My first document

Welcome to our 10th annual fashion show We normally host this event in January, but due to Covid, we are a little off schedule I am thrilled that you chose to join us as we bring the runway back to the Crown, the first event hosted here in over a year

Women of Power is one of my favorite elements of the how Several years ago, I was looking around and couldn't believe the incredible women within our community They move through our daily lives in such a positive way that I wanted to celebrate their achievements It was also mportant to me that I open the door for these remarkable women to mentor the young ladies in the show Thus, Women of Power was born

Please have a wonderful time, take photos and cheer as we celebrate the young ladies and Women working the #IAmTheChampion ru

Kathy Keefe Jensen

I can't believe it's finally here! When Kathy told me we going to be able to have our 2021 fashion show, I was the moon. I have a soft spot for our little pageant princesses, and due to the challenges of the past yea hosted them in their very own "little champion" show morning Make sure you follow us on social media (@lifeisanaffair) so that you can see the photos of the that we will be sharing in the coming days

I often think that I may have the best job in Fayettevil every day, I get to see the look of pure joy on young faces when they just found their homecoming, prom, pageant dress I see the stress roll off the face of a mo of-the-bride/groom as she steps back, looks in the m and realizes we just zipped her into her dream dress! brings our team and me great joy to help the beauties our community; please visit us for your special occasi dress

to our special guests. They helped us make this A Weekend To Remember for many of our beautiful ladies.

Bill Alverson Julie Durocher

Fadil Berisha

Owner, An Affair To Remember

Dr. Vikki Andrews

Dr Vikki Andrews is a retired Army Officer who since retiring 25 years ago has been incredibly involved in our community Vikki is the former Cumberland County Democratic Party Chairman, the 2nd Congressional District Democratic Chairman, member of the Democratic Party State Executive Committee, and past elected member of the Cumberland County Board of Elections. She currently serves and Vice-President of the North Carolina Democratic Veterans and Military Families Committee From the Partnership for Children, the United Way, and the Boy Scouts of America to the County Health Board, Planning Board, and Martin Luther King Day of Service, you can find her volunteering to help her neighbors everywhere around the county Perhaps you have seen her officiating high school athletics or helping a political candidate or on shop Small Business Saturday She gives back to this community in an amazing way

Vikki graduated from Duke University, received her Master of Arts from Webster University and her doctorate from North Carolina State University. She is the super proud mom of her son Brandon, an Elizabeth City State University graduate who is a member of the United State Air Force Reserves and works as a deputy clerk of c

Kia Anthony

Shekia Anthony, also know olyn and Fred Anthony She is the middle child of 7 States Army in 1999 upon graduating from Flint Nort an Honorable Discharge from the United States Arm ervice, including deployments to Afghanista daughter, Nina Michelle

Kia Anthony is a serial entrepreneur She is the creator of Just Cactus, a 100% chemicalfree hair and skincare line, and the founder and president of Circa 1865, Inc This nonprofit organization focuses on celebrating African American culture Circa 1865, Inc hosted Fayetteville, NC first Juneteenth Freedom Festival, which received multiple proclamations from towns and cities in Cumberland County and North Carolina Kia is the radio show host of iAmNATURAL, a variety show broadcasted by the Fayetteville State University telecommunication department She is also a committee member of the NAACP Religious Affairs and Greater Sandhills Chamber Incorporated founder

Kia enjoys spending time with her daughter, reading, and getting out in nature in her free time She is a devoted community activist serving Spring Lake and surrounding areas Some of her community outreach includes community feedings, food distributions, voter registration drives, census drives, and drive-through COVID-19 testing sites

Kia lives by the African proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone If you want to go far, go toge

Elaina Ball

ElainaBallisPWC'sCEO/GeneralManager.SheistheninthCEO/GeneralManagerandfirst femaleleaderinPWC’s115-yearhistory ShepreviouslyservedasSr VPinOperationsand AdministrationrolesatElPasoElectric.Since2018,sheoversawfunctionalareasofthe companyincludingPowerGeneration,PowerMarketing,Transmission&Distribution, CustomerCare,Technology,Safety,Environmental,andPublicRelations,andCorporate Communications Shewasresponsibleforover800employeesandhelpedElPasosetnew recordsforannualcustomersatisfactionscoresandearnitsfirstJD Powertop-performing utilityawardin2019aswellashelpingthemthroughasuccessfulmergerwithIIF,an infrastructureinvestmentfundadvisedbyJP Morgan

