Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine Special Edition | The What Now Movement

Special Edition THE WHAT NOW MOVEMENT

AUGUST 2021

VANDPMAGAZINE.COM

VISION & PURPOSE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

C O N T E N T S V&P Special Edition

7 The What Now Movement Team 8 Administrative Assistant Irene Irungu 10 Chief Movement Officer Dawn Marie Bornheimer 12 Chief Marketing Officer Maisha B. Hoye 14 Chief Engagement Officer Darrius Jerome Gourdine 16 What Now University Masterclass Instructors EMERGE

21 The What Now Movement Founders Build. Create. Innovate.

21 What Now Movement Founders Eric M. Twiggs Dr. Sharon H. Porter Ted Fells 30 Featured What Now Movement Members Kim LaMontagne Genesis Amaris Kemp Dr. Pia L. Scott Towanda R. Livingstone

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V&P Special Edition Featuring

August 2021

Publisher Perfect Time SHP Publishing

The What Now Movement and WNM Ventures LLC FOUNDERS Eric M. Twiggs

President and CEO

Dr. Sharon H. Porter

Vice-President and CCO

Ted Fells

Vice-President and CSO

Editor-In-Chief Dr. Sharon H. Porter Layout & Graphic Design SHP Media & Graphics

Also available

WNM Team Dawn Marie Bornheimer

Chief Movement Officer

Maisha B. Hoye

Chief Marketing Officer

Darrius Jerome Gourdine

Chief Engagement Officer

Irene Irungu

Administrative Assistant

WNU Masterclass Instructors Featured Members

Maisha B. Hoye Valonda Calloway William Randolph Sean Trice, Esq. LaKendra McNair Geena Young Tammy Watson

Genesis Amaris Kemp Kim LaMontagne Dr. Pia L. Scott Towanda Livingston

Contact

www.vandpmagazine.com info@vandpmagazine.com

@vandpmagazine

THE WHAT NOW MOVEMENT

BUILD. CREATE. INNOVATE. Vision Our vision is to create an international community of entrepreneurs, authors, and career professionals who gather for the purpose of innovation, collaboration, and for the sharing of resources and ideas.

Mission Our mission is to build high performing entrepreneurs, authors, and career professionals, who are prepared for life’s unexpected curve balls.

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WNM VENTURES LLC | WHAT NOW MOVEMENT

A Message From the President: Several years ago, I was working to complete a jigsaw puzzle. I reached a point in my pursuit where I felt stuck. I became frustrated because I couldn’t get the pieces to fit. When I turned the puzzle box over on its opposite side, I saw there was a big picture of the completed puzzle. Once I shifted my focus to the big picture, I could see how all the pieces fit together, and I was able to accomplish my goal.

As the president of WNM Ventures LLC, my goal is to provide a big picture perspective that inspires both our internal and external customers to move with vision and purpose. This is in sync with the mission of Vision & Purpose (V&P) Magazine which is to show how vision inspires purpose. Reading the articles in V&P LifeStyle Magazine is like turning the puzzle box over and gaining clarity on how all the pieces fit together.As a result, the reader feels empowered to take their next steps.

As we face these times of uncertainty, it is important to keep moving in the direction of your goals. My cofounders, Dr Sharon H. Porter, Ted Fells, and I decided to launch WNM Ventures during the global pandemic when the natural response for most people was to stop and wait until things got back to normal.

We agreed that when facing a crisis, the best response is to ask yourself, “what now?” and then pivot in the direction of your goals.

Today, WNM Ventures provides Professional & Management Development, Management Consulting, and Educational Consulting services to organizations in the Federal Government and private sector.

The success of these organizations hinges on the ability of the leader to move with vision and purpose.

It is my hope that you are inspired to view the bigger picture before attempting to put all the pieces together.

Sincerely, Eric M. Twiggs

Eric M. Twiggs President, WNM Ventures LLC

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MEET THE WHAT NOW MOVEMENT TEAM

WWW.THEWHATNOWMOVEMENT.COM AUGUST 2021

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Irene Irungu Administrative Assistant

About Irene Irungu Irene was born and raised in Kenya. Having grown up with a few economic challenges, electricity connectivity from a young school-going age stirred her interest in pursuing electrical engineering one day. She desired to be part of the future team that will see the nation increase its electricity capacity, hence more industrialization and eventually the growth of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). After completing high school and demonstrating exemplary good performance, she joined the university and fulfilled her goal by pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. After completing her studies, she gained a little experience in the field, hopeful of securing a permanent position in her career path.

However, in her pursuit of employment, she landed herself an opportunity in sales and marketing.

Even though it wasn't aligned with her academic background or dream, she loved her newfound experience. In this role, she was able to serve different clients, listen and understand their needs, and go out of her way to ensure customer satisfaction, which is crucial for any business growth.

Resilience, dedication, and confidence are among the significant attributes that she stands for in every phase of her life. The flexibility to switch to a new field and succeed allowed her to learn that there are other ways to contribute to the growth of the country's economy and positively impact people's lives.

