JULY 2016
50 UNDER
FIFTY Feature Issue
CHANGE the GAME, Don't let the GAME Change YOU.Macklemore
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 1
Contents
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com Guest Contributors Matt Bacak Best Selling Author Connie Butler Professional Career and Life Coach Maria Davies Professional Coach and Speaker Linda Dessau Self-Care Coach Innocent Mwangi Gathungu Motivational Speaker Will Kintsh Leadership Expert Dr. John E. Neyman, Jr. Author, Pastor, Speaker, and Relationship Coach Amy M. Potavin Business Expert
Readers’ Forum Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@ RuralLeaderMagazine.com— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com
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5 Special Feature: Jacqueline Sutton-Ball: Ministering to Others through Gospel Stage Plays 7 Special Feature: Janice Montgomery Albokai-Strauser
9 Special Feature: Mercedes Garrett: National Best Selling Author 12 Four Things Millennials need to Know to Protect their Financial Future 13 What makes you feel fulfilled? Uncovering the secret to living your best life 14 Working the Room and How to Do It 15 Hiring with the Personality Theory, New Evidence Revealed 16 You're Always Public Speaking So Be Prepared 18 Ten Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection
20 Minding Your Global Manners 22 Special Feature" Terry E. Lyle: The Authoress 24 Scholars of Collegiate Distinction: National Call for Nominations Now Open 25 Rural Leader Magazine's 50 under 50 Game Changers 38 How to Organize a Seminar or an Event 41 Setting Goals: Your Only Recipe for Success 43 Paradigm Shifting: The Power of Positive Thinking 45 Special Feature: Linda Diane Wattley 47 Small Town America's 100 Most Influential People Call for Nominations Now Open 48 Change: Do You Do It or Does it Undo You
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Editor’s Note
Photo Courtesy of TieFotos
Dear Readers, Once more, I am elated to present to you the 7th installment of Rural Leader Magazine for 2016! Last month was an exciting time for us. In late May, we launched our inaugural Celebrating the Women of Small Town America Campaign. The CWSTA Campaign was a huge success reaching thousands throughout the U.S. The July issue is all about game changers! We’ve assembled a collection of fascinating features about phenomenal individuals in various genres, especially the literary field. I am so excited to share the story of Jacqueline Sutton-Ball. A native of Lumpkin, Georgia, Sutton-Ball is changing the game through her gospel plays ministry. Read more on page 5. Then there’s Mercedes Garrett, a young and talented national best-selling author from Cuthbert, Georgia. She’s using her creative talent to pen compelling Urban African American fiction novels. An upcoming mogul and mother of one, read about Garrett’s story on page 9; we also spotlight several other dynamic women, such as Janice Montgomery Albokai-Strauser (See page 7; Terry E. Lyle on page 22; and Linda Diane Wattley, page 45. Inside this issue, we have included a series of thought provoking articles on networking (see page 14), paradigm shifting (see page 43), goal setting (see page 41); tips to deal with criticism and rejection (see page 18); and much more. I am extremely excited to present the much anticipated new feature- Rural Leader Magazine’s Fifty under 50 Game Changer Honorees (See page 25). The 2016 class is a diverse group of successful, talented, and phenomenal individuals who contribute much to Small Town America. We have yet another distinguished feature, Rural Leader Magazine’s Scholars of Collegiate Distinction. Beginning July 1st, the national call for nominees begins. The Scholars of Collegiate Distinction was created to recognize recent college graduates nationally. For nomination criteria and information, see page 24. It’s also that time again, the national call for nominations for Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People also begins July 1st. Learn more about nomination criteria on page 47 As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Courtesy of Tie Photos
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 3 @RuralLeaderMag
Reader's Voice Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for featuring the great young women, such as Victoria James! It's awesome that she hails from a small community and already doing wonderful things. I''ll wager that Miss James is a future gamechanger! Love it! —William S. Dothan, AL Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I am so inspired by the Twenty under 20 Feature! Such a great idea and a wonderful way to encourage young leaders to keep striving! Only one thing-I wish I were at least 30 years younger to have such an opportunity. —Nancy B. Staunton, Virginia Dear Rural Leader Magazine, The Eagle Elite Club is another wonderful idea. Thanks for discovering new ways to encourage young people. —Wendy L. Monroe, LA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Let's get the Small Town America's Best Restaurant Feature going again. Thanks in advance. —Blinda S. Johnson City, TN Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for the feature article on Seabreanna Johnson. It is such wonderful news to learn of young women striving for excellence. Great job, Seabreanna! —Mincy L. Frederick, MD
What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag 4 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
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Jacqueline Sutton-Ball
Author Playwright and Producer Courtesy Photo GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 5
Jacqueline Sutton-Ball: Ministering to Others through Gospel Stage Plays
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eet Jacqueline Sutton, a Lumpkin, Stewart County, Georgia native. Born in Munich Germany to Charlotte and Nathaniel Sutton, Jacqueline has been enthralled with movies, since she was four years old. “I was an eccentric child, who was loved to watch movies as early as age four.” she said. Since the age of 12, Jacqueline began writing creatively. She penned her first play at the age of 15, entitled, “I know I’ve been Changed.” However, Jacqueline was not quite ready to get her feet wet. She spent most of her adult life in Pennsylvania. While there, Jacqueline frequented local dinner theaters and play productions. “I recall that this was a time, when God really began to deal with me about my life purpose and ministry. The more I watched others minister through creative writing, I felt empowered that I, too, could do the same through stage plays. So, I took a step of faith and began to do what I do best-write,” she said. In the 2007, Jacqueline Sutton firmly accepted her Godgiven call. In September of that year, Jacqueline wrote her first Gospel stage play titled, “Everything That Glitters Aint Gold”. Three months later, she did the first casting call. Jacqueline tells us more, “This gospel stage play is the story of a successful God fearing woman named Chelsea, who is blessed with all she ever dreamed of, except a good man. She has a great career, a new house being built and she loves the Lord. Every day she is faced with family and friends trying to give her advice on what it takes to get a man. They all mean well, but they have it all twisted. Chelsea, on the other hand, has chosen to wait on the Lord. So many times we are judged, if we do not have that significant other. Loved ones will try to give advice based on who they may or may not think is the right person for you. This person may have a great personality, the perfect job, and they may even seem to be the perfect person, but ‘Everything That Glitters Aint Gold.’ It’s like wearing a piece of fake jewelry. You wear it and soon it begins to change to change color because it is not real. The same thing goes for a relationship. In the end, you soon find out if his or her glitter is from real gold. See, God knows the heart and that is why you should wait on Him. Some people can walk the walk and talk the talk, but none of that matters if their steps are not ordered by God. The play is a great ministry about the importance of waiting on God and will have you laughing, crying, and thinking about life and the man or woman that God made just for you," Jacqueline said. By the end of 2007, Jacqueline launched her own production company called, Way, Truth and Life Productions. “I was inspired to name my company Way, Truth, and
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Life Productions because of my strong connection with God and His Word specifically Luke chapter 14 verse 23: ‘And the Lord said unto the servant, go out unto the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled.’ I am also very much inspired by life experiences. So, my mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by ministering His Word to all people by demonstrating everyday life experiences through gospel stage plays. My purpose is my ministry and my ministry is my purpose, “she said. Later, Jacqueline changed the company’s name to Sutton Glory Ministries. In March 2008, Jacqueline’s first production, “Everything That Glitters Aint Gold,” was performed at the Main Street Cultural Art Theatre in Dawson, Georgia. The production was a complete sell-out. “For me, the success of my first production was confirmation that I was on the right road. I knew that this is what God would have me to do,” she said. Since 2008, Jacqueline has experienced a series of successes with such plays as Vengeance- Turn It over to Jesus and Mad, Mistreated, Messed-Up Man. Mad, Mistreated, Messed-Up Man is a story of three brothers who travel three different paths of life. Jamal Cross he is an ex-convict who just got released from prison and he’s mad at the world. Rev. Thomas Cross is a preacher trying to save the world, and is constantly mistreated by his church. Davion Cross, the rich brother, who owns several businesses and properties, he’s messedup thinking he’s God’s gift to the world. Meanwhile, their mother worries that the family is falling apart. Jacqueline has written several more plays since then. One of her favorites was called, “Heart Trouble.” “Heart Trouble is a story about a young lady named Alexis Dalton, who is suffering from heart trouble. Not the kind of heart trouble you think, but one that comes from a broken heart and life struggles. She is a strong woman, who married at a young age and never went to college. Seemingly, she always ends up in a bad relationship. She is divorced and working as a receptionist for at a local doctor’s office. Alexis’ story is one of finding love when one least expects it,” Jacqueline says. Jacqueline has written a number of hits plays since her debut several years ago. In 2016, Jacqueline wrote and produced “This Woman You Gave Me.” The play features recording artist Duranice Pace of the Pace Sisters and Carl Anthony Payne, a successful actor, producer, and director, who played roles as Theo Huxtable’s best friend “Cockroach” on the ever popular and classic NBC’s hit series, The Cosby Show, “Cole Brown” on the FOX network TV series Martin and as Reynoldo St. James, on the popular BET series The Game. Cont'd on page 53
Janice Montgomery Albokai-Strauser
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 7 Courtesy Photo
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anice is a tenacious sales an marketing professional, who is at the Top of Her Game. She is a driven to success Millionaire Mindset Leadership Coach, who is a member of the John Maxwell Team. Her marketing skill developed through involvement with many direct selling organizations throughout the past 25 years. In August 2004, she founded and launched JMA Publishing. The first publication was entitled The Fort Worth Small Business Times. It was launched in August 2004 with 27 prepaid ads. Her company is a 100% woman-owned minority business. In addition to the publication, in 2004 and 2006 she founded and sponsored The North Texas Christian Women’s Chamber, North Texas Christian Motivational Speaker’s Association & the National Motivational Speaker’s Association. The North Texas Christian Womens' Chamber is an organization where individuals network and develop relationship with peers. It is also an organization that foster an inspirational and motivational environment to connect with dynamic business owners, executives, and professional women from diverse fields. The North Texas Christian Motivational Speaker's Association is a faith-based speakers organization with a servant's heart. The organizations mission entails providing Christian organizations with qualified speakers, whose ministry is place the Word of God and Jesus Christ at the center of ministry. The organization also provides training to speakers who sense God’s call to a speaking ministry. The National Motivational Speaker's Association is a non-denominational speakers bureau serving evangelical churches, retreat centers, and Christian organizations with dynamic and gifted speakers. In 2005, she created the first radio talk show for small business owners called the Voice of Small Business. The radio show focuses on providing critical information to assist small business owners in business growth. Janice produces five radio shows each week, Insight Christian Radio, Competitive Edge, The Female Entrepreneur, The Factor of “P” and My Millionaire Mindset. Insight Christian Radio / TV offers tangible scripture based business practices and resources for small business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs through an online, web-based talk show format. The mission of Insight-Christian Radio / TV is to minister to the small business community nationwide and globally. Janice is a passionate radio show
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host, professional, and entrepreneur who has worked with the small business community, since 1993. She has coached and mentored more than 10,000 small business owners and professionals nationwide. Her career in ministry a d business is driven with a desire to assist small business owners on their journey with a ‘Road Map and Keys to Success in Life and Business.
