ICONS SEEING BEYOND- SPECIAL EDITION

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philcoin is revolutionizing the tech industry to put people first

Bermudez

IcONS SEEiNG BEYOND TAK i NG N E w G ROUND AT A G LOBAL L EVEL

I KNEW FULL WELL THAT the response to ICONS Seeing Beyond would be Powerful. This is a very important step for me. I’m fit for my assignment and accepting it.

We see ICONS Expressed In the lives of 13 very different people who affirm our belief that serving is not just a one-size-fits ALL.

When you Intentionally transition to creating your lane with a refreshing, inspirational touch, by gathering family and friends we gleam, glow and grow. ICONS are in the making.

My hope is that this issue will offer encouragement for how far you’ve come as well as inspire and motivate you to persist. So that you not only look back and feel good, but I also know that because of your perseverance, you can go forward steady and strong, Full of precious life and standing firm.

I’m bringing my WHOLE Self to this magazine Deliberately. Beginning My Big Journey With Small Steps. ICONS Seeing Beyond is marking its moment in ICONIC Elegance.

Dr SanDrie Serrano BermuDez

By TASA Global Media Publishing

N M Y Ow N wORDS

JOHn luPPO

I really hope you hear these words in my Italian-Bronx accent: If the Lord can do it for me, He can do it for you! I’ve been spared, restored, and transformed. This wasn’t always my story, however. I was an alcoholic, a drug addict, a womanizer, a gambler and more.

Perhaps you’ve already deduced from my surname, I’m Italian-American like the other 2.6 million of us who live in the greater Metro New York area.

I was raised in the Bronx, and if you’ve ever seen the movies GoodFellas or A Bronx Tale featuring neighborhoods with a certain Mafia influence, that’s where I grew up. I always looked up to those self-made guys with the nice cars, nice clothes, and nice-looking women. As a young man, I found it inspiring and decided it was exactly what I wanted.

In retrospect, these empty aspirations were expressing my many insecurities brought on by a negative home life. My father was an alcoholic, my brother a drug addict. My mother, a sweet Italian lady, had her own battles with codependency.

I struggled socially and wrestled with more than a handful of demons. One reason was my height. Though I felt like 6’2 because I was brash and able to fight, in reality I was 5’4 and short on self-esteem. Deep down I knew something was off, but couldn’t put my finger on it. I now know much of the turmoil in my heart stemmed from my brother, Robert, overdosing at least six times. He was always in and out of addiction facilities, trying to get help but coming up empty.

I was 14 when I began drinking, starting with blackberry brandy, which I considered the best thing since sliced bread. Drinking made me talk to girls and helped me win fights. It helped me feel tall and capable, along with dark things that also came with it.

I was 18, working on Wall Street, when Robert finally succumbed to addiction and died from an overdose. My heart broke in two. I felt numb and eventually went to therapy. I also took a lot of medication and wound up in rehab for a while. After two years of sobriety, around the age of 21, I started drinking again with the same friends at the same places while ironically experiencing major success in my professional life. I had five houses, millions of dollars, and multiple girlfriends. From the outside it looks like I had it all. On the inside I had nothing.

I was nearly 40 years old when my bodyguard and driver, Anthony, gave me an Alcoholic Anonymous booklet. He had known my brother and knew I was also out of control. This good friend told me I deserved a better life. Through attending AA meetings, I was sober again. My sponsor introduced me to a guy named Pati who became my best friend. His mom, Lucille, was like a second mother to me.

One Sunday, Pati wasn’t answering calls, so we were forced to break down his apartment door to check on him. Tragically, we found him dead. Drugs and alcohol were the cause. The overwhelming pain took me back to when my brother had died. Once again, I was devastated.

In 2008, in memory of Robert and Pati, I produced a movie called Modern Day Miracles (titled Freedom From Addiction on Amazon Prime). During the production process, I met one of my heroes, legendary athlete Darryl Strawberry. Darryl played for the Yankees and the Mets and was an eight-time All-Star and four-time World Series champion. It wasn’t the last time we would meet.

My life on the outside looked great again with my business making over 50 million annually. My partners and I were high rollers so I rarely paid attention to the nagging emptiness I still felt inside, until one day in Miami after watching the Super Bowl, I was blindsided by depression and thoughts of suicide. My heart was hollow-I couldn’t have been more distant from God.

Then I saw Darrell Strawberry again at a dinner party, and this time our conversation turned serious. He told me about Jesus and the blood that He shed for all of us, making him the first person ever to tell me what Jesus had accomplished for us on the cross. That evening I turned my life over to Jesus completely. From that moment, I was super naturally changed.

Fortunately, Darryl’s evangelizing knew no bounds. He also introduced me to Christine, whom I married a year later. I had a new life and a new beautiful wife who is a true woman of God! We attended Every Nation Church, NYC, where I deepened my walk with God as a regular attender, and was baptized on May 20, 2012. It was a beautiful moment, but sadly there were more struggles ahead.

Serving Jesus doesn’t mean everything will go our way. There are times when it can still feel impossible to get through even one more day. I had no idea the valleys I would still walk through, losing my business and many other

things through circumstances beyond my control.

Through every agony and valley, through every high and low, I have learned that we all need Jesus, and we all need each other. My faith-filled friends have helped me get through these valleys. Eventually my business came back. All that was stolen from me was restored.

God put me back on Wall Street, and I started a Bible study with my pastors, leading countless other lost souls to the only Truth that could set them free, Pastor Ron, Pastor Adam and I even launched a Bible study on a Park Avenue trading floor, which started each Tuesday, right after the closing bell.

In my own personal time of ministry with people, I have seen hundreds from all walks of life - billionaires, cab drivers, homeless people - weep and cry. Recently one of the most wellknown hedge fund managers in the world asked me to pray for her.

No matter who a person is or what they do, no one can be fulfilled by this world alone. We can only be fulfilled through the saving grace of Jesus and his power to overcome. Despite a wretched past, God found me and changed me. I’ll never quit thanking Him for setting me free.

Like I said before, I hope you hear this in my Italian-Bronx accent: if the Lord can do it for me, he can do it for you!

