Women OF THE MONTH

Yolanda Menjivar-Vasquez

With over two years’ experience, Yolanda Menjivar-Vasquez is a Realtor with Weichert Realtors, based in Germantown, Maryland. Yolanda specializes in residential property sales and works with buyers and sellers. She earned an A.S. in Accounting from Montgomery College and is currently a candidate for the GRI. She is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and Certified International Property Specialist. Yolanda belongs to G.C.A.A.R. and serves as the Maryland state representative for Celebrate Recovery. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and listening to music.

yolanda-menjivarvasquez.weichert.com

Cheryl L. Barron Maria HernandezLopez

Psychiatrist

With over 45 years’ experience, Dr. Maria N. Hernandez-Lopez is a psychiatrist and neurology specialist responsible for diagnosing and treating mental illness, psychotic disorders, depression, and anxiety. She earned an M.D. from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in 1975. In her spare time, Dr. Hernandez-Lopez enjoys travel, gardening, and upholstering furniture.

Director of Housekeeping www.hilton.com

Cheryl L. Barron is the director of housekeeping for DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. With over 15 years’ experience, Cheryl is responsible for the daily operations of the housekeeping department, scheduling, staff oversight, inventory, hiring and firing, training new employees, supplies, and cleaning. She was awarded a Key Contributor Award from Hilton. Cheryl is an advocate for both TESSA and CASA and belongs to W.C.L.I and E.L.A. She earned an A.S. from R.M.A. She enjoys family activities and dancing.

How did you get started in your field/industry?

I was doing roofing for over three years, and I wanted to work inside instead of outside. My friend recommended me to work at a 500-room full-service hotel and that is where it all began. I started cleaning rooms, but after a month I was asked if I wanted to work an evening shift (because I was responsible and did not need supervision). A year later I was asked to be a supervisor in the mornings. I continued doing that for about three years before being asked to move to assistant director of housekeeping. Three years later I was upgraded to director of housekeeping.

What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

It was difficult gaining trust, proving I could do the job, and overseeing a staff of 75-90 employees.

What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges that women face today?

It’s tough to gain the trust of the CEO’s, owners, or general managers. What does the word empowerment mean to you?

Empowerment means that I have the ability to show and teach others they can do anything they want in life.

Latesha R. Clark

With over ten years’ experience, Latesha Clark is the owner of numerous businesses. Latesha earned a B.S. in Education from Mississippi University for Women in 2013 and an M.A. in Education from Kaplan University in 2015. Her expertise is linked to her ability to effectively run multiple companies, organizations, and initiatives, all of which positively contribute towards society’s economic and social goals. She belongs to Woman Business Enterprise, the World-Wide Women’s Association, and sponsors her own Little League girls softball team.

Latesha has solidified her place in the insurance industry in Tennessee and Mis- sissippi by building Maximum Care Solutions, an insurance agency in Tennessee, in 2018, and another thriving agency in Mississippi, in 2020. She is currently building Growth Grounds Inc., a business dedicated to providing business and professional services, including building personal and business credit, filing taxes, qualifying people for loans and grants, building websites, creating logos, and System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Under Growth Grounds Inc., Latesha started Transformational Ncrease LLC and Transformation Academy LLC, which help people build businesses from scratch and offer business consulting services. She is also a

Owner | Growth Grounds Inc.

Notary, registered with the US Department of Agriculture as a minority farmer and received her Real Estate License in 2023.

Additionally, Latesha owns a restaurant, Cabistros Palace, which offers unique ethnic dishes. Her recent focus is on her three new businesses: Growth Grounds Inc., Cal’s Express Freight Lines LLC, and the On The Move Freight Liners LLC. She focuses on providing innovative services and integrates training and employment across all three industries. Under her brokerage firm (On The Move Freight Liners LLC), Latesha can develop management recommendations and certify other community members who want to become freight brokers. She enjoys traveling and reading. growthgroundsinc.com

With over five years of experience, Iris M. Foreman is the owner of iNurse HomeCare, a home healthcare agency that focuses on providing optimal homecare for individuals recovering from an illness, a chronic disability, or for individuals in need of some assistance with ADLS. Their services include assisting with light housekeeping, personal hygiene care, cooking, transportation to and from medical appointments, and more.