Download Janice's new book online at http://www.thefactorofp.com/
Janice is also an acclaimed author. Her new book, The Factor of "P," a 30-day devotional, which presents a spiritually, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. Janice desires readers to experience the power of embracing the Factor of "P" by considering each day the ways God has blessed you. In the Factor of "P"daily devotional one can improve his or her attitude, in additional to and bringing joy into life both professionally and personally.— For more information, contact: Janice Montgomery Albokai-Strauser Dallas P: (214) 548-2584 Fort Worth P: (817) 676-6074 P: (877) 278-9090 Online: JaniceAlbokai.com Email: janice@janicealbokai.com
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Mercedes Garrett
National Best Selling Author GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 9
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ercedes Garrett: The Authoress and Cuthbert Native, Mercedes Garrett knows all too well about the art of a good story. The 2008 RandolphClay High School graduate has much to share these days. She is a successful business mogul and writer. Since an early age, Mercedes loved to write. An advent reader, Mercedes spends hours discovering new knowledge and developing creative stories. After high school, Mercedes attended Clark-Atlanta University for one year. However, life took her on a different path, and she moved back home to Cuthbert. While home, Mercedes found a job at the local hospital as a patient account representative. “The job opportunity was not what I really wanted to do. It was a means to an end. I found myself wanting more. Writing was still my passion, but I didn’t have the guts to follow my dreams,” she said. Mercedes re-enrolled in school at the University of Phoenix. In 2012, she graduated with an Associates degree in Business. “I desired a degree that would give me a foundation for the future. While working the typical nine to five, I discovered that it
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was not for me. I learned that I wanted to design my future on my own terms. And for me, I realized that my passion for writing may help me get there, “she said. So each day, Mercedes continued to write. One day in 2014, she discovered the publisher Shun Presents. With the encouragement of family and friends, Mercedes submitted a writing sample. In less than 24-hours, the publisher Shun Presents invited Mercedes to sign on as a new Urban Fiction African American Romance writer. She accepted and three weeks later, Mercedes completed her first novel- All I Want Is That Hood Love. This story is about twentyfour year old NaTaysia who is convinced the only man that is capable of loving her is her handsome, sophisticated husband JaMel Taylor. JaMel is a businessman who has a few secrets of his own, and he loves NaTaysia dearly but finds himself in a world of trouble when he can no longer fight temptation. JaMel is the only man NaTaysia has known emotionally, physically and mentally. That is, until she runs into the notorious De’Carlos Banks, known to the streets as Mega. His cockiness, craziness,
and thug demeanor is just too much for her to resist. NaTaysia finds herself head over heels for Mega when he opens her eyes to a life only one can imagine. Mega is a known Boss in every city he touches down in. Owning the drug game for over a decade, he has the world in his possession. The only thing missing is someone to share it with. After being captivated by NaTaysia, he is determined for them to be together by any means. The novel debuted in March 2015 to rave reviews and phenomenal sales. The second and third novels in the series were published in May and August 2015, respectfully. DeCarlos Banks aka “Mega” has become one of Mercedes most popular characters to date. In December 2015, Mercedes published The One I Gave My Heart To. “The heart is a fragile part of the body that can easily be broken if it’s not handled with care, which is why one should be very vigilant of whom they choose to give it to. This story is about Mia, who is a 23-year-old independent phlebotomy tech, who is living her life worry and drama free. It isn’t much. but she isn’t complaining and it’s enough
to take care of herself and maintain the lifestyle that she is accustomed to. After being persuaded by her friends, Kelsi and Terri to go out on a Thursday night, she ends up at the same nightclub as the streets supplier, the main attraction, a guy she’s been lusting over since she was a teenager: Dola The Don. She’s much older now and she’s taken aback when he finally approaches her after all these years and gives her a dose of the glamorous but street lifestyle that he lives,” she says. In March 2016, Mercedes published Down To Ride to the Very End, which was a collaborative project with 23-year old Shan Presents author Nikki Sims. Down to Ride to the Very End is a story about a modern day Bonnie and Clyde-Desire Amor and Raheem “Yung” Harris. It’s a love story filled with triumphs, trials, and betrayal. Still mounting high from her writing success, Mercedes has goals to build an empire. In October 2015, she launched a publishing company, Sylver Dynasty Publications, a sub-company under Shan Presents. Currently, fifteen authors are under her publishing house.
In July 2016, she plans open a t-shirt printing company based in Cuthbert- JDA print and Design. Part two of The One I Gave My Heart To will debut July 15, 2016. In the fall of 2016, Mercedes
will have book signing at the Atlanta Book Expo in Clarkston, GA. She also plans to open JDA Bounce House Company in spring 2017. Currently, Mercedes is working on a new novel series, called “Insecure.” Mercedes has embraced success humbly and with a number of accolades. In 2015, she was nominated for Breakout Author of the Year and New Author of the Year by the African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC), sponsored by Tamekia Newhouse, an award winning, selfpublished, bestselling author, who founded Delphine Publications.
Mercedes' books are distributed world-wide through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Connect with Mercedes via her various social media outlets, such as http://facebook.com/MercedesGTheAuthoress and Instagram Mercedes732. She also has an Online Readers’ group--Mercedes G. Reader Palace, which includes upcoming releases, exclusive sneak peaks, and the opportunity to chat with her and to win prizes. Readers may also text 22828 for updates as well. Mercedes has one daughter, Jahzar, 3. She is the daughter of Slyvia and KeMario Huff; she two brothers DeMario and Amari.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 11
Four Things Millennials need to Know to Protect their Financial Future
Millennials can have different perspectives than baby boomers when it comes to experiencing a disability. More than 100 million working Americans have no disability coverage other than Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Millennials - now the largest part of the workforce - may be most at risk. Millennials are least likely to have disability coverage offered through their employers or private insurance providers, and most don’t understand long-term disability insurance, according to a recent insurance industry study. However, one in four 20-year-olds will become disabled before they retire, as noted by the Council for Disability Awareness. This is a reality many boomers are experiencing firsthand. Nearly 75 percent of all individuals receiving SSDI benefits today are between the ages of 50 and full retirement age, according to the Social Security Administration. Life perspectives can be different for millennials, born in the early 1980s to early 1990s, when compared to boomers, born in the 1940s to early 1960s. But there are several practical steps that millennials can take to ensure they are prepared should they experience a disability, says Tricia Blazier, personal health and financial planning director for Allsup. Understand SSDI eligibility. Not everyone is eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. As the name implies, it’s insurance and individuals must have worked and paid into Social Security through payroll taxes for five of the last 10 years in order to qualify. 12 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
They must also have been disabled before reaching full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Finally, they must meet Social Security’s definition of disability, which means they aren’t able to work because of a mental or physical disability that has or is expected to last for at least 12 months, or to result in death. Know the benefits of SSDI. Eligible workers last year received an average monthly SSDI income of $1,166. More than half of beneficiaries receive monthly benefits in the range of $700 to $1,400. SSDI income does not replace a full-time wage, but it’s an important safety net for the more than 10 million workers and their dependents who rely on it, says Blazier. She added that dependents and spouses may be eligible for additional income benefits averaging a few hundred dollars a month. She also notes SSDI includes additional support. For example, individuals become eligible for Medicare 24 months after their cash SSDI benefits begin. Particularly important for younger workers, return-to-work incentives are also available to SSDI recipients. These incentives allow individuals to attempt work through the Ticket to Work program, while still providing disability benefits for a period of time. SSDI also includes provisions to protect a person’s future retirement benefits. Apply for and secure help getting SSDI benefits as
soon as possible. The SSDI application process can be confusing and frustrating. Most people who apply are initially denied. Those who appeal face a national backlog of more than 1 million claims. “Getting expert help at the very beginning of the SSDI application process increases a person’s chance of being awarded at the application level,” explains Blazier. “They will have their benefits faster than the months or years many people must wait if they have to appeal.” Participate in employer-provided long-term
disability coverage if available. Some employees are eligible for employer-provided or subsidized long-term disability coverage. Many of these policies have provisions that require individuals to also seek SSDI, Blazier notes. Therefore, even if employees have private coverage, it’s important they understand their SSDI eligibility requirements and benefits. For more information on SSDI eligibility and benefits, call the Allsup Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 678-3276 or visit Expert.Allsup.com.—BPT
What makes you feel fulfilled? Uncovering the Secret to Living Your Best Life
It’s not money. It’s also not how many vacations you take, or whether or not you have pets, or if you own a big house. So what, then, is the secret to living a fulfilled life? The highly debated answer to this question might surprise you. Nearly 2 million people around the world have spoken through a global survey conducted by Abbott, the global healthcare company. Most people feel the key to living a full life is family, followed by success, giving, and health. Interestingly, family outranked the next-closest factor by more than 20 percent. If you think money is keeping you from living a full life, you’re not alone. An eye-opening 44 percent cited money as the top barrier to living a full life, followed by time, work and priorities. Meanwhile, attitude was the top reason people thought others live fulfilling lives, followed closely by health. “We uncovered the passions and obstacles that
people have as they try to live their best lives. We set out to get people talking about what it means to live fully and how they can get the most from their lives,” says Elaine Leavenworth, senior vice president, chief marketing and external affairs officer, Abbott. “Ultimately, we want to help people live the fullest, healthiest life possible. Understanding more about what everyone values the most and what gets in their way will help us serve them better.” When asked to rank how fulfilled they are on a scale from 1-100, the global median for people around the world was 68. Those who listed family or spirituality as a top factor for living fully often rated themselves higher on the fulfillment scale. In contrast, people who listed success as a top factor for living fully tended to rate themselves lower on the fulfillment scale. Continued on page 9 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 13
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Working the Room and How to Do It By Will Kintish