When COVID hit the world, she fell under the few people who lost their jobs. Fortunately, she came across an opportunity with KukuaBiz, a company that seeks to link small business owners across the globe with talented professionals from Kenya. Working remotely sounded tough initially, but she has come to realize it is the most fulfilling time of her career journey and life.

Amidst the darkness that came with the COVID era, she is grateful for joining the KukuaBiz team and the opportunity for growth.

She recently joined the WNM Ventures team, which has a diverse network and goal of building high-performance entrepreneurs, career professionals, and authors who are ready to face life's unexpected curveballs. She believes that we all can do or achieve whichever goal we set in life, as long as we commit ourselves to the task. Never limit oneself to one opening; opportunities are now here with us.

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Dawn Marie Bornheimer Chief Movement Officer

About Dawn Marie Bornheimer Dawn Marie Bornheimer is an industry leader with a unique combination of interpersonal, business, and strategic skills. Her 18 years of professional experience have taken her from classroom teacher to world-class sales and marketing executive. As the Director of Healthcare Partnerships for Kognito, she leads the strategic expansion efforts to bring experiential learning opportunities to current and future healthcare providers.

From being a vital part of a team that generated $1.4M in sales, a full 10 percent increase over the previous year, to increasing reading and math skills by 20 percent as an educator, or mentoring high-potential professionals to make the most out of their leadership potential, Dawn has formulated her own unique brand of secret sauce that has allowed her to parlay each experience into an opportunity for even greater success.

A frequent speaker on the topic of leadership, Dawn strives to help support young girls and women to find their voice. She believes that through mentoring and being mentored, we all play an essential role in our individual and collective success.

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Maisha B. . Hoye Chief Marketing Officer

About Maisha B. Hoye Maisha B. Hoye, Marketing Guru, Entrepreneur, Blogger, Speaker Maisha Hoye is the CEO of BSHG, LLC which manages and markets Customer 1st Marketing, Maisha’s Lemonade Stand and other entrepreneurial brands. She believes in the entrepreneurial spirit and all her companies are created with the philosophy of Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics.)

Her mission is to create wealth opportunities for herself, family and clients through the spirit of entrepreneurship and marketing know-how.

She started Maisha’s Lemonade Stand as a way to fulfill that mission. Since 2012, she has monetized and built the blog up to year over year growth with posts and advertisers that focus on the #HealthyWealthyWise and inspire entrepreneurs.

With her company Customer 1st Marketing, Maisha has developed marketing programs for startups to mid-size organizations, all with limited budgets and resources, in very competitive and innovative marketplaces. Ms. Hoye believes that successful marketing programs begin with the assessment of the business from the customer’s point of view and then develop marketing action plans.

Prior to her entrepreneur journey Maisha’s career in Marketing was all about lead generation and hitting revenue goals. In these positions she also rebranded companies, created marketing and sales processes and her companies won Partner of the Year awards, recognition from state and local governments and Supplier Diversity awards.

A proud Hampton University Bachelor's Degree graduate and proud single mother, she gives back to her school as Communication and Fundraising Chair of the local chapter and serves as President of her son’s high school.

Twitter @MsMaishaBhoye Facebook www.facebook.com/maishaslemonadestand LinkedIn /maishabhoye

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Darrius Jerome Gourdine Chief Engagement Officer

About Darrius Jerome Gourdine Darrius Jerome Gourdine is a 1992 graduate of Howard University in Washington DC. Darrius’ writing credits include As the Sands Burn (ATSB) (August 1998), the longest-running online soap opera. ATSB’s storyline is based on Black college life and the Black Greek experience. BET.com featured ATSB from May 2000 to May 2003. A spin-off soap opera, from ATSB, Beyond the Burning Sands (May 2003), like its predecessor, had amassed viewer loyalty of more than 100,000 readers weekly. ATSB relaunched in June 2013 on the popular web portal Greekhangsuite.com.

Darrius served as a ghostwriter for Minister Kevin Williams’ book, From the Hood to the Hill: The NeXt Generation in 2004, and lead writer of the Gospel situation comedy, “So How Ya Livin’ Now” in 2005.

In April 2006, Darrius began a new online writing venture. He was approached to create and write “The Saved and The Restless”, an online Christian-based soap opera produced by ChristianHangSuite.com.

In 2014 he ghostwrote The Promise: Positioned and Prepared to Receive by Minister Keith Garner. In the same year, he ghostwrote The Price of Freedom: A Son’s Journey by Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. MD who serves as the Washington DC Chief Medical Examiner.

Darrius has written and published eight (8) personal books, one of them being Conversations of the Crucifixion, which is a book based on the items used to crucify Jesus Christ. If the items used had a voice, what would they say? There are 30 chapters in Conversations of the Crucifixion, each representing an item or an individual who came in contact with Jesus during his final week leading to the crucifixion. Darrius also wrote a Bible study guide to accompany Conversations of the Crucifixion and produced a video production of the same name with Jason Gourdine.

