certain things in life, but I know that there is a purpose and a reason for everything.

I do know that in my life, all my successes, failures, and experiences have brought me to where I am today. My strength and the reason that I am here today is proven through the experiences and conditions I have endured. God continues to bring me through, to carry me and breathe life into my body. The bat is retired, and the spikes are in a box, but the

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true passion and purpose for my life is just beginning. That passion is being able to make a difference in the lives of others. Today I have hope, hope I want to instill in others.�

Their Work and Ministry Together they run the Darryl Strawberry Drug & Alcohol Rehab Detox Treatment Center in Orlando. Their Treatment Program is a 28-day residential Christian counseling program designed to treat addictions and all forms of substance abuse including prescription medications. The program provides medical detoxification followed by primary treatment, including a 1-year continuing care plan, designed specifically around the needs of each client.

Their Christian recovery program is led by Christ-centered therapists and staff who are trained in addiction, spiritual, and Biblical recovery. They provide inspirational Biblical counseling within the framework of the Christian treatment program.

They also offer the Clean Sober & Saved Recovery Curriculum designed to be a helpful resource to people who struggle with God or need help embracing their Spiritual Connection within their recovery. WOW Visit http://strawberryministries.org/ for more information on their ministry and programs.

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You never give up! You get up, and you keep moving.

If there is breath in your body, there is purpose and reason for your life.

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CONVERSATIONS WITH SUCCESSFUL WOMEN

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D

Any great leader faces disruptions in life.

Disruptions are by design unsettling. But Stephanie observed that “Sometimes you need to be reminded of how great you are.”

r. Stephanie D. Barnes is an attorney, author, speaker, leadership expert and founder of the C-Suite Women’s movement—a transformational coaching program where women learn how to become the CEO of their lives!

Armed with a strong desire to help women explore their leadership potential, Barnes has used her influence to create programs that provide the knowledge, strategy, and tools to take women to the next level in their dreams and careers. Her company, The Fruition Group, LLC, specializes in leadership and strategic planning solutions, seminars, workshops, and coaching. It is a pleasure to bring you her story in this edition of WOW.

Experiencing Disruptive Elevation Any great leader faces disruptions in life. Disruptions are by design unsettling.

But Stephanie observed that “Sometimes you need to be reminded of how great you are.” She reflects on how the ultimate disruption in her life, a divorce after 21 years of marriage, helped to reshape her and remind how strong she really was.

On the morning that her husband told her that he wanted to end their marriage, she was scheduled to give a talk to a group of women leaders on resilience. She recounts that she thought to herself, “God, what a cruel joke!” She now laughs and shares that what she really thought was, “God, you are really tripping! Do you seriously expect me to tell these women how to be resilient when my whole world is falling apart?” But Stephanie learned that God does not trip. The message that she was to deliver to those women leaders that day was the very message that she needed to hear. Presenting to those women in the immediacy of the devastation helped her to focus on recovering and strengthened her resolve to stand strong when she wanted to fall apart.

Stephanie learned a powerful lesson about how a disruption can elevate you to greater heights. Ironically, she relied on her own coaching advice to position herself for her recovery. She counsels her clients that their mindset is the foundation for their outcome. Remembering this, she decided to view the divorce—a disruption—as an opportunity to be transformed. Amid a season of loss, dejection, and disruption, she embraced her Damascus moment…being knocked off her horse. So, to fully embrace this renaissance, she decided to change her name to celebrate the power of rising after being knocked off her horse and returned to being Stephanie D. Barnes!

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As a coach, she helps women to take their “extra” to transcend the ordinary!

Rather than dulling their shine, Stephanie helps her clients to embrace the extra and be authentic leaders.

Living Life in the And Stephanie was married the summer between her first and second year of law school. Her career remained a conflict with her husband’s desire for a more domestically-inclined wife and she often voiced her frustration with “I didn’t go to Harvard to be a housewife!” As she matured she sought to find balance between her duties as a wife and her desires as a career woman.

This hit home during a seminar on life-work balance while attending the Celebration of Black Alumni at Harvard Law School this past year that began with a declaration that “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Stephanie has always hated this saying. “What else is cake for, if not to be eaten?,” she jokingly scoffs.

She argues that you can eat your cake, but at a cost. There is a cost to being a high-powered woman with career goals. Stephanie calls it a fitful battle between embracing life in the “and,” and settling for living in the “or.” She confesses that she truly never believed that she had to choose between being a Harvard-trained lawyer or a mother and wife. The marrying of theory and practice was a struggle, but remains a challenge worth facing. It is never easy. It is never perfect. It is often messy. Despite the end of marriage, she does not regret the effort and is more committed to it.

She finds that it is hard to operate in the “and” when the social constructs remain committed to an inflexible tradition of “or.” Women constantly face the division of woman or wife/mother/lover or careerwoman rather than the celebration of the trinity of womanandwife/mother/loverandcareerwoman. All in one person. One woman, yet many—the interconnected components and expectations of the many roles that we must fill and our need for self-actualization. Stephanie advocates that women learn to build a Life in the And. “We can’t operate in the “or”, but operate in the a “and” b through proper training and strategies!”

Embracing Collaborative Competition among Women As a leadership coach, Stephanie primarily works with women. She is committed to what she calls, The Fabulous Life—Creating the extraordinary to have the life and career we desire. As a coach, she helps women to take their “extra” to transcend the ordinary! Rather than dulling their shine, Stephanie helps her clients to embrace the extra and be authentic leaders. Simply put, we need more Queens and fewer Queen Bees. Queens are sovereigns who build alliances, especially with other women. Queen Bees operate from a scarcity mentality and openly refuse to help other women or actively work against them.

Stephanie advocates for women to actively commit to celebrating great women leaders. This begins with embracing strong women leaders rather than negatively judging them. This happens when we respect the diversity of womanhood. Great women leaders come in all forms—from mothers working in the home to women leading companies as CEOs. “Extraordinary is not a

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Extraordinary is not a one size fits all.

Extraordinary looks like you. It looks like me.

That’s the thing about being extraordinary.

You get to carve your own path.”

one size fits all. Extraordinary looks like you. It looks like me.

That’s the thing about being extraordinary. You get to carve your own path. Rather than comparing our experiences, we should focus on how our experiences complement each and embrace the concept of collaborative competition. Not compete against each other but compete against ourselves and expand the capacity of women collectively.” Stephanie firmly believes that it is important that women support each other and believe in ourselves individually enough to know that what is for us is for us and no one can take that away so there is no need to deal with each other with a scarcity mentality. When women build one another up, we build ourselves up individually as well.

