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Nov./Dec. 2020 Volume 1 Issue 8 FREE
Creating & Selling Solutions Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
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Doors Will Open, and Doors Will Close A Letter From The Editor
There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!
To say the year of 2020 has been overwhelming would be an understatement. For as long as I can remember, there has always beenAsome etched in my mind about the year 2020. Letter mystique from the Editor What will happen? What won’t happen? By now, I believe that everyone has their own version of what the year has turned out if tomorrow didn’t of your plans, hopes to be. I What am hoping that 2021 willarrive? have aAll much better outcome. and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that decided put off until tomorrow never With the onset of you Covid 19, it’stomy interpretation that many happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy people may have taken the eventual pandemic for granted. All day, andand you out could someone the we trouble of making of a sudden, of spare nowhere, the way go about our daily promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired lives was interrupted. Can’t go to church because of the dangers today?with What would do? are closed, businesses have associated the virus.you Schools been closed and in some cases, even shut down permanently. I’ve been that I often seemorlike I do too much. Everywhere I go, told I must wear a mask protective covering to Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough I’m a firm ensure that I do get infected or possibly infectand someone else. believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on Then a new word was even invented as a result of our newme way that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would of living; social distancing. Oh, how things have changed. be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity Even with all of the discourse and confusion, God has is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge continued to show His might and power through it all. While to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? someIfthings have been He hasbut replaced I do nothing, I fail,taken and ifaway, I try I don’t, insteadthem learnwith evensomething greater ones. new normal, many business owners newWith aboutthe myself. Relinquish your pride and in including myself have been forced to develop new ways of how return acquire life. we do business. As a result our businesses have flourished and become even dynamic. All to that left with to think is, but The bestmore advice ever given meI am happened when someone God.told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only I’mhope excited about Iwhat preparing for everyone in provided. haveGod also is learned the difference between 2021. what While weblesses are closing out and the what year, life we can must continue to be God me with burden me with mindful of all of the things that as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and God didn’t to happen, and when allow to be quiet, because appreciate what Heget has. What someone may it confused I continue to learn is when God with being arrogant. takes some things away, He always tomorrow replacesMake themyou with even greater happen but most things. Whentoday, one door closes, importantly make it count. another one will open. Knowing Lifemust is butstay a whisper and and this, we encouraged we must put ourselves in a continue to pursue our purpose. position to hear what it is More than anything, we must telling always trustus. God.
www.huamimagazine.com Terry L Watson Publisher www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief Writer Dawn C. Thornton Terry L. Watson Terry L. Watson Writer Alana Allen - Deputy Editor Laci Ollison Writer Writers
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Terry L. Watson Atlanta - Editor/Founder Nov./Dec. 2020
On The Cover
Photo by Shaw Photography Group
CONTENTS
NOV./DEC. 2020
ATLANTA
Sister Friends United Inc.
Rhonda Aaron
On The Cover
Creating & Selling Solutions S. Elle Clark
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Making Power Moves
Rhonda Crowder
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Genesys Fitness
Beverly K. Johnson
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D King Electrical
Dmitri King
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Also Featured
Sereena Key Do you have a sweet tooth? Any Day Desserts has something to fix it. Grand Prairie, TX
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JaQuesa Hayes-Finney Meet the founder of GlamHer Hair Addictions Nashville, TN
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
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Russell (Russ) Pennix He is the cutest, and has been selected as Huami Magazine’s Cutest Baby.
HuamiMagazine.com
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Creating & Selling Solutions 6
HuamiMagazine.com
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
By Laci Ollison Photos by Chanel Mason Everyone experiences hardships in life. Things happen that attempt to throw us off course. And unfortunately for many entrepreneurs, taking time to process and destress doesn’t always come easy. Elle Clark, however, was able to reignite her passion for entrepreneurship through self-care and a sabbatical. “Last year God blessed me to be able to take a year off from business and work,” the Mississippi native said. “I had never taken off work in about 16 or 17 years. Elle said that it was her friends who encouraged her to take a break after experiencing some difficult times. “They told me I needed a break to just chill and relax,” she said. “I was really stressed. And my friends reminded me that I hadn’t stopped through any of the things that I had been through.” But then, Elle said that her mental health began to become affected because of not being able to take a break. “I started having bad panic attacks and anxiety attacks,” she said. “That’s when I knew I had to do something.” The single mother reluctantly agreed to take a break, but it wasn’t a decision that was easy to make or adjust to. “It was crazy to not get up and go to work,” said Elle. “I felt like an underachiever. I felt like I was being a slacker and like I should be up doing something. I just felt like I was wasting my life.” By the second month Elle told herself that she was blessed and that she could do this. By the third month she pushed herself to find a routine. The year-long sabbatical gave the entrepreneur time to process some of her life’s experiences. “It gave me time to release a lot of things that had hurt me,” said Elle. “I unloaded a lot of hurt, stress, and pain, and had time to process things that I had been through.” It also gave her a chance to remember why she started her businesses in the first place. “I shut down all my businesses,” Elle said. “I didn’t do anything work related and it was hard. It gave me time to plan, time to meet with suppliers, and that’s also when I came up with my organization, ‘Passion Funding Purpose.’” Continued on the next page
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Passion Funding Purpose is a non profit organization that Elle founded in hopes of assisting working class men and women with everyday life necessities: food, housing, medical expenses along with attorney fees of black fathers who are battling tough child custody cases. “The inspiration for Passion Funding Purpose came from me and my own experience,” Elle said. “To be in full time business and raising a child, you find yourself needing help sometimes but there’s not a lot of help for the working class.” Elle said that business owners and working class shouldn’t have to worry about essential things like childcare, housing, or making sure they have food for their family when times get hard. Assisting others was also part of the inspiration behind another one of her businesses, Sippin Good. Named by her son, Sippin Good offers cbd teas and organic loose teas that are geared toward health and wellness. “All teas are geared toward the body,” Elle said. “We felt that it was the perfect time to launch this type of business during a pandemic.” The teas were specifically created to help with ailments that many people experience such as diabetes, dementia, joint pain, anxiety, alcohol and substance addiction, fibrosis plus so much more. All ingredients from the teas are sourced from suppliers found within the United States.