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et's cover an area of working the room with which people often struggle... the actual moving around the room. Disengaging with one group and breaking into groups. Finally I will cover the bridge process and explain the importance of the follow up after we have met new people. Perhaps you have recently had a chance to meet people at a business networking event or social event, a conference, or seminar and have taken the opportunity to go up to someone standing alone. The problem comes when you wish to extricate yourself from this person but don't know how to go about it. Here let me give you some practical ideas. If you are both fellow guests at a function you don't owe it to this person to spend the rest of the evening with them. Think about it for a moment, the chances are that this person wishes to move on as much as you do but like you they simply don't wish to offend or cause any embarrassment. You can do one of three of things: After you have finished speaking you can simply say "Well, Jo, it's been great meeting you, enjoy the rest of the evening. Please excuse me as I promised to go and talk to Gerry over there". You could say, "I'm going to get another drink, would you like to come?" The coward's way out is "Please excuse me, I need to go to the loo!" and make sure you move well away from the person. Whichever you use please do it with respect, integrity and politeness. Good manners is essential when working the room and is good business; bad manners brings no business. The important aspect here is to move around the room with or without your new found friend. Again can I remind you that if your conversation is dry, they too probably want to be off working the room as well. You are doing them a favour by using your superior business networking techniques Using the second idea of moving to the bar is an opportunity to park the person with someone else or for them to park you. It's rare both of you will be at an event where you don't know anyone so moving to the bar usually has the desired effect. When you do bump into someone you know even though you are a guest at an event act as a host. Don't just say "Hi Lou this is Jo" and leave it there. You have been chatting to Jo for some time and you obviously know Lou ... so play host. Say something like this, "Lou let me introduce you to Jo who I've just met this evening. He has a fascinating business selling sand to Middle Eastern Companies and, Jo, Lou here and I have been friends for years. He runs a business helping growing
exporters raise finance from people who are looking for high-risk high return opportunities". These introductions are designed to get the two of them to talk quickly and with ease and reassurance. Who knows what may happen. You just might have created some potential for both of them? Business networking isn't just about what you can do for yourself, it's about what you can do for others. If you help someone, they will remember you when they hear of someone who needs your services. This of course makes it so much easier for you to move on and meet other people. This exercise is what I call parking. Like your car do it carefully, watch all angles and don't hit anything! So now you have a parked Jo with Lou you have freshened up your drink. You look around the room and you see clusters of people or groups chatting to each other. "Help... What do I do next?" It's easy. Work the room! Look for a group of three people and move over to the edge of the circle. As you are moving towards the group, look at the faces of the people and decide who seems to be the most welcoming. Stand opposite that person at the edge of the group and smile. I can assure you the following will happen. The person you have smiled at will smile back and one or both of the other people will turn towards you and both will take one step to the side making a space for you. When you first do this, it's not easy. I'm not pretending it is but it always works. Ask in a gentle voice "Good evening please may I join you"? Again I have to tell you, you will not be rejected. The chances are someone will put their hand out and introduce themselves. I often play a game at the start of a business networking seminar or prior to a sit down meal by asking my newfound friend if they would allow me to use them as a Guinea Pig. I get them to go up to people they don't know, try out what I have just said and it always works. I do this simply to ensure that whenever I write about the matter or speak about it at the presentations and seminars I deliver that I feel confident in the advice I give. Once you have successfully joined a group, don't change the subject matter and wait for them to start asking you questions. Bear in mind again, the chances are these people are from the same business or have known each other for a long time but haven't got the self-confidence to break away and meet new people... So you are a big relief for them! When you are in a group, you will know the time to move on, instinct will tell you. I don't need to. So go to the top of this article and remember the tips GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 15
You're Always Public Speaking So Be Prepared By Maria Davies
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he funny thing about presenting and public speaking is that the majority of people will tell you they don't enjoy it and/or aren't very good at it. And yet regardless of who they are and what they do, most of the speaking they do on a day-to-day basis IS public speaking. You see, mostly when we talk to ourselves we keep it as an internal dialogue that nobody else can hear. But whenever we open our mouths and actually make a noise in front of another person we're speaking in public - hence "public speaking". So why do so many people find it so scary? I think it's the eyes. All those sets of eyes fixed on you..... BORING into you. It's unsettling. So would it be any easier if your audience was ignoring you and all looking the other way? What if they all dozed off so it WAS as 16 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
if you were talking to yourself? (Have you ever been a Rotary after-dinner speaker?) Whatever the reason, the fact is that before getting up to speak, even the most seasoned professional will have some butterflies, whether they choose to call the feeling nervousness or excitement doesn't really matter. Rest assured, we all experience it to some degree. If I had one tip to pass on, if I was asked to tell you the most important lesson I've learnt over the years I've been presenting, it would have to be to stress the absolute necessity of being totally prepared. Now this may sound obvious and I'm sure you've heard this before, possibly many times, and like a lot of important messages it tends to become diluted the more we hear it "Oh yes, I knew that, now what else?". And yet, knowing this, some
people will be outside in the car park seconds before they have to deliver their sales pitch scribbling it out on the back of a business card. I know, I've been there. When I talk about being prepared, I mean you should know your talk off by heart. You should be able to give it verbatim, standing on your head, without even having to think about what comes next. Now some of you may be thinking "Yes, but I don't work like that. I like to keep the spontaneity" or "Yes, but I want to tailor my talk to the occasion" or "Yes, but that would be boring because I'd just be on auto pilot." But actually, that's not what happens. In effect, the opposite is true. When you know your talk by rote, it gives you the freedom to change it around, to add, to subtract without losing your direction. It's like driving from A to B. If your route is set from the outset
and you know it well, you can safely veer off and browse in a few antique shops and have a pub lunch in a picturesque village off the beaten track and still get back to where you were to complete your journey. But, if you'd just set off in the general direction with no main route to which to return, you'd soon get lost if you were to be diverted and you'd have difficulty picking up that thread again. You see, there are so many things out there that can throw the speaker, and lots of unexpected things can occur when you're dealing with the public. No matter how good you are, you will become distracted, so knowing your material to the nth degree is absolutely crucial. If something happens that needs your attention, you'll have to stop and deal with it, but you can return to your talk with barely a glitch and appear
calm, collected and hence the ultimate professional. You see we all get nervous. We all stick our feet in our mouths sometimes. We don't ever operate in a hermetically sealed environment, especially when exposed to other humans. But prepare, prepare and over-prepare and not only will you enjoy the confidence of knowing that nothing can phase you because you know your material, but if you're forced off your chosen route for any reason you can return smoothly and appear to be the consummate professional speaker. And after all, if you can't - or won't - speak about your business, who will?— About the Author Maria Davies is the UK's top professional speaker and presentations coach for women. Find out more at www.laddersofsuccess.com
Working the Room, Cont'd from page 5 about working the room.— About the Author I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1971, aged 23 and stayed in practice for the next 30 years.
I ended my accountancy career as the senior partner on merger with a national firm on May 31 2000. The next day I set up Kintish to show people in the professional, financial and service-based communities how to attract more business and clients.
Fulfilled continued from page 5 “These results reflect a dynamic that has been ingrained in humans for much of history. There’s always a sense of tension between what we value as a society and what might actually be possible for individuals,” says Eric Hedberg, Ph.D., sociologist and assistant professor, Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University. “Around the world, most societies value family and success;
these are core needs of any human being. However, not every society provides the same opportunities to achieve those goals. Instead of accepting barriers to fulfillment, it’s important for individuals to refocus on what they can do to change these conditions.” To learn more about the survey, visit www.LifetotheFullest.abbott.—BPT GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 17
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By Linda Dessau
10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection
O
uch! Whether it's feedback we've asked for, an unsolicited remark called out from the audience or a simple "no" result of an audition or submission process, criticism and rejection are a huge part of our lives as creative artists. Sometimes we're so fearful of being criticized or rejected that we keep our creativity bottled up and don't let it out. Other times we constantly adapt what we create, focusing only on the "market" and what they seem to be liking or disliking this week. Then we end up feeling like we're not truly expressing our creative impulses. 10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection 1. Be Open. You may be hoping for a specific reaction or response to your work, or a specific result of an audition, gallery submission, performance or contest entry. If you've done your best and you're rejected or criticized, you might feel that you've "failed", and it's probably hard to see anything positive about the situation. Try to be open to the possibility that this "failure" is actually leading you to something else, usually better than what you thought you wanted. As I read once in Cheryl Richardson's newsletter, "Any rejection is God's protection". 2. Be Consistent. Keep going, doing the little things every day that keep you creative and that keep you connected to other artists and to your customers. The
dramatic moments and big wins and losses will come and go. Have a steady routine you can keep coming back to, and this will help to place any criticism or rejection into perspective. Today is a new day, another day you get to be an artist. 3. Be Focused. Keep your end goal in mind, and always be mindful of why you're doing what you're doing. That will help you focus on the big picture and not get tripped up by each bump in the road along the way. 4. Be Resilient. Remember that your sense of self-worth comes from inside of you. When you're able to be confident in yourself regardless of the feedback you get from external sources, you're able to bounce back much more easily from any negative feedback that you may get. 5. Be Positive. Focus your attention on the positive and you'll attract more of it. This is the premise of the "law of attraction", and I've certainly seen it work in my own life. Hear the positive feedback you receive and replay it over in your mind whenever you need to. 6. Be Clear. Approach constructive feedback with an accurate perspective, not muddled with thoughts from your own inner critic. Take it as a helpful tool for your own growth and remember that ultimately the only opinion that matters is your own - because you need to be happy with what you're producing. 7. Be Grateful. Be gracious
to your critics, accept all of the feedback you receive, sit quietly and let it sink in. Be grateful to be actively creating - to have gotten past the fear and other roadblocks. Be grateful for the opportunity to have your work seen and heard. Some never get the chance. 8. Be Responsive. Decide consciously what to do with feedback before responding, instead of reacting with the first thought or words that come to mind. 9. Be Selective. Once you've decided what to do the feedback you've received, be selective and willing to let go of the hurtful feedback. This usually doesn't have anything to do with you anyway; it's a reflection of that person's own happiness, state of mind and comfort with themselves. 10. Be Loving. Be loving of your critic and ESPECIALLY of yourself. Plan some self-care treats for the day of the audition or submission. Regardless of the outcome, you deserve it! Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)— About the Author Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. Feel like your creativity is blocked? Visit www.genuinecoaching.com to sign-up for the free e-course, "Roadblocks to Creativity".