In July 2006, Jewels: The Story of the Founding of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was released during the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated Centennial Convention in Washington, DC. The book was received widely among members of the fraternity and lovers of history. The book is a novel based on the founding of the fraternity. In the new Second Edition, Darrius created and included The Alpha Hashtag History Project. At the top of each page of Jewels: The Story of the Founding of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Second Edition), there is a hashtag that you can search for on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The hashtags are facts about individual chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity that most people probably don't know. There are over 200 hashtags with amazing historical facts about the chapters of the fraternity.

Jewels: The Story of the Expansion of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (June 2011) is the sequel to the novel written in 2006. This book, also widely received, is the story of the fraternity’s early expansion from Cornel University to Howard and Virginia Union universities respectively.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the first Jewels novel and the 5th anniversary of the second Jewels novel, Darrius extends the Jewels book series with Jewels: The Town Hall Meeting (2016). In this third installment, Darrius places the seven founders of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in a room with 12 current brothers of the fraternity. The 12 brothers range from a past General President to Regional Vice President to the fraternity’s Chief Executive Officer. The conversation with the founders is candid, open, and sometimes controversial.

Darrius' current literary series is called The Assignment. It is a 5 part series about a man that dies and goes to hell. He is then offered a unique opportunity to avoid hell for a period of time if he works an assignment for The Agency.

Darrius currently resides in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and is married to Kathy Gourdine. They are the proud parents of Dylan Joshua Gourdine.

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WHAT NOW UNIVERSITY

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WHAT NOW UNIVERSITY MASTERCLASS INSTRUCTORS Maisha B. Hoye What Now University (What Now U) launched its inaugural masterclass sessions January 30, 2021. It was the beginning of an incredible seven-week masterclass journey.

Valonda Calloway

Masterclass Instructor, Maisha B. Hoye kicked off the sessions with Marketing 2021: Find the Story that Sets You Apart. Maisha has developed marketing programs for startups to mid-size organizations, all with limited budgets and resources, in very competitive and innovative marketplaces. She believes that successful marketing programs begin with the assessment of the business from the customer’s point of view and then develop marketing action plans. With over 15 years of marketing, Ms. Hoye loves creating marketing programs that align lead generation systems, social media, mobile marketing with the business and lead to increased customer engagement, more effective lead generation and higher revenue.

Masterclass Instructor, Valonda Calloway followed with a session on Virtual Business Presentations: Tips To Get Your Look, Mic, and Light Right. Valonda began her career in media as a writer and reporter at the Voice of America radio in Washington, D.C.

William Randolph

She returned to North Carolina as a news reporter and anchor for WNCT-TV in Greenville. She also has served as an anchor and reporter for WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC. In October, 2020 she released her book Tips From The TV Lady: A Guide For Making A Great Impression On Camera And In Person.

Masterclass Instructor, William Randolph presented From Contact to Contract: How To Do Business with the Federal Government.

William joined the federal government in 1995 after graduating from college. In 2004, William was selected to be the Assistant Commander for Contracts at Marine Corps Systems Command. In 2009, at age 39, William was selected into the Senior Executive Service (SES) as the Director of the Procurement Oversight, Department of Homeland Security, Headquarters. In July 2010, William was selected to be the Director, Office of Acquisition Management for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In 2013, William accepted an assignment as the Assistant Director for Operations Support within ICE. In 2019, William founded THINK Acquisition to focus on increasing the individual and team effectiveness of all participants in government contracting in the areas of acquisition, contracting, program management and leadership.

Masterclass Instructor, attorney, Sean Trice presented about Legal Contracts and Operating Agreements: Keeping Your Patrons & Partners on the Same Page.

Sean is Founder and Principal of Mesh Law, LLC, a business law firm focusing on business and corporate, government contracts, private wealth, and mergers and acquisitions. He serves as outside general counsel to a number of small to midsize government contract companies. He provides services throughout the lifecycle of a company. He assists companies at inception--advising, corporate structuring, entity formation, board formation, commercial lease and/or real estate negotiations, and drafting governance documents. For companies in their growth and maintenance phase, Sean assists with raising capital, contract drafting, negotiation and review, legal audits, stock transfers, succession planning, and corporate policy. For companies in their “EE (expansion or exit) phase,” he assists with strategy, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, and “papering” the transaction through stock or asset purchase agreements, novation's agreements, etc.

Sean is a graduate of The American University Washington College of Law, admitted to practice in Maryland and DC.

Sean Trice, Esq.

Masterclass Instructor, LaKendra McNair presented Small Business Funding: How To "Get Bank" Without Appearing on Shark Tank.

LaKendra McNair is an experienced banking professional, business development coach, diversity and inclusion advocate, and curator of equitable engagement in the community. She is committed to being a change agent in bridging the gaps of “access to information and core network” in a diverse and economically evolving business community. LaKendra has over 20 years of retail, business, and government banking experience in the Greater Washington Area LaKendra is currently Vice President and Business Development Officer at M&T Bank with a focus on Minority, Women, Veteran, and Economically Disadvantaged owned business community in the District of Columbia.