John Luppo was raised in the the Bronx. He has spent years as a successful executive on Wall Street and serves his friends, Darryl Strawberry, as his ministry manager, frequently traveling with him. John and his wife, Christine, have a beautiful family and maintain a great outlook on life by helping others.

IF GOD cAN U A cOOK

DR. lauRETTa PIERCE

abakery on Westgate Mall Drive has a fresh new look, name and owner but has kept the sweet, traditional recipes.

On Aug. 20, Spartan Bakery reopened as Spartan Bakery Boutique. The bakery has new paint, lighting and outdoor seating. More indoor seating has been added.

“The quality is the same, the staff is excellent and the service will be phenomenal,” owner Lauretta Pierce said.

Pierce has added a coffee bar to the bakery, as well as treats for dogs. She plans to sell ice cream and 15 different flavors of popcorn, and offer baking classes for all ages.

Pierce took ownership of the bakery from her friend Cathy Tucker. Before taking over, Pierce would sometimes come into the bakery to help and add decorations.

“My goal was to come in and just make it look pretty for her and then she said you know, ‘this is yours’ and we came up with an agreement,” Pierce said.

Spartan Bakery Boutique has old and new touches. There are wooden signs that are painted with desserts, pom pom chandeliers and candles. In the corner of the bakery, Pierce has added a free standing coat rack that holds one of her father’s old hats. There

is also a small jukebox by the desserts and a rotary dial telephone.

All social media accounts and signage still refer to the store as Spartan Bakery .

In 2005, Pierce founded Covenant Cookies, a business that sells fortune cookies with inspirational and biblical sayings inside. What started out as an idea Pierce thought of during a lunch break turned into a successful business that sells regular-sized and giant fortune cookies worldwide with powerful messages inside.

“I know that if you have a vi S ion, an D you connect with people that can B ring your vi S ion to fruition, it’ S win-win, an D that’ S what happene D here.”

Pierce said she would also like to add more personal touches to the dessert options at Spartan Bakery Boutique . She plans to add a cookie named after her grandparents. As a Bridgeton, N.J. native, she wants to add sticky buns and call them Bridgeton buns.

The bakery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

c HALLENGES w ILL EITHER PARALYZE YOU OR PROPEL YOU… STAY

they were created to be. The mission of our school is to maintain excellent scholastic standards that will challenge the God given abilities of our students. While helping them develop the full expression of Christian Character through Accountability, Diligence, Perseverance, Reverence, Respect and Responsibility, thereby equipping students to be vital members of the community. We are teaching our students to be of good Godly character and establishing a solid foundation i n the way we interact with one another. It is our great desire to share the Love of God through our daily walk. This will exemplify true integrity and righteousness in all that they do.

Now Accepting Enrollment Preschool & K-8th grade Before & After School / Full Year Program

“YES I cAN”

It’s an attitude

attitude is everything in life. Your attitude will make you or break you. It is the most influential voice you hold. Your attitude will either amplify your ability to succeed or it will DIM your LIGHT. In order for you to get the essence of what I am talking about, I must tell you my personal journey of the “Yes I Can” Attitude. This attitude was developed over time and my parents have been an integral driving force to its development. My parents taught me we must always pave our own way because in life you will hit many roadblocks to keep you off course. We must not go around them but face them head on. I have been taught to always use your voice, stay “present”, know who you are, and know your HISTORY. I was taught nothing in life worth having comes easy, and you must work hard, be persistent, be resilient, and do “whatever it takes”. In addition, this attitude emulates passion, compassion, and the understanding when we fall, we must get right back up. Although I was raised in this culture of the “Yes I Can” attitude, sometimes life can throw you a curveball. A curveball that my life knows all too well.

I was 23 years old when I met this man, who was charming, nice on the eye, and knew how to make a woman feel good. He was intellectual, had a job and a car, and appeared to have it all together. At the same time, I was attending college and working on my bachelor’s degree. I was falling for a man who I thought had my best interest at heart. Slowly the nicely put-together man became my biggest demise.

This man was not so brilliant, put together, and he was not everything he appeared to be. We quickly became pregnant with our first son a year after meeting. This would be the first of many obstacles. You see, at the same time I found out I was pregnant, I also was waiting for the results of the written exam for the State Police. To no surprise, I passed the exam and was expected to return for the physical testing. It was then my life encountered a question of SACRIFICE, do I continue my career path as a State Trooper or do I choose to be a mother. Little did I know, the choice of becoming a mother would have a pivotal impact on my life moving forward. In March 2002, I gave birth to my first son, but the preceding 10 months of my life can only be described as chaotic. The relationship with my unborn child’s father was unstable and I knew I needed to complete school to create financial stability so I can raise this baby. This took me right back to that “Yes I Can” Attitude. The attitude of pushing through the chaos and uncertainty, while staying focused on the goal. This relationship became a roller coaster of emotions, one moment everything was fine and then the next complete chaos. I was left to raise our son alone while he did whatever he wanted with no recourse, consequence, or responsibility.

dr. stephanie IGLesias

However, in May of 2002, I graduated with honors in Psychology. I utilized that attitude and rose above the chaos and mess. The next three years my life became a “nest of fire”. I was faced with many emotional obstacles and the reality of my dignity being stripped through lies and deceit. My so-called man was about to be a father again by another woman. Despite his lies, I was a true believer that people make mistakes, people can change, and giving up was not the answer. Again, it was that ATTITUDE . that “Yes I Can” Attitude. That I can get through anything ATTITUDE . The I can make a difference ATTITUDE . The resilient ATTITUDE that pushed me moving forward despite any adversity.

Our relationship continued even though it was filled with turmoil. As the relationship continued to fail, my focus in establishing a career was ignited. My hard work and dedication landed me a job with the State of NJ. To offset my worry and fears, I went back to school to obtain my master’s degree. School became my biggest outlet for my struggles and incompetence as a woman and a mother. Regardless of this failing relationship, I continued onward. They say if you fail, you must fail forward. Keep going no matter what. That is exactly what this ATTITUDE is all about. It’s about the, YES, I CAN!