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 19
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Minding Your Global Manners By Lydia Ramsey
o say that today's business environment is becoming increasingly more global is to state the obvious. Meetings, phone calls and conferences are held all over the world and attendees can come from any point on the globe. On any given business day you can find yourself dealing face-to-face, over the phone, by e-mail and, on rare occasions, by postal letter with people whose customs and cultures differ your own. You may never have to leave home to interact on an international level. While the old adage "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" still holds true, business clients and colleagues who are visiting this country should be treated with sensitivity and with an awareness of their unique culture. Not to do your homework and put your best international foot forward can cost you relationships and future business. One small misstep such as using first names inappropriately, not observing the rules of timing or sending the wrong color flower in the welcome bouquet 20 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
can be costly. There is no one set of rules that applies to all international visitors so do the research for each country that your clients represent. That may sound like a daunting task, but taken in small steps, it is manageable and the rewards are worth the effort. Keeping in mind that there are as many ways to do business as there are countries to do business with, here are a few tips for minding your global P's and Q's. Building relationships: Few other people are as eager to get down to business as we Americans. So take time to get to know your international clients and build rapport before you rush to the bottom line. Business relationships are built on trust that is developed over time, especially with people from Asia and Latin America. Dressing conservatively: Americans like to dress for fashion and comfort, but people from other parts of the world are generally more conservative. Your choice of business attire is a signal of your respect for the other person or organization. Leave your trendy clothes in the closet on the days
that you meet with your foreign guests. Observe the hierarchy: It is not always a simple matter to know who is the highest-ranking member when you are dealing with a group. To avoid embarrassment, err on the side of age and masculine gender, only if you are unable to discover the protocol with research. If you are interacting with the Japanese, it is important to understand that they make decisions by consensus, starting with the younger members of the group. By contrast, Latin people have a clear hierarchy that defers to age. Understanding the handshake: With a few exceptions, business people around the world use the handshake for meeting and greeting. However, the American style handshake with a firm grip, two quick pumps, eye contact and a smile is not universal. Variations in handshakes are based on cultural differences, not on personality or values. The Japanese give a light handshake. Germans offer a firm shake with one pump, and the French grip is light with a quick pump. Middle Eastern people will continue shaking your
hand throughout the greeting. Don't be surprised if you are occasionally met with a kiss, a hug, or a bow somewhere along the way. Using titles and correct forms of address: We are very informal in the United States and are quick to call people by their first name. Approach first names with caution when dealing with people from other cultures. Use titles and last names until you have been invited to use the person's first name. In some cases, this may never occur. Use of first names is reserved for family and close friends in some cultures. Titles are given more significance around the world than in the United States and are another important aspect of addressing business people. Earned academic degrees are acknowledged. For example, a German engineer is addressed as "Herr Ingenieur" and a professor as "Herr Professor". Listen carefully when you are introduced to someone and pay attention to business cards when you receive them. Exchanging business cards: The key to giving out business cards in any culture is to show respect for the other person. Present your card so that the other person does not have to turn it over to read your information. Use both hands to present your card to visitors from Japan, China, Singapore, or Hong Kong. When you receive someone else's business card, always look at it and acknowledge it. When you put it away, place it carefully in your card case or with your business documents. Sticking it haphazardly in your pocket is demeaning to the giver. In most cases, wait until you have been introduced to give someone your card. Valuing time. Not everyone in the world is as time conscious as Americans. Don't take it personally
if someone from a more relaxed culture keeps you waiting or spends more of that commodity than you normally would in meetings or over meals. Stick to the rules of punctuality, but be understanding when your contact from another country seems unconcerned. Honoring space issues: Americans have a particular value for their own physical space and are uncomfortable when other people get in their realm. If the international visitor seems to want to be close, accept it. Backing away can send the wrong message. So can touching. You shouldn't risk violating someone else's space by touching them in any way other than with a handshake. Whether the world comes to you or you go out to it, the greatest compliment you can pay your international clients is to learn about their country and their customs. Understand differences in behavior and honor them with your actions. Don't take offense when visitors behave according to their norms. People from other cultures will appreciate your efforts to accommodate them and you will find yourself building your international clientele.— About the Author Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of Manner that Sell-Adding the Polish that Builds Profits. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at lydia@mannersthatsell.com or visit her web site www.mannersthatsell.com
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 21
Au t h o r e s s Te r r y E . Ly l e 22 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
Courtesy Photo
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erry E. Lyle is a prolific writer that enjoys good conversations and appreciates the many blessings that have been bestowed upon her by God. Her stance on honesty is unwavering. Her main goal that she wishes to achieve out of this life, is to be able to love, reach-out, train and share knowledge with compassion through speech or within the pages of her many books. Raised in Baltimore, Maryland and having traveled many times abroad, she always look for the unusual because she's known for being a strange bird herself. Terry travels throughout the United States reading and sharing her stories, from near death to disability while constantly trying to encourage others. She has a passion for children and their mental and emotional growth including her watchful eye of protection. Always vigilant about equal rights and willing to be a mouth-piece for the under-dog. With her colorful personality and inner glow it's hard not to love her! Terry is a survivor of a near death experience when the Tractor trailer she was driving in while in a snow blizzard hit a patch of black ice and she flipped over 4 times in her truck where she had to be cut out. From hopelessness to disability she's fighting her way back and the realness that she speaks about on everyday issues will have you riveted at how she makes it plain without sugar-coating the issues. Known as the Authoress she is fast becoming a well known writer globally and topping the charts on all major websites. Although she was a victim in the accident, Terry saw the need to publish books and in less than 3 years and five months, several books were already in print: "Speechless","Confessions","Peeling Back the Mask", "Insane," and "Exposed," a book of poetry blended in a controversial medley. Lyle is a recipient of the Editor’s Choice Award. She is an ISP member, and a featured author in Anthology of Expressions by White Oak Publishers, Eber & Wein Publications, resulting out of a nation wide contest search of poets, where she won a finalist position; and Voices, which is a collection of various poets published by Unique Euphony Publications. She received several Community Service Award sand was honorably recognized by the Unity with Pam TV Show for dedication and service to the community. Lyle has appeared on numerous TV shows, including the Sharon Jones TV Show and the Dee Armstrong's show in Columbus, Georgia. She sup-
ports and contributes to the TEAR's Foundation that empowers youth and the Food Bank that distributes food to all of Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama, which is operated by Apostle Jean Keel. Lyle hosts her own radio segment called Unmasked with Authoress Lyle on Blog Talk Radio each Friday from 7:30 pm EST . The URL is www.blogtalkradio.com/authoress-terry-e-lyle The number is 347-945-6003. Terry also have created her own perfume/cologne line with her uniqueness and passion. She is also a member of the International Society of Poets (I.S.P) whose members include President Bill Clinton, Bishop Desmond Tutu and the late singer and actor Johnny Cash. Lyle was the host of her global following Internet radio segment called "Author's Corner" via the WMEL 104.1 FM, in 2013 and 2014. She showcases published authors, screenwriters, poets, and editors. Terry’s views will leave you hungry for more. While she candidly pours her heart out in hopes that she reaches the core elements that inspires you to reflect and react. Since January 2014 Terry started her own globally listened to talk radio called Unmasked on Blogtalk Radio, which airs each Friday at 7:30pm EST and the URL for the show is www.blogtalkradio.com/authoress-terry-e-lyle. Lyle's latest book is entitled, Broken. The book encourages readers to come out of the secret place of shame and embarrassment caused by negative life choices and circumstances. She encourages readers to release excess baggage and to foster a relationship with God. Broken is about letting go, self forgiveness, and love.
To find out more, Visit TerryLyle.com Terry currently resides in Alabama. She always accepts words of encouragement and they can be forwarded to her at P.O. Box 6813; Columbus, GA 31917. — GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 23
NATIONAL CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
July 1-July 20, 2016
Recognizing recent college graduates nationally. For nomination criteria and form, visit
RURALLEADERMAG.COM We're so excited to share with you another new feature to Rural Leader Magazine's collection-the Scholar of Collegiate Distinction Honors. We're looking for deserving individuals who have graduated in one or more of the following academic levels: associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from an accredited institution in the United States. The call for nominations begins July 1 1-July 20, 2016. The selected honorees will be featured in the August 2017 edition of Rural Leader Magazine. Here's what we're looking for: Nominee must may self-nominate or be nominat-
24 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
ed by an organization, individual, or group: 1. reside in a small community population 300175,000; 2. have graduated within 2016 from an accredited college/university within the United States; 3. graduated in one or more the following academic levels: associates, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral; 4. must demonstrate academic excellence in field of study. Nominate a deserving scholar today! Complete a nomination form online at www.RuralLeaderMag.com. For more information, write to info@ ruralleadermagazine.com.—
2016
GAME CHANGERS Rural Leader Magazine is pleased to present the 2016 Class of Fifty under 50 Game Changers. The Rural Leader 50 under 50 Honor was developed with the purpose to recognize exclusively leaders who live and work in small communities. We received a number of nominations from across the country of worthy individuals. Each nominee was either self-nominated or nominated by an organization or group. To qualify, nominees, must be at least 40 and under 50 as of July 2016 AND reside in the
United States. This year's honorees are indeed game changers in their respective fields and genres. We are elated to showcase such a diversified collection of exemplary leaders in Small Town America. Their collective contributions and achievement is a testament to the astounding level of talent in our communities. Congratulations to 2016 Fifty under 50 Game Changers, for a job well done! — GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 25
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
Kemuel Allan Age 44 STATS
Bishop Tony Banks Age 47 STATS
Hometown Decatur, GA
Hometown Hurtsboro, AL
Affiliations Chief Executive Officer Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
Affiliations Bishop and Senior Pastor Life Changing Church Columbus, GA
Founder and CEO Kem Kimbrough Foundation
CEO/Consultant Tony A. Banks Ministries
Principal Kem Kimbrough, LLC
Education Troy State University
Married to Sherika Kimbrough Two Sons: KJ and Sean
Current City Columbus, GA
Education Emory University School of Law Morehouse College
Military Service United States Marine Corps
Affiliations Executive Director Marion County Family Connection
Dothan City Schools and Health South Rehab (AL) and First Lady Bride of Christ Church (GA)
Founder of DIAMONDS Male Youth Development Leadership Group
Married to Pastor Bernard Burke with Three Children
Chairman of Deacon Board and Men's Ministry
Profession Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Adjunct Post 309 American Legion
Education Darton State University Albany, GA
Former Marion Co. Commissioner District 1 & Buena Vista Council Member
Current City Bainbridge, GA
Married with Children Education Troy State University Current City Buena Vista, GA Military Service United States Army
Taifa Smith Butler Age 44 STATS Hometown Philadelphia, PA Married to Andre Butler with a daughter
Military Service United States Air Force Academy Current City Jonesboro, GA
Kevin T. Brown Age 49 STATS Hometown Buena Vista, GA 26 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
Cherise Burke Age 49 STATS Hometown Bainbridge, GA Affiliations
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
Affiliation Executive Director Georgia Budget and Policy Institute Education Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Concentration: Financial
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Management Concentration: Economics Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Current City McDonough, GA
Hometown Cuthbert, GA Affiliations First African America Principal in 120 year History of Columbus High School (GA) Married to Kimberly Father of two: a dauhter, Tre'Cherie and a son, Marvin, Jr. Education B.S., Health Sciences and Master of Education Columbus State University (GA)
Natasha Cambridge Age 44 STATS
Specialist degree in ED Troy Univsersity (AL)
Hometown Tifton, GA
Doctorate in ED Administration Argosy Univserity Sarasota, FL
Affiliation Educator Literacy Advocate Active Member Kappa Iota Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta
Current City Columbus, GA
Education Bachelor of Arts in Communications Shorter College Rome, GA Nonprofit Boards Council of Government GaFCP Region 8 PTPN Entrepreneur Friendly Adult Education Advisory Committee Current City Eufaula, AL
Hometown Cuthbert, GA Affiliation Coordinator Quitman County
Better Business Bureau of Middle Georgia Executive Committee Central Georgia Technical College, Macon Action Plan Committee All That Jazz Committee & Macon Golf for Kids’ First Tee
Georgia Informer’s Top 40 Under 40 David Danzie Age 45 STATS
Affiliation Construction Planning Director Macon-Bibb Housing Authority Sara Lee Crumbs Age 47 STATS
Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce (Vice Chair/ Membership, Executive Committee
Honors Macon Magazine’s Top 5 Leaders Under 40 Sept. '07
Hometown Macon, GA
Current City Tifton, GA
Dr. Marvin Crumbs Age 45 STATS
Family Connection (GA)
Married to ArrKeicha Rucker Father of 15-Year Old Twins: David III & Madison Current City Byron, GA
Education Business Administration Macon State College Volunteer Activities Leadership Georgia Past President & Chairman Navicent Health Board of Director’s (Chair – IT Committee)
Teresa Davis Age 44 STATS
Hometown Cuthbert, GA GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 27
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Affiliations Co-Owner Day By Day Bill Services Co-Founder The Stingez Cheering Squad Member Virgil Chapel AME Church, Coleman, GA
and Choir Member
Zion Watch Baptist Church Lumpkin, GA
Education Associate, Education Georgia Military College B.S. in Human Services Troy University (AL)
Education Tuskegee Job Corps
Masters of Art, Special ED, Learning Disabilities Walden University
Randolph Clay High School '90
Current City Lumpkin, GA
South GA Technical College, '89 Married to Cuthbert Fire Chief Gregory Fairbanks Proud Mother of Two Sons and Grandmother Current City Cuthbert, GA
Hometown Bainbridge, GA
Proud Mother of Five and Grandmother of Two Significant Other Travis Scott
Cindy Hall Fincher Age 43 STATS
Current City Cuthbert, GA Jennifer Fairbanks Age 47 STATS
David Evans Age 45 STATS Hometown Lumpkin, GA Affiliations Educator Muscogee County School District
Hometown Coleman, GA
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Affiliation Science Teacher Terrell Middle High School, Dawson, GA
Affiliations Interim Police Chief City of Cuthbert Police Department
Education B.S, degree, Biology Georgia College and State University, '96
Member Mt. Cilla Non-Denominational Church Carnegie, GA
Associate degree, Science Andrew College, '93
Education Columbus State University/SWGA Police Academy, '05
Member, Youth Director, Sunday School Teacher, 28 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
Dr. Tina Fleming Age 47 STATS
Proud Mother of a Son Current City Coleman, GA
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
Affiliations Executive Director/ Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) New Beginnings Community Outreach Program, Inc Adjunct Professor Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AR Certifications Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) Education EdD in Counselor Education & Supervision Argosy University Sarasota, FL Proud Mother of Seven Current City Bainbridge, GA
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature And Mother of Two: Alexis, a medical doctor, and Austin, a college student and GA National Guard Reservist Current City Cuthbert, GA
Tomecia Vaughn-Foster Age 43 STATS
Lori Clemons Gadson Age 43 STATS
Katrina Bland Hall Age 48 STATS
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Hometown Miami, FL
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Affiliation Educator Academic Instructional Coach Stewart County Elementary School (GA)
Affiliations
Affiliations 26-Year Veteran Educator Randolph County Schools (GA)
Education Masters and Specialist ¡ Early Childhood ¡ Educational Administration Troy State University (AL) Early Childhood Education Georgia Southwestern State University, '99 Married to Scottie Foster Current City Cuthbert, GA
First African American Female
Executive Director New Horizons Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sumter County, Inc. (GA)
Tonya Gilbert Age 43 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Former Boys & Girls Club of Americus/Sumter Co., Inc. (First African American Female)
Affiliations Medical Assistant
Member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Several Sumter Co., GA Nonprofit Boards Graduate Advancing Sumter Leadership Program, '15
Member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Owner Tonya's Dance & Fitness Studio Cuthbert, GA
Education Troy State University (AL), '99 Valdosta State University, '90
Owner/Event Planner Creating Moments in Time
Proud Mother of Two Maya and Gabe
Education Georgia Medical Institute of Atlanta, 97'
Savannah State University, '94
Proud Mother of two daughters, and three grand children
Married to Ronald Gadson
Mentor to New Teachers
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Medical Associates of Albany (GA)
Georgia Academy Leadership for Economic Development, '14 Education Degree Major, Sociology and Minor, Psychology
Chair ELA Department Randolph Co. Middle School (GA)
Current City Cuthbert, GA
Current City Cuthbert, GA GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 29
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature School, Valdosta, GA Volunteer Activities The Walking Club
Dwayne L. Hart Age 48 STATS
Afterschool Math Club Technology Club Relay for Life Viking Glow Run Food Bank/ Soup Kitchen Summer Reading Program Vacation Bible School Teach Computer Skills to the Elderly
Hometown Valdosta, GA
Education Valdosta State University, '91
Affiliation Regional Vice President Primerica
Honors Teacher of the Year
Education Valdosta State University, '92 Married to Tracie Hart Proud Father of Two: a daughter, Kymbra and a son, Dwayne, Jr.