LaKendra serves on the Membership Committee and Co-Chair of the Women In Business Committee of the DC Chamber of Commerce; on the board of Life Pieces To Masterpieces, and Co-President of the Women In Network National Chapter, President of the Greater Washington Area Women in Network Resource Group, and Business Development Co-Chair for the Mid Atlantic African American Resource Group at M&T Bank. that has exposed her to core competencies businesses need to scale and sustain their business.

She has served on the boards of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators DC Chapter and the Greater Washington Area Government Finance Officers Association.

LaKendra McNair AUGUST 2021

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Masterclass Instructor, Geena Young, engaged participants with a presentation on Business Accounting Best Practices: How to Measure & Manage Your Money.

Ms. Geena Young is the Principal of Centric Business Solutions, LLC, a woman-owned consulting firm located in the Washington, DC metro area. Centric specializes in accounting, business, and CFO consulting services as well as IT services.

The company's client list includes small to mid-sized businesses in the private and public sector as well as local, state, and Federal government sectors. Geena's primary goal in servicing her clients is to bring best practices and innovation, typically only available to large companies, to her smaller clients in order to allow the business owners to focus on what they do best - "grow and expand their business".

Geena Young

Geena has experienced a distinguished career in public and private industry, working in various senior and executive-level Finance positions. In these positions, she gained considerable experience as an expert in analyzing operations, implementing efficient systems, strategies and processes to improve organizational performance.

Masterclass Instructor, Tammy Watson presented Achieving Your Business Vision: How To Move From Viewing to Doing.

Tammy is a realtor with over 28 years, a vision coach, and an author. She works alongside her real estate clients to assist them in navigating the real estate market in order to buy, sell, or invest. She has built a team of realtors in Winston Salem with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

She is a philanthropist and donates her time and money to causes close to her heart. She is a pillar in her community and heavily involved in assisting women in her community to become financially independent and responsible. She also puts on a weekly FB Live show that encourages her audience to create and claim their vision for their lives.

Tammy Watson

This way of living, creating, and claiming your vision, is where the inspiration for “The Vision Within Vision Book” came from and is the first book Tammy wrote and released in the Fall of 2020. In conjunction with the book, she launched a 12-week Vision Coaching Program where she has encouraged, coached, and assisted women to understand the 12 principles of life and to cast their vision around each principle.

When she isn’t working or coaching you will find her with her AUGUST 2021 V&P MAGAZINE | husband, children, grandchildren, or little dog, Ruby.

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Meet the What Now Movement Founders

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Eric M. Twiggs President and Chief Executive Officer

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MEET ERIC M. TWIGGS

Eric M. Twiggs is the author of The Discipline Of Now: 12 Practical Principles To Overcome Procrastination. He is also the host of a weekly inspirational podcast titled "The 30 Minute Hour."

As a Certified Life & Business Coach, Eric has conducted over 28,000 coaching sessions, helping executive leaders and entrepreneurs who have moved from feeling frustrated, to finding fulfillment.

He has also led organizations of 500 or more people in corporate America, and shared his message with corporations, associations, and congregations across the country.

By reading The Discipline of Now, you will receive a proven blueprint to beat procrastination, so that you make more money, get more done, and become aligned with your Divine purpose.

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Dr. Sharon H. Porter Vice-President and Chief Communcations Officer

VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

MEET DR. SHARON H. PORTER

Dr. Sharon H. Porter (Dr. Sharon) is the President of SHP Enterprise, the umbrella entity of Perfect Time SHP LLC, Coaching, Consulting, and Book Publishing Firm and SHP Media and Broadcasting.

She is the Executive Director and Founder of The Next In Line to Lead Aspiring Principal Leadership Academy (APLA), where she trains, mentors, and coaches assistant principals from across the U.S. who desire to take the helm as principal.

Dr. Sharon is co-founder, owner, and Editor-In-Chief of Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine, host of The I Am Dr. Sharon Show, and is co-founder and Vice-President of Media and Communications for WNM Ventures LLC. She has over 30 years of experience as a school principal, Leadership Development Coach, assistant principal, Instructional Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator, and elementary and middle school classroom teacher. She is currently serving as an elementary principal in Fort Washington, Maryland. Dr. Sharon is the author, visionary, and publisher of The Next In Line to Lead book series, The Women Who Lead Book series, and The HBCU Experience Anthology book series.

Dr. Sharon is a graduate of Howard University, Walden University, Johns Hopkins University, National-Louis University, and Winston-Salem State University. She is a part of the 2019 Harvard University School of Education Women in Leadership Cohort.

She is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, Vice- President of the International Association of Women (IAW)-Waldorf Chapter, American Business Women's Association (ABWA), Professional Women of Winston-Salem (PWWS), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She serves on the Board of Advisors for The Women of Prince George’s and Envision, Lead, Grow (ELG), Inc, and Board of Directors of Black Women Education Leaders (BWEL), Inc.