Iris earned an L.P.N. from Lincoln Technical School and an A.S. in Respiratory Therapy from Naugatuck Valley Community College. She has a background in respiratory care. Iris is responsible for the overall operations and management of the agency, home care, marketing, CPR instruction, administration, and staff oversight. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and being with her family. How did you get started in your field/industry?

I have always had a huge interest in making those with ailments feel better. My father was a diabetic and my mother had a list of ailments. With love and support, my mother has overcome a lot of her ailments and I attribute that to the unity of the family.

What are some of the biggest challenges/ obstacles you faced in your career?

I persevere to be the best at what I do, which is to provide those in need with having their last days surrounded by family, as it should be. inhc.net

What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges that women face today?

I have learned from many situations where as a minority woman, I have had to go the extra mile to assure my patients that they are in good hands. I am 100% invested in this field.

What does the word empowerment mean to you?

It means to make changes for the better and mankind.

Dr. Patricia Ann Matthews-Juarez Monica Caro Zientek

Dr. Patricia Ann Matthews-Juarez is a senior vice president and professor with Meharry Medical College. From 2003 – 2013 she served as the assistant vice president and professor in the department of pediatrics. Additional past positions have included serving as the administrator for the Meharry-Morehouse-Drew Consortium Cancer Center, where she co-authored the first national grant for the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer. Dr. Matthews-Juarez was the vice chair/administration for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the cofounding director of the Research Center on Health Disparities, Equity, and the Exposome with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee and a professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Fisk University, an M.S.W. from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University, Heller School. Dr. Matthews-Juarez is responsible for teaching medical education, cultural competency, and environmental health courses. She is experienced in research training, medical education, administration, and management. She belongs to EnHip, the Nashville Regional Library, and is on the board of the University of Pittsburgh. In her spare time Dr. Matthews-Juarez enjoys travel and art. home.mmc.edu

Michelle D. Gutierrez

Aretired administrator and teacher, Michelle Gutierrez currently serves as a musician with Music For All Occasions as a professional freelance trumpet player. She also performs in multiple bands, including various genres of music, from Big Band and Latin Jazz to Sonora Dinamita, Sonora Santanera, and Tejano music. Many of her bands can be heard and seen on all social media platforms and YouTube. Michelle was a band director and high brass specialist for 23 years before moving forward into educational administra tion. She earned an M.M. in Music Performance from Baylor University in 1993. In addition to entertaining, Michelle enjoys travelling, sports, and the outdoors.

How did you get started in your field/ industry?

I began my music career playing the trumpet in fourth grade. I performed in the band program throughout my high school years

Musician

Music For All Occasions

and received many awards for excelling in marching band, symphonic band, and jazz band, which includes the Semper Fidelis and John Phillip Sousa Awards.

What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

I was a female trumpet performer as a young girl in a male dominated trumpet section. I had to always prove myself to be as good or better than the boys/men. When I auditioned for solos, unscreened, the judges would select the males as winners. However, when there was a screened audition, meaning the judges could not see any of us, I would win every time.

What does the word empowerment mean to you?

It means equality for all. It’s the right to make decisions, leading oneself and/or supporting others, based on one’s own life choices, commitment and dedication to their craft, business, entrepreneurship, and with regard for their family, friends, and communities.

Monica

Caro

Zientek is a Licensed Practical Nurse with OneStaff Medical.

She earned her L.P.N. from the Southwest School of Health Career in 1994. With over 30 years’ experience, Monica is a travel nurse specializing in long-term care, pediatrics, internal medicine, and hospice care. She is affiliated with Slidell Memorial Hospital. In her spare time she enjoys being with her family.

How did you get started in your field/ industry?

I chose to become a nurse because that is what my father wanted for me. He saw something in me at that time that I did not see in myself.

What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

As I started my nursing career it was challenging but I knew I was caring, kind, empathetic, and compassionate. Later in my career, I was given the honor of being able to take care of my father in his final days. It was the most difficult yet beautiful act I’ve ever experienced.

What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges that women face today?