Ballservedinleadershiprolesattwoofthenation’slargestmunicipally-ownedelectric systems PriortojoiningElPasoElectric,BallworkedatAustinEnergy,intheAustin,Texas area WhileatAustinEnergy,sheservedasCOOandwasresponsibleforpowergeneration, transmissionanddistribution,informationtechnology,andonsiteenergyresources.Shealso servedontheboardoftheSouthTexasNuclearProjectelectricgeneratingstation BallservedasVP,TechnicalServicesatCPSEnergy,themunicipallyownedelectricandgas utility “I’mveryexcitedtojointhegreatteamatPWCandforourfamilytobeapartofthis community,”saidBall.“PWCisasignificantassetandplaysavitalroleinthecommunity’s success Itisknownthroughoutboththeelectricandwaterutilityindustryforitsexcellent operationsandIlookforwardtocontinuingthelegacyofstrongleadershipatPWCand continuingthatexcellenceofprovidingsafeandreliableservicetoourcustomers”

Ballisanactivecivicleader,currentlyservingontheElPasoHispanicChamberof CommerceBoardofDirectorsandElPasoansFightingHungerBoardofDirectors Sheisalso acurrentBoardofDirectorsmemberoftheAssociationofWomeninEnergy Anativeof Texas,BallhasaBachelorofSciencedegreeinchemicalengineeringfromTheUniversityof TexasatAustin She’sanavidreaderandenjoyshiking,skiing,traveling,andsupportingher belovedUTLongh

Mary Jo Bunnells

Mary Bunnells is a Licensed Liberty She has worked in the housing industry for ove ore that it is a human right to have adequate housing S of the community on their journey to homeownership ary has received several awards relating to her produ r firm, Most Buyer Transactions, Biggest Sales ary is an entrepreneur at heart and is also the owner of a small fitness company, MJ Fitness As a certified yoga instructor, she believes in the power of slowing down the mind and the body She has worked with a vast demographic of clients, from professionals needing a release to cancer survivors and Veterans on the path of healing their bodies and minds. Her work at the Venetian European Spa won The Fayetteville Readers' Choice Award for Best Yoga Studio in 2020

You can spot Mary regularly in the community, typically with her Mini Me, her eleven-year-old daughter Berklie, working in the Downtown area, volunteering at the Alms house or the Rick Herrema Foundation, or just supporting her favorite local businesses. Mary has enthusiasm for her community and giving back She's known trials and tribulation and the value of having grit but also the ways this community has embraced her and her businesses Mary was a single mother for the majority of her daughter's life prior to her recent engagement Mary often says, "I will never be as proud of myself as I am for how beautifully we survived those years, just the two of us but know I would have never made it this far without my community rooting for me every step of the way " This is why she is always rooting for others and lending a helping hand where she can

Mary hopes to inspire with her story and help others believe that if they are not completely and utterly in love with their life, they hold the power to change it Through all of her successes and all of the hats, she wears Mary's most valuable title will always be Momma to Berklie and her three "Bonus Babies", Ariel, Hunter, and Hayden Mary cannot wait to elope this year with Micheal and start the next chapter on this beautiful ride of lif

Julie Durocher

Dedicated to creating the ce and modern sensibility for the contemp ner Julie DuRocher has designed evening wear sin ol in Paris and graduating from Moore College of Art in Fine Arts, DuRocher has since lived and worked us gowns for companies throughout the industry

Since 2007, DuRocher has e New York-based fashion house Jovani and stablished herself as a powerhouse designer with creations that appeal to a broad market of women From cocktail styles to embellished couture gowns Julie's designs are both one-of-a-kind and true works of art Celebrities including Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Ariana Grande, Selita Ebanks, and Mary J Blige have worn DuRocher's designs for performances and red carpet events Her dynamic designs are coveted by women all over the world; a prime reason in the continuation of Jovani's success in providing glamorous high-end evening wear

Jovani Fashions Ltd., founded in 1980, specializes in designing elegant evening wear. Selling to over 3,000 stores worldwide, the family-owned fashion house offers a variety of exquisite evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and couture designs fit for any occasion Their gowns combine classic glamour using unique and innovative techniques that work for women of all ages