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Ted Fells Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer

VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

MEET TED FELLS

Ted Fells has more than 25 years of leadership experience building and guiding NucoreVision, Inc., (NVI) a Small Business IT firm headquartered in Lanham, MD. An accomplished strategist, his expertise in operations and business development has driven NVI’s notable enterprise growth in Cyber Security, Enterprise Information Technology Solutions and Management Consulting services.

Described by his employees and business associates as fair, honest, dedicated, and hard working, Mr. Fells’ professional career began as a Federal IT project manager and an integral part of a team responsible for the design, implementation and support of over 600 computer networks nationwide for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Offering a combination of innovation and operational strengths, Ted Fells has developed a network of customers within the federal state and local and private sector worldwide. NVI customers include the Department of Defense, The Executive Office of the President, Department of Homeland Security and various other agencies.

Mr. Fells is also a Partner of NexxtOne Sports and Entertainment Management Firm, a Washington, DC based lifestyle, business and wealth management firm for executives, athletes and entertainers as well as the Chief Visionary Officer for NexxtOne Academy a 501c3 focused on preparing underserved youth involved in Science Technology Engineering, Athletics, Arts and Math (STEAAM).

Ted Fells is not only committed to business but very committed to building his community. He currently is involved in mentoring programs within various organizations and is very active within his church, Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia. Ted Fells, has also been recognized for his achievements as an Outstanding Entrepreneur Under 40 by the Minority Diversity Council, Top 100 Business by the Diversity Business, Technology Person of Year by the MEE Council, Morehouse College Small Business Excellence Award winner and has participated in executive business programs at Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University and Clark Atlanta University. Ted Fells, is an alumnus of Norfolk State University where he received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Management and Computer Information Systems and is also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Incorporated.

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Members Meet a few of the What Now Movement Members

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e n g a t n o M a L Kim

Q&A with Kim LaMontagne

Authentic. Honest. Bold.

VPLM: Tell us about your business?

KL: I have worked in a corporate setting for over 25 years. Although I enjoyed my career, I felt a “strong pull” to leave corporate in February of 2020. I had always felt comfortable in a corporate role but I realized I needed to step away and embark full time on my purpose which is speaking, teaching and training on mental health in the workplace.

I hid behind a “mask” of fear and shame in the workplace with undisclosed depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and alcohol use. I remained silent because I feared being seen as weak and incapable and tarnishing my professional integrity.

On July 16, 2009, I found the courage to remove my mask and finally ask for help.

At 12 years sober and healthy, I now see this as an opportunity to bring my experience forward and teach organizational leaders how to create a mentally healthy workplace culture. A mentally healthy workplace is one culture where everyone feels safe enough to come forward and ask for help. I stepped away from corporate on April 1, 2020, and stepped fully into my purpose. I have never seen anything as scary and destructive to the mental well-being of individuals as COVID 19. The isolation, fragile emotions, and fear of uncertainty, are taking a toll on the well-being of everyone. What I am hearing from organizational leaders is that they need solutions to support employees as they navigate through challenging times. We are living in challenging times right now.

As a solution, I have designed a program - "The 4 Pillars of Creating and Sustaining a Mentally Healthy Workplace Culture". It is a corporate training that teaches organizations how to: Recognize the impact of mental illness in the workplace, Share the lived experience to bring the human connection to mental illness, Change the perception of mental illness and decrease stigma, and create an environment of safety in the workplace.

VPLM: What do you consider your greatest strength or asset?

KL: Working 25 years in corporate has laid the foundation for me to have the skills to teach from the perspective of the corporate leader and the individual who is suffering. I possess the ability to empathize with individuals who struggle at the corporate level. I can enter any room and identify with people who admit their struggles. I can also identify those who are struggling in silence. I understand the role of the leader and teach from the perspective of the lived experience.

I am involved with several mental health groups including Show Me Your Stethoscope (SMYS). SMYS is a Facebook nation of 642,000 nurses and health professionals. In 2020, I became a Mental Health Thought Leader for SMYS. As a thought leader for SMYS, I ignite conversations about mental health in the workplace. I provide live content, downloadable resources, and tools that: 1. Support the organizational leader who is committed to creating a mentally healthy workplace culture 2. Bring the human connection to mental illness 3. Speak to the individual who is suffering 4. Help create a safe and judgment-free space My story about living in silence with mental illness and alcohol use is not unique. What is unique is that I have the ability to speak openly about my lived experience to bring hope and healing to others.

Blending my experience when teaching organizational leaders how to create a mentally healthy workplace culture, gives them a view into mental illness through my personal lens.

VPLM: What or Who inspires you?

KL: I am inspired by leaders and organizations who recognize the need to transform the conversation about mental health in the workplace. I am inspired by those who are committed to making mental health a priority in the workplace. I understand what it is like to work in an organization that did not. This kind of leadership inspires me to continue to stay focused and provide relevant and useful programs to support creating mentally healthy workplace cultures. I am inspired by the opportunity to start bold conversations in the workplace.

I thrive on conversations that support individuals who are suffering in silence to give them an opportunity to admit they need help. Those conversations are a key component of normalizing the conversation about mental health in the workplace.