“It was crazy to not get up and go to work. I felt like an underachiever. I felt like I was being a slacker and like I should be up doing something.” 8
Elle along with her son had hopes of opening a storefront but due to the pandemic, they have pushed their open date to March of next year. For now, their line of teas can be found on their website. “The goal is to come to the café and have a full tea experience,” she said. Along with her non-profit organization and her tea business, Elle is a Georgia Notary and full time Georgia Realtor of 16 years. Elle Clark Solutions offers Real Estate and Small Business Strategy Solutions to entrepreneurs who need assistance defining their goals, creating an execution plan and scaling their business. Elle says that she hopes to handoff her Real Estate business to her son in the next six years. “I don’t see myself opening up any other businesses,” she said. “But the goal is to have all my businesses go on auto-pilot.” She also hopes her 12 year old son will continue to build his entrepreneurial skills. Continued on the next page
“Both myself and his father are entrepreneurs,” Elle said. “So he is a product of his environment. Our goal is to make sure that he knows that he doesn’t have to work for anyone else. Our goal is to make sure that he knows that an unplanned direction to college or working a job for someone else not knowing his skills does not have to be his path. I want him to look at himself and know that he has options based on learning his purpose. She hopes to leave a legacy for her son to follow. “I have to ask myself, “what am I leaving behind”? “If I departed this world today, what did I as a parent teach him to do without me?” “Have a clear, concise, and well strategized plan,” she advises. “Plan for long and short term.” The business strategist says that entrepreneurs should also save and budget for the potential costs that come along with starting a business. “Have the money because nothing is free,” she said. “We’re past the days of being able to start a business for $500 because legal filing fees cost that much alone.” Elle also says that business owners should be able to adapt to changes that they may encounter along the way. “Be open to change. Business is not one dimensional no matter how many years you have been in it. Every year and every quarter you should be rising to a new level and still learning while maintaining that which you have mastered at the same time.” Elle says that she is proud of how she herself has been able to adapt to change. “I find strength in knowing that I could do this by myself with what God placed within me. In spite of adversity and in spite of the lessons that I had to learn, I stayed the course.” Elle’s next goal is to make a “little time” to be found by true love and marry in the near future. h
“Some companies give good ideas, we sell great Solutions”
Sippin Good LLC 833-7SI-PPIN www.sippingood.com “Enhance your mind, body and wellness while Sippin Good” Facebook & Instagram @Imsippingood
Elle Clark Solutions Real Estate & Small Business Solutions 770-421-5531 www.elleclarksolutions.com 800 Battery Ave - Ste 100 Atlanta, GA 30339 Facebook & Instagram @elleclarksolutions 11
D KING ELECTRIC By Dawn Cauthen Thornton - Photos by Khi Visualz
The trajectory of your life is usually determined by the decisions you make for yourself and the odds that may be stacked against you despite those decisions. Unsurprisingly, black men tend to face these odds at a larger rate than any other ethnic category. In high school, in Greensboro, NC, Dmitri King was traveling down the wrong path. He was hanging out with friends late at night, taking the family car without permission, and eventually ran into trouble that he couldn’t escape. After he graduated, not much changed. Things got worse even. He and his stepfather weren’t getting along due to his constant mischief and eventually he was kicked out of the house. A close friend and his family took him in and for years it seemed his life was turning around…until he got arrested and thrown in jail. While spending time behind bars, King received a phone call from a close cousin that would change his life more than he could’ve ever imagined. “My cousin came and bailed me out and asked me was I ready to leave Greensboro, NC now. I knew I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. So not only did he pay my bail, but he paid to rent a moving truck, packed up all my stuff and brought me and my son down to Buford, GA put us up, and put me to work that week,” King explains. He is beyond grateful to his cousin and freely admits that he could never repay him for giving him the career he currently has and a new lease on life almost two decades ago. Perhaps he’s reimbursing him by following in his cousin’s footsteps and being a successful businessman.