In 2005, I built my dream home; I was juggling work, motherhood, and my sanity. Five months after moving in, I became pregnant with our second son. When he found out I was pregnant he immediately denied the child was his. Once again, I took the role of motherhood alone. I had to; I did not have a choice if I wanted to succeed. Again, I continued with that “YES I CAN” attitude… finished up my school and work week on a Friday, gave birth to my son on a Saturday then continued back to school on a Monday. Nothing was holding me back to finish that degree, not a man, not a chaotic life, and not a child.

Through it all I pushed with that attitude even when it felt like I could not. I was an honor student, my career was expanding, and my children were thriving. On the exterior, one would see a woman accomplishing her dreams; however, the experiences I endured behind those four walls were incomprehensible and would have “broken” someone to complete devastation. I was a victim of domestic violence, hidden behind my success. I kept all that was happening, internal and allowed

it to resonate with me. My days were normal at work, but when I returned home there was namecalling, my belongings being thrown out, my children watching me be thrown out of a car and being left stranded in an unfamiliar town.

Yet again, I said, “YES I CAN” , I can do it regardless of my circumstances. I will prevail. But again, I continued to allow the chaos to continue in my home. There were another two incidents of domestic violence requiring police response before I graduated with my master’s degree. Although I was doing well to the outside world, my world inside my household was rapidly falling apart. There were six more 911 calls to my home ranging from stalking and destroying my belongings to throwing us out of the home and randomly dropping my kids off at my job”.” I had to pick up every piece that was broken in my life and put it back together for the sake of my children and for my own sanity. Still, I stayed in the chaos. In 2009, I began to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. For two more years, I sucked up the emotional turmoil and kept normalcy for my children the best I could. It was then on July 3rd, 2011 that my life would change forever. It was the day he decided to run myself and my girlfriend off the road. It was the day I took my strength, power, and voice back. I said enough was enough, left the relationship, and never returned.

It was at that moment, this “YES, I CAN” attitude came into total fruition, and I continued to be focused on my future. In March of 2016, I finally earned my doctorate degree from Capella University. A year later I founded Tasteful Art Experience, an innovative business that implements various creative arts methodology to promote positive self-expression. Tasteful Art Experience was birthed from my research with art therapists from all over the United States who worked with aggressive youth. I found when working with adolescents’ safety was paramount and creative arts was the best mean of selfexpression. This led me to create “experiences” where individuals incorporate mindfulness and the use of art (whatever that medium may be) as an outlet to express oneself. In this same year, I wrote a chapter in the anthology, “Motherhood dreams and success: You can have it all” about my personal journey through trials and tribulations which led me to success. This anthology sparked my interest in writing my full personal story depicting my trials and triumphs. For the next 3 years I wrote three pieces of my series, Dr. Stephanie Chronicles: Far From Perfect, But God…Won’t He Do It, and A Survivors Guide after Abuse , respectively.

In 2019, I created Testify Skin Care Boutique , an all-natural skincare line developed to heal, edify, and moisturize the skin. This is not just any skincare line; this is a skincare line that has been birthed out of my own mess being a survivor of domestic violence. I learned quickly after leaving the toxic relationship there would be many residual effects of the abuse and years of healing needed. The process of healing resulted in the use of my God’s given talents to create, Testify. Testify is a personal piece of my “Yes, I Can” attitude of how I turned my pain into my purpose resulting in the development of a product. A product that has been created to help women feel look and smell good when they don’t feel like themselves.

Today, I continue to stand with the “Yes, I Can” attitude promoting women’s empowerment through motivational speaking and authorship, mental health wellness through the Tasteful Art Experience and Testify Skin Care Boutique , and advocacy for black/brown communities through education.

You can find me at www.testifyboutique.com or email me at stephanie.tastefulart@gmail.com

traveLinG the GLoBe spreadinG a messaGe of

H o PE, FAITH

and survIvIng all odds!

UWILL, UMUST”

Photographer: Robert Ector

MUA: Natalie Spencer

Stylist: Tomeka B. Holyfield

Article Writer: Phyllis Caddell, PCPR

S HE wAS B O r N A cHEE r LEADE r,

cheering for others has been the key to her success!

It was 1989 when a skinny, loudmouth little girl’s name was called. The final two names would make the senior cheerleading squad at North Shore High School in Houston, Texas. Before the name could be called out, an immense crowd rushed to the floor in pure excitement. Tomeka had become a senior cheerleader, not knowing then that she would spend a lifetime cheering for everyone she’d encounter in life.

TOMEKA B. Holyfield , a woman who exerts herself far and above the call of duty, has been cheering for women around the world for years. Having a call on her life to “HELPPPP” people do, be, and have everything life offers—the result of wanting for nothing as a child. Tomeka quickly became known as The Lady with Big Dreams — the lady who makes things happen. While she was making things happen for herself, she noticed she was simultaneously assisting others to realize their dreams and their potential, and finding more satisfaction in helping others — a gift she’s had most of her life.

Watching someone else make their goals or win is energizing and inspiring to some, making them more determined to reach their goals. But to Ms. Holyfield, it’s just a natural reaction.

“I’ve always been everyone else’s biggest cheerleader.” She continues, “Let me explain: I am always excited to celebrate other success stories. Whether they are in my industry or not, I will celebrate someone’s success. It’s just something about seeing people prosper, grow, and succeed that makes me want to celebrate.”

Growing up in a home with an everything-isattainable environment, Tomeka always had opportunities to explore possibilities which shaped her into a positive go-getter who knows what she wants and never settles for anything less than perfect. A person who laughs at inhibitions and keeps her eye on the prize, one would think she is self-absorbed. But this is the farthest adjective for Ms. Holyfield.

“I’m the person who will share your success and use my platform to lift others,” she says. “I share events, opportunities, and my networking resources. And have always believed that someone else’s success and opportunities have nothing to do with what God has for me and my destiny.“ She adds,” always being happy for other entrepreneurs has brought me great joy and success.”

Ms. Holyfield’s journey began with a determination to show the world that any and everybody had a Purpose, Plan & Platform, and she would be the one to HELP them put it into play. Little did she know, her journey would not be in Texas but in Atlanta, GA, where she would move without a job, no place to live, and no friends. It was more like the next phase of the unknown. Some would say this is ludicrous, however, she followed her dream. A dream came to her one night, and within one month, she became the Executive Director of the Evander Holyfield Foundation, a position that allowed her to touch lives on another level and gave her valuable experience in combining corporate entities with non-profit visions.