Current Endeavors and Future Projects Stephanie is excited about beginning the C-Suite Women’s Network, a movement committed to helping women find their voice in the workplace and the marketplace. Stephanie believes in creating women CEOs. But these CEOs are not always the CEOs of companies, but always the CEOs of their lives. A CEO is the chief executive officer— the one who is responsible for deciding upon the direction, developing the strategy, and building great teams that execute the goal. Women can achieve prosperity and a fulfilled life with the right strategy! She has authored five books and recently released her newest book, Finding the Fabulous in You: A Guide to Creating an Extraordinary Life and Career. The book draws on the experience she has had in building her career and helping other women build theirs.

A lifelong learner, Stephanie has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and continues to apply her knowledge in creating more opportunities for women to become great leaders in the workplace and marketplace. WOW Dr. Stephanie D. Barnes can be reached at Stephanie@drstephaniedbarnes.com or call (855) 7-FABYOU. Visit www.drstephaniedbarnes.com for more information.

Follow Stephanie on Twitter @crownedatbirth, on Facebook at fb.me/StephanieDBarnesPhD and Instagram @drstephaniedbarnes.

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CONVERSATIONS WITH SUCCESSFUL WOMEN

Gillian

Mullings AND THE SECRETS OF NUBIA

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illian Mullings is a legal Strategist and Attorney at Law at Naylor & Mullings in Kingston, Jamaica. She has practiced law for 17 years, representing a broad range of clients and handling cases from corporate law to commercial and civil litigation.

A thoroughbred professional, Mullings has been described as tenacious and highly knowledgeable in her field. This mother of two is also a successful entrepreneur and owner of “Secrets of Nubia,” a Jamaican skin care line made from authentic Jamaican herbs.

Mullings has made a name for herself by combining her knowledge of chemistry and her love for healthy and natural skin care products.

Her Early Years.

Mullings was raised by her grandparents in Black River, St Elizabeth. They lived in the countryside and, as it is in many parts of the world, living out in the country meant farming, caring for the land and tons of work. While there were other industries like mining in the area, the primary occupation for most of the locals was farming. Her grandparents owned a Pimento farm, which is a Jamaican Nutraceutical used in food and also as a healing oil.

Chemistry, Law and The Seeds of Entrepreneurship Mullings later moved to Kingston, Jamaica to go to elementary and high school. She was a diligent student who was great at Chemistry. She loved science and would set up her little experiments at home. However, according to her, she never really got into exploring chemistry as much until she became a teenager. At that time beauty trends were in vogue, and the need to look beautiful and have great skin was important to Mullings. So, she started making her own scrubs and skin care products from sea salt, coconut oil, cocoa and other household products, and they worked really well.

The years passed by and she went on to study Law at the University of West Indies, got married and had two kids. In her Law practice, she made the decision to go into social activism and ended up handling a lot of cases in relation to social issues; the environment, labor laws, etc. One of these was the Algix vs. Appleton case which involved the Rum-Sugar company at, Appleton , of putting waste from sugarcane production into the river. It was also discovered that other kinds of waste from distilleries, a mixture of molasses and sugar, etc. were also being introduced into the waters in and around the River. These, unfortunately, are alleged to have affected the fish, the fishermen and health and livelihood of the locals in the region.

.A lot of the people didn’t even know they had rights and that the company couldn’t just do whatever they wanted. It was my job to educate the people.

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She realized that she needed to sell the products to make that venture a success, and that was how her cosmetics business started.

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Mullings is currently developing more therapeutic products made from authentic Jamaican ingredients that are natural and make you feel and look good.

She was contacted by people in the community and started investigating these issues. Being someone who has always been interested in Chemistry, Mullings began to research on the production processes, fermentation, molasses, etc. and realized that the allegations were serious and would continue to impact the community. She mobilized Chemists in the area to do the research and then subsequently filed the lawsuit.

“It was a pressuring lawsuit because we were going against such a huge company,” Mullings recalls. “But we kept on anyway. We assumed that the corporation would be willing to abide by the legal standards and that was part of our initial application to the Jamaican Courts for relief.” Unfortunately, the company resisted that application, the court made an order in favor of Mullings’s client. The company went all the way to the court of appeal trying to set aside the Court’s order.

Mullings succeeded anyway.

“However, that was only the beginning of the battle,” she says as they are now seeking compensation for the many stakeholders involved; the fishermen, the villagers and everyone affected by the waste. “A lot of the people didn’t even know they had rights and that the company couldn’t just do whatever they wanted. It was my job to educate the people, so the company did not get away with any potentially harmful practices.”

Her Entrepreneurial Journey During this time, Mullings decided to take her dream of starting a cosmetic/skin care business more seriously. She had gone from making the products just for herself

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ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN: To young women with a dream to be entrepreneurs Mullings says, “There’s nothing wrong with having a full-time job as you prepare and learn more about having your own business. However, when the time comes to jump, you have to be ready because what people call good luck is simply preparation meeting the right opportunity. So, prepare yourself and once you see that opportunity, go for it.”

She also advises young women to stay away from mentalities that center on dependence on others. Plan your life so that you can enjoy the things you want to do based on your dreams and aspirations.

to sharing it with friends, family and anyone who was interested. And the requests kept coming. She realized that she needed to sell the products to make that venture a success, and that was how her cosmetics business started.

She would make both purely cosmetic and also therapeutic products. With time, she began to refine the products using her knowledge of Chemistry and more employing more sophisticated equipment. Today she has a full line of oils including Moringa Magic oil blend and Jamaican Hemp magic blend; African black soap and shea butter. She believes that natural is best and continues to provide high-quality products for her customers who always come back for more. The products have sold out in every pharmacy that has carried them.

Mullings is currently developing more therapeutic products made from authentic Jamaican ingredients that are natural and make you feel and look good. Her raw materials are sustainably sourced so the people they buy from can support themselves. As an activist, she is committed to business practices that are socially, morally and economically ethical in order to serve both her customers and the communities with which she partners.

The business also works with local coconut and cocoa farmers who process the extra virgin coconut oil, an old Jamaican remedy that it great for the skin and always in demand from customers.

She is also currently investigating the use of other nutraceuticals like the Jamaican climbing hemp and particular Jamaican species of Rosemary that grows in drier regions of Jamaica.