Founder Young Sisterhood Youth Ministry, Inc Education Albany Technical College (GA) Married to Edward L. Harvey, Sr. Proud Mother of Three Sons: Edward Jr.(Nard), Elliott (Swagg), & Eshaun (Nez) Current City Dawson, GA
Married to Dwayne L. Hart Proud Mother of Two a daughter, Kymbra, and a son, Dwayne, Jr Current City Valdosta, GA
Current City Valdosta, GA
Bambie Nelson-Hayes Age 41 STATS Hometown Cordele, GA Affiliation Executive Director Crisp Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
Trace R. Hart Age 47 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Allison Harvey Age 47 STATS Hometown Dawson, GA Affiliations Minister and Pastor Sander's Gift Missionary Baptist Church, Sasser, GA
Affiliation Educator Westside Elementary 30 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
Leadership at Northcentral University Volunteer Activities NAACP (Past Chair of the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee & Past Executive Committee) National Black MBA Association, National Council of Negro Women President American Legion Auxiliary Unit 542, Cordele, GA Special Advisor Homeless Veterans to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 91 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4706 (Past Co-Chair of the Annual Feed the Homeless Veterans Dinner) Crisp County Community Council (Poverty Strategy Committee, Literacy Alliance, Ministerial Network) Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors)
Education Cordele Kiwanis Club Bachelor's degree, (President 2016-2017) Business Management and Women's Ministry - New Master's degree, Hope Missionary Baptist Business Administration Church, Warwick, GA and Secondary Education Masab Court #174 Prince Hall Affiliated Currently at Doctoral Candidate Honors Organizational Georgia Lieutenant
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Governor Casey Cagle for community-based involvement for children and families. Special Recognition Congressman Hank Johnson of the 4th Congressional District Proud Mother of three Nylea, Calondrius, Jr. and David
Bachelor's, Psychology GA Southwestern University, '00 Family Daughter of Mrs. Creasie and Rev. James Wright and the late Mr. Willie Jackson Current City Cuthbert, GA
Current City Cordele, GA
Wendy Howell Age 44 STATS Veronica D. Hope Age 42 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA Affiliations Pre-K Lead Teacher Randolph County Head Start, (GA)
Hometown Forsyth, GA Affiliations Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Albany Technical College (GA) Member Albany Area Chamber of Commerce (GA)
Columnist/Writer The Blue Buzz Cuthbert Southern Tribune (GA)
The President's Cabinet Albany Technical College (GA)
Member Theta Sigma Zeta of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Volunteer Activities Design Media Production Technology and Marketing Management Program
Education Masters, Education Troy State University
Achieving the Dream Core Team
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Cancer Coalition of Southwest Georgia’s Night for Hope and Cancer Stomp Strive2Thrive United Way of SWGA Marketing Graduate Leadership Albany, '12 Leadership Lee, '12
Hometown Edison, GA Affiliations Chief of Police Edison, GA Education Columbus State University (GA) Honors Outstanding Police Chief Current City Edison, GA
Education Bachelor's degree, Mass Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations Georgia College and State University Associate's, Journalism and Mass Communications Macon State College (Currently, Middle GA State University)
Married to Van Howell Proud Mother of one Elizabeth Current City Leesburg, GA
Teresa Alexander James Age 44 STATS Hometown Shellman, GA Affiliation Associate Project Manager MedImmune
Walt Ingram Age 41 STATS
Education B.S., Business, '08 University of Phoenix
Current City Washington, D.C. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 31
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Affiliation Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Samaritan Counseling Center Bainbridge, GA
Project Management Professional (PMP) Project Management Institute (PMI) Agile Certified Project Management
Travis J. James Age 42 STATS Hometown Shellman, GA Affiliation Program Manager NES Associates Alexandria, VA Education Master's of Science in Business (MSB), Supply Chain Management & Logistics University of Kansas Master's in Business Administration (MBA) Mississippi State University Bachelors of Applied Science (BAS) Resource Management Troy State University (AL) Professional Certifications and Licenses Licensed Customs Broker American Production & Inventory Control (APICS) Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
Certification Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) Military Service United States Army Major (Retired) Honors Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters (2 Awards) Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters (3 Awards) Parachutist Badge
18-Year Veteran Counselor Samuel T. Johnson Age 47 STATS Hometown Fort Gaines, GA Affiliation Educator Clay County Schools Fort Gaines, GA
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Current City Bainbridge, GA
Military Service Unites States Marine Corps Married to Kimberly I. Johnson Current City Fort Gaines, GA
Bianca B. Knowles Age 43 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA Affiliations Recruiter Troy State at Albany (GA) 20-Years Experience Higher Education Administration
Carnel R. Jones Age 46 STATS Hometown Bainbridge, GA
Project Management Institute (PMI)
MS degree, Counseling Thomas University.
Education Savannah State University
Married to MAJ(R) Angela M. James of New Orleans, LA. Proud Father of three: Travis, Jr., Taiana, & Tamia Current City Colonial Heights, VA
Education BS degree, Sociology Valdosta State University
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
Member, Deaconess, Greeter, Administrative Assistant Mt. Zion Baptist Church Albany, GA
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Education Human Resources Albany State University (GA)
Affiliation Educator 11th Grade Randolph-Clay High School, (GA)
Bachelor of Science Sociology Georgia Southwestern State University, '96 Married to Michael Knowles Current City Albany, GA
Hoyt Langford Age 46 STATS Hometown Shellman, GA Affiliation American Proteins Education Accounting Georgia Southwestern State University, '92 Proud Father of Two: Bryce and Madison Current City Shellman, GA
Education Georgia Southwestern State University
Dr. Bisa Batten Lewis Age 46 STATS
Betty Daniels Lingo Age 45 STATS
Hometown Albany, GA
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Affiliations Author, Speaker, Adult Educator & Early Childhood Education Authority Founder and CEO Ideal Early Learning, LLC
Affiliations Evangelist and Educator
Founder and CEO WINGS Curriculum Published author of education and parenting articles, college textbooks, children's books and music, early learning handbooks and WINGS Curriculum
Married to Daniel McFather Proud Mother Current City Cuthbert, GA
Georgia Southwestern State University Married to Tyrone Lingo and Proud Mother and Grandmother Current City Phenix City, AL
Fredrick Murphy Age 44 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA Affiliations Teacher First Steps Child Development Center Cuthbert, GA
Masters of Education Albany State University, '97
Current City Atlanta, GA
Andrew College
Education Troy State University (AL)
Education Doctorate of Education University of Georgia, '10
Early Childhood Education Albany State University (GA), '95
Valdosta State University
Worshipful Master St. Thomas Masonic Lodge #70 Lana McFather Age 49 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Education Albany State University,'01
Current City Cuthbert, GA GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 33
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Affiliations Minister Member Morris Temple First Born Church of the Living God, Inc. Sales Representative Mary K Latrina Patrick Age 45 STATS Hometown Americus, GA Affiliations Founder/CEO Greater Vision Consulting 13 years serving the community nonprofit management in the field of substance abuse prevention inspiring Georgia's youth and young adults to avoid the use of meth, prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco Education B.A., degree Mass Communications Clark Atlanta University
Valecia T. Sales Age 45 STATS Hometown Americus, GA Affiliations CEO and Founder VALCO Solutions and BRIDGE AMBASSADORS/Youth Leadership Member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Education Bethany Divinity College And Seminary Married to Willie Jo Sealey and Mother of a son, Brandon
Hometown Cuthbert, GA Tina Sealey Age 46 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA
34 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
Current City Atlanta, GA
Francis B. Skipper Age 47 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Valerie Shorter Age 44 STATS
Current City Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's degree, Elementary Education Florida A&M University, '94
Current City Cuthbert, GA
Current City Americus, GA
Military Service United States Navy Hospital Corpsman
Masters of Education Florida A& M University, '96
Honors Ambassador of the Year, '14
Education Sociology Georgia Southwestern State University, '92
MBA Troy State University (AL)
Education Educational leadership University of West Georgia, '05
Affiliation Gifted and Talented Specialist Dekalb County Schools (GA)
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
Affiliation Licensed Risk Manager/ Business Liaison Specialist STATE FARM Education Randolph-Clay High School, '89 (GA) 15 Years of Banking and Real Estate Experience Proud Mother of Three Tyrone, Trinity, Ephraim And Grandmother of Ila Noelle
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Current City Birmingham, AL
Education Macon County High School, '86 Montezuma, GA Electronics Technology South GA Technical College Current City Dawson, GA
Hometown Oglethorpe, GA
(6 Locations: Albany, Americus, Dawson, Columbus, Cordele, and Sylvester, GA)
Board Chair Albany Area Primary Health Care (GA) Member Terrell County Chamber of Commerce Member Dawson Rotary Club Commissioner Terrell County, GA District 4 Member Dawson First Baptist Church Married to Lorrie Father of Two Sons: Blake and Matt
Certifications Differentiated Instruction Co-Teaching Inclusion and Best Practices of Instruction Volunteer Activities Merry Acres Middle & South Georgia Regional Achievement Center’s Leadership Teams
Brad Stafford Age 47 STATS
Affiliations Owner, Badcock Home Furniture and More 43 Employees
with emphasis of Instructional Technology. Argosy University Sarasota, FL
Dr. Priscilla S. Thomas Age 44 STATS Hometown Morgan, GA Affiliation Educator Dougherty County School District (GA) Education Bachelors of Arts Degree, Mathematics with a minor in Middle Grades Education, '97 Albany State University (GA) Master’s Degree, Instructional Technology and an Educational, '05 American Intercontinental University (GA) Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction
Dougherty County School System Superintendent Council Math Department Chair and Grade Level Chair Honors South Georgia Regional Achievement Center DCSS Teacher for school (2009-2010) and (2014-2015)
Amy Miller Thompson Age 42 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA Affiliation Deputy Tax Commissioner Randolph County Tax Commissioner's Office (GA) Education Andrew College,'93 Cuthbert, GA Married to Tony Thompson Current City Cuthbert, GA
Married and Proud Mother of Two Current City Albany, GA
The secret to success is constancy of purpose. ― Benjamin Disraeli
Richard Thompson Age 45 STATS Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Affiliations Managing Director Ameripublic Partners, LLC GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 35
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Former Founder and Chairman 100Dads Former Executive Director Georgia PTO Education BS, Agricultural Economics University of Georgia, '92 Married to Winifred Wilkins Thompson Proud Father of Two
Credential Child Development Associate South GA Technical College, '00 Marred to Stephen Thompson Proud Mother of Two Penny Clare, 11 and Stevie, 6 Current City Americus, GA
Hometown Weston, GA
Member First United Methodist Church Americus, GA
Executive Committee GA Family Connection State Peer to Peer Network
Affiliation Coordinator Stewart County Family Connection Richland, GA
Member Weston Woman’s Club
Levels of Service Desk Manager Communications Officer for the ASPIRE Atlanta Employee Resource Group
Member Weston Baptist Church Hostess Committee Co-Chair “Taste of Richland” Chairperson Stewart County G.E.D. Advisory Board Married to Anthony Keith Turner Proud Mother of three: two sons: Paul and A. J., and a daughter, Carrie
Education Albany Technical College, (GA) '90
Current City Weston, GA
Education Currently a Senior Georgia Southwestern Graduate State University Georgia Academy for Major: Psychology 36 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Member Council of Governments
Honors Member National Vocational Honor Society
Greenville Academy School, '88
Tammi Vaughn Age 47 STATS
Affiliations 20-yr employee McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 5 company
(Includes Stewart, Clay, Randolph, and Quitman Counties)
Edwina Turner Age 46 STATS
Affiliations Community Relations Coordinator Peach State Health Plan
Community Service Vice-Chair Region 8 Family Connection Coordinators Peer to Peer Network
Richland Main Street Committee
Current City Atlanta, GA
Tommie Thompson Age 44 STATS Hometown Americus, GA
Economic Development, '14
Set goal. Make a plan. Get to work. Stick to it. Reach goal.