DuRocher's continous creative force has lead to the expansion of Jovani's collections to beyond just evening dresses As of 2016, Jovani has launched 6 new collections to incude a more affordable prom line JVN, bridal, pageant and their newest addition MASLAVI, a contemporary collection, all under the creative leadership of DuRo

Britt Flather

Nurse, military spouse, mo

The U S Army unexpectedly relocated the Flather family in 2017 to Fort Bragg This change in plans quickly became a blessing when Britt suffered a neurological event, leading to the discovery of a brain tumor After nearly 2 years of treatments and a devastating relapse, she finally received the news from Duke providers that her loved ones had been praying for, scans are clear! The nurse turned patient could, once again, get back to championing for her patients

Britt is a Faith Community Nurse, currently supporting COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Cumberland County She also serves as an advisor on the Scouts, BSA, National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee, where she advocates for program development and policy changes to best support inclusion.

What makes Britt a champion is her unwavering ability to embrace the hard hits, facing them rather than shying away and her encouragement of women to prioritize self-care, in order to improve their quality of life.

“The moment you accept HEALING is possible, even in the absence of an answer or cure, restoration of the mind, body and spirit be

Dr. Caroline Glackin

Dr.CarolineGlackinisanAssociateProfessorofEntrepreneurshipatFayettevilleState University Shehasapassionforeducation,entrepreneurship,andeconomicempowermentand thrivesonsupportingyouthandadultjourneystosuccess

Dr GlackinservesastheViceChairoftheCenterforEconomicEmpowermentand Development,isamemberoftheEntrepreneurshipandEconomicMobilityWorkingGroupat theThurgoodMarshallCollegeFund SheisanEnactusSamWaltonFellowandholdsmultiple leadershiprolesintheUnitedStatesAssociationforSmallBusinessandEntrepreneurship.She servedastheChairoftheDelawareCommissionforWomenandasCo-Chairforthe Governor’sTaskForceforFinancialIndependence ShealsohasservedontheBoardsofHabitat forHumanity,theWomen’sBusinessCenter,RevolutionaryCoworking,theForumofExecutive Women–Delaware,andnumerousotherorganizations SheistherecipientoftheGirlsInc“She KnowsWhereShe’sGoing”andtheSBA“MinorityBusinessAdvocate”awards Shehasdegreesspanningmultipledisciplines.Dr.GlackinearnedaPhDinUrbanAffairsand PublicPolicyfromtheUniversityofDelaware HerMBAisinEntrepreneurialManagementfrom TheWhartonSchooloftheUniversityofPennsylvaniaandsheearnedanABmagnacumlaude inEconomicsfromBrynMawrCollege Dr Glackinhadacareerintheprivatesector,public sector,andnonprofitmanagementwithherownbusinessesincludingFamilyTimesmagazine ShewastheDirectoroftheCenterforEnterpriseDevelopment,AssistantVicePresidentof InstitutionalAdvancement,andfacultyatDelawareStateUniversityandfacultyatShepherd UniversitypriortojoiningFSU

Dr.Glackin’sprimaryresearchinterestsareEntrepreneurialFinancing,EntrepreneurialEducation andPedagogy,andWomenandMinorityEntrepreneurship Sheco-authorsmarket-leading Entrepreneurship:StartingandOperatingaSmallBusinessnowinitsfifthedition.Herresearch hasearnedseveralawardsforBestPapersandBestCases Moreimportantly,herresearchis focusedonadvancingentrepreneurshipeducationandtellingthestoriesofentrepreneurs facingandovercomingchallenges

Dr Glackinistheproudmotherofadultchildren,Elise,andSpencer Shethrivesonsupporting education,entrepreneurship,andeconomicempowerm

Lynne Greene

I am a 1980 graduate of E E nBull) and I love this community I graduated fro n Business and from NC State University in 1984 with gy minal Justice

After graduation I moved back to Fayetteville where I went to work with the Clerk of the Court’s Office in the Child Support Division After 7 years I decided it was time to join my father at Highland Lumber Co, Inc which my great grandfather started in 1919 My father decided I need to “get to know” the community from a business perspective, so I joined the Chamber of Commerce in 1991 I began volunteering and attending various community events and as they say, “the rest is history”

The time with the Chamber led to a large variety of board appointments and positions, which would mold me into a person I am today Some of those organizations include: Fayetteville Urban Ministries, Fayetteville Area Economic Development Corporation, Professional Women of Fayetteville, Job Ready and College Tech Prep Board, The United Way, Partnership for Defense Innovation, Kids Voting NC, KidsPeace and The Public Works Commission as a commissioner I am currently on the boards of CEED and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.