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VPLM: Where do you see your business in five years?

KL: I am so incredibly grateful for how far my company has come. Thinking about where I will be in five years is exciting. If we grow with the same momentum as we have grown over the last year, we will have supported hundreds of thousands of individuals and organizations across the globe.

In five years, our programs and training will be a leading source for workplace mental health training for organizations. The curriculum will be expanded with numerous resources and tools that will continue to transform the conversation about mental health in the workplace. My vision is to eradicate stigma in the workplace by providing safe spaces for individuals to come forward.

This will be accomplished by training educational leaders using my methodology in “The 4 Pillars of Creating and Sustaining a Mentally Healthy Workplace Culture.” Upon completion, leaders are able to recognize the impact of mental health in the workplace, recognize the value of sharing the lived experience, change the perception of mental health in the workplace and create safe spaces for individuals to come forward and ask for help.

I currently speak on stages to share my lived experience and provide organizations with tools to support their workplace. In five years, I will be a sought-after motivational speaker known for my expertise in mental health, blended with vulnerability, passion, truth, and the lived experience. In five years, I see myself on stage next to Brene Brown delivering messages of hope through vulnerability and honesty. Brene inspires me.

VPLM: The What Now Movement was birthed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. As a business owner what changes did you have to make and how have you prepared for the next What Now moment?

KL: Kim LaMontagne, LLC was also birthed during the COVID pandemic. Originally, I had planned to travel the country while offering my corporate training in person. COVID has changed that and challenged me to find a way to offer the curriculum for clients to access 100 percent online.

Social media gave me the opportunity to connect with a web developer who told me that my work and my message spoke to him. He told me he wanted to support my mission and vision. He also said, “I give you permission to dream big. Let me worry about the how.”

We have created dashboards, downloadable resources and customized the user experience. I am dreaming big and he (and my team) are helping me bring it to life. I saw an opportunity and quickly pivoted to create and deliver the content in a way that is accessible and scalable.

VPLM: What is your VISION & PURPOSE in life?

KL: I am a bold changemaker, leader, and advocate for mental health. I am a changemaker who is determined to normalize the conversation about mental health in the workplace. I will accomplish this by teaching and training leaders on the “4 Pillars of Creating a Mentally Healthy Workplace Culture.” I will share the resources they need to build a culture of safety where everyone feels safe enough to come forward and ask for help.

I will also stand on bigger and bolder stages to reach back to those who need to hear my message and my lived experience. My purpose is to share my gift of human connection coupled with the tools I have acquired along the way, to make a bold impact on the topic of mental health and well-being.

What I have come to know about mental illness and the journey of recovery is: It’s a difficult journey but so worth it We are not alone We matter It’s ok to not be ok It’s ok to ask for help Kim LaMontagne is an International Speaker, Trainer, and Author. She is also a Teacher and State Trainer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a member of the Dartmouth Hitchcock - Campaign to Combat Behavioral Health Stigma and Discrimination, and the Director of the USA Chapter of The Uncommon Woman, International Chapters.

She is the visionary author for the book, “It’s Ok to Not Be Ok,” and contributing author in the book, “The Strength of Our Anchors.”

Kim works with organizational leaders to teach them how to create and sustain a mentally healthy workplace culture. Using her proprietary methodology, she teaches leaders how to build a culture of safety where employees feel safe enough to step forward and ask for help without fear of stigma, judgment, or retribution.

Kim shares her experience of living “behind a mask” with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol use. As a topperforming corporate professional, Kim feared that speaking openly about her mental illness would tarnish her professional career.

She stayed silent because of this. On July 16, 2009, Kim sought help from a nurse practitioner and credits him for saving her life.

Kim has been sober for 12 years now. Kim recognized that many individuals suffer in silence in the workplace and hide behind a mask of shame and fear. She has the unique ability to teach through the lens of the lived experience and the lens of a leader.

Her mission is to share her lived experience to teach leaders how to create a culture of safety in the workplace that empowers individuals to speak openly about mental health.

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Bubbly. Determined. Passionate.

Q&A with Genesis Amaris Kemp

VPLM: Tell us about your business?

GAK: I am an Author. I recently wrote my first book Chocolate Drop in Corporate America: From The Pit to The Palace.

I am working on starting a consulting business and/or build a partnership with organizations that want to revamp their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the. organization.

VPLM: What do you consider your greatest strength or asset?

GAK: My greatest strength or asset is my ability to network with others and not being afraid to talk to anyone.

VPLM: What or Who inspires you?

GAK: My faith is an inspiration to me. My family - parents, brothers and my husband inspires me. I see their work ethics and how hard they had to work in order to make ends meet. My parents are of Caribbean descent and they came here for a better future and still had to endure various trials due to race and etc.

VPLM: Where do you see your business in five years?

GAK: In five years I see myself traveling worldwide across various stages speaking to various industry leaders and their staff on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. I see myself creating a lasting impact in my own community with those that look like me as well as others who are eager to rise above limitations.

Consulting and building lasting rapport and partnerships to influence and create lasting change.