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
ASPIRE Atlanta 5K Run Team founder/captain, mentor to her staff, Public speaker, and Founding Charter Member Druid Hills Speakeasies Toastmasters Licensed Minister Rehoboth Fellowship of Atlanta Education Associates of Arts, Early Childhood Education Wallace State University (AL) Bachelor of Science Technical Communication,
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature Southern Polytechnic State University
Selected SIAC All Conference Team, '90
Full-time student Kaplan University Master of Information Technology degree with a concentration in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
Proud Mother one daughter, Haleema Hicks (Christian Hicks, sonin-law) and one granddaughter Christyn Hicks
Certifications ITIL v3 Foundations Certified
Current City Atlanta, GA
Married to Kamethia Jordan Walker Proud Father of Three Mentor Male Youth Current City Brook Haven, GA Claudette D. Wilson Age 44 STATS Hometown Foley, AL
HDI Certified Support Desk Manager
Affiliations Apostle and Founder International Eagle's Fellowship, Inc.
Volunteer Activities Organizing blanket Distributions for the Homeless Order of Eastern Stars Chapter, Serenity #175 5K charitable Events Honors Miss Basketball Randolph Clay High School, '88 1600m State Champion title in 1987 and in 1988 was state runner-up in both the 800m and 1600m, as well as, relay anchor for the 2nd place 4X400 and 4X100m relay teams Best Offensive Player Wallace State University, '89 Pre-Season Work Horse Award and Academic Achievement award Alabama A & M University
Yvonne H. Williams Age 43 STATS Rodney B. Walker Age 44 STATS Hometown Brooklyn, NY Affiliations CEO of Several Businesses Greater Solutions, LLC Not Guilty Entertainment Classick Truck and Transport Chickadees Wings and Things Mentor Education Randolph Clay High School,'91
Hometown Patterson, NJ Affiliations CEO Speak2Inspire, LLC Author/Speaker
Founder H.U.S.H. (Help Under Strategic Help) Founder CHAMP Education Higher Place Christian University (GA)
Education Passaic County Community College Paterson, NJ
Foley High School (AL)
Eastside High School Patterson, NJ
Honors Small Town America's 100 Most Influential People Rural Leader Magazine, '15
Honors Rated #1 Speaker for Youth & Adults Married to Dextrius R. Williams Proud Mother of three
Proud Mother of a son, Elijah
Current City Atlanta, GA
Current City Atlanta, GA GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 37
2016 Fifty under 50 Feature
38 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
How to Organize a Seminar or an Event By Matt Bacak
S
eminars and events have always been implemented as a holistic experience to participants. Thus, organizing an event requires extensive planning and preparation with most work implemented at least a few months before the actual event. Most of the time, seminars seem to run like clockwork with all events flowing smoothly according to schedule. In reality however, much groundwork has been worked on with the purpose of developing the right atmosphere in addition to a beneficial experience to partipants. 1. Establishing the theme of the event Each event follows a theme and purpose which will drive the event set-up, the target audiences or the participants, the guests and the marketing approach. In general, a business event such as an international conference for a particular industry will appeal to participants conducting businesses within that industry as well as sponsors who gain mileage out of publicizing their products during the event. Apart from that, the theme of the seminar will also determine the type of marketing channels to be used to for publicity. This also holds true for the seminar marketing team who will need the event theme to correctly identify target participants and companies to sell the event to. 2. Selecting a venue Venue selection is highly dependent on the scale of the event. Usually this is determined by the number of participants, the presence of any guests of honor (such as royalty or politicians) the activities during the event, or if there are additional floor space required for exhibition purposes. A typical seminar of about 100 - 200 can be comfortably implemented in a hotel seminar room, possibly in a theater style setting or classroom setting. However, larger scale events with participant numbers scaling be! tween 500 - 1000 may require a large hall, ballroom, auditorium or a convention center. The location and quality standard of the venue is also important especially if the event involves the participation of VIPs. With this, a reputable location would be imperative, including good quality and wide range of seminar facilities available. It is always wise to explore the possibility of a few venues and examine their location suitability, level of services, ambience, and costs before coming to a decision. 3. Seminar Marketing and Publicity Seminar marketing is by far the most critical and often most challenging task in event organizing, and is often regarded as the most critical factor of an event's success. This is because the number of participants turning up for a seminar is highly dependent
on the strength of marketing activities and publicity. Whether or not the event achieves its objective or whether the organizers will walk home with a profit or loss largely depends on the marketability of the event. This means that the right marketing strategy and seminar positioning must be adopted in order to draw adequate event sign-ups. Most of the time, event organizers who have large budgets will turn to above the line marketing such as newspaper and magazine advertisements as well as radio and television advertising to publicize the event. Press releases may also be sent in to major newspapers, in order to create the awareness of the upcoming event. Additionally, large advertising media banners and posters can also be purchased to advertise the event in high human traffic areas. When using print advertising, the specific magazine or newspaper used must have the target audience of your event as their primary readership base. Also all print media should be copy written with an enticing approach, highlighting the extensive benefits of participation. However, if budget is a problem, then below the line marketing may also do wonders. If the event is industry specific, mass faxing to companies belonging to the industry would be feasible. Telemarketing is a very effective marketing channel to create awareness within the right participant group. Additionally, dispatching sales personnel to attend to the requirements of large participant groups is an ideal and effective strategy. Mass emailing has become one of the most cost-efficient methods to reach out to large target audiences. This would be really useful if the event organizer already have an existing database. Otherwise, a list of names can be rented from database companies to attain the same results. 4. Collaboration with sponsors Getting reputable sponsors to participate in an event will help boost the creditability of the event, as well as reduce costs. Sponsors can also help with marketing, as they also help publicize your event to their customers. Apart from that, some of the sponsors can chip in on venue rental in exchange for exhibition space or publicity for themselves. Some sponsors also require a short message of their company to be given to the participants during the event. Others give away sample products or door gifts to participants. 5. Managing People and working with speakers A seminar will not be successful without the people running it, as well as the speakers sharing their knowledge to the participants. Invite speakers who are of caliber and reputation to the event, and who will provide the participants with relevant informaGetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 39
tion to their work, industry or business. Prepare the speakers beforehand and work with them on their Power point presentations as well as pre-inform them of the logistics processes, timing as well as the expected audience size. Check with them on any special requests, such as the requirement for an overhead projector or additional microphones to be used for question and answer sessions. All events require a good team of people handling tasks on ushering, registration, customer service as well as handling financials. Familiarize the team with any required event protocol to eliminate the possibility of confusion or error. In order to ensure smooth implementation, each person should be familiar with their individual roles. This can be ensured through a preparation of a detailed schedule of events coupled with roles and responsibilities for each person. Ideally, a project manager should control the whole team and ensure that everyone is carrying out their duties efficiently. Apart from that, the project manager also has the delegated authority to deal with all parties such as the venue management as well as the sponsors and event exhibitors. 6. Actual Day - Preparation, Registration, Ushering, Feedback All seminar planning and preparations, constituting 80% of total work involved, cascade to the actual event which may last only for a few hours or a few days. On the day before the event, visit the venue to ensure that everything is in order according the requirements and specifications. Microphones, projectors, audio and video systems must be all checked 40 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
to be in excellent working order. Over at the office, have a packing list prepared and get all require items transferred to the actual venue at least a day before the event. Event staff should be dispatched to work on site preparations, including setting up booths, decorations and posters, the day before the event. On the actual day, staff should be present at the venue at least 1 1/2 hours before commencement. They should report to their duty stations and must be ready to receive participants half an hour before they are scheduled to file in. Registrations must be made at the door to ensure authorized access. Name tags, door gifts and event schedules or booklets will be given out at this point and ushers will show participants to their seats in the event hall. Staff will also be responsible for providing advice or help to participants during the event. Finally, feedback forms should be distributed and then collected from participants to determine the satisfaction level on all aspects of the event experience. This is in order to receive pointers, ideas and advice for future improvements.— About the Author Matt Bacak became "#1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short hours. Recent Entrepreneur Magazine's e-Biz radio show host is turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories. Discover The Secrets To Unleash The Powerful Promoter In You! Sign up for Matt Bacak's Promoting Tips Ezine ($100 value) just visit his website at www.powerfulpromoter.com or promotingtips.com.
