Black History TrailBlazers #15

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Black TrailBlazers Making History

Elizabeth A Jones - Activist, Entrepreneur, President of National Coalition of 100 Black Women

Ep. 226 - Elizabeth Jones is the principal owner and CEO of Brown Jones & Dansby Financial Services Inc., a full-service accounting firm in Beachwood, Ohio. Before transitioning to the private sector, she enjoyed over 20 years of executive leadership as Public Healthcare Administrator for The MetroHealth System, a nationally ranked nonprofit public health care system in Cleveland, Ohio. She served as the first Black female administrator during her tenure. She served as the Ohio Coordinator for Education, Travel, and Culture Inc., a Foreign Student Exchange Program to increase understanding and tolerance of other cultures through our youth. In addition, Elizabeth was honored when selected as a member of the American International Health Association (AIHA) Delegation traveling to the Slovakia Republic and surrounding areas to provide training to Community Health and Social Service
professionals. Elizabeth was elected National President at the 20th Biennial Conference on October 9, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. Elizabeth joined the NCBW Greater Cleveland Chapter, Cleveland, Ohio, in September 2009. During her tenure, she has successfully served at both the National and Local levels; as Chapter President for the Greater Cleveland Chapter; National Membership Committee Chairperson; National Audit Committee Chairperson; Executive Board of Directors, Board of Directors; and National Third Vice President of Membership and Chapter Development.

Read more about Elizabeth. 

Paula Pearson-Tucker - Activist, Entertainer, Entrepreneur, Govt/Nonprofit, LPGA Member & Golf Pro; Nonprofit Founder, Former Financial Services Executive

Ep.  59 - Paula Pearson Tucker doesn't know how to lose nor how to quit. A born competitor and natural athlete, she broke through racial and gender barriers time after time because she was told "you can't", becoming a stockbroker in the 1980s, and subsequently a golf pro because "Black women weren't supposed to be." She started a private nonprofit to ensure children without dreams could learn to dream because at least one person in their life believes in them. Her personal mantra informs her work with youth through Golf, Not Guns sharing of four principles for success regardless of the path: Pause, Plan, Picture, (and then) Proceed! Paula Pearson-Tucker is an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional and head golf professional for the City of Lauderhill. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Fore Life, Inc. a not-for-profit organization she founded with Football Hall of Fame, Lawrence Taylor.  Fore Life, Inc. uses golf and its decision-making skills to help vulnerable youth from underserved communities survive and succeed. She is a 2009 Miami Dade College (MDC) Hall of Fame inductee.

Read more about Paula. 

Executive/Manager, Nonprofit Professional

Ep. 210 - Ivory Matthews is a fiscally responsible administrator with experience administering housing, workforce, and community development programs within quasi-governmental organizations and not-for-profit entities with annual operating budgets above $50 million. She has a proven track record of increasing revenues and growing the bottom line while spearheading operational improvements to derive productivity and reduce costs. The steadfast leader is committed to affordable housing advocacy, creating equitable communities, quality work performance, and exceptional customer satisfaction. From CEO of Columbia Housing to Executive Director of Oregon's Home Forward, the largest provider of affordable housing in Oregon, she will stand out as a successful woman! Columbia Housing's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ivory N. Mathews was named one of the Top 20 Dynamic CEOs in 2021 by The CEO PublicationThe CEO Publication is a global business magazine recognizing CEOs across the industry vertical in the United States and the United Kingdom. “The CEO Publication Magazine features iconic leaders like Ivory Mathews who are responsible for taking their organization to new heights,” says Adam Patrick –Managing editor of The CEO Publication. “Our magazine showcases how leaders like Ivory have achieved the level of success they currently enjoy so that it can also be an inspiration to other future trailblazers.” In addition to being featured in the publication along with other trail-blazing CEOs; Ivory Mathews landed the cover of The CEO Publication, and her cover story is the center spread of the magazine. Columbia Housing received three National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Awards of Merit for partnerships with Prisma Health and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

Read more about Ivory.

Teresa Harris - Army Veteran, Certified Federal Procurement Specialist, LGBTQ Advocate, "22 years Sober"

Ep. 15 - Teresa Ann Harris readily shares that she was closer to becoming the "property of the state" (i.e., prisoner) than an accomplished federal employee as she graduated high school in the late 1970s. Her anger was born from first hand knowledge of the inequities showered down on women, minorities, and persons who knew they were "not straight". She tried college and when that didn't work she tried the Army for ten years. After suffering sexual assasult from a superior, she knew that wasn't working either! Upon separating from the service she found herself battling substance abuse and homelessness. The efforts of a man that performed street outreach to the homeless of Los Angeles provided her a new north star and she chose to follow it. The street counselor helped her get plugged into services for homeless vets, Alcoholics Anonymous, and she took it from there finally becoming a college graduate and eventually retiring as a GS-15 with the privilege of marrying the woman she has loved for almost 20 years. She pays tribute to her mother's love and prayers, the steadfast support and guidance of Attorney Fay Williams by continuing their legacy of paying it forward by volunteering with AA and other organizations serving marginalized persons.

Read more about Teresa.

Karlene Hibbert - 

Ep.  198 - Karlene Hibbert is the founder of Onyx Marketing Mix, a webinar funnel boutique helping entrepreneurs increase their conversions without increasing their ad spend. Using the latest in messenger technology and email segmentation, she helps clients get more sign-ups, more attendees, and more sales from their existing webinars. She has expertise in chatbot and webinar marketing and shares some valuable business tips for aspiring entrepreneurs. Karlene is a funnel strategist and the Founder and CEO of Onyx Marketing Mix. She helps coaches, consultants, and service providers maximize their webinars by creating automated multi-channel marketing systems.

Learn more about Karlene.

Christine Davenport - Educator, Teacher-Student Advocate, Civic Leader, Local Elected Official

Ep. 135 - The Honorable Christine Davenport is a civic and political leader in the state of Maryland. She holds the distinction of becoming the first African American elected to the Democratic Central Committee as a chairwoman from district 31 and continually reelected through 2016 in that position. From 2004 until 2009 she served as the Vice Chair of the Commission. In 1995, Christine received the prestigious Path Finder's Award for women who have forged Trails for others to follow from YWCA. In 2006, the Dr. Martin Luther Jr. King Awards Committee presented Christine the prestigious Fannie Lou Hamer Humanitarian Award. In 2009, the Daily Record named Christine as one of the Top 100 Outstanding Women in the State of Maryland. Christine received the Michelle Obama Outstanding Award 2020 for her exemplary work in the community.

Read more about Christine.

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