VPLM: The What Now Movement was birthed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. As a business owner what changes did you have to make and how have you prepared for the next What Now Moment?

GAK: I definitely had to pivot. I got on various social media platforms. Learned and still learning online marketing tactics, adapting to virtual platforms for lives and etc. Being able to step out of my comfort zone to secure various podcast interviews, secure magazine ads, and etc. Whereas if the pandemic didn't happen I may have done in-person book tours and etc.

VPLM: What is your VISION & PURPOSE in life?

GAK: My vision and purpose in life are to influence change in and outside of my community and to lay a foundation for those coming beside and behind me. It is also to run with purpose and be courageous to speak about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. My purpose is to call out unconscious biases, challenge the status quos that are placed on others due to perceptions and false assumptions. It is to walk into my destiny calling that the Lord has imparted. As time goes on you have to reinvent yourself over the course to continue to be influential.

I want to know that I made and created change to help others get outside of their stuck mentality and blossom into space where they are enough.

About Genesis Amaris Kemp Genesis Amaris Kemp is a wife, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and child of God. She is bubbly, loves to talk, loves to try new things, travel, meet new people, and encourage others the best she can.

Genesis is the youngest of four siblings with a vast cultural background. She began writing in high school off and on as her way to release stress and express herself. It was also her way of communicating with God. Genesis is a woman of color who said, “Enough is enough,” and is now bolder than ever. She tried to remain quiet, but that didn’t work because no change occurred. She is stepping outside of her comfort zone by speaking up, challenging the status quo, and refusing to let limitations placed on her keep her down.

Genesis sees herself as a visionary and a woman who will go on to do great things that empower others to speak up for themselves. She is a trailblazer who wants others to live out their dreams, goals, and visions.

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Q&A with Dr. Pia L. Scott Passionate. Determined. Flexible.

VPLM: Tell us about your business?

PLS: I am the Founder of the P L Scott Group. The P L Scott Group believes in the revitalization of communities through the 3C's approach; counseling, coaching, and consulting implementing programs for individuals and families to improve living and the overall quality of life.

From this business, I launched the “How I Got Over” H.I.G.O brand where we inspire and empower women of color and their allies to overcome challenges. The H.I.G.O podcast was launched in September of 2020 and we are hosting our conference in September 2021.

VPLM: What do you consider your greatest strength or asset?

PLS: My passion would be my greatest strength. The passion I have forces me to operate in my purpose. The chapter in my book is called “There is Power in Purpose.” In this chapter, I speak about my resiliency which proves I am able to face any challenge and push through all of the doubt and fear. I have suffered greatly with much loss. I never gave up and now I am in a better space in my life. The goals I set overshadow the fear and doubt taking me to new levels.

My greatest asset is my consistency. Being consistent is the way I hold myself accountable for reaching my goals. When I find myself going off the course, I get right back on track and continue to move forward no matter what roadblocks come to throw me off. I could remember working for this company in 2015. I had just lost my brother at the time but before I left, my supervisor could not believe that I was still performing well.

Despite the loss I suffered, I knew what I had to do and I did it.

I was consistent and I preserved.

VPLM: What or Who inspires you?

PLS: I have always been inspired by my mother and late grandmother. I still remember my grandmother’s words and the things she would tell me about her childhood during segregation. She would remind me that I have to be three times better and never forget where you came from. My mother always supports me and she is not afraid to tell me when I am messing up and encourages me to remain humble.

Throughout my career, I have met some amazing women with much wisdom, truth, power, and love. My mentors, Drs. Porter and Pittman, have been so awesome. They give me this energy because they are so energized. I am iron being sharpened by iron and I am truly grateful for the inspiration.

These women have so much expertise and resiliency in their own stories. I am inspired by each of these women because of the different levels of wisdom and knowledge that I gain to grow, learn, and apply in my life.

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VPLM: Where do you see your business in five years?

PLS: This business will be fully operational with the launch of the podcast and conference. P L Scott Group and The How I Got Over brand will expand to other major cities that will continue to inspire and empower people’s lives in a holistic approach.

VPLM: The What Now Movement was birthed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. As a business owner what changes did you have to make and how have you prepared for the next What Now Moment?

PLS: The Coronavirus Pandemic forced me to think outside of the box, to become more creative, and more flexible. I launched the How I Got Over (H.I.G.O.) brand during a time when I witnessed how many people were struggling with mental health, stress, and other issues.

This year has really forced me to utilize technology more. I made several changes in the way I deliver services. Social media and technology have been a blessing because I am able to reach more people and work with more people one-on-one and in group settings.

VPLM: What is your VISION & PURPOSE in life?

PLS: My vision for the P L Scott Group and the H.I.G.O brand is to inspire and empower on a larger scale in the future. I want this brand to be felt globally.

My purpose is very simple… to serve others. I will continue my work in mental health, serve my community, and educate. I already know what my purpose is and I love what I do.