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King’s cousin owned an independent electrical business and taught him almost everything he knew at the time. The New Jersey native absorbed as much knowledge as he could and moved on to another company where he worked alongside seasoned electricians who poured into him. Years later he transitioned to another cousin’s business, expanding his knowledge base even further. “I learned on three different levels and learned three different ways to run a business. They were all so smart and took their time to teach me everything about wiring and lighting and all of that,” says King. In 2010 King felt he’d had enough hands on experience to branch out and start a business of his own. He became a Certified Electrician and opened DKing Electric, LLC under the parent company Metro Atlanta Electrical, LLC. It wasn’t easy for me, but it wasn’t that difficult because I had support.” When one of his former employers changed directions to focus solely on commercial contracts, he referred two of his biggest residential clients to King because of his talent and the level of trust in his work. King met several more loyal clients who gave excellent references so it wasn’t long before his clientele began to grow. Popular nightclub owners, restaurant owners, and new construction home builders all across the area came calling and then connected him with others. Soon he had more clients than he could handle. That push only made him work harder, hire more workers, and make more money. The once troubled kid perfected his craft and is proud that he can wire an entire home by himself from ‘top to bottom’. Fortunately, he’s so busy with inspections, contracts, and clients that he doesn’t have time to do that anymore. He hires professionals whose work is just as thorough as his, so he can trust them to do a job when he’s not there. He’s currently training another cousin to one day take the rein or at the least, be his backup. “You’re only as good as the people you hire so I make sure I employ smart people who know what they’re doing.” A typical day for King consists of driving from city to city, managing projects and the variety of work that has to be done on each job. “The biggest part of my day, really, is going to a [home improvement] store several times! Easy. There isn’t a day when I’m not there at least twice. Sometimes five or six times in a day. So much that I should purchase stock!” he laughed. As busy as it is and as intricate as it can be, King can’t imagine where he would be without DKing Electric, LLC. It’s like the heart of his family. His wife lends her time to the business by handling the bookkeeping and much of the paperwork and he manages the field. His 24 year old son helps out from time to time but has his sights set on entertainment for now. His bonus-daughter watches from afar. The life-saving cousins King embarked on this journey with have now expanded to being builders and restaurant owners, and he is itching to do the same. Don’t be surprised to soon see Dmitri King’s name on something bigger and better around the Atlanta area. Whatever it is, it will be lit. Literally. h
“You’re only as good as the people you hire so I make sure I employ smart people who know what they’re doing.” D King Electric 678-791-3314 www.dkingelectric.com 13
Sister Friends United Inc.
Information by Rhonda Aaron Photos by Randall Lee-Contemporary Imaging Stylist- Style Me Stephanie, MUA- Brianna Young
Rhonda Aaron of North Little Rock, AR has devoted her life to helping and serving others. She is the Founder of Sister Friends United Inc., a non-profit organization of minority women with a mission to support, uplift and empower its members to better serve the community. Sister Friends United Inc. was founded and incorporated in the State of Arkansas in October 2007. With well over a decade of service to the Pulaski County community, they have provided $30,00 in scholarships to assist young minority women in pursuing their dreams of attaining a college degree. They’ve hosted an array of workshops, conferences and luncheons for women with topics ranging from finance management to health and fitness. Rhonda’s story is quite interesting. She grew up in Dumas, a small town in southeast Arkansas. There she learned her work ethic, playing piano on Sunday’s for the New Light MBC youth choir at age 9. Growing up in church “I learned how to pray and lean on God. This foundation continues to carry me through life. I never would have imagined having my very own day in two cities, receiving awards, and being the subject of news features. I contribute my upbringing to the success I’ve achieved in life. I passionately believe in the importance of hard work and being kind to others,” she shares. She also credits her grandmother for being a good example of giving your time to serve others. Rhonda says she’s learned through the years while working for Sister Friends United Inc. on how important it is to have a solid and consistent brand that people can trust. There are so many nonprofits that don’t survive but their formula has worked for over a decade. Rhonda states, “We are a group of black women who are impacting our community. Our motto says, “United We Stand, United We Make a Difference”. Sister Friends United initially started as a means to connect women and resources within the African American community to gain financial education, healthy living information sessions and empowerment conferences and workshops that would empower attendees to be stronger citizens of the community. A few of the inaugural year initiatives were to form a community partnership to focus on health and wealth. They connected with Baptist Health and Trainer Phyllis Hodges to teach healthy lifestyle habits. They also hosted a financial education workshop on budgeting, investing and retirement plans.