In 2017, wee made the decision to sell Highland Lumber Co., Inc. In December 2017, I acquired my real estate license and in January 2018 started the next season of life with Coldwell Banker Advantage. In August 2020, I accepted the Broker in Charge position at the Harnett County office. As a “ newer ” agent, it has its challenges but that just makes the reward that much sweeter!

I LOVE being challenged and everything that occurred early in my career truly prepared me for this journey. I realize the knowledge I have gathered over the years, contacts I’ve made and friendships that I’ve gained are invaluable. NEVER ever doubt your worth on this earth and ENJOY your life. Thank you Lord for providing all of the bles

Bornandraisedin‘DaBronx’NewYorkTiffanyandherfamilyhavelivedinNorthCarolina,Hawaiiand backagain DecidingtomakeFayettevilletheirforeverhomesheandherhusbandhavepursuedtheir individualentrepreneurialpursuitsbystartingtwolocallybasedbusinesseswhileraisingtheir3youngest childreninacitytheyhavetocometolove

Asthe‘Tee’behindTheMrsTee.com-anAward-WinningLifestyleBlogcreatedasaplacetoshareher loveofallthingsFaith,Family,Fashion,Food,Fun,Tech&TravelTiffanyhasestablishedherinfluence withintheNorthCarolinaBloggingCommunity.Herattentiontodetail,professionalism,andapproachto feature-worthycontentpromotingandsupportingthebrandsshelovesthemostmakesherblogstand outwithit’sownuniquestyleandinfluence

TiffanyhasbeenafeaturefortheBunkerLabsRoundtable:MilitarySpouseFounders,2020Association ofMilitarySpouseEntrepreneursfeaturedBlackOwnedBusiness,2020WayToParentCoverFeatureMother'sDayEdition,2019Top50NorthCarolinaBlogger,2018WRALVoters’ChoiceTop2Winner, 2016VOTYAwardHonoree,aswellasapastContributingWriterforCityViewMagazine,Contributing AuthorwithModernSocialMagazinef/k/aiBlogMagazineandBlogHer

TiffanywasalsoaPanelistfortheMomsEverydayTVShowfor2Seasonsaswellasacastmemberof TheListenToYourMotherShow2017GrandFinale

AsaSegmentHostforiTalkTheConversationonTheRayThomasVarietyShowLIVEaswellasaCoHostonWIDU1600AMalongsideWadeFowleron“What’sGoingOnFayetteville”Tiffanyhashelped championandpromotelocalbusinessownersandthecandospirittheyallpossess

Sparkedbyherloveforhercommunity,fellowwomeninbusinessandsmallbusinessownersTiffany startedherBlog&BrandConsultationCompany-TiffanyHaywoodcom Throughworkshops,e-guides, one-on-onetrainingandconsultationssharingeasy-to-usetipsandsolutionsareTiffanysupports businessownersastheyBuildTheirBusinessByBuildingTheirBrand

MostrecentlyTiffanyhasjoinedtheteamattheWomen'sBusinessCenterofFayettevilleatCEEDasa BusinessConsultant Excitedbytheopportunitytoextendherpassionforhelpingsmallbusinessowners growthroughhands-onworkshops,businesssupport,andguidancesheistakingthispositionwith enthusiasmforwhat's h d

Suzy Hrabovsky

Suzy Hrabovsky is a na military spouse, and mother of two boys, 6 and 4 She currently serves as the Executive Director of CEED, the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development ( a 30 year private 501c3 )

While at CEED, she continues to work within her passion of helping women and other minority people start small businesses She has led her team to create programs to assist small businesses. Some of the programs include CEED Capital, a micro-lending program granted that include $1M SBA ILP Provider and most recently led a microloan bridge program with the local city development department that provided loans to 94% minorityowned businesses with 64% of those loans going to women