“The next step is to expand their products into other markets including the United States,” she says. WOW

“Be bold. Get out there and let people know what you want. Don’t be afraid of getting a no.”

To learn about the benefits of establishing trusts of property and other growth opportunities in Jamaica and the Caribbean (offshore). Call (876) 631-5534 or email gillianmullings@yahoo.com for your free consultation.

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GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT

Dr.JacquelineMohair

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Tell us about your family life.

I am the daughter of the late Fred J. Perteet and the late Rosie L. Perteet. I grew up outside of Kosciusko, Mississippi the birthplace of “Oprah Winfrey “ and graduated from Mississippi State University in Business. After leaving Mississippi, I continued my education in Atlanta and received an MBA and Masters in Educational Leadership. I was then called into ministry and earned a doctorate in Theology. My mother was a school teacher so education was very high on the books. So naturally , I also shared her passion for education.

My husband and I have been married 14 years and have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Family connection and legacy are very important to me. Being a businesswoman, at one point, I got so caught up that I found myself not spending quality time with family. Taking care of business without spending family time meant my kids were growing up without me. When realizing there was no point building a business if I lost them in the process, I began holding my entire family in high esteem. Family is first, dinners, activities and lots of conversation are important and we support each other. They support my calling in ministry and with my nonprofit.

What is your nonprofit focus?

Trinity Girls Network, a new resource for young girls and women in the Atlanta metropolitan area. We are a 501c3 organization that focus on Empowering, Educating and Inspiring young ladies and girls in our community and beyond. The organization, since its conception July 2016 has begun to make legislative notice through the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate by proclaiming that the month of February will be called “Girls Empowerment Month”. As of March 2017, it is written in the books of Georgia that February will be “Girls Empowerment Month”. A month dedicated to empowering all young ladies and girls in our community with the educational tools they need to excel. To further the cause, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, gave a Commendation to the organization for “Girls Empowerment Month”. We recognized that change must take place and it begins with you and I. The organization was recently recognized by Mayor Judy Johnson of Lawrenceville, GA as well as three mayors from Prince George’s County, Maryland ( Mayor Dr. Malinda Miles, Mayor Patricia Waiters and Mayor Tracy Grant) recognizing that May 20, 2017 is Ambassadors for Girls Empowerment Day. This is a day where we come together as a community as ambassadors to rally and celebrate and empower the girl child. The name Trinity Girls Network (TGN) was given to me a little over 10 years ago. God gave me the name from His Trinity – God the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Mentorship is key in helping the next generation. We have the power to end poverty and eradicate domestic abuse among women and girls. Scream loud and spare not. The house is needed to rescue our Girls that have aged out of Forster care so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Little girls are getting “lost in the sauce” with low selfesteem and many other challenges hitting them day-today. I saw the challenges they faced first hand in the school system and with my kids. My heart was burden to tap into my community and be able to coach young girls to know they were more than what people said they were and that, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” TGN empowers, inspires and helps young girls and women, guiding them away from abusive situations and transitioning them to independent and healthy lifestyles. We do this through a trinity approach: 1) ending violence against women and girls; 2) providing opportunities through education; and 3) preparing girls for success. We want girls to be aware of what’s going on. In Gwinnett County human trafficking

An educator, ministry, entrepreneur, empowerment advocate and founder of Trinity Girls Network, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering, educating and inspiring young ladies and girls through education and leadership. .

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is hidden and need to be brought to light. It’s easy to get tricked and lured into these situations. We are going to empower, develop and train 100,000 girls (ages 8 - 24) to become leaders, community advocates and entrepreneurs by the year 2020. Join the movement! TGN aspires to partner with other organizations bringing awareness and teaching girls about leadership, etiquette, education, prevention and entrepreneurship.

Currently, the movement is looking for support and volunteers. Together we all can win in this fight. One can chase a thousand and two ten-thousands. What can we do if we all unite as one. The time is now! Go to www.trinitygirlsnetwork.org The fight starts Today.

Why is an issue like domestic violence hidden instead of asking for help?

Domestic violence is often hidden and I understand the embarrassment because I have walked through it. I was in a relationship for 4 years and dealt with it. I went from having a busted ear drum to being pushed through a glass table and ended up in the emergency room. My arm was cut up with keloids and I was ashamed. I wouldn’t wear short sleeves. That incident tore into my self-esteem. I asked myself how I got into a domestically violent relationship. I covered the scars because I didn’t want anyone to see. But it wasn’t just the scars on my arms--it was the scars I felt inside.

My self- esteem was so low I thought, who else would want me now? The enemy plays with your mind! I almost lost my life and had plastic surgery for my face. That was just one time but this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was the one that broke me down enough to make me get up and move forward. But I didn’t move forward alone. For most of us, it’s hard to get out alone. I was strong enough to call the cops. My friend, Stacy took me for the restraining order.

Honestly, if Stacy hadn’t taken me, in my state of mind, I may have gone back. We all need a Stacy to help us walk to freedom.

MPowered Media Solutions, specializes in marketing research, planning, social media, websites and so much more. She is a leader, wife, mother, domestic abuse survivor that’s dedicated to uplifting others to greatness.

She’s stand with the 44th President’s motto “Yes we can”...

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Women don’t share because they are hurting inside and need healing. As I healed, I was able to share and show the scars. I learned that what you go through doesn’t define who you are and realized I am a overcomer. Women are overcomers.

What books have you written?

To date, I’ve written four books and I’m currently working on a series. The first book of the series is called “Gurl...

Get Your Life! The 7 steps to being a Girl on Fleek”. Each book will be used in our TGN programs.

My first book, Birth the Entrepreneur Mindset in You, speaks to creating a vision without limiting the mind. From this book we want participants to tap into another realm of creating income so that they don’t just depend on working for someone. Mindsets are elevated to own a business or be the technology guru. We weren’t always taught about ownership. While reflecting, I remember running for queen of our school and having to raise money. I went to our pantry, got some popcorn, popped it and sold it on the school bus. I didn’t realize this was a sign of an entrepreneurial spirit. We want to tap into this spirit in our girls. Greater is on the inside and sometimes you just need someone to pull it out.

The second book is a co-authored book called, Positioned to Prosper is written by and for women offering 8 golden nuggets to ensure prosperity. Then I wrote a book, The Resurrected Womb: Living in the Abundance of His Grace which deals with a topic not normally discussed in the sense of healing. It covers how to be healed and walk out of the hurt of abortion. One must deal with the loss and hurt of abortion before they can be healed and move forward on a positive path. The fourth book, Speak Life & Life is an affirmation book that teaches us to watch the words we speak. Our words have power.