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In 2008, the organization wanted to expand their community reach to support future minority women leaders. As a result, they created the Faith Scholarship. It was established for a female minority senior with a competitive GPA that plans to attend an Arkansas four-year college. They hosted the first formal banquet program to recognize the scholarship honorees in May 2008, at the Burns Park Hospitality House in North Little Rock, Arkansas. As they began to gain momentum in the community by volunteering to work with and support other local nonprofit organizations, they wanted to grow their scholarship banquet to include honoring women in the community for their achievements and local community work. This idea birthed the inaugural Women of Excellence Awards and Faith Scholarship banquet. The purpose of the event was to provide a formal platform that would recognize the career achievements of African American women in their community, provide encouragement to the future leaders receiving the scholarships, and to inspire the event attendees. The honorees were recognized in five areas including Education, Media, Health/ Social Service, Religion and Business. The first honorees were Dr. Katherine Mitchell (Education), Dr. Emma Kelly Rhodes (Religion), Annie Abrams (Social Service), Korto Momolu (Business) and Evangeline Parker (Media). Some of our most notable honorees included Dr. Jocelyn Elders and Honorable Lottie Shackelford. May 12, 2018 was the 10th anniversary of the Women of Excellence Awards and Faith Scholarship, which represented honoring 50 women since inception and presenting our 28th scholarship. This event has been featured in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette as a High-Profile article titled, “Women Power” as well as being broadcast on Comcast Community local TV and many other magazine features, including STAND magazine and ML Community. Sister Friends United Inc. is also committed to helping other nonprofit organizations. The Annual Hat Luncheon was created to bring awareness to and monetary support to other nonprofit organizations as well as local African American business owners. This annual event has donated $2,500 to help support the mission of several local nonprofit organizations including Sisters Living with Alopecia, Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Sickle Cell Support Services, Timmons Art Foundation and Bearden Productions Art Studio, to name a few. The program includes local business spotlights and the notable hat contest. Their Read, Write, Get Fit and Lead & Back to School Bash is a biennial program focused on supporting the needs of girls’ ages 12-18 and teaching key fundamentals that are important to their success as future leaders. There are breakout sessions and various speakers for each topic that stress the importance of education when it comes to reading, writing, self-care and responsibilities as a leader. The 2018 event was sponsored in partnership with a grant provided by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield through their Blue & You Foundation. One hundred and ten girls have benefited from these free summer programs. Each year, Sister Friends United Inc has provided a holiday meal and breakfast for a family in need as well as fulfilled the request of a child from the Salvation Army’s Angel tree. They have received names from and partnered with Second Baptist (John BarrowPastor Ivan Lambert) and volunteer annually with Power 92 to support the Watershed with a monetary donation and preparing food boxes to distribute to families in need.
Rhonda shares that she is inspired by women winning, and others who achieve success and live their dreams. “I understand that journey and it is inspirational to see the victory,” she says. The future seems to be quite busy for the organization. They are preparing to expand outside of their home base in Little Rock, AR and opening national membership opportunities through their SFU Sister Circle, with a purpose to connect like-minded women through sisterhood and service through smaller chapters. They are also hosting their inaugural Girlfriend Conference in Orlando, Florida, on June 3-5, 2021. Its purpose is to bring together women from various walks of life to F.U.S.E “Fun, Uplift, Sisterhood and Empowerment”, They are combining a girlfriends trip with a powerful empowerment conference that will incorporate fun girlfriend activities, powerhouse motivational speakers. The threeday conference will end with a concert by Raheem DeVaughn. Rhonda has a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Strategic communication from UA Little Rock. She is currently the Co-owner and Chief Operations Officer for Mid State Counseling and Recovery Service, a mental health agency located in North Little Rock, AR. She currently resides in North Little Rock with her husband of 26 years, Deon. They have one adult daughter, Brianna and a feisty four-year-old grandson, Chance. You can follow Sister Friends United Inc on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, You h Tube, and their website.
Rhonda Aaron Sister Friends United Inc. www.sisterfriendsunited.com 15
By Terry L. Watson Photos by BK Johnson It has been said that you can always judge a book by its cover. When it comes to Beverly K. Johnson, that is very accurate. On the outside, it can appear that she is soft and gentle creature, full of zest and finesse. She exudes elegance and beauty almost effortlessly. Though when her book opens up, Beverly can be quite surprising. She is a beautiful soul with a wicked dry sense of humor. She can shift from being uber serious, to be hilariously funny, quoting lyrics to random songs. Whatever way you look at it, Beverly is in a space in her life where she’s found peace and happiness. Beverly is a native of Mobile, AL and a graduate of Alabama A&M University. She is also a Army veteran. Presently she is a lifecoach and motivational speaker. She is the face and founder of Genesys Fitness, a community of women who recognize the need to reclaim their lives and are emotionally ready to do the work. “At GenFit, we believe self-care takes priority over caring for others because it is in caring for ourselves that we make the best caregivers. We believe that by helping women rediscover who they are after suffering a loss, she will be empowered to become her ideal self – physically, mentally and emotionally,” she shares. Continued on page 8
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Beverly says that Genesys Fitness represents change for women who are ready for a shift. “My clients recognize that they are ready for more and need a roadmap to reach their goals. My client’s ages range from 35-65, and I use the phrase “the forgotten woman” to describe her. The Forgotten Woman is the person who makes sure her family eats, yet often takes the smallest plate. She’s the one who people know by name, but because she’s so tired and overwrought, she sometimes forgets her own. The Forgotten Woman is a beautiful and selfless spirit who, in everything she does, puts others needs ahead of her own. She often goes unappreciated, unloved, abused, and overworked. She often feels alone, tired, sick, depressed, ugly, and invisible. I’ve discovered that this is usually the season when you’ve become settled in your career, and have raised families and eventually become empty nesters. In some cases, my clients have assumed the role of caretaker for their parents. It’s during this time, you discover that you’ve taken care of everyone and you’re at the bottom of the list. They are looking to discover themselves,” she shares. With Genesys Fitness, Beverly offers an 8-Week Personal Training regimen called the “60 Day Slay” Transformation Program. Through one-on-one sessions, personalized sessions, and mindset make overs, she partners with her clients to reclaim their identity through customized coaching, fitness training, and strategies to build sustainable changes.
