Two Inspirational Stories of Service and Success

Service to others comes naturally to some, and it seems to be a companion trait to those who also are hardworking and accomplished. That’s certainly the case for two 2022 Women of Color Community Service awardees. Cesanee Johnson and Karriema Calhoun have given their time, talent, vision, and leadership to an array of community efforts that have impacted the lives of youth and adults.

Cesanee Johnson wears two hats as program manager and business operations lead for naval air missiles within Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD), a Raytheon Technologies (RTX) business. She manages the Tomahawk Engineering Supportive Services (ESS) program and supports the Naval Power Mission Area executive director. In these roles, Johnson is responsible for the proposal, negotiation, award, and management of ESS Tomahawk programs for the U.S. Navy. Additionally, she supports the execution and performance of priorities for the NAM portfolio, with annual sales of more than and executing projects to meet or exceed schedule commitments while delivering customer-focused solutions to improve business operations.”

Before her current roles, Johnson was a program integrator and senior technical planner in the Program Management Excellence department, where she spent most of her 14-year RMD career. Earlier in her career, Johnson was an IT project manager at Human Resources Development Institute and a consultant at Accenture in the behavioral health and pharmaceuticals/management consulting industries, respectively.

A dual-degree engineering graduate, Johnson received a bachelor’s in mathematics from Spelman College and a mechanical engineering degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is also a certified project manager through the Project Management Institute.

She also chairs her family foundation, created to perpetuate the legacy of her late great grandmother Flora D. Parrish, who donated her land to the state of Mississippi for a 4-H Camp for African Americans when the state was segregated in the 1940s.

“As an adult, I proactively use my time, talent, and treasure to improve the lives of others through acts of service that benefit people in my community,” said Johnson, who was awarded a 2022 Women of Color Community Service Award.

This sentiment is made apparent by Johnson’s 1,000 hours volunteering with the Metropolitan Board, an auxiliary of the Chicago Urban League. Johnson is passionate about inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. In addition to chartering a National Society of Black Engineers Junior (NSBE Jr.) chapter at a local school, she creates and leads hands-on STEM activities for youth. She’s been involved in chairing, organizing, decorating, and raising money for fundraising events.

When Johnson’s employer downsized after 9/11, she turned her attention to volunteering for Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. She was paired with a young mentee with whom she has forged what she believes will be a lifelong bond. In addition to introducing the young lady to community service projects, Johnson has helped her fill out scholarship and college applications, encouraged her to play tennis, and showed up at her school with balloons on her birthday.

Her mentee, citing their 15-year-plus relationship, shared in a letter of recommendation for Johnson’s Women of Color Community Service Award nomination that Johnson taught her the value of giving back to the community.

“She became more than a person doing volunteer work; she became my family, my friend, my real sister. She also had an influence on me going to her alma mater Spelman,” stated the young woman, who is now a pharmacist.

“In everything I do, I find ways to use my talents to elevate experiences, especially for the benefit of inspiring others and impacting change in the community.”

Karriema L. Calhoun is the indirect supply chain manager of factory and production for The Boeing Company in South Carolina. She oversees purchasing equipment and services to support manufacturing and production programs with a cumulative contract value totaling more than $1 billion. She joined Boeing in 2014 and previously held positions at the company as a facilities and asset management manager and IT process analyst.

Calhoun earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of South Carolina. She also holds an M.B.A. from Charleston Southern University.

“She is a strong advocate for women employees in our company and consistently uses her platform as a manager and volunteer leader to push for policy changes and support to ensure there is equity in the workplace,” stated Tommy Preston Jr., vice president of ethics for Boeing, in a letter of recommendation. “She is one of the first people the company looks to represent us externally because of her passion, effectiveness, and, quite frankly, the respect she has built in the community.”

“Resilient” and “determined” are words used to describe Calhoun, the youngest employee, the only woman, and the only African American in the office when she worked as a cyber security compliance analyst at Athena Consulting Group. Shortly after joining Boeing, a routine medical exam diagnosed a noncancerous brain tumor. She pushed herself to finish as much coursework as possible before the surgery and submitted her final assignments while recovering.” She met her goal and received a second master’s degree in information systems technology management from Capella University.

Calhoun, who was awarded a 2022 Women of Color Community Service Award, has a passion for providing STEM opportunities to underserved groups, especially minorities, women and girls, and people in rural communities.

In 2022, she organized volunteers and planned handson STEM activities for 150 students and 50 adults in support of Legacy Flight Academy’s unique “Eyes Above the Horizon” event, which fosters interest in aerospace careers through flight introductions, mentorship, and exposure to the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

In 2021, she leveraged her role to host two COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Boeing South Carolina and administer the first and second doses to nearly 2,000 community members.

For several years, she volunteered with Boys With A Purpose, an after-school program that provides elementary school boys with life skills. She brought in STEM professionals as guest speakers and piqued the boys’ curiosity about technology careers, expanding their interests and future options. She participated in the launch of a sister program, Girls With Dreams, and led its first STEM engagement session.

Calhoun has served as the diversity and inclusion representative to Boeing’s South Carolina STEM Council and is currently chair of the Boeing Black Employees Association in South Carolina.

She also frequently volunteers with the Boeing DreamLearners program to provide instruction and experience in STEM subjects to South Carolina students.

In the community, Calhoun volunteers with several groups, including but not limited to the YMCA and YWCA of Greater Charleston, Lowcountry Food Bank, Spirit of the Holidays, and 9/11 Heroes Run. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Twenty Pearls Foundation of Charleston, a scholarship and service nonprofit organization founded by the Gamma Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Calhoun credits her family and background with inspiring her to serve others.

“Growing up in a rural area, my family and a very close community shaped much of who I am today,” said Calhoun. “They taught me to help others; it’s where I first learned to serve. Others helped me get here, and this is why I pay it forward.”