Before coming to CEED, Suzy spent five years as Director of Operations for the Partnership for Innovation, a business incubation program designed to recruit and establish businesses for the defense sector While there, she managed the $1M annual accelerator program and the financial management of the $10M IDIQ technology lab contract Suzy began her career as a Comptroller for the privately held web hosting company, Advanced Internet Technologies, where she learned how to assist small businesses by giving them tools and resources to resell space on the internet She was a finalist nominee for the 2019 Association of Women Business Centers Leadership Award She was named one of Fayetteville’s 40 under 40 by the Fayetteville Observer in 2014 and took first place at the 2014 Dancing with the Fayetteville

Julie Martin

Julie Martin is originally from the Lake Norman area and has been a Fayetteville resident for over 25 years Julie has four children, three sons, Jackson, Kenneth and Pearson and a step daughter, Rachel She is the CEO and one of the Owner Partners of Keller Williams Realty of Fayetteville, the largest real estate company in the area with over 190 real estate agents

Julie is passionate about protecting and improving the lives of children. She serves as the 2021 President of The RE-Store Warehouse, a non-profit that donates 100% of its net proceeds to local non-profit organizations including, KidsPeace, Falcon Children’s Home, Fayetteville Urban Ministries, the School for Hope and the Child Advocacy Center Julie is also on the Board for the Child Advocacy Center She also served on Governor Jim Hunt’s original Smart Start children’s initiative task force and was the Executive Director of the NC Children’s Resource Center

Prior to her career in real estate, Julie worked for the administrations of Governor Jim Hunt and President Bill Clinton She also worked as a lobbyist for companies including, RJR Nabisco, Martin-Lockheed and Duke Energy Julie took her experience as a corporate lobbyist and transitioned to lobbying for children’s safety and protection rights on the state and national

Katlin McFadden

Katlin McFadden is a Pennsylvania-born mom of two When she's not helping women in business, and juggling mom-life, she's painting portraits of them for her own! She began her college education focusing on fine art and worked in a variety of industries After relocating to North Carolina years later, Katlin decided she wanted to pursue a degree in marketing and sales where she felt she could combine her love of business with creativity Katlin often jokes she loves to create everything from businesses, to artwork, to grocery lists.

During this time, she became interested in creating a business of her own She designed a product and navigated the prototyping and manufacturing process This business venture lead her to discover the power of social media marketing Through her social media presence on Instagram, where she's known as GuacnSoul, she focused on promoting local small businesses After exploring the world of invention and marketing, she decided it was time to channel her effort into a career Becoming part of the team at the WBC was a perfect fit for Katlin’s interest in business and promoting small businesses specifically

Katlin became a member of the Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville at CEED in March of 2018 She manages the Women’s Business Center program by focusing on the overall needs of clients as well as the team Katlin loves empowering women to bring their ideas to life and firmly believes where there's a will, there's a way

Outside of her role at the Women's Business Center, Katlin started her current business, McFadden Studio, through which she sells her artwork and is pursuing her dream of being a working artist. In 2020, Katlin met a lifelong goal by holding her first art exhibition where she displayed her first painting series called “ Human Nature”

In the future, Katlin sees herself exploring entrepreneurial opportunities and will continue using her skills to support other women in bus

Crystal McLean

Crystal D McLean is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina She is an alumnus of Fayetteville State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance Crystal has been working in the banking industry for over 7 years and is currently employed by a national leading bank. Crystal is a proud supporter of her community and is involved in numerous volunteer and charitable organizations She plays a direct, impactful role at her local assembly as the Youth Pastor She has a true passion for young people It is a goal of hers to educate our youth on financial awareness and give them tools to make financially sound decisions

Because of that vision to help youth with financial literacy, Crystal is the Author of an International Best-Selling Financial Literacy Children’s Book “Harmoney & the Empty Piggybank” Crystal’s desire to assist others financially came from her personal experience of being a single mother for years and having to learn how to be creative and strategic financially Crystal has been featured on CBS News, IBronco Radio, Fayetteville Observer, and many other podcasts and media outlets Her goal is to not only teach but also empower others to apply the financial tools that are given to them Crystal is on a mission to make a difference for her generation and generations to

Darlene Ransom

Darlene Holmes Ransom was born, reared, and educated in Robeson County She retired from the Cumberland County School System after 28 years of state service

Darlene is a graduate of Pembroke State University (UNCP), obtaining degrees in Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW). She worked most recently as the Director for the Office of Indian Education, CCS, supervising educational programs for the American Indian and Alaska Native students.