“The Forgotten Woman is the person who makes sure her family eats, yet often takes the smallest plate. She’s the one who people know by name, but because she’s so tired and overwrought, she sometimes forgets her own.” 18
Genesys Fitness began with a thought. Beverly shares how she believed that she could shift her experiences as a Zumba instructor to that as a personal trainer. During that transition of time, she was also enduring an emotionally and mentally exhausting divorce. As she healed from the divorce, she discovered her voice and realized that some new tools and insights that proved beneficial to her existing clients. “As I experienced my beginning, I wanted to inspire others to achieve theirs,” she says.
Continued on page 10
Genesys Fitness takes off. “I was sitting on my couch one Sunday afternoon in 2015, and decided that I was ready to take the plunge. I had my business cards made and I posted information about it on Facebook. That was my official grand opening. I didn’t know anything about launches or social media engagement. I just jumped. I had no idea what to do next. My first client happened to be one of my sorority sisters. That vote of confidence from my Soror gave me the determination to keep pushing,” she says. Today, Beverly is in full force with Genesys Fitness. Her focus is on providing a great experience and service to her clients, while impacting their lives. “I love it when my clients have their ‘aha’ moments. It’s that moment when she begins to see the results. I’ll receive the text message announcing they’ve lost a dress size or that they’ve started to receive compliments from friends. That’s when I know my program is working.’ Beverly says. She also finds inspiration in her mother who she describes as someone who has a beautiful spirit and has taught Beverly and her siblings the importance of having a good work ethic, gratitude, and humor. Beverly has also faced some challenges in business. “As a fitness professional, I’m faced with the challenge of providing my services in our current landscape with the Covid 19 pandemic. The safety of my clients is my utmost priority. With that being so, I’ve switched my practice to a virtual platform, and it’s proving to be a great option for my clients,” she says. Moving forward, Beverly hopes to expand her online coaching business. Expanding her online business will allow her to provide Genesys Fitness services across the country. She also offers some advice to others who follow a similar journey as she has. “Decide on who you want to market to in your business. While it sounds good to cater to everyone, everyone won’t be a customer. Determine who you want your ideal client to be. From that point, it will be easier to create a solid business. Most importantly, don’t fear the unknown, it’s a part of the process.” h
www.beverlykjohnson.com 20
GlamHer Hair
Addiction
By Laci Ollison Photos by LA Photographie During the day, she has the responsibility of delivering packages and mail to local residents as a postal worker, but at night she is mixing, creating, and serving up natural haircare products to her male and female customers who are looking to grow and maintain their healthy locs and manes. Thirty-three-year-old Jaquesa Hayes-Finney is the proud owner of GlamHer Hair Addiction, which offers natural hair products for all hair types. She founded her company after gaining inspiration from her sister who was diagnosed with cancer and lost all of her hair. Her oldest daughter also has eczema on her scalp which lead Hayes-Finney to create a product that could be used on children’s hair as well. “I wanted to create a natural hair product to help women and children who have lost their hair for different reasons and to help establish healthy hair habits,” stated Hayes-Finney. “Although many of my customers wear extensions, I want them to understand that it’s okay to wear them but their hair should be healthy underneath as well.” She shares that her best-selling product is her, HERJuice which helps with the health of the scalp which is vital for healthy hair. HERJuice also helps with hair retention, density and breakage. Hayes-Finney states, “This product has helped women that have experienced loss due to alopecia, chemotherapy and eczema. It can also help with chemically treated hair and stress points.”
“I went to cosmetology school, but I never wanted to actually do hair. I was always more focus on the anatomy of the scalp so I could formulate, mix and create my own products.” Continued on the next page
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Customers have also used her natural products on baby’s who have experienced cradle cap and need moisture on their scalp and help with their hair growing back.