Two months later, she would begin a journey with gospel music’s Premiere Saxophonist and recording artist, Angella Christie. of Angella Christie Sound Ministries (ACSM), traveling extensively nationally and internationally. She worked for both companies for two years before retiring her executive director position and becoming a road manager for ACSM — a position she held for over twenty years!

amotivator since birth, Ms. Holyfield has been Helping, Empowering, Loving, and Preparing people for their PURPOSE, PLAN, and PLATFORM. At events for various industries across several continents, she has inspired and encouraged people from all walks. Her charismatic delivery and transparency commands attention on every stage she appears. But it is her knowledge and understanding of her audience and her message that keeps their attention.

As CEO of HAG , Helpppp Agency Group , Ms. Holyfield’s voyage to success is one of surviving insurmountable circumstances, drawing outside the lines, and measuring her success to her own timeline and heartbeat. She is fierce, focused, and faithful in building what has now become an empire. For the past 16 years, she has developed three companies, one non-profit foundation and six faith-based productions.

In 1997, while still in college at Texas Southern University, she rolled up her sleeves and got busy. Becoming a change agent and voice of victory for the underdog, Ms. Holyfield started The HELPPPPing Hands Foundation, Inc.

This endeavor eventually led to the 2006 launch of her company The Helpppp Agency, a production company and strategic branding/ public relations agency. The Helpppp Agency houses and produces six faith-based properties during Grammy® Week, Oscar Week, NBA All-Star Weekend, MLB All-Star

Week, MLS All-Star Week, the Global Shero Awards during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and RCM Media Productions, Corp., a production company where The Helpppp Agency still house some of their high-profile events.

In 2016 she took a year off from her production company to restructure, revamp and revitalized herself. “The best decision I’ve ever made,” she says.

When a mentor suggested she expand her portfolio and create another arm of her businesses, she accepted the challenge.

“I took classes at Georgia Tech on government contracting. Yes, government contracting. How to secure some of the same type of work I was already doing, but now restructuring it to meet the needs of other entities.”

Her hard work and vision led to an expansion. She created Business Solution Services (Helpppp Agency Biz Solutions), a solutions service and government contracting company — sister company to her branding, marketing, and production company that work hand and hand providing event management services, professional services, and commodities. Eventually, more growth birthed the HAGHelpppp Agency Group in 2017 to combine and house all of Ms. Holyfield’s companies under one umbrella, which has now become a multi-million-dollar empire.

The moral she says is to, “always reevaluate

a lways reevaluate yourself, your assets, and always be willing to learn and excel in something new that’s outside your comfort zone.

- Tomeka B. Holyfield

yourself, your assets, and always be willing to learn and excel in something new that’s outside your comfort zone.” This was the winning ticket for her survival. “The time I invested in myself and the restructure of my company in 2016 was the glue for my company in 2020!”

Ms. Holyfield has spent her entire life jumping through hurdles, dodging bullets, and making lemonade out of lemons. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most challenging situation to date for our media production company. However, our branding agency and business solutions companies flourished.”

The strength of the “glue” was put to test in February 2020, when the company’s NBA All-Star event would be the last public event before the world literally shut down. “Had the government shut down three weeks earlier, we would have found ourselves refunding thousands of concertgoers as well as corporate sponsors.”

She admits it was a wake-up call that sent her employees into survival mode. They begin to see the entire entertainment community shut down and dismantle From Hollywood to Broadway —even the movie theaters. The turning point was when the NBA and NFL canceled the start of their season. Shortly after, all other entertainment-related entities shut down, and she says it became very clear they were in trouble.

“We realized immediately that our line of business was not essential during a pandemic,” she says. “As a CEO, I had to reassure my employees that we would survive; they would still have a job to put food on the table for their families. As a team, we became creative. We had to restructure and repivot our blueprint and workflow. We uplifted one another. We couldn’t let anxiety and depression take root.” She took a play out of her cheerleading book and made what was becoming a dismal situation, an uplifting and promising environment.

It is very rare to see a new face, although she says it has happened a few times. She has built a team she can rely on, and trust, and is confident that the job will get done. She is a delegator, however, she is still hands-on — but without micro-managing. “Someone once said, ‘Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.’ My team wins!”

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dire economic consequences, however, it has also stretched the creativity of many. Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Holyfield along with thirty-four other CEOs collaborated on a book that led to her becoming a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author.

Business Success Secrets: Entrepreneurial Thinking That Works is a book written for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. It’s a fountain of advice, tips, and informative stories about what it takes to make it in business. It is also the hard-knock story of the grit, determination, and resourcefulness it took to mount the summit of a dream.

She always thought about writing a book but says she was too scared to start the process. “I was afraid others would say: ‘What right do you have to write about business?’ or ‘What makes you an expert?’ But when the pandemic forced its uncertainties on us, and the opportunity presented itself, it just made sense, so I jumped into one of the best decisions of my life. I gave myself permission to write because, hey, writers must start somewhere.”

It’s ironic how someone who was apprehensive about writing a book, was now thrust into the limelight with a new title and purpose. When asked how it feels to be a best-selling author, Holyfield pauses, smiles, and fighting back tears she humbly explains, “I was numb. We had made Amazon’s list and I was happy with that accomplishment.”

As someone who prides herself on being loyal, she has kept most of the same team for all events under the HAG- Helpppp Agency Group since the inception of her organization.

The way she found out the book was a bestseller was on an impromptu Zoom call with all the authors. “We had no idea why we were on the unscheduled call but the next words we heard were ‘Congratulations authors, we made Wall Street Journal and USA Today

Authors!’ That blew my mind.” The book has also won the 2021 Reader’s Favorite Silver Award in the Non-fiction Anthology genre.

It takes a certain type of person to boss up, pivot, and lead during difficult times even when she feels like lowering the blinds, staying in bed, and covering her head under a pillow—a scene taken out of Nancy Meyers’ romantic comedy film, “The Holiday.” But the best leaders know their people and are aware of their strengths and their weaknesses.