Is there anything else you want to share with the readers?

I encourage the readers to get on board to fight domestic violence and bring about an end to human trafficking. The women in these situations are being controlled and manipulated and violence is prevalent. It’s time to scream aloud about it and help others get out. Our mission at TGN is to instill greatness in our young girls in hopes that they don’t fall into the same pitfalls. We are about empowering them to reach there full potential in life. We are to train them in the way they should go. It’s my turn to be an advocate and help others come out of the darkness and dungeons to know it’s not too late to dream a bigger dream and step into boldness and freedom. WOW For more information on the Trinity Girls Network go to www.trinitygirlsnetwork.org.

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COVER STORY

Saycon Sengbloh A WOMAN IN THE GRIP OF POWER

WRITTEN BY: SHONDALON HOFFLER, WOW ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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hat would you do if someone gave you the awesome opportunity to interview the new love interest of Scandal’s President, Fitzgerald Grant? We, in a very exciting manner, took immediate advantage of the possibility. WOW, was able to catch up with Saycon in New York and this powerful interview follows:

Hi Saycon, what a beautiful first and last name you have, where did the name come from and please give us its meaning?

Thank you so much I’m thankful for such a unique name! Saycon Sengbloh is a Liberian name from the Bassa tribe in West Africa. I’ve been told it means mother-teacher.

What are you working on now?

My movie DoublePlay, which I shot a year ago in Curaçao is finally being released in the Netherlands! I believe that all over Europe, Africa, and America will be next! It’s a foreign film where I got to play a Curaçaoan woman, Nora Fiel, a character based on the novel DoublePlay by Frank Martinus Aryon.

my career on Broadway led me to this time and place, also my work and smaller parts on TV and film, and I’m so thankful for it.

How did the role to play the presidents love interest come about?

I auditioned to play Angela Webster, Director of the FBI, last year when I was in New York City. At the time I had no idea that the character would become a love interest for President Fitzgerald Grant! I never imagined! I always knew that Olivia was his great love and my audition script didn’t say that I would be dating him. So I was pleasantly surprised to figure that out later. My first scenes were in the oval office in front of several of the key actors on the show people whose work I admired, like the beautiful Kerry Washington, so I was very nervous, but luckily I had met Tony Golden before. He saw me on Broadway in my Tony award nominated role in Eclipsed so he was familiar and put me at ease.

Tell us, what is that like?

Well it’s a lot tougher than it looks to be on the show Scandal. The writing is strenuous and concentrated so I have to stay focused to execute all the dialogue. For one thing whenever my character recurs I must be sure that I am in Los Angeles since I

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don’t live there right now. I’m always super excited to go on set barely sleeping. We shoot a lot of footage for episodes and I don’t find out when I’m going to appear in an episode due to editing and story, until a few days before it comes on. I can always tell based on the amount of buzzing my phone does from Twitter. I like to watch and live tweet during the episode when I can.

Have you met with Shonda Rhimes yet? Isn’t she simply the best?

I’ve met Shonda Rhimes a few times, she’s an inspiring lady for sure! I think she is brilliant. I’d like to read her book and check out her master class program I heard about. The fact that she believed in me enough to play this role means a lot to me.

What is next on the horizon for you?

I’ve recently completed a new pilot television show for 20th Century Fox. In that show I play a fierce and independent rookie detective and it’s a very exciting role. I really enjoyed filming, we shot on location in Illinois we will find out soon if additional episodes will be shot and on which network so stay tuned!

Did your career on Broadway lead you to this time and place?

Absolutely, my career on Broadway led me to this time and place, also my work and smaller parts on TV and film, and I’m so thankful for it. At this point I’ve been in 8 Broadway productions and 3 Broadway tours. I’ve been acting since I was a kid and singing as well so I definitely feel ripe and ready for the next level of success.

What is your vision for the future?

I look forward to a dozen more opportunities to do quality work and also to have a great deal about spending good time with family friends and loved ones also have a vision of being a lot more fit. Eating! Better and yes a really wonderful relationship!

How do you see yourself empowering young women in the future?

I think the young women are inspired by what I do in some ways but I hope that they can understand the sacrifices and the work that it takes to be in this business specifically young women who want to be an entertainer.

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I’ve been acting since I was a kid and singing as well so I definitely feel ripe and ready for the next level of success.

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What will the footprint of your philanthropy work reveal?

I truly am excited to be on the board of directors for Monrovia Football Academy.

This is football in the African sense of the word to the world which we call “soccer” of course! At the Monrovia Football Academy we teach boys and girls to play soccer on dynamic level and also focus on their academic learning. It’s the first school of its kind in Liberia.

Tell us about your family, role models, coaches and/or mentors My greatest role models have always been leaders in my theater community like Freddie Hendricks and Kenny Leon. More recently I have found myself inspired by people I’ve never met like Michelle Obama and Dolly Parton. I’m really excited to learn about the process and spirit and see artists building their brands and uplifting people at the same time.

More recently I have found myself inspired by people I’ve never met like Michelle Obama and Dolly Parton.

Share some secrets on how to land the big acting roles.

One of the biggest secrets to landing big acting roles is to be prepared.

I studied acting in school and also nearly every other week. Even now, I sit with an acting coach to help me unlock the role and figure it out before time to do it that is key to being super relaxed later on. I think this relaxed vibe is what makes people want to work with me and I’m happy about that. I’m not sure about how big my roles are currently but I feel very excited about them especially the work that people haven’t seen.

Thank you Saycon, you are an easy person to interview. Come back to us anytime. WOW

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GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT

Dr.ThyonneGordon FINDS WEALTH THROUGH STORIES

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r. Thyonne Gordon is a Business Profit Strategist with over 25 years creating sustainable business platforms. With a passion for delivering power-packed success tools, she integrates “head” and “heart” techniques that breathe life into even the most sluggish entities. Her work spans the continents from the inner city of South Central LA with nonprofits to Singapore with wildly successful for profits. Having worked with Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Studios, and Entertainment Studios, Gordon enjoys producing stories of purpose for good.

Using her S.T.O.R.Y. Accelerator™ methodology, Gordon’s ability to shed light on causes that provide positive impact was documented in the film, From Watts to Africa, showcased at the 2015 Pan African Film Festival with Foundation For Second Chances, Inc. She simpli-

WOW: Dr. Thyonne, tell us what are you doing in Israel?