GLamHER Edges Control
GLamHER Conditioner
GlamHer also offers a variety of other haircare products for customers such as shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leavein conditioner, butter crème and edge control. “My edge control works with all different types of hair,” said Hayes-Finney. “I have a lot of customers who wear locs and they like to use the edge control to retwist their hair.” The single mother of two said that she has always wanted to work for herself and to own her own business. And although she has always had a passion for hair, she says that she was never really interested in becoming a hair stylist. “I went to hair school, but I never wanted to actually do hair,” she said. “I was always more focused on the anatomy of the scalp so I could formulate, mix and create my own products.” Hayes-Finney said that the science behind hair and hair products drew her more because she loves science. She also earned a degree from Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis. The Nashville native said that the anatomy behind the hair and scalp drew her to taking online courses to create her own product line. “I took classes on how to mix products together and I learned what mixes well. Once I learned how to make the products, then I added my own twist to make something that would work for all hair types,” Hayes-Finney said. She also states that when coming up with inspiration for her products, she had a specific type of hair and customer in mind. “My target was 4C hair because that’s the type of hair that my oldest daughter has and it is the hardest texture of hair to maintain and find products for,” Hayes-Finney said. “My youngest daughter has curly 3C hair and I have 4A 4B hair. I made the product to where it is versatile on all type hair.” Hayes-Finney said that it was important for her to create a product that would work perfectly on all of her family’s hair, no matter the texture.
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GLamHER Shampoo Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
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I keep my daughters very involved in the business. Not only do they assist with getting the products together by helping with packaging, but they are also co-owners of GlamHer Hair Addiction.
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As an entrepreneur, Hayes-Finney states the hardest part about managing a business has been the marketing but being consistent and having good customer service is what has helped her be successful as a business owner. And although, working a full-time job and raising her daughters while managing her business can get tough at times, she keeps with the grind because failing is not an option. She hopes to pass down the importance of entrepreneurship to her daughters. “I keep my daughters very involved in the business,” Hayes-Finney said. “Not only do they assist with getting the products together by helping with packaging, but they are also co-owners of GlamHer Hair Addiction,” she says. She encourages her daughters and teaches them that they can be their own boss and pave the way for the next generation to come. The businessowner is now looking to start two lines of products specifically for kids and for men. “The men products will be for men who may be experiencing hair loss, or who may just need a good moisturizer for their beard,” Hayes-Finney said. GlamHer Hair Addiction has been in business for over a year and you can also find the natural hair styling products on the shelves of Colored Essentials on Jefferson Street. All of the products that GlamHer offers are vegan friendly, kid friendly and have been approved by the FDA. h
Ja’Quesa Finney GlamHer Hair Addiction www.glamorousbombshell.com 615-863-1578 26
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Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
By Terry L. Watson Photos by Todd Youngblood Who is Rhonda G. Crowder? When asked that question, she describes herself as someone who keeps her focus on family and career. The single mother is vibrant, creative, jovial, and hard working. She is also determined, optimistic, and someone who puts God first. “I am a mother of two wonderful children, Kaila and Jaydn. I am an alumnus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. There, I majored in Journalism Mass Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations,” she says. Rhonda is the CEO and Founder of Power Moves Education & Consulting, and Power Moves Performing Arts Academy. “I am driven by pulling the creative out of someone who never thought they would succeed. I enjoy expounding on the greatness inside of them, bringing it to flourish it,” she shares. Power Moves Performing Arts Academy is set to personalize and develop, refine and showcase in dance, drama, musical theatre/theatre, photography, vocal and instrumental music and studio engineering while providing them with a rigorous academic curriculum. Everyone is welcomed to apply and all students must have a goal driven attitude. “We thrive on an HBCU level with creativity, allowing students to re-invent their creativity through arts,” she shares. Power Moves Education & Consulting prepares, exposes, and broadens all student’s horizons for colleges, universities, and first-generation students in either a one on one, group sessions and/or speaking engagements while building and connecting education and striving for excellence. Rhonda shares that her journalism and educational background have allotted her creativity to be cultivated in entrepreneurship. “Without God, and the vision He placed in me, none of this would be possible. GOD is my CEO!” Rhonda says she enjoys educating and bringing out the creativity in others. She is also inspired by strong women who have a story of power and strength and are willing to share how they overcame. She also finds strength in single mothers, just as she is, who are pushing to succeed and become successful. In the future, her goal is to own her own school, and have her own performing arts studio. The sky’s the limit, and Rhonda is proving that anything is possible with God. h
For more information, please contact Rhonda Crowder 336-325-8855 powermovesenc@gmail.com Follow Power Moves on Facebook and Instagram
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
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Rita Hinton 30
HuamiMagazine.com
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