In my career as a nurse I have faced many challenges from long shifts, working 12-16 hour shifts, lack of nurses, and no support from administration. I usually go without lunch because my workload is so heavy. We also face extreme stress and burnout. www.onestaffmedical.com

Olivia Cream is a Coast Guard veteran, key note speaker, and HR leader. She earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2004. In 2009, she made Coast Guard history as she became one of the first African American engineer officers to serve on a major cutter. In 2012, Olivia retired from the Coast Guard and began her civilian career in the medical device industry.

With over ten years’ experience in human resources, Olivia designs and implements innovative programs to enhance culture, develop talent, and champion organizational change. She is skilled in building trust, organiza-

Arlieta I. Baldwin is the owner of A3J Services, an accounting and payroll service for small businesses based in Houston, Texas. With over three years of experience, Arlieta is responsible for general accounting, payroll, year-end tax reports, monthly and quarterly reporting. She earned an M.B.A. in Global Management from the University of Phoenix in 2004. She belongs to the Payroll Association and the Houston Chamber of Commerce. Arlieta enjoys cooking and tennis.

What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

Alecia Roberson is a client service executive with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. She is a dedicated insurance professional who has contributed her skills to the employee benefits space since 2015. Currently, Alecia serves as a client service executive within the SSP employee benefits department. She is responsible for daily group benefits, plan administration, annual enrollment, and account management. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Upsala College and holds America’s Health Insurance Plans and Federally Facilitate Marketplace designations. Alecia also has her Life and Health Agent’s License in Georgia. She is a diligent activist in her community, contributing to the efforts of Nspire Outreach tional design, communication, coaching, and mentoring. She is experienced in project management, acquisition execution, sales compensation, career pathing, personal development training, and P&L management. Olivia has been recognized for her transformational leadership, performance focus, and innovative ideas. Her results-oriented approach has led to reduced costs, enhanced employee engagement, and expanded workforce diversity.

Olivia is also the co-host of the Embracing Only Podcast which highlights stories of women who are thriving as an ‘only.’ She seeks to change the face of the corporate landscape by inspiring women to chase their dreams and re- claim their power. Olivia enjoys spending time on the water, travel, cooking, being with her family, and giving back to her community.

What does the word empowerment mean to you?

Power is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. This is the second definition of empowerment in the Oxford dictionary. I prefer this definition as it signals that you own your empowerment. Empowerment does not have to be given to you. It’s time women stop waiting to be empowered and claim what is already ours.

Clients do not always desire to pay for services. They always feel they should get something for free but do not realize quality costs. I only provide quality services to all of my clients. I wish I could have a better marketing campaign to reach out to clients who are serious about my services and desire to be on board with the services I provide in terms of HR, payroll, and taxes. What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges that women face today?

Our accomplishments are still underestimated compared to men. This challenge simply makes women stronger, and Hope House For Domestic Violence, where she coordinates donations for women and children served by the program. She enjoys reading, fitness, family, and cooking.

What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

The biggest obstacle in my career was not being recognized for my skillset. I wanted to be recognized for the renewals I saved for the clients I served excellently. I soon began to get recognition at Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, and I haven’t looked back. There is a season for every- but we have to work harder than the average man to have a voice. We still get paid less than the average man, which is unfair. It makes women feel like we are not noticed in the corporate world. What does the word empowerment mean to you? a3j-affordable-online-payroll-services.business.site one, and I am now in my season. Previously, when none of that worked, I took my mom’s advice and changed my job because the company wasn’t going to change for me. www.sspins.com

Empowerment means having the ability to influence change and make the world a better place in your industry and your profession. It also means going the extra mile to ensure greatness and success for yourself. It is being the best role model possible and becoming so contagious with positivity and success that others around you are adopting your practices without realizing it.

What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges that women face today?

When women have passion for a subject or situation it is looked at as emotional.

What does the word empowerment mean to you?

It means giving another person the will to follow their passions and dreams because they have seen you do it and be successful.

Jennifer Villano, a native of Manhasset, Long Island, and a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Compass Real Estate, loves the community she grew up in. She moved back to the town to raise her daughter and has been a resident for the last 20 years. Jennifer has made it her career to help others call Manhasset home as well.

An active member of the local community, Jennifer owns a commercial property in town and is part of her family’s tea company, SerendipiTea. With her background in small business and property ownership, as well as her neighborhood