Dr. Thyonne: I love to travel and share business stories, but this trip is personal. My older sister has a bucket list that I made fun of. On her list was visiting Israel. Once I saw it, I stole her bucket list item and reserved 2 spots for us. Now, here we are having the most amazing journey ever! And guess what? Now, I want everyone’s bucket lists so we can do them together. So, bring me your list!

WOW: (Laughter) That sounds like fun and what a treat – the Holy Land – with your sister. I like that living list idea so let’s use your list and go somewhere.

Dr. Thyonne: Let’s do it. It’s easier to breathe life into how we live instead of figuring out what we’re going to do before we die. That’s why I travel all over the world sharing stories of success. I’m a big fan of living life to the fullest and that includes getting around.

fies business strategy and generates millions of dollars to enhance lives.

We caught up with Dr. Thyonne while she was traveling with her sister in Jerusalem, Israel and wanted to know a little more about the acceleration of her personal story of wealth.

It’s easier to breathe life into how we live instead of figuring out what we’re going to do before we die.

WOW: Speaking of living life to its fullest, how do you do that as a single mom and entrepreneur in today’s challenging economic climate – and travel?

Dr. Thyonne: One of my mantras is “Bloom where you’re planted.” I make the most of any situation. I was born an entrepreneur but worked in a career. I learned from my mother how to do both. My mother was the ultimate entrepreneur and that meant networking which is a business builder. My mom sold Amway and KatyDid candy; had a daycare; and was a licensed beautician. She also sold cakes, pies, chicken and fish! Everything she did involved networking with people. Folks came to our house from miles away to connect with my mom and her businesses.

When they came – for hair, babysitting services, Amway or food--they became part of our circle and were evangelists for my mother and her businesses. We were also supporters of their work.

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Now, 30 to 40 years later, I’ve created my business in the same way. My network of people, champion my work and I in turn support them. We work together for one cause – to improve the lives of those we touch. And I only work with people who want to impact the world in a positive way. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a successful business that helps others with their success and be an example for my daughter. I’m also blessed that this good fortune has allowed me to travel all over the world.

WOW: Wow! It’s great to choose whom you want to work with but, how does travel and story telling equate to building wealth?

Dr. Thyonne: By definition, wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or valuable possessions. What one considers valuable is always subjective. Of course, money is the first thing people think of when it comes to wealth or value, and that makes sense. I mean money can buy you a lot of possessions that make you presumably happy.

Personally, I worked hard to attain financial wealth through business, real estate, education and other assets. But, what’s proved even greater for me, are the relationships I’ve built, nurtured and maintained. Family, friends and causes that stay close to my heart provide me with a wealth beyond measure.

At the end of the day, true wealth is not measured in the money we have but, in the possessions we’d never take money for. It’s what we have when all the money is gone that counts. Our knowledge, our people, and our loves--these are irreplaceable. I’ve been cash rich and cash poor but because of what I know, the experiences I’ve had and the relationships I’ve built--I can always earn more money. However, I can’t replace a loved one or recreate them. My time with them is now and that’s it. So I believe it’s important to be present in each moment with the people and causes I care about. It’s always people first with me because they are my priceless possessions. My wealth taps intangible values that weave spiritual, mental and emotional concepts into a perfectly spun web of stories.

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Family, friends and causes that stay close to my heart provide me with a wealth beyond measure.

I believe we are born into a narrative and create our stories through life to leave a generational narrative and legacy for the next generation to start again. When we understand our stories – we can tap into our wealth at every level.

WOW: That’s deep. I don’t know how many people think of wealth spiritually and emotionally and I really don’t know if people know how to create wealth just by knowing their story. Tell us more about that?

Dr. Thyonne: I love storytelling and story gathering.

I write, read and share stories for learning, teaching and building. Stories are my life and once people understand how to use them, they can create business strategies, build relationships or even launch products – all around the art of story.

I originally created a publishing business while working with Warner Bros. Studios. During my off time, I did ghost writing, created scripts and published books. It was amazing understanding how people could excel from understanding their stories. Eventually, I documented the work and created a process to coach clients. This became the S.T.O.R.Y. Accelerator™ using the acronym of STORY to build on a five-step methodology. As I guide my clients through the process, they create strategies for fundraising, business plans and even life plans and projects.

In short, they are creating their own wealth building plans through their story.

My company, Beyond Story Consulting is now in it’s 5th year of operation and has all encompassing services to build profit strategies through our offerings. So besides, writing, editing and coaching services we also provide business training and life coaching to create wealth and happiness.

Stories are my life and once people understand how to use them, they can create business strategies, build relationships or even launch products – all around the art of story.

WOW: How do people find you and what’s it like working with you?

Dr. Thyonne: I work through referrals and offer workshops and seminars about 4-6 times a year. Private companies, nonprofits and educational institutions contract the Beyond Story team of consultants for varied training assignments including: Board Governance; Programs, People & Productivity; Money & Marketing; Operations & Infrastructure; The Power of Yes; Customer Service Basics and much more.

Personally, I’m honored to speak nationally and internationally at conferences and events all year round. This year, I’ll speak at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara for the Response At the Radical Edge: Depth Psychology for the 21st Century conference. I love these engagements as they provide great stories that change the world!

WOW: It’s been an honor and quite a story telling experience! WOW For more information on creating your story with Dr. Thyonne and her Beyond Story team, check her out at www.drthyonne.com or www.beyondstory.com.

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TRAVEL

Cancun CHILL OUT IN

WRITTEN BY: SHERYL NANCE-NASH

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Have a three part plan. Focus on your mind, body and spirit. In just three days you can get your groove back.

Start with an early morning walk on the beach. You’ll be able to hear yourself think and breathe. The biggest noise will be splashing waves. Next up -- your body. Take a boxing class at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa’s gym. Relax, it’s not like one of those intimidating gyms at home, it’s full of windows and breathtaking ocean views. There’s more equipment than you might know what to do with, an aerobics studio, indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and more. Burn some calories and some stress.

Soak up all you’ve accomplished so far and

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celebrate with a healthy lunch at the resort’s BeachWalk restaurant. Think blackened grouper sandwich or grilled greens Mediterranean salad.

Spend the afternoon lounging on the beach in a gorgeous thatched roof private Bali daybed. Warning: don’t be surprised if you fall asleep.