By Terry L. Watson Photos by David Gort Modeling by Troinesha M. Webb There are some things that you do not mess with when it comes to lady. The most important one to remember; don’t mess around with her purse, pocketbook, or handbag. Rita Hinton of Dallas, TX has embraced this notion and made a business out of it. She is the CEO of Savanah Bleu, a retailer that specializes in designer style handbags without the designer price tag. She is quick to point out that she doesn’t sell any kind of “brand name” handbag. “My styles are big brands, and have the same quality. I specialize in vegan leather, faux leather, and genuine leather,” she says. Rita can be best described as someone who is dynamic and determined. She is the middle child of Ray and Dorothy Hall and was born in Dallas, TX in April of 1969 and raised in a small town in West Texas. She has always been ambitious and independent in her thinking. At the age of 50, she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Small Business from the University of Pheonix. Rita shares that she is a hard worker who has decided to work hard for myself. Her entrepreneurial experience began with her selling jewelry. “I love jewelry, accessories, and fashion. When I dressed up, women would always ask me where I purchased my jewelry, or my handbag, and sometimes even my attire. One day I was sitting at a restaurant eating lunch, and a young lady approached me and asked where did I purchased my earrings. I couldn’t remember because I had them for quite a while. However, she asked to purchase them right off of my ears. And so it began,” she says. Savanah Bleu Handbags was launched in 2009. Rita began by first dipping her hand in selling costume jewelry. She then added handbags and soon it became her best-selling product. She shares what has helped her business more than anything are the prices. “I’ve always told myself that I would not put a price on a bag that I myself could not afford. I firmly believe that every woman should be able to afford a nice quality handbag. Therefore, my prices are for all incomes and my target group are women that want to look good, stylish, and classy.” There are a few key factors that help to make Savanah Bleu successful. Rita shares that two of the key ingredients are superb products and great customer service. “Handbags are my thing and I love selling them. I believe that you must love what you do, and equally love what you sell. You must also love your customers, even on the bad days. I believe in providing my customers with quality. Savanah Bleu offers quality, all the time. Quality merchandise, quality prices, and quality customer service.” Rita has also been successful because she is committed to meeting the needs of her clients. “I’ve worked in customer service for more than 20 years, and throughout the years I have learned that customers love to be pampered and appreciated. Although my business is an online business, I am available at any time. My clients have full access to me, 24 hours a day. Even if it’s just to say hello, I am there. I maintain a personable relationship with all my clients which has proven to work well. I have the best customers this industry offers,” she says. Though Rita finds inspiration in many things, she says her mother inspires her the most. “She passed away in 2014, but before then she instilled in me to always do well, be good to people, and to always put family first. The next person would be my father. He taught me to always be myself. He told me that even if I try to be or act like someone else, not everyone will like you. It’s best to just be you and let the chips fall where they may when it comes to others and their opinions of you,” she says. She lost her father on Valentine’s Day of this year, and with both of her parents gone, she has pushed herself to take my business to the next level and to live life to the fullest.
Savanah Bleu
www.savanahbleu.com (469) 509-5982 savanahbleu@yahoo.com Like most businesses, Savanah Bleu has faced its share of challenges. The biggest one Rita shares is consistency. “I’ve learned I will not make money every day, and sometimes not even every week. Still, I cannot let that discourage me from continuing with growing my business. There are times that I make absolutely nothing, and the next week I can’t keep stock or restock fast enough. I have learned that working for yourself is not easy. I understand that one must put in just as much effort and time into owning a business as you would working for someone else. It is a constant perpetuation of time, effort, and research,” she says. In the future, Rita plans to continue to build Savanah Bleu into a reputable company. She is currently working on her men’s line, Savanahbleu4him, which will offer men’s jewelry and accessories. It is scheduled to launch in November 2020. She also offers some advice to others who may follow in her footsteps in regards to entrepreneurship and business. “Follow your dreams. Even if you must keep starting over, never give up on you. Nothing happens overnight and anything you want, you must want to work to get it. Nothing will be given to you which makes obtaining it all the better. Good luck and you can do it!” h
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HuamiMagazine.com
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
Any Day Desserts, LLC
By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Erica Ms. Precious McGee and DPhotography817 There is something about a good slice of cake. If it’s sweet, then it’s good. Yet, if it’s made with love and compassion, then it’s probably delicious. That is exactly what Sereena Key of Any Day Desserts, LLC is doing in Grand Prairie, TX. Sereena says that Any Day Desserts are homemade sweet treats that people love, and will fall in love with after that first bite. “This happens because I make it all with love. I take something that can be bought in stores and make it myself. Things like cake flour, buttermilk, caramel sauce, fruit toppings, honey, pie crust, caster sugar, and frosting are all homemade by me. Because I take the time to make these items homemade makes a big difference in taste. Currently I operate a home-based business for now and only take local orders from customers that can pick them up. I do offer delivery for orders that are $15 and up, and within 15 miles from my address for a flat fee. Anything over 15 miles would be a little more in pricing. I also have desserts for vegans and for diabetics,” she says. How did Any Day Desserts, LLC begin? “I love finding new things to discover about myself. One thing that I just discovered is my passion for baking. This is something that I do without hesitation, and I enjoy everything about it,” she says. The idea to bake came almost out of nowhere, as Sereena explains. “I was in bed on the night of November 19, 2019. I was thinking about my life and the direction I wanted to go in. I was a ‘jack of all trades’ kind of a person and remembered the time I made a homemade pecan pie, with a homemade crust. I took a picture of it and I decided to post it in a Facebook group, Detroiters In Dallas (DID). The very next day I started to get a lot of orders in. I could not believe the amount of support I received. It was a breath of fresh air. By Thanksgiving and Christmas, I had orders coming in from all parts of Facebook, and I knew then that I needed to take my idea to the next level,” she says. Continued on the next page