The pandemic wreaked havoc across the globe and the economic and social disruption was devastating. However, leaders like Holyfield, who reacted quickly and transparently, and successfully navigated through the COVID-19 crisis, were rewarded with better outcomes.

As a leader, Holyfield has a calming, unwavering presence that reassures people in difficult times. She meets pandemonium with peace and stays on track to accomplish goals through empathy and team cultivation regardless of surrounding noise.

By creating a strong team culture, Holyfield says “everyone is aligned sharing the same values, mission and work ethic, but they understand their individual purpose as well as their role within the team.”

A fan of shifting your thinking, she stresses the importance of focusing on solutions instead of problems. “Staying focused and purposedriven was the key to our survival,” she states.

“Remember, when insurmountable circumstances take place in your life, in your workplace or in your relationships, always focus on the solution aspect rather than the temporary problem at hand.”

In a nutshell, it’s looking at what needs to be done and putting yourself in a position where you’re ready for whatever comes next! She likes to remind herself that life is full of ups and downs — you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, recovering from a storm, or preparing for the upcoming storm. However, the key is how you handle every stage of the storm. She also knows the value of taking care of her people. And stresses that the well-being of those who work close to her

is a top priority, especially in difficult times.

“Eighty percent of the time, life goes accordingly to what you’ve put out you get back. Then, there is the twenty percent when life grabs you by the collar, and throws a curve ball in your life; Takes the chair from beneath you, and sometimes you feel you can’t breathe.”

Anxiety and hyperventilating would get the best of Holyfield, but not for long; after several disappointments and heartaches, she decided to take back her life and business!

“I changed my perspective and begin to set the narrative of my own life.” She realized early on that her emergency was not everyone else’s emergency. Her timeline was not everyone else’s, and her dreams were hers and hers alone. She states confidently, “The moment you set the narrative of your own life, the timeframe for your own business goals,

and the vision you set for yourself and your company, then and only then does success begin.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson and other thinkers in history have concluded that the real treasure in life is “the journey, the process, and the getting there.” Moreso than any destination or accomplishment, walking to the beat of her drum, Holyfield knows this all too well: How we handle the journey is how our destination will end up. If eighty percent of the time life is going well, this is when you build your strength up awaiting that twenty percent — the inevitable — it’s coming. Your time in your eighty percent space will prepare you to handle that twenty percent space. It’s all about

“staying focused and purpose-driven was the key to our survival...”

is a change agent with a limitless mindset who constantly raises the bar. she is confident, aware of her strengths, and understands the power of supporting women.

cont. from page 22

your perspective on appreciating the time of rest and smooth sailing so that you will learn how to handle the time during the storms.

When you become overwhelmed, remember its only temporary. It’s just your twenty percent. The eighty percent full of memories and successful experiences will motivate you back to life when you are experiencing your low moments.

So, what’s the secret to her success?

“The secret to my success and the secret to your future success is simple: No one owes you anything and your emergency is not their emergency. Once you begin to operate in a space where you and you alone create the narrative of your life, success starts at that exact moment.” She continues, “I remember at the early stages of building my company, I believed everything everyone promised or committed to me on projects, sponsorships, and contracts. I was

with beauty, brains, and the ability to see the value in people, tomeka B. h olyfiel D

going in circles on people’s promises, people’s words, and people’s time.” She has learned not to put trust in people, but in God and faith.

“WHEN I look back at some of my most successful accomplishments, it is a result of me never giving up and trying it again and again. It’s because I never gave up despite the many failures I experienced. I kept trying again and again and again!” She reiterates, “Remember, it’s just that…a moment! Never ever quit! There is favor in the again. Let me say that again, there is favor in the again. Do it AGAIN. Try it AGAIN. Email them AGAIN. Call them AGAIN. Fill out that loan application AGAIN. Apply for that contract AGAIN. Call the bank back AGAIN. Schedule another meeting AGAIN. Hire another employee when one doesn’t work out AGAIN. Trust AGAIN. Take a chance AGAIN.”

Oprah Winfrey said, “there’s never a better time to be a woman. We are standing up for what we believe—and taking a stand on behalf of others.” Ms. Holyfield is the epitome of this quote. She speaks her mind and sticks to her guns and believes women profit from creating alliances over competitiveness. Research shows that women who support women are more successful in business.

One to never dim her light to fit in or make another feel better about themselves, Ms. Holyfield instead finds it rewarding to amplify women and push them out of their comfort zones. “I believe in relationships that touch the heart and create an everlasting partnership.”

The recipient of many awards, including ICON Magazine’s “You Surpass Them All” award at the 2021 Global Legendary Legacy Leadership Awards this year (2022), she will have the honor of passing the torch to a new recipient in New Jersey.

“I believe in divine connections. And, through Dr. Lauretta Pierce aka The Cookie Lady, I met and fell in love with both Dr. Sandrie Bermudez and her hubby the Honorable Ruben Bermudez. To have the honor to grace the cover of ICON Magazine makes me so humble and grateful. Tomorrow is not promised. Live, Love and Laugh today!”

A woman with many gifts, she is intentional with every move she makes. A strategic thinker who knows how to navigate through a crisis, and pivot at the right time is who Ms. Holyfield is at her core. As a strategic thinker, she uses critical thinking to solve complex problems and plan which allows her to accomplish business objectives, overcome obstacles, and address challenges. As a master pivoter, she plans but executes only when all options have been exhausted. As a leader navigating through a crisis, she understands that an experimentation mindset is needed. She can adapt in real-time and anticipate, experiment, miss the mark at times, then modify accordingly.

With beauty, brains, and the ability to see the value in people, Tomeka B. Holyfield is a change agent with a limitless mindset who constantly raises the bar. She is confident, aware of her strengths, and understands the power of supporting women. She doesn’t care about a seat at the table because she makes her own rules and paves her own paths. Continuously sharpening her skills, and always planning for the next, she plants seeds and puts in the work to achieve a legacy that will live beyond her last achievement.