Pamper yourself further with a trip to the 35,000 square foot Mayan spa. Your toughest decision will be what treatment to choose.

There are plenty of choices, and none that will disappoint you. You’ve probably never had the Hunab Ku Ritual, a traditional Mayan massage.

Go for it. Relish 20 minutes of heaven that uses a mixture of rituals and unconventional healing movements, with a very unique abdominal massage technique performed according to the traditional beliefs of energy flow.

Cap off a fab day with dinner at the resort’s Gustino Italian Grill. Be ready to be wowed.

It’s gorgeous with large glass windows, many candles, live saxophone music, excellent

Photos courtesy of JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa.

aybe you think of Cancun as one big party town, for sure there’s that kind of action there, but it’s also a place where you can find that inner peace. Situated on the south-east coast of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun’s warm, white powdery sand beaches and turquoise crystal clear waters welcome weary souls.

service and more.

Tomorrow, get your sunrise beach walk in and then test yourself with yoga in the gym. Don’t freak out, there are classes for all levels. Cool off in one of several pools. Eat an early lunch and then venture beyond the resort. Try deep sea fishing, golf, or take in the interactive aquarium, Tulum, an ancient Mayan fortress city, or Xplor Park, where you can zipline and raft on underground rivers.

For another memorable dinner, go to Porfirio’s.

It takes an unique twist traditional Mexican flavors, textures and colors. It’s guaranteed that you haven’t had tacos, enchiladas or quesadillas like this. Porfiro’s is contemporary, yet doesn’t lose all traditions. Enjoy the lively Mariachi band and drink up. There are more than 100 different labels of Tequilas and Mezcales.

Call it quits before it gets ugly. Get a good night sleep because tomorrow adventure awaits.

Get one last morning beach walk, sip a cup of tea and get ready to embark on a guided snorkeling

Focus on your mind, body and spirit. In just three days you can get your groove back.”

expedition. Don’t chicken out. Get in the water and give it a try. You’ll be happy you did. The sea creatures and coral reefs are a sight to behold.

Feeling good about your bragging rights that yes, you indeed snorkeled, or at least attempted to snorkel, treat yourself to Le Natura, a quaint café with vegetarian and healthy food that is loved by locals.

Back at the resort, go get one last snooze in the daybed. Relax, reflect. Let the sea again, serenade you to sleep. For your last meal in Cancun, hit Sasi Thai nearby. It’s an elegant fusion of Japanese and Thai food with al fresco ambience.

As you pull away from the resort and head back home, you won’t even remember what you had been fretting about or worried about what comes next. WOW

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C E L E B R AT I N G

7 Years Of Women of Wealth WoW Magazine

Nation’s Top 87 Women Mentoring Leaders

Winter Edition 2011

EdiE FrasEr Diversity Activist and Philanthropist

And more in this special issue…

First Lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter Judith McHale, Lulu Flores, Kathy Calvin, Betty Hudson Dr. Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, Rosa Whitaker, Dawn Sweeney Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, Joi Gordon

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First Lady Michelle Obama on the Importance of Mentoring and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s Journey to Living the American Dream

winter 2011

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SPRING 2012

of

A Tribute to

WHITNEY 1963-2012

AFFLUENT WOMEN LEVERAGING POWER AND INFLUENCE

AFFLUENT WOMEN LEVERAGING POWER AND INFLUENCE

Winter edition 2015

Women of Wealth SPRING 2015

NBA

Wives WOMEN OF WEALTH

Kristina Ratliff Deborah Williams

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Dee Dee Abdur-Rahim

Jazette Lane- English

“BEHIND THE BENCH” LEADING STRONG

Tomi Rose

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“OFF THE FIELD PLAYERS’ WIVES ASSOCIATION” A Force To Contend With

KAT KIDS AND TEENS Empowering Teens to Become Successful Entrepreneurs

Madelyn Davis

Teen Entrepreneur

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KIDS AND TEENS

M

adelyn Davis is an 11 year old budding entrepreneur. She is a natural and like many entrepreneurs Madelyn doesn’t fit into a specific box or category.She has had an interest in a variety of things including art, piano, gymnastics, figure skating and even spent two years as an ice hockey goalie.

However, dance has been her true love since she was 2 1/2 years old and over the last couple of years has danced with a competitive show group.

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Madelyn’s interest in business was an evolution as she would cook up everything from spaghetti sauce to lip scrubs and sell them at her mom’s workshops. She attended a program with her mom called CEO Space when she was 10 years old, her mom planned to enroll her in the hotel’s kids program while she attended the sessions. It was Madelyn who wanted to stay with her mom and subsequently spent the entire weekend immersed in learning about raising capital and compliance with SEC Regulations from Berny Dohrmann, founder of CEO Space.

Madelyn played full out! So much so that she was invited by Mr Dohrmann to cut the opening Ceremonies ribbon on Monday morning, She spent the week moving from classroom to classroom and when she wasn’t in classes, she spent time being the interpreter for a young boy who could only speak French. In CEO space she found the freedom, encouragement and excitement that was missing from her classroom experience and the idea that anything is possible.

Madelyn was just 4 years old when she started a French pre-school in Vancouver.

She told her mom that she missed her Montessori school in Geneva, because she was allowed to explore the things that interested her and was not always being told what to do and when to do it. CEO Space was like going home!

Now, Madelyn is in grade 6 public French Immersion school and was home schooled last year. She had the opportunity to travel to places like Ireland, France, Poland, Sweden, Russia and Switzerland. The experience left her with an understanding and compassion

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In the beginning she wanted to start a t-shirt business, but quickly moved toward her interest in beauty products and experimented with preparing natural products for herself and others.

for what children have endured and continue to endure and a new appreciation for the privilege of going to school.

She works hard on her homework and looks forward to going to school every day!

Madelyn now plays, learns and grows as she did in her Montessori school and applies that to her new and evolving business. In the beginning she wanted to start a t-shirt business, but quickly moved toward her interest in beauty products and experimented with preparing natural products for herself and others. She searched the internet for local quality supplies and a name for her business, she found and settled on www.clearskybeauty.com and jumped with joy and screamed “I found it�! She has been testing out her products on friends and family members over the last 6 months, giving out dozens of foot massages.