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HuamiMagazine.com
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
Sereena is best described as someone who is very kind, loving, and understanding. She was born in Nyack, New York and raised in Spring Valley, New York. Along with her mother and two older siblings, she relocated to Detroit, MI. Over the next few years she moved back and forth between New York and Detroit, and she considers them both to be home. At the age of 18, she moved to Atterbury, IN for school. By the age of 22, she made the decision to move to move to Minnesota for school at Hubert H. Humphery Job corps. “I found my place and a life for myself there. After a year, I left Hubert H. Humphery with my GED, CNA license, and Business Technology certificate and decided to stay in Minnesota to live. It was rocky in the beginning, yet Minnesota became my home for 14 years after making friends, and finding love,” she says. However, she found herself in a repetitive cycle, and doing the same thing, year after year. It appeared that all life had to offer me was work, pay bills, so that I could keep a roof over my head. “After having love break my heart, I decided It was time for me to get off that hamster wheel, and so I decided to move to Texas.” Sereena had never been to Texas. Still she made the decision to move there. She wanted to become a home owner. “Moving to Texas by myself wasn’t the plan but I do believe it was God’s plan. I always say everything happens for a reason,” she says. Her decision to move was confirmed after receiving a job offer at a hospital in Texas in 2018. She knew that it was time to stop holding herself in Minnesota, and after speaking with God, she began putting things in motion to make the move. “For the month of November, I worked my butt off and sold everything. I packed up my car and on December 8th, 2018, along with a good friend, I drove 15 hours to Texas,” she says. Now at the age of 37, Sereena is a independent black woman with tons of ambition, determination, and drive.
The idea of turning her passion into a business still had not been decided for Sereena. After the holidays in 2019, she went back to her normal routine of working as a rehabilitation technician for Pate rehabilitation center. She didn’t focus on baking again until May 2020, as a result of being quarantined due to the Covid 19 pandemic. “Having to stay inside offered me the best opportunity to jump back into baking. I focused more on making desserts and finding new cakes to make. Though I was happy with baking, I wasn’t sure about making this a full time job for myself,” she says. During the first week of August in 2019, Sereena took a little getaway to a ranch. There was nothing there but animals and peace. This experience provided her time to think freely on life and what she really wanted and what made her happy. She determined that baking was her passion, so when she got back home she took the first steps on taking her passion to the next level. On September 23rd 2020, Any Day Desserts, LLC was born. “What I love must about my business Is when someone shares they cannot believe what they are tasting. To be able to make someone’s day with my desserts, makes me happy. When you have a customer tip you because they believe what they just tasted is worth more then what they paid for, brings me joy. To have my customers text me back 20 minutes or even three days later to let me know how much they enjoyed it, makes it all worth it,” she says. Continued on the next page
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Sereena is inspired by the positive energy from the citizens of Texas. “Seeing so many black owned businesses here has inspired me. Witnessing the love and support that we give each other In our community made me look at things differently. I have never seen anything like it before. Seeing people grind and hustle for their own business, for a better life and living made me want to be a part of it. It made me jump off of that hamster wheel. I have always been that person that has worked day in and day out, the one that always pulled doubles. I’ve had job as a CNA, working with environmental service, working on a cruise ship, and as a rehab tech. I’ve had my fair share of jobs just like I have had my fair share of ups and downs. Having God introduced into my life at the age of nine saved me. At times I question why things was happening to me at such a young age. Why put me through the horrible things, but each Sunday I when I went to the Kingdom Hall, it was like He was speaking to me. He kept me alive. If I didn’t have God in my life at that time, I truly believe that I would not be here. There was a time where I would cry when I talked about the things that I have been through at such a young age, and now I can talk about it with power in my voice,” she says. The future looks very bright for Any Day Desserts, LLC. Sereena says her goal is to include shipping with her services, and to open her own bakery by the summer of 2021. “My overall dream is to have my own pie crust in all stores so when the holidays roll around, or just for any day, you can go and pick one up. Some people may think that’s reaching too far but I don’t. I believe that we must reach as far as you can and believe in yourself always. You should never give up on yourself. If you have the will, ambition, motivation, and a plan, I say go for it. Get off that hamster wheel and push yourself to the max. I have been blessed with this talent and I plan on making Any Day Desserts for years to come,” she says. h
Any Day Desserts, LLC “Everything Homemade” 1450 N. Hwy 360 - Building 11 Grand Prairie, TX 75050 817-808-3734 anydaydesserts@gmail.com any-day-desserts.square.site
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Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
HuamiMagazine.com
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Russell (Russ) Pennix
MAGAZINE
Cutest Baby
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The son of Crystal Adkins-Pennix and Rufus Pennix
HuamiMagazine.com
Atlanta - Nov./Dec. 2020
To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com
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