Setting Goals: Your Only Recipe for Success By Innocent Mwangi Gathungu
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 41
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oals are like signposts. As long as you can see these signposts, then you know you are heading in the right direction. When you set goals, you eliminate the possibility veering off the track and derailing into failure. When a train veers of the rails, the entire locomotive is derailed. Looking at the rails, one does not see anything special in them; just a solid mass of steel. But that simple mass of steel ensures that the train remains on course and that everyone on board reaches their destination safely and on time. Goals are like rails. Without them, our claim to success will never find expression in reality. Just as a train must stay on the rails to complete the journey, our dreams, our ambitions, and our desires must find expression in goals that are clear, realistic and timely. When we have well articulated and clearly defined goals, the journey towards success becomes lighter, even less tiring. This is because goals help us to (i) stay focused (ii) be realistic in our expectations (iii) gauge our progress (iv) avoid being overwhelmed (v) re-evaluate and redefine our strategy to ensure conformity and consistency with our objectives. Stay focused John Maxwell says "obstacles are the things you see when you take your eyes off the goal". How true! Every time you take your eyes away from the goal at hand, you will surely wander off into troubled waters. If you get to a point in your success journey where you can't see your goal, you are definitely headed into failure territory. Goals constantly remind us that there are tasks that need to be done, and within a particular time frame, for us to make prog-
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ress. Without goals reminding us of where we are and what we are supposed to do to get where we ought to be, we will only be working hard and achieving nothing. Hard work, as Maxwell says, "is the accumulation of easy tasks you did not do when you should have". The easy routine tasks that we sometimes ignore feeds into our success. Failure to perform these tasks will translate into failure. Goals must be realistic Goals must be firmly established upon unflinching reality. If you want to go to New York and you only have ten dollars, it would be foolhardy to start packing for your journey. The reality is that boarding a plane to New York from Nairobi costs more than 10 dollars! But you say, "I have faith in God"? Well, faith is not foolish, neither is it an emotion. No amount of goose bumps or frenzied hysteria will take you to New York on ten dollars. Be real or you will miss the deal. Goals are yardsticks Like yardsticks, goals help us gauge or measure our progress, or lack of it. Without goals constantly reminding us where we are and what we should be doing to get where we ought to be, we will be running wild. No amount of sticking our head deep into the sand will help us achieve success. We must stick it out to the end by daily attaining the goals we have set for ourselves. This can only be done if today's tasks are 'done' today! To post pone to tomorrow today's task will only mean one thing: a clog up tasks. The result is that we end up breaking our backs trying to accomplish both yesterday's and today's tasks; resulting in sloppy and unfinished tasks. Goals help us avoid overwhelm To de-stress our lives, we need to learn how to work smart by finish-
ing our daily tasks on schedule. This is important if we are to avoid being overwhelmed by tasks carried over from yesterday. One of the leading causes of burnout and depression is the failure to tackle simple tasks on time. As tasks pile up one after another, we end up having to work overtime and sometimes overnight; pushing our body to limits it was not designed to go. To avoid overwhelm, learn to decongest your life by doing what must be done today, today! However if you want to work hard and up stressing yourself, go ahead and let the tasks accumulate. Goals help us re-strategize Finally we need to re-evaluate and redefine our strategy to ensure conformity with our objectives. Strategies help us achieve our goals faster. However, some of the strategies we use are sometimes rendered obsolete by the passage of time. When this happens, it is important to redefine or tweak them a little. Strategies must always remain relevant and in line with the desired goals. When they become irrelevant or obsolete, they should be discarded and new ones invented. Strategies help us save time by crowding out irrelevant tasks; those that only take up our time but which do not feed into in to our goals. Strategies also help us to concentrate on priority tasks; those that are crucial to the attainment of our goals.— About the Author Innocent Mwangi Gathungu is a motivational and inspirational speaker. He specializes in helping people in their spiritual lives and in motivating them to achieve their highest potential. For infor, visit http://www.ssmk.net and www.realopportunity.org.
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By Amy M. Potavin
Paradigm Shifting: The Power of Positive Thinking
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uccess starts with a state of mind. Christopher Columbus knew it. Thomas Edison lived it. Michael Dell and Bill Gates believe it. And Marcus Aurelius said it, ""Our life is what our thoughts make of it... A man's true greatness lies in the consciousness of an honest purpose in life, founded on a just estimate of himself... " You may ask why this is so. The formula for this is quite simple. 1. What you believe, you act on. Action begins with, and is instigated by, belief. You can not act on something that you do not, at some level, believe in, whether you are in favor of, or in opposition to, a particular idea or ideal, that position is held firm by your belief. 2. What you act on, you manifest. Any action you take results in some consequence. Every action in the universe is met with and equal reaction. Whether you are starting a conversation with a stranger, trying to learn new things, or simply looking at the food in your pantry, any action you take regarding these things WILL RESULT in a tangible "re-action". Perhaps it will be a new friendship. Perhaps it will be deeper knowledge achieved through your research. Perhaps it will simply be dinner! 3. What you manifest creates your reality. This is your personal paradigm. The only variable in this process is the strength and duration of your belief. If your belief is not strong, if it weak or vacillating, then you are not likely to act on it. If you do not act on it, then you can not manifest it and it can not become part of your reality; your personal paradigm. This is quite difficult for most people to comprehend, and even more difficult to implement. We have a tendency to repeat old mistakes and resist change, although we know deep down inside that change is inevitable. Nothing stays the same forever. There is an old saying that defines insanity as the expectation that acting in the same way will produce different results. People who are successful and happy are people who have mastered the art of change. They are not afraid to revisit their prior actions and approach their goal differently, so that they are NOT acting in the same way while expecting different results. They are not afraid to move out of their comfort zones. Rather, they understand that in order for growth to occur, they must have the courage to live outside their comfort zones. Page 220 of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life states this truth eloquently and he writes, "There is no growth without change; no change without fear or loss; no loss without pain." Successful people know this, and do not let fear, the occasion-
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al set back (i.e. interim failure), or doubt alter their vision or deter them from their goal. Having a definitive, crystalline goal is the first step in forming your personal paradigm. You MUST be able to visualize the final end product or outcome of your goal or the end-product. It must be a singular achievement that you are passionate about. Christopher Columbus KNEW that he could sail west and not fall off a flat planet. He hoped to find India. He happened to stumble into America, but nonetheless, he sailed west and lived to tell about it! Thomas Edison KNEW he could create a practical incandescent lightbulb. He tested over 3000 filaments before he found one that worked, but he did it; and he revolutionized the world! Michael Dell KNEW that he could overtake the computer behemoth IBM; and look at him now. Bill Gates KNOWS that eventually "every home will have a personal computer." He is well on his way to achieving that vision. Goals, such as these, are not achieved overnight. All worthwhile achievements take time. So you must be patient, consistent, and persistent in your effort. You must have the faith to BELIEVE in your goals to maintain your desire to succeed. By knowing this truth, you can begin to shape and mold your reality by taking steps, every day, to create a crystalline vision of what your want your reality to be. Be prepared, however, because this is not easy. It takes work. It takes courage. And, most of all, it takes the fortitude of persistence so that you put aside all thoughts of and encounters with failure, and you view failure as an opportunity or an obstacle to overcome, but not an end in and of itself. However, once you have formed your vision; once you have set your crystalline goal as a fixture into your thoughts, you WILL begin to take action toward your goal. It is inevitable. All action is instigated by your belief. Further, what you act on, you manifest. Therefore, you will soon find yourself attracting opportunities, ideas, solutions, and people who can and will propel you toward achieving your goals. Success is no secret that is available only to an elite few. It is available to everyone, all the time. It is the certainty of the power that you possess - the power of your own beliefs to create and manifest your own personal paradigm; you success paradigm. So I ask you, what is your paradigm? What Do You Believe?— About the Author Ms. Potavin's is a professional and personal life coach. For more info, visit Believe-Network.com.—
Authoress Linda Diane Wattley Courtesy Photo GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 45
L
Soldier with a Backpack: Living and Dying Simultaneously
inda Diane Wattley is a published writer who began her first work of art with poetry. The poem, "I Wish" appeared in the Poetry Gem of the American Poets Society. For over twelve years she had her own religious/philosophical column in the Frost Illustrated Newspaper titled "The Best Will Show Themselves." Linda has appeared as a contributed writer for the online magazines including: Faith Writers, The Wright Side of Me Productions, The Blessed Room and Cheers where she shared Inspirational and thought provoking messages to readers. She is also a contributing of anthologies: The Triumph of My Soul edited by Elissa Gabriel and This Far by Faith with Vanessa Miller as editor. Today, God has awakened her to a new and extremely important message to share with the worldPTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whattley is presenting her newest work: Soldier with a Backpack, Living and Dying Simultaneously.
This work reveals the reality of the impact the PTSD disorder veterans and civilian lives. It takes you deep within the soul of the inner dynamics of this disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the hidden love killer, is instrumental in creating a world of alienation in the human experience. "PTSD is such an extremely personal experience yet it effects the world in a very impersonal way. Through the hidden agendas of selfish and greedy people, innocent people are victimized daily through 46 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
the hands of human choices. Our soldiers should not return home after war to live a private life of victims to society. And, our children should not have to grow up stressed out and traumatized by adult choices that leave them not- diagnosed- victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We can come up with all the modern sayings forever and think the old sayings are irrelevant. For instance, What the world needs now is love. Yeah right! Just like everybody needs Jesus…… At the end of the day, these old sayings stand true for the absence of this reality is why mankind is being killed by mankind. I still have hope for us. My message promises to leave seeds of hope and love. From my heart to your heart I present a truth that will set you free from a world that thrives on murder of the heart," Wattley said. “Soldier with a Backpack, Living and Dying Simultaneously” is written to form a silent unity of hope and understanding for individuals experiencing or knowing someone with PTSD and to reveal a needed truth about it. Wattley grew up with a tainted trust in adults, now that she has become one herself; however, she began to learn why adults were so unhappy. She realized that stress and trauma had molded her into someone who felt unworthy of love, yet there was still something else willing her to life, telling her to share with the world that sufferers of PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are more than words could ever describe. Wattley shares the experienced impact stress and trauma has on the human soul and the price for ignoring this reality. It is with great urgency she intimately shares her plight in life with her readers. Being mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically raped as a child, she survived by learning to exist in an inner world of divine peace. Something happened to that little girl; she didn’t die nor did she live, yet much was lost while much was gained. When Wattley is not writing, she enjoys her family; mother Jacqueline M. Bushner, sons: Robert D. Wattley III, Marcus, daughter-in-law Katie and granddaughters, Jaelynn and Myla.— Contact Authoress Linda D. Wattley: Online: http://www.lindadianewattley.com/ E-mail: universalove26@yahoo.com
National Call For Nominations begins July 1-August 30, 2016. For INFO, Visit
RURALLEADERMAG.COM Citizens of small towns and cities across the nation are truly unsung heroes. The level of involvement, commitment, and intense effort to improve their communities sometimes go unnoticed. They serve in various capacities throughout our nation: some are doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, bankers, ministers, business owners, and the like. The full scope of their individual contributions may never be fully realized by those who do not understand the small town dynamic. They are everyday people doing extraordinary things. Collectively, these exemplary individuals represent the heart and soul of small communities; and so, Rural Leader Magazine aims to recognize Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential Citizens. We need your help to find these deserving individuals.