The opportunity to appear on the debut cover of KAT (Kids and Teen Entrepreneurs) was an exciting opportunity that was born from a subsequent visit to CEO Space and an introduction to Dr. Lei Lewis. Madelyn’s budding entrepreneurial spirit and interests seemed like a match for the birth of this new magazine that held similar values and interests of planting seeds for our kids and teens to experience the early development of an entrepreneur. Whether it an 11 year old girl like Madelyn or an adult the spirit of entrepreneurship is born from giving ourselves permission to make mistakes and to learn, grow and change direction! WOW

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KAT KIDS AND TEENS Empowering Teens to Become Successful Entrepreneurs

Chloe Thigpen

Teen Entrepreneur Chloe created the Beautiful and Chosen organization to educate and encourage young women. She recently received the Bronze Award from the President of the United States. Read her story in KATs Magazine, January, 2017

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KIDS AND TEENS

ChloeJae

I

t’s a common adage that high school is “the best years of your life.”

This could not be truer for high school senior, and teenentrepreneur, Chloe Janae Thigpen.

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There is an abundance of information on breast cancer awareness but not much attention directed towards doing selfexams for young girls,”

At just 18 years old, Chloe has faced, and overcome, things that most of us couldn’t possibly imagine in twice that time.

While the majority of Chloe’s peers are worrying about prom, finals and college admissions essays, Chloe focuses on dance, her family and faith, and spearheads the nonprofit organization: Beautiful and Chosen.

Having survived a cancer scare in her mid-teens, Chloe felt the call to help promote awareness of the selfexam techniques that saved her life.

“My mother and I just started an organization called Beautiful and Chosen to help women of all ages and to promote breast self-examination.

There’s a lot of breast cancer awareness but there’s not really too much about doing self-exams for young girls,” she said. “They should start any time during the puberty age range. That’s 10 to 21. I was 16 when I found out, and I met a girl who got her diagnosis at age 13. I want to increase awareness of self-examinations, because that saved my life.”

When asked what does it means to be an entrepreneur, Chloe had this to say: “To me, it means to not be afraid to take risks and not be afraid to jump.

Because of my health, I didn’t really have an easy period of childhood.”

She went on to say, “I just say to not be afraid, especially when I had my diagnosis. It just means to discover yourself and don’t be afraid to put your

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“I want to tell those who’ve been diagnosed that you’re Beautiful and Chosen,” ideas out there. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, it’s never too late.”

Chloe truly is a remarkable girl. Even though she is so young, we could all benefit from her words.

When asked about her aspirations for her program, Chloe said, “I just want to take it wherever it goes. I just want to promote it so people will know about the organization.”

The message Chloe and her mother want to project with Beautiful and Chosen, is simple, but beautiful. “I want to tell those who’ve been diagnosed that you’re beautiful and chosen,” said Chloe. “You were fearfully and wonderfully made by God. I just want to let them know that everything is going to be okay.”

The movement is now looking for support, volunteers and a board of directors to help manage the non-profit. Nominations and applications should be field out through www.beautifulandchosen.com. WOW

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MBQ

Creating Change is Simple But Not Easy WRITTEN BY: DR. LINELL KING

O

kay, so you’re ready to make lasting change in three simple steps. Sounds easy, right? If it were so easy then everyone would be happy, healthy and at the top of their game! It’s very difficult to achieve what you really want in life without absolute clarity as to where you are right now and where you want to go. It’s not enough to just know “what” you want, it’s equally important to know “why” you want it.

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By definition, clarity is the freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity. When you try to gain clarity in any aspect of life, being as specific as possible is a must. That means knowing where you want to be and what it takes for you to get there.

GETTING CLEAR ON YOUR SURROUNDINGS The first step is to become aware of where you are right now.

We’re going to take immediate action together, so get out two pieces of paper. On the first sheet, describe your daily environment. Is it clean and organized, or cluttered and messy?

Are the people you hang out with optimistic and healthy, or reactionary and tired? Is your home filled with fresh energizing foods, music and life, or boxed prepared meals, packaged snacks and television continuously blaring in the background? What is your bedroom like? Is your bed made and clothes neatly put away? What are your work surroundings like? Is your desk clean and organized? How about your car? This type of awareness allows you to recognize where you are right now, it’s your current state.

SETTING CLEAR AND CONCISE GOALS Often, women tend to be ambiguous with their health goals.

Common statements that I hear are, “I need to lose some weight,” or “I gotta take better care of myself.” When you achieve your ideal body weight or optimize your health, I refer to these end results as “Ultimate Vitality.” This is when you not only look great but you also feel great! You’re in a state where your body is performing as it should and you have an abundance of energy. When you reach this point, you can actually free yourself of most chronic illnesses too.

What does vitality mean for you? Take a moment and make a list of your wants. What do you want to feel like? What do you want to make possible in your life? What do you want for your personal relationships? Where do you want to live?

Where do you want to work? How do you want to spend your free time? How do you want to connect spiritually? Who do you want to become? What do you want to be known for?

What legacy do you want to leave? Make two columns, on the right hand side, write everything you want to become, or have. On the left side, compare those to where you are right now. This is such a simple process to skip over, yet it provides so much POWER when you take the time to do it. If it feels overwhelming, don’t worry! By noticing where you are, you now have the ability to get really clear about the next step, which is discovering your “why”.

BEING CLEAR ON YOUR WHY In business, this section would be called, “What is your Mission Statement?” or “What is your Purpose?” Whatever you choose to call it, the question is, how do you find the secret sauce that continuously inspires you, even when times get tough.

How to Discover Your “Why” – Take out your second piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side, list all

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of the ways your current lifestyle has hindered your desires and negatively affected your life. What places haven’t you visited?

Who haven’t you approached at an event? What beautiful clothes did you see on someone else that you wished you could wear? What sporting or holiday event did you pass on to avoid embarrassment? When was the last time you removed yourself socially because of your weight? What else can you think of?

On the right side of the paper, create a list of everything that you would like to do again. Include things you would like to try, places you would like to go, people you would like to meet, clothes you would like to wear. What relationship would you be in right now if you were healthy, happy and confident?

How could you improve someone else’s life or set an example for someone else if you lived with Ultimate Vitality? What new adventures would you go on? How proud would you be at the next fundraiser, wedding, or graduation? Be sure to go back to your left column and add anything you missed.

Now imagine yourself as the new you. Close your eyes and imagine having every quality and experience from your list in the right column: happiness, confidence, style, energy, flexibility, filled with energy. Play with these ideas in your mind for a few minutes, you might want to sit back in a chair and close your eyes. Imagine playing with your children or grandchildren. Think about living vibrantly as you age, being free of disease and setting an example for your family and friends.