If you would like to know what’s next for Ms. Holyfield, please follow her on social media: IG & Twitter @redcarpetmogul FB: Tomeka B. Holyfield Or visit https://helppppagencygroup.com

“conGratuLations to mY LonG time friend and cLient on this BeautifuL cover with Icons maGazine. tomeka is aLwaYs a pLeasure to work with.

tomeka has Been Behind some of the BiGGest names and Brands for Years! and it’s so Great to see her finaLLY step out in front. LookinG forward to watchinG this proJect Grow and conGratuLations to the Icon team.”

-roBert ector

how phiLcoin Is revoLutionizinG the tech space to put peopLe first In everY aspect

The world as we know it has forever changed. It’s become more digital and the need for transparency, and sovereign wealth has become more important than ever.

In 2008, Bitcoin brought about a new level of wealth generation, built on blockchain technology, that gave people back the power and control of their assets. It paved the way for new technology that has not only changed the way people generate, store, access and grow their wealth; but also how each transaction is recorded. It was during this time that many gamers and other avid Internet users saw Bitcoin as a way to transact peer-topeer online. Among these was Dunstan Teo, an award-winning gamer and Bitcoin OG who cofounded Philcoin. He and his gamer peers minded Bitcoin before it had any real value and used it within their gaming environments which allowed them to transact quickly, efficiently and affordably all while maintaining their anonymity.

As the crypto space picked up steam, so it exposed itself to hacks and scams which gave the space a bad reputation. Crypto was banned in some countries and restrictions imposed in many others. Despite these challenges, one of the most important events in blockchain’s history occurred. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Bitcoin Magazine, published a white paper that proposed that blockchain technology be used for purposes

other than cryptocurrency. This led to the creation of the Ethereum Foundation, which launched in 2014, and introduced a platform for building decentralized applications.

Co-founder of Ethereum, Gavin Wood, who is a computer scientist, coined the term “Web 3” – a decentralized and democratic version of the web. Blockchain is a key technology behind Web3. It is often associated with cryptocurrency and the technology that underpins it. With the help of blockchain, developers will be able to build websites, platforms, and applications that are more secure, privacy-preserved, and censorshipresistant.

Philcoin is an example of this. It has a decentralized super app called PHILApp which is a philanthropic blockchain ecosystem. Headed up by CEO Jerry Lopez, Co-Founder Dunstan Teo and Executive Director Rosalinda Rivera; Philcoin is changing the way giving happens. Every aspect of Philcoin has been built with philanthropy in mind where a portion of each transaction or earning is donated to various charities and causes around the world.

The super app will house a social platform, education courses, staking, donations, integrated payment gateways, marketplaces, and more; to become the app of choice for those with giving at their core. Partnering with thousands of charities,

Philcoin will be helping alleviate social and environmental issues while ensuring donations are efficient and transparent thanks to blockchain technology.

Executive Director, Rosalinda Rivera, said, “I’ve been in the charitable space for years and I know the ins and outs of how donations work. There’s been an innate challenge regarding where donations go and donors have started to lose trust and faith that their money is reaching those in need. Philcoin is changing this to make giving back easier, more efficient and more transparent than ever. It’s a game changer for people who, like myself and the entire Philcoin team, want to really make a difference in the world.”

Beyond being Executive Director of Philcoin, Rosalinda is a passionate philanthropist. She recognizes the power of crypto to build global wealth, create a more sustainable environment and neutralize economic disparities. In addition, she’s also an esteemed author, speaker and master coach.

Spear-heading Philcoin’s global movement is its CEO, Jerry Lopez. He is a 17-year veteran in Marketing with 7 years in Blockchain and Crypto. He has built organizations in more than 50 countries, and has impacted tens of thousand of people doing so. His focus has always been in creating the right culture in companies and and community culture building in the philanthropy space to change the way giving happens. Partnering with him as Co-Founder of Philcoin is Dunstan Teo, a polymath that was self-taught and later mentored in economics, business strategies,

game theories, sociology, behavioral psychology, and social conditioning. He co-authored the book “The Bitcoin Dystopia – The Prelude”. He is a wellknown OG in the Bitcoin space with 5 years of experience advising companies on raising their initial crypto-token offering (ICO) round, and has deep insights to the blockchain industry.

Philcoin’s philanthropic ecosystem extends beyond philanthropy to offer an all-inclusive community experience within the online space. To limit the scope of PHILApp to only its charitable endeavors will be an understatement of its vast technology. It also offers users:

Decentralization

PHILApp will enable peer-to-peer interactions with the opportunity to earn, grow and donate their wealth.

Reputation

PHILApp’s social platform will influence users to stay honest in the ecosystem and produce goodquality content.

Identity

Users’ identities will be kept safe, along with that of other users. Through Philcoin’s KYC process, users will be vetted so only true and honest users will be part of the ecosystem.

Philcoin is going to revolutionize the tech space by providing users with a one-of-a-kind online experience that keeps humanity at its core. Not only will users be entertained, educated, connected and rewarded; they will also be part of a global giving movement. Executive Director, Rosalinda Rivera adds, “It’s immensely powerful when you understand the potential impact this can have on society as a whole. Never before has there been a project completed built around community and philanthropy – hopefully this is the first of many people-first projects that we can expect within the Web 3 space with Philcoin pioneering this movement.”

To join the world’s first-ever philanthropic blockchain movement, scan this QR code. You’ll be part of a select group of people who can change the way giving happens.

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LEADS BEYOND THE OBSTAcLES

DR. ValERiE aRTHuR

Iwas still thinking of my recent luxurious Royal Caribbean vacation cruise as I entered the lobby of the Smith Family Foundation, a private grant-making institution founded in the city of Trenton, N.J., in 2016. On the lobby wall hung our core values: education, cultivation, transformation, and urban ministry. I am the urban ministry director and foundation board chair. Shakaar, the receptionist, greeted me with a smile, “Good morning, Dr. Arthur, welcome back. How was your vacation? Mrs. Nunnally would like to see you in her office before morning briefing.”

What could possibly be so important before coffee? Did I forget to complete an assignment before I left? What could have possibly been of such urgency that she had to see me first thing? I had a feeling that the outcome of our pending conversation was not going to be favorable. Hurriedly, I put my belongings away, grabbed myself a cup of strong coffee, and made my way up to the third floor.