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About Dr. Pia L. Scott Dr. Pia L. Scott, LPC, GCDF is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Georgia and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in South Carolina. She is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator helping clients with career transition and change. Dr. Scott is the founder of the P L Scott Group and the founder and CEO of CareerLit Consutling, LLC. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Master of Arts in Counseling from South Carolina State University. She received an Educational Doctroate in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University.

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Q&A with Towanda Livingston

Thought Leader. Servant Leader. Lodestar.

VPLM: Tell us about your business?

TL: Personally, I am a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and Inclusion programs because we as Americans have inherited a discriminatory economic system that denies ALL Americans the right to Rise, specifically, women and minorities.

Livingston Worx provides consulting services to the public, private and government services to support them with starting, enhancing or transforming their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts/programs. For the Public, Government, and Private sector organizations support them with making the following areas diverse, inclusive and equitable: workplace, workforce, customers, suppliers, community involvement.

Livingston Worx consults small, minority or women-owned businesses with accessing government, public and private contracting opportunities, various certifications and developing and implementing sustainable growth strategies. This is our sweet spot! For small, minority or women-owned businesses, we ease the burden of the certification process(es), develop and support customer engagement strategies, business coaching, develop and support other growth strategies.

Remove the complexity of contracting/serving government, public and private sectors.

VPLM: What do you consider your greatest strength or asset?

TL: My resourcefulness, courage, determination, empathy, compassion and servitude.

VPLM: What or Who inspires you?

TL: My greatest source of inspiration is my Mother, Denise McNeil, she transitioned in September 2012. My Mother was a conquering maven. She beat all the odds against her and spank their asses. She was not only strikingly beautiful, she was witty, funny and endearing. Her amazing courage to live her life her way was contagious. She possessed the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of David, the patience of Job and stealthiness of Ruth and Esther.

My mother gave birth to me when she was sixteen-years-old, and she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease when she was eighteen-years-old. She succumbed to the autoimmune disease, Scleroderma, in 2012, but not before kicking its ass a few times. My mother was a fighter, in fact she a champion among men and warrior among women!

She was a single mother until she met my stepdad, Gerald Bolt when I was twelve-years old. Her will for me to live out all my dreams was paramount, and she made sure I was well equipped with everything I needed to pursue my “impossibles.” “Impossibles” are all the goals and dreams life and haters tell you that are impossible for you to achieve because of their limits and their perception of your limits.

She made sure I continuously removed the scales (doubts of others) from my eyes and press on with confidence and expectation. I believe everyone has at least one Lodestar in their life and for me that was my mother. I am grasping for words to describe her so you too can experience and benefit from her fierceness, awesomeness and love for life. My mother, at sixteen-years-old, sacrificed her dreams so that I can live and fulfill mine. If God never blesses me again; I have been immensely blessed by the gift he gave me, my Mother. Perpetually, she gives to me daily and because of her I am to give freely, without limits, to our world.

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VPLM: Where do you see your business in five years?

TL: I am destined to be a serial entrepreneur and my business portfolio will be filled with my passion, helping minorities and women in business and in the workplace; real estate and investments; authoring books that turn into movements; merchandising, and venture capitalism, so I can fund others’ dreams. In the next five years, I fully expect my business portfolio to be diverse, profitable and adaptable.

VPLM: The What Now Movement was birthed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. As a business owner what changes did you have to make and how have you prepared for the next What Now Moment?

TL: I was built for a time such as this and so is my business. I leverage my knowledge capital and resourcefulness to identify, share and leverage funding and other critical resources for small, minority and women-owned businesses that has helped some survive but most thrive during COVID-19 and post-COVID-19. My goal is to help other small, minority and women-owned businesses weatherize, recession/depression-proof their businesses so that they thrive in seasons of austerity and evolve and innovate during times of prosperity.

VPLM: What is your VISION & PURPOSE in life?

TL: I have only one mission in life, “To be a fisher of women and men through servitude so that they can realize and appreciate their God–given greatness by walking in their purpose, passion and possibilities for their lives.”

About Towanda R. Livingston Towanda R. Livingston is a successful and award-winning Diversity and Inclusion Executive. She is an innovative thought equity, inclusion and supplier diversity leader of this era. Since beginning her professional career, Towanda has delivered transformational solutions for corporate and government agencies within the inclusion and supplier diversity space.

Towanda has received numerous awards and industry accolades for developing, implementing and institutionalizing various diversity initiatives and programs for her work in communications, human capital management, and supplier/business and community outreach. She possesses over 25 years of experience and has become a sought-out expert on advocacy and policy development, diversity and inclusion, economic development, business development and organizational strategic planning and management.

Towanda is the Chief Business Strategist at Livingston Worx, a company she founded in 2017. Livingston Worx delivers innovative and transformational Equity, Diversity and Inclusion solutions to the government, public and private sectors. Also, Livingston Worx delivers strategic, tactical and innovative solutions to small, diverse and women-owned businesses to help start, sustain and grow their businesses in various marketplaces. Livingston Worx supports small, diverse and women-owned businesses with gaining access to contracting opportunities in the government, public and private sectors.