Think of a time in life when you might have had the energy to do these things, times when you were happiest. When you discover this state, you have unlocked the emotional leverage needed to create long, lasting change. This is your own, special secret sauce. Master this process and you will live the life of your dreams. WOW DR. LINELL KING is the #1 Bestselling author of Mastering Vitality. He has helped thousands of people achieve ideal body weight and overcome medical illness.

FREE GIFT:

Go to www.masteringvitalitybook. com for a free download of Dr King’s #1 Best Seller, Mastering Vitality.

MBQ

J.T. WILLIAMS A MAN OF MANY BRIDGES WRITTEN BY: DEMETRIUS PASCHEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY: KENNETH TURNER

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T

here are an abundance of signs on I-75 at exit 224 in Henry County Georgia leading up to a massive bridge crossing. The wording, in collective unison reads J.T. Williams Honorary Bridge and is the commendation of a group of men and women of the Georgia Assembly and the Governor who recognized and subsequently dedicated the bridge to Mr. Williams for his exemplary service to the state. The bridge measures 11 lanes wide and carried a $36 million price tag to construct. The commendation occurred in 2012, however the legacy of J. T. Williams spans many decades. A devout Christian who believes that with God all things are possible, Williams has masterfully sculpted a tremendous amount of success for himself and others. This unwavering, kindred spirit has reinforced his collateral impact as a bridge builder through world-class innovation, impeccable service and good deeds.

Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, Joseph Thomas ( J.T.) Williams was the eldest of three siblings. At the age of nine, he began to work for his father who was mayor of Tallahassee. His initial duties included reconciling and filing bank statements. At age 12 he prepared his first individual income tax return and at age 13 prepared his first corporate income tax return. The childhood experiences he gained at a young age were tenets that built character, pride, and responsibility. After graduating high school, he attended Florida State University where he had a double major, accounting and economics, and even sang in an opera. Williams graduated from Florida State University in 1955 and went on to post the highest score in the state of Florida on the CPA Exam. He extended his acumen further by enrolling in a 4 week training program at Price Waterhouse & Co. in New York City.

The only student from the south, he graduated at the top of his class. He was employed with Price Waterhouse & Co. for a year and a half, before serving 3 years in the Air Force. Williams returned to New York after serving his country to complete a total of 4 years at Price Waterhouse & Co. as a CPA where he audited some of the largest companies in the world.

After his 4 year stint in New York, he returned to Tallahassee and started his own accounting firm and ended up with 18 CPA’s.

Williams continued his prowess until he became bored and wanted to pursue another challenge. Out of this tapestry, he chose a hobby in real estate and founded Killearn Properties, Inc. in 1964 with a simple concept: to build homes of exceptional quality and distinction that would exceed homeowners’ expectations in every way.

Williams’ first project was a 4,000 acre development where he planted 1 million trees and the emergence of Killearn Estates and Killearn Lakes Plantation communities began. His developments include the Eagles Landing Country Club in Henry County, a 51,000 square foot plantation-style clubhouse and 27-hole championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio. There’s the Waterfall at Lake Burton, the most picturesque course in the southern mountains, with a 216 feet waterfall, Durham Lakes Country Club in south Fulton County and Kingwood Resort to name a few.

It’s good for the developer to also be heavily involved in the operations of the country club and its members.

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Williams serves as chairman and CEO of Killearn, Inc., a developer of quality golf course communities in Georgia and Florida, with over 16,000 acres throughout these states, 7 golf course communities, shopping centers, hotels, residential and commercial properties. Killearn is an industry leader and sets the bar with innovation, quality and excellence. He has hosted 41 professional golf tournaments, 20 PGA and 21 LPGA, and mingled with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Nancy Lopez, and Jack Nicklaus. He has a close friendship with Bobby Bowden and has been friends with Nick and Terri Saban for over 25 years. He is the father of three sons; 12 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.

Appointed to major boards in Florida and Georgia by 10 governors (7 Democrats and 3 Republicans) and also served as chairman of the state board of education, he’s a political independent and prefers to support the candidate he thinks is best.

“Dad taught me to either run for office or help people in office,” he recalls.

J. T. had an affinity for developing cities of tomorrow. He was ahead of the curve for many years in his thinking, intellect and vision for energy conversion, sustainable and green cities. He continues his work while serving as a medical field consultant; one of the founders of Champions for Life, the largest prison ministry across the globe; and still somehow has time to serve on major local and state boards and support great causes in a big way. He led Killearn’s publicly traded company on the American Stock Exchange for 31 years as it garnered numerous awards for acclaimed golf courses and club communities. He and his sons later purchased it from the other shareholders and Killearn is now a private company again, owned and operated by the Williams family.

How does he do this?

“Planning is the key. I have the ability to look at raw land and imagine what it could be. And it’s great seeing it come to pass. I am also dedicated to service because we are stewards of what God entrusts to us.” Williams explained.

Garnering awards like Best Floor Plan, Best Exterior, Best Overall and Builder of the Year are only miniscule testaments to the robust features, designs and innovation exemplified by the Killearn brand. The distinction is led by an unparalleled visionary with unwavering pride and customer service who believed in the faculties of leadership and a commitment to excellence. The selflessness that Williams displays has resulted in numerous appointments and awards to include chairmanships of

Planning is the key. I have the ability to look at raw land and imagine what it could be.

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the Atlanta Regional Business Coalition, the Georgia Board of Education, Projects and Planning for GRTA, and the Chamber of Commerce. He was a Trustee of both Mercer University and of the Florida State University Foundation, and is the recipient of the Herman Tallmadge Visionary Award by the Chamber of Commerce and the Patrick Henry Award from the Henry Council for Quality Growth. He has also served on the Development Authority Board of Rabun County, the North Georgia Metro Water Board, the Georgia Board of Education, the Hospital Steering Committee in Rabun County, and Henry County Health Systems, Inc. J. T. Williams has made a lifelong commitment to grow and nurture those in his path. When he isn’t working on projects or assisting others, he is living an active and healthy life, golfing, and engaged in Christian ministries.

On Friday, April 21, 2017, J. T. Williams will become the recipient of the President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award. It is an esteemed honor extended to philanthropists and community leaders who consistently give of their time and service to make a difference in the lives of others. He is yet again recognized for being a selfless bridge builder, humanitarian and agent of change by the nation’s highest office. WOW