She is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Darlene was the 1st American Indian School Social Worker employed by the Cumberland County School System. She was the 1st American Indian woman to become an Adult Probation and Parole Officer for the state of North Carolina.

Darlene started the first DARE Program, Drug Abuse Resistance Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County, and was the school system’s first Alcohol and Drug Defense Coordinator

Darlene served eight years as a trustee for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts Council, chairing several committees during her tenure She is currently serving on the Cape Fear Regional Theater Board of Directors She is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and served as a Justice on the Supreme Court for the Lumbee Tribal Nation

Darlene was the producer of the much-celebrated and highly acclaimed production, “lumBEESWomen of the Dark Water- a memoir with music ”

However, her most beloved profession is being the wife of Mike Ransom and the mother of her three children, Jillian, Hillary, and Michael Darlene has two sons-in-law, Dewey McNeill, Timmons Morketter, and a daughter-in-law Jessica

Her greatest joy is spending time with her four amazingly adorable and brilliant grandchildren, Michael Tristan II, Maisie Skye, Reese Nova, and Rhodes Arrow She is a member of Village Baptist Church and a full-time community adv

Judy Ray

It is said that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others Judy Ray has made that commitment in life, providing service to others. After a dedicated career of 28 years as a social worker with the Department of Social Services, Judy found herself in a position to work for the greater good of others in our community

Currently, Judy manages, maintains and take great pride in supporting the veterans of Yadkin Villas who provides permanent and affordable housing to once homeless veterans while helping them create a better way of life Judy describes herself as a mother and advocate of the veterans who come to rent a property at Yadkin Villa

“My heart is with my Veterans I spend a lot of time developing the community by supporting the people that live in that community,” said Judy, “I’m an essential worker in that they always have a need and I am their support system ”

In addition to her work at Yadkin Villas, Judy also owns the Northside Boot Camp for women, an outdoor exercise service that meets early in the morning on the northside of Fayetteville. Judy has in the past provided boot camp services to students on the Methodist University campus as well Judy also works with a non-profit in Robeson county called Robeson County Teen Court and Youth Services that provides parenting classes to parents of at-risk teens

Judy Ray was born and raised in Shelby, NC Upon graduation from Appalachian State University, Judy joined the military as an officer in the United States Army where she was airborne qualified. She is married to her husband Alvin of 34 years and they have one son, Vincent who currently resides in Greensboro, NC and is a recent graduate of the prestigious HBCU, North Carolina A&T State University Judy is also a member of Antioch Free Will Baptist Church in Linden, NC where she volunteers more of her

Tara Smith

I am Tara D Smith, and I teach Secondary English to 11-12th grade students at Village Christian Academy I have been teaching for the past six years The song titled “More Than I Can Bear” by Kirk Franklin has been “that special song ” I always listen intently On 6 June 2012, I heard this song and asked God, “why me”? Being a “preacher’s kid,” I never questioned God and was angry with Him I found myself a single parent, scared and alone, wondering how my children and I would survive the suicide death of my husband

It was easy to lock myself in a room and not deal with my new reality Although I wanted to give up and feel sorry for myself, God had a better plan He sent amazing people into my life when I did not know how to make it through each day The fantastic people God sent to my life encouraged me to focus on something that will help others I returned to college and received my Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature

Two years later, I went to grad school and recently graduated with my Master’s in Education I have currently enrolled in grad school to work on my Doctorate I never received the answer to my question, but I found out there is definitely truth to the statement, “God will not put more on us than we can bear ” In the valley, I realized God does not always move the problematic situations; it is in the valley when God blesses

Megan Tate

At Edward Jones, we focus on serving the financial needs of individual investors of all ages and financial means We have built our business by treating our clients as we would want to be treated, a simple idea that still makes sense in today’s complex marketplace

I attended Western Carolina University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in emergency medical care I spent the next 13 years working as a paramedic alongside some incredible first responders I then transitioned into an insurance role for several years until I found my home at Edward Jones