“Dr. Arthur, come on in; take a seat. Let’s sit at the conference table and talk,” Mrs. Nunnally said. I have known this young lady all her life; her pleasant tone and shy, girlish smile was not fooling me. She wanted something. I was not giving in this time. I was going to firmly stand my ground. “Welcome back. How was your trip? Did you have a nice time? Are you glad to be back?”

“Enough with the pleasantries, Mrs. Nunnally. How can I help you?”

She proceeded to say, “Dr. Arthur” -- a signal to my brain that I was not going to like what she was going to say next. “Dr. Arthur, I really need for you to go to Haiti for me.”

Instantly, a memory began to formulate of the lady with the big, poofy, pink hair whom I had seen on TV many years before Jan Crouch. She and her husband, Paul, were the founders of Trinity Broadcasting Networks.

Many years had passed since that one rare Saturday night when I happened to come across their annual telethon. Jan was seeking sponsors to support her Smile of a Child Foundation Haiti initiative. They were proposing to build a $2 million medical facility in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Jan’s pink hair and face were images I associated with the word Haiti.

As Mrs. Nunnally continued talking, I could hear Jan Crouch’s sweet little bubbly voice telling the story about a child. The memory still haunted her: “I remember picking him up off the cement floor and holding in him in my arms. As I was holding him,” she said, “all I could say was, ‘Jesus loves you.’ I kept repeating, ‘Jesus loves you.’ Moments later, he quit breathing and died in my arms.” She went on to say, “One day, children will not have to die on cement floors. They will be able to receive medical care for what we here in America consider curable diseases.” I was so moved by Jan’s compelling testimony that I did something I had never done before. I made a $100 donation.

Interrupting my thoughts, Mrs. Nunnally repeated her question, “So, will you go? “Go where?”

“To Saint-Michel de l’ Attalaye. It’s in the mountain region of Haiti.” “Go to Haiti? Why do you want me to go to Haiti? Only medical people go to Haiti. I am a theologian, not a medical doctor. Sorry, the answer is no!”

Apparently, she had donated $5,000 to help a local church finish a water well and was considering making a private donation to help build a school.

“I really want to help, but I cannot leave the foundation right now,” I said.

“I need your help,” she countered.

“When do you want me to go, Mrs. Nunnally?”

“This Friday!”

“Just so that I am clear on what you are asking me, if I am to understand you correctly, you want me to go to the mountains of Haiti to a place that no one has ever heard of before, to report if a water well has a pump and if there is a need for a new school. And you want me to leave on Friday?”

“Yes!”

Smiling to myself and at her, I replied: “I don’t think so, Mrs. Nunnally. I have no desire to go to Haiti; I do not feel the leading of the Lord to go to the mountains of Haiti. Haiti is not a ministry I wish to pursue. Sorry! My answer is no!”

Suddenly, without warning, her whole facial expression changed from the chief executive officer of the Smith Family Foundation to that of my pouting, whining little sister.

“Val, I am your little sister. Please, you are the oldest, and your little sister needs your help. Please go for me. You know how Mommy feels about helping children. Think about the children, about all the lives that could possibly be transformed because of this one little trip.”

Sister or no sister, chief executive officer or not, I was determined not to go to Haiti. As I was thinking of another word for no, again, I heard the meek voice of the woman with the poofy pink hair. It

was as if she were looking directly at me through the lens of the television camera, pleading to my compassion: “Will you help us? Will you donate today? Will you put a smile on a child’s face today? Will you contribute to Smile of a Child in Haiti?”

Is it possible that Jesus faced this same dilemma in Matthew 15 when his compassion heard a cry from a place of darkness? The cry of a desperate Canaanite mother whose child was being exploited by insalubrious men. “… Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “…Lord, help me!” A call to the compassion of Christ. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”

The compassion of Christ was willing; however, there were obstacles prohibiting him from responding. “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, “Send her away, for she crieth after us.” But He answered and said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then came she and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” But He answered and said, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.” And she said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said unto her, “O, Woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

What was Jesus’ reasoning in hesitating to answer her; why did he remain silent? Did he stop to consider the obstacles to send her away as requested by the disciples? The obstacle of being out of time, perhaps: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house.”

How would I answer? Would I answer? Was I hearing this same sense of desperation in the voice of Jan Crouch? Would my compassion find a way to extend itself beyond the Urban Centers of America, as Jesus had, to reach a people

“so, will you go?“

I did not know, to travel two and half hours off the coastline of Florida to foreign lands? Was Jesus actually considering sending me to people crying after him, “Lord help us?” Was I to be one of the ones the Lord would use to answer the call, “Lord, help! Lord, help…” Had he found a way to use me beyond my obstacles?

My two traveling companions, Dawn Reyes, the foundation’s community engagement specialist, and Evangelist Matias Rojas, arrived at Cap-Haïtien International Airport at 9 a.m. on August 12, 2016. The moment I stepped off the plane into the 80-degree humid weather, I knew I was not prepared for what awaited me on the other side of the terminal. According to the informational article I read on the plane, Cap-Haïtien is in the northern region of Haiti. Le Cap, as it is also known, was founded by the French in 1670. The luxurious beaches and five-star hotels have enhanced CapHaïtien’s reputation as being the most sought-after vacation spot for the Haitian upper class.

I was at a loss for words to properly describe what I witnessed as we left the beaches of CapHaïtien behind to make the seven-hour drive up the mountainous region of Michel-de-l’ Attalaye, Artibonite. At times I found it hard to breathe, not because of the air quality but because of what my eyes were beholding. I could not and still cannot paint a picture of the extreme poverty that draped the landscape of such a beautiful, colorful country. It has been five years since my first trip, and I am still overwhelmed with the inhumane living conditions of some of my Haitian sisters and brothers.

“I was at a loss

to

Walking through the terminal, we could hear the sounds of the local musicians as they sang and played the steel drums, buleador, and maracas. We retrieved our luggage, exited the airport, and met our host, Pastor Jean David Jean, who was waiting at the curbside.

describe what I witnessed as we left the beaches of CapHaïtien behind to make the seven-hour drive up the mountainous region of Michel-de-l’ Attalaye. At times I found it hard to breathe, not because of the air quality but because of what my eyes were beholding. I could not and still cannot paint a picture of the extreme poverty that draped the landscape of such a beautiful, colorful country.”