Here's a hint of who we're looking for: 1. Nominee must reside within the United States and live or work within a small town or city with a population of 80,000 or less; 2. Nominee must be at least 18; 3. An Individual may self-nominate or be nominated by an individual, group, or organization; 4. Must have made a significant contribution to their community. 5. A completed nomination form must be submitted between June 1st and July 31st online or by submitting supporting documents via email to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com The 100 nominees selected will be featured in the December issue of Rural Leader Magazine as Small Town America’s Most Influential.—
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Change: Do You Do It or Does it Undo You? By Connie Butler
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t has been said that CHANGE is THE only constant. Change is all around us every day and every day our lives our changing. It CAN'T be avoided. We can't bury our heads in the sand or a favored pillow and pretend it isn't there. Sometimes it creeps up slowly: over time we've gotten older, gradually the kids grow and leave, incrementally our health fails. Other times it is thrust on us: "out of the blue" divorce is upon us (www.conniebutler.biz/divorce. php), our work demands that we relocate, we are moved from one level of success to another. Or sometimes we wake up and realize we have to make a change: we have all of the money and lifestyle trappings we want but something is not right at the core, we are not where we want to be at this stage of life, we can't see what is next. Change is like the water that our lives are held in and the question becomes do you know how to navigate your boat, yacht or life raft into and through the current of change to the best place possible? When you don't navigate the waterways well you can be lost at sea for much too long, your resources and dreams are depleted, you can be reduced to just existing. Recovering from an experience like this can be costly, eat up valuable time and leave you jaded or disillusioned. Your life energy is sapped. And you are left confused and fearful. But change can be the great awakener. In retrospect it can be the best thing that ever happened to you. It can contain rewards that you never dreamed of. But in order to access THAT level of change you have to be the captain of the change. If you want the growth of success, how to set goals effectively and navigate change is the key. You have to muster all of your internal and external resources, all of your navigational skill and make it work FOR you- whatever the change is. MIf you don't do something new in the face of change you often merely create the same outworn results. If you don't change your strategy you repeat old patterns of behavior and thinking. You miss the larger possibility and you don't create the life you really want for yourself and your family. One of my current clients is a woman who came to me during a huge health, financial and relocation crisis. Change was upon her, big time, on almost all levels you can imagine. She had a recurrence of a cancer-based disease; she had to move across country, her finances were scarily low. In our work together she has moved from that place of deep insecurity and confusion to a place where she is settled, more at
peace with herself than she has ever been and is now growing a remarkably successful wholesale business. She is fulfilling the dream of the kind of business and life she has always wanted for herself. She is building self-esteem. She could never have done this without the right kind of support and she is the first one to attest to that. Another client has suffering from divorce and loss that was blocking her from finishing her dissertation. She was stuck in self-doubt, procrastination, with no vision of the future. She is now close to finishing her dissertation and the last months have been exceedingly rich and empowering for her. Visions of her next steps are forming. She is excited about possibilities where previously she could not sense a direction. Both decided to take change and make it work for them. They found the support, accessed the resources and built the determination that was needed to navigate into a current that is moving them clearly and safely forward. In looking at their process and that of other clients I have seen a progression of steps that occur when you are moving through change. As the change happens you normally: C: Choke -this is the time when you feel overwhelmed, confused, fearful and often do nothing. Spending too much time in this phase can seriously undermine your energy, usurp your resources and make it more difficult to deal with the change. H: Handle the Hurdles - You "wake up" and realize you have to do SOMETHING, sometimes anything. Occasionally people in this phase can see the priorities and begin to handle them- more often they avoid the most important issues in an effort to just do something. A: Access Support - This is the turning point. You realize that you cannot do it on your own. You need a trusted ear. You require someone who can see through the confusion of the change and help you build a viable plan of action. Albert Einstein said that we cannot solve a problem on the same level at which it was created. In order to find that other level you need someone who can look at the whole picture, someone who isn't clouded by the emotional responses, someone who has your best interests in mind. N: New Possibilities - Embedded in each change is a possibility. If you continue an old pattern of behavior or thinking - you will miss it. Unfortunately we are often myopic when it comes to recognizing creative solutions. This step requires someone to help you see and hold the larger possibility, the picture GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 49
...change can be the great awakener. In retrospect it can be the best thing that ever happened to you. It can contain rewards that you never dreamed of. But in order to access THAT level of change you have to be the captain of the change...
that you may be missing. G: Grow to the Next Level - This is the part that many people skip over. If you do - the whole gift that is at the center of the change will elude you. In order to "do the change", make it work FOR you, it is essential that you develop the qualities, the skills, and the heart to effectively work with the change. As you do this you begin to recognize whole new levels of satisfaction and power within yourself. These developments are yours- you will use them in everything else you attempt in life. They become second nature. E: Enjoy - This is the fabulous stage when you can step back and look at the whole experience you 50 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
have been through. You recognize yourself as the prime navigator of the change. You can feel the sun of success, the warm breezes of pleasure as you begin to really ENJOY where you have arrived. And you KNOW that if needed you can navigate CHANGE again.— About the Author Connie Butler is a personal and professional coach working to engineer effective change. She is available for personal/professional coaching & seminars. Ms. Butler is an international coach, published author and radio personality. www.conniebutler.biz/change_ signup.php
The Triangle for Success By John Neyman, Jr.
Success is a direct result of applying the right principles to your professional life and your personal life. The question is what are the right principles to apply in order to achieve success? Over the years of studying, four primary principles of success continue to surface from the ancient writers. I call these four principles the triangle of success. The "triangle" of success because one principle is placed at each corner of the triangle and the crucial principle is positioned in the heart of the triangle. The heart of the triangle is what promises success to the other three principles. The other three principles at the corner of the triangles embody the essence of men and women. You will see what I am talking about as I unfold these three. Mind The first corner of the triangle is your thinking process; or in other ! words exercising your mind. Learning is a necessary step towards growing. Growth is imperative to achieve success. Aristotle puts it succinctly, he writes, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Success follows the ability to analyze a subject, make sound judgments while moving toward your objectives. "You are to be a student, not a follower", says Jim Rohn. That is exactly what professionals are, they are students. Success is the goal; therefore, continuous training, instruction, and being mentored is the process. Those who are successful pay the price. They apply
the disciplines of learning. They have placed value on education and training. I, personally, think that if you are a student, always applying the disciplines of learning, that your philosophies of life will be improving, better ideas come to your thinking, which all leads to success. Education is something that no one can ever take away from you. It helps to develop and define who you are. "The best of all things is to learn. Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever." --Louis L'Amour (1908-1988) Emotions Your emotion is the second corner of the triangle. Passionately pursuing after your objectives leads to success. This is not to say that your objectives come before people in your life, but the principle is to be well taken-success is dependent on your inner drive to achieve it. The truth is, you will do what you want to do. If you want something bad enough you will dwell on it all of the time doing whatever is necessary to reach your goal. That is passion. Kahlil Gibran said, "All that spirits desire, spirits attain." Perhaps G. W. F. Hegel says is best, "Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." You see what I mean when I said above that these principles surface every where I studied? These are the principles that made men and women great. The reasons that they do surface is that these principles are at the core of who and what we are made GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 51
of inside. You were designed with a purpose and the driving force within you motivates you to accomplish your purpose in life. "Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire." Arab Proverb Will The third corner of the triangle is your will. Eventually, you have to step out and do what you desire. If you never decide to reach for your dream, you will remain in the stands with the majority of people in life. Perhaps you have fear, hurt, or insecurity, holding you back; if you permit these or any others to control your actions success stands aloof. A mentor at this point may be more helpful, than, reading a book or two. At times we need someone to hold us accountable so that we will do the necessary follow through. Depending on your temperament exercising your will towards your objectives may take a lot of courage, but courage is what guarantees that these others will work. If you don't have the courage to start you never will know, now will you? I can not stress it strong enough that taking action is one of the most important principles to achieving your dreams. Jim Rohn, says, "Some are always picking the fruit, while others are always, examining the roots." Consistent action will produce results. It is the law of sowing and reaping. You reap what you sow, in other words, you get what you deserve, not what you need. Plant enough seeds and you will find growth. It is the law of ratio. Ask enough people and someone will join or buy. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." - Vincent T. Lombardi Perseverance Now, what is in the heart or center of the triangle that will enable you to succeed? Every successful person has this. Do you know? I will give you a clue it begins with a P, now you fill in the blank, P__________. It is perseverance! Perseverance is the inner strength to get back into the battle after you have been wounded. As I observe those who succeed and those who don't, it appears to me that the difference is in perseverance. Those with perseverance don't stop until they reach their goal. They are relentless! Just when you thought they were down and out this time, sure as the world, they manage, some how, to get back up again. 52 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
I love to visit Chocolate World. It is located in Hershey, PA. They make, obviously, Hershey's chocolate. You get to take a tour to see how they make all of that chocolate and at the end of the ride you get a piece of free chocolate and/or the opportunity to buy all the chocolate you want. But, the significant part of the tour is reading "bits and pieces" of Milton Hershey's life (the founder). He, like so many others, failed three times in the business world, before he was successful. He had a dream and would not let go of it. Was he ever discouraged? You know he was. Did he ever want to quit? Who doesn't? Did others talk bad about him? I think some still do. However, those are not the right questions to ask. Better questions are: "Did he quit?" And "What kept him from quitting?" Or, "How did he persevere?" No, he did not give up. He persevered through the hard times and some unbearable problems. How did he do that? What kept him going? The same way thousand's of others did it. The big "P" was in the center of the triangle. Perseverance was the heart of their passion, attitude, and will. Napolean Hill captures the three corners of the triangle when he writes, "Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action." As you add perseverance to this success formula it is one sure way to, at least, do your part to succeed. There are never any promises how life will turn out, but one thing for sure, neglect the right principles and you are removing the possibilities of success. I will conclude with the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing."— About the Author Dr. John E. Neyman, Jr. is a Pastor, author, speaker, and relationship coach. You may contact Dr John at drjohnneyman@gmail.com or visit his site at LeadersExcel.com
Courtesy Photo Renown Gospel Singer and actress, Duranice Pace performs a stellar performance, during the gospel stage play, This Woman You Gave Me.
Sutton-Ball, continued from page 5 This is the story of three sisters with three different personalities and three good men. The men in their lives question God regarding the woman He gave them. Each man must answer the ultimate question: will they take their position as men and cover, protect, and love in spite of? As with every woman, the feelings of insecurity, jealousy and pride creeps upon the best of us. This play stirs the soul and demonstrates life struggles, challenging relationships, and wavering faith,” she said. When asked what the future holds for Jacqueline Sutton-Ball, she proclaims that she’ll keep striving towards
the mark. She will continue to keep God first in all things. “From the beginning until now, God continues to amaze me with his provision and faithfulness. Everything that I need for this ministry, time after time, God has made the way and for that I am truly grateful. Though times get rough, trying to balance work, life, and ministry, God is the foundation to not only make it last, but to make it thrive, she said.” Jacqueline currently resides in Lumpkin, Stewart County, Georgia. She is married and has three sons. For more information about Jacqueline’s ministry visit WayTruthLifeProductions.com.—
Courtesy Photo
A scene from This Woman You Gave Me featuring Duranice Pace (second from right). GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2016 53
Courtesy Photo Jacqueline (left) received honorable recognition for an amazing sold out show, This Woman You Gave Me.
Courtesy Photo Legendary actor, Carlton Payne (right) in a dynamic scene of the gospel stage play, This Woman You Gave Me. 54 RuralLeaderMag.com |JULY 2016
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