Pastor Jean David Jean, senior pastor and founder of Victory Tabernacle Church and administrator of the School of Flowers, is an English-speaking, 30-year-old, tall, thin, handsome, smooth, darkskinned man. During our time together, I learned that he had recently returned to Saint-Michel de l’ Attalaye after spending ten years receiving a biblical degree in Santo-Domingo, Dominican Republic. He and his lovely wife, Rosie,hosted us in their home, and acted as tour guides, historians, and drivers.

Non-governmental agencies, missionaries, and medical volunteers also have not been able to adequately describe the desolation they, too, experienced before and after the 2010 earthquake. Some wrote that it was a nation devastated by the appearance of war. They described collapsed buildings, and the disregarded, decayed human remains that became a cesspool for the feasting of supersized rats; the air polluted with black smoke because of the chemicals released from the continuous burning of rubber tires in protest of the corruption of the Haitian government; the naked orphan children who roamed the streets looking for food at the market garbage dump; the consistent disruption of daily life attributed to gang and political violence; homelessness, starvation, the lack of medical treatment -- just a total and complete destruction and devastation of an already oppressive system.

Arriving in Saint-Michel de l’ Attalaye at dusk, we decided it was best to visit the school the next day. When we when finally made our way to the school, arriving at 8 a.m., we found approximately thirty elementary school-aged children sitting patiently waiting underneath a blue shred tarp tacked to six pine tree poles. The benches they sat on were made out of various pieces of scrap

for words

properly

wood. Some of the shoeless children had walked five miles to sit under the tarp. Without paper or pencil, they eagerly responded to the church volunteer who could barely read himself. I stood there dumbfounded, hearing the plea of the Canaanite woman, the voice of Jan Crouch: “Son of David, help me. Will you help us bring a smile to a child today?” I answered not a word. There were obstacles. I was the obstacle.

Classical seminary training does not prepare one for this. Frankly, I had never even thought about such ministry. I wanted to preach and teach in large stadiums, on football fields, and in seminaries at Bible colleges. I never really expected my Christian faith to require me to go beyond teaching Jesus to become like Jesus. How would I represent Jesus under such circumstances? What could I possibly say to this community, these children born in the 21 st century but not of the 21 st century, children who went home to the normalcy of clay, two-room, dirt-floor houses, without electricity, without inside bathrooms or clean drinking water? What would I, a privileged American but a person of limited means and resources, do differently from the religious and nonprofit organizations that came before me? The world has invested billions of dollars and other resources into Haiti, yet according to the Global Finance News Report, Haiti still is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and the thirteenth poorest country in the world. Money was not the solution to the problem, and neither was the mere teaching of the attributes of Jesus. I had long come to the conclusion that folks were tired of hearing about Jesus; they needed to see a manifestation of Jesus. I would write my report as promised, fulfilling my assignment, and go back to my life.

of the things we do best at the Smith Family Foundation: open doors to opportunities. However, opportunities come with obstacles; thus, living out my faith to truly be like Jesus meant I had to create an opportunity to walk into this new experience of Christ’s compassion, accept the paradigm shift taking form in my thinking, and overcome the obstacle of the Smith Family Foundation’s commitment to only provide educational opportunities to the residents of the city of Trenton N.J. After all, it was Mrs. Nunnally, the CEO, who sent me to Haiti on a fact-finding mission.

My first plan of action was to appeal to the educators of our board members. The school system in Haiti is a for-profit system that remains in shambles after the 2010 earthquake, which damaged or destroyed the majority of schools. Literacy rates hover around fifty-five percent for both sexes, and most of the 15,200 primary schools are community-run or funded by religious institutions. As a result, the poor remain in a cautious cycle of poverty without a clear path to attaining an education. Those children fortunate enough to afford school are still at a disadvantage because the official medium of education is Creole. An unfortunate effect was trapping the children of the poor in a vicious cycle of ongoing poverty because the children must know French in order to pass the certification examination at the end of grade five. When they enroll in high school, they find chaos waiting for them, especially in rural schools, where teachers are ill-prepared and materials are inadequate.

On our twenty-five-minute drive back to the pastor’s house, I had a chance to reflect on the core values of the Smith Family Foundation: education, transformation, cultivation, and urban ministry. The poor children of Haiti were no different from the poor children of America; they deserved the chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Both were in need of opportunities. Is not education an opportunity? And that is one

Today, the school we founded, Katherine School of Flowers, located in Saint-Michel de l’ Attalaye is one of the very few schools in Haiti that is totally free to children in poor rural communities. In its short five years of existence, it has grown from thirty children to educating 220 children, from teaching under a tent to providing free education to 220 who cannot afford to attend private or government schools -- pre- k to fifth grade. The school provides a feeding program, a soccer field, eighteen paid staff members, and an adult education program. We are in the process of building a middle school and beginning a fundraising effort for a technical high school. We also offer technical support, leadership development, and teachers’ training to other schools in the surrounding areas.

“And she said, ‘Truth, Lord’ yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

My second plan of action was to appeal to the business owners’ board members. Free education opportunities are impactful; however, they alone do not stabilize a community. The availability of employment adds value and self-worth to a person’s life. Through many community conversations and religious services, Black Gold International SA (a Haitian Company) was born. Primarily a farming company, Black Gold employs approximately forty people; they are the parents of our students or those who have graduated from our adult education program. Our vision is to be entrusted to feed the nation of Haiti by using the best practices in agricultural production.

Last but not least, an appeal was made to the only theologian on the board-- me. I had to change the way that I think. The gospel is not only to be preached behind the four walls of a church or taught in a seminary. I had to ask myself what the “Great Commission” looks like in my life and how loudly I can live my faith. Surprisingly, it does not involve building a church building. Christ-Centered in the city, my personal ministry has been afforded the opportunities to develop and conduct leadership development training with religious leaders in Haiti. Our focus is not only to preach salvation and attributes of Christ but also to create environmental construction workers.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

In Haiti, there is systemic poverty and poor quality of life because somewhere in that society, someone has a poor thought process. My commission at this time is to render assistance in thinking about thinking, to become a person to change and construct their own environments. Me, living my faith out loud.