My husband, Ron, and I have two children, Olivia and Hayden We were recently relocated to the area and fell in love immediately We love going to all the local street festivals or a quiet weekend away camping This community has welcomed us with open arms, and we are always looking for new ways to give back to it

I use an established process of getting to know you and your unique needs, goals and dreams I then use that information to make a tailored strategy and partner with you for a lifetime and assist you in reaching those financial goals and lifelong dreams I would like to help to provide the answers to your questions so you can make informed, financially sound decisions Please contact me to discuss your situation and op

Tammy Thurman

Tammy Thurman is a philanthropist, motivational speaker, mentor, community leader, radio talk show host, executive producer and Woman of God She is the founder and CEO of A Nation of Sisters As CEO of A Nation of Sisters she empowers, inspires and motivate a multitude of females of all ages and color to be the best they can be to themselves and their communities. During her 18-year tenure in the natural gas industry, she has held numerous positions and is currently the Community Relations and Government Affairs manager for Piedmont Natural Gas Tammy builds sustainable relationships with key community stakeholders, and appointed community groups

Currently she holds several advisory board seats to include North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Advisory Board Committee, Event Judge for Ethics Bowl Competition, Fayetteville Chamber Military Advisory Council Board Member: SIM conference Chair and USO of North Carolina @ Ft Bragg The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County “True to Yourself” Black History month committee member She is a current Board member of United Way of Cumberland County United Way of Cumberland County Board of Directors: Marketing Chair: Greater Fayetteville Chamber Board of Directors: CEO/President Search/Nominating committee Chair and Cape Fear Valley Medical Hospital Board of Trustee: Compensation committee member She is a previous Co Chair for Go Red for Women under the American Heart Association She has been recognized for outstanding business partnership with Cumberland County Schools, support with the Armed Services YMCA, USO of NC at Ft Bragg and as an ambassador for Leadership Ft Bragg

Tammy is a two-time Athena Award nominee, United Way of Cumberland County Loaned Executive of the Year, an alumnus of Leadership North Carolina, a recipient of the prestigious 45 under 45 of St Augustine’s University and the prestigious 2019 Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from St Augustine’s University and is a licensed mi

Dr. Shenae Whitehead

Dr Shenae Whitehead is a Licensed Psychological Associate that owns a private practice in Fayetteville, N C She is also an Army Veteran, speaker, nonprofit CEO, trauma survivor, and single mother of 3 She obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University, Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from East Carolina University At the age of 5, Dr Whitehead always knew that she wanted to become a doctor, in order to help others just as she had seen her Nanna and mother do in their prospective nursing careers She never lost sight of her mission and turned her pain into her passion Early on, Dr Whitehead faced several obstacles in her life that she felt were too much for her to overcome To illustrate, she endured being sexually abused for several years during her childhood and felt “alone” and “different ” However, years of questioning why and internalizing her story pushed her to focus assisting others that have experienced similar life trauma, as her dream became to instill hope in trauma survivors and become a role model that others too, can survive She also lives by the quote, "Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself" by Coco Chanel because after years of wearing a mask and hiding behind her pain, she learned to let go and embrace the beauty that was always there and enhance the same in those around her! Hence, with her perseverance and hard work, she was able to become a successful entrepreneur that strives to better her local community, especially the youth

To further her life’s mission, Dr Whitehead created her nonprofit organization, The Stacy Jones Foundation, Inc named after her mother, that has allowed Dr Whitehead to provide several scholarships to local youth, donate school supplies and Christmas gifts to children in foster care and students at Trinity Christian School, and hosted many other events Going forward, Dr Whitehead wants to continue to enhance the lives of local youth, as she is a firm believer that change starts today to have a better tomo

Andrea Williams

The daughter of Janice Richardson, Andréa E Williams was born and raised in Queens, New York She is married to Christopher Williams and is mom to Chris Jr , age 12 and Gia, age 22, and mother-in-love (law) to Daniel, age 25 She is affectionately referred to as ‘Gram’ by her three grandchildren

Andréa began her military career in the U.S. Army Reserve as Military Police in 2000. Eventually, she embarked on a lively enlisted career in the U S Army where she eventually trained, mentored, and led soldiers She was also able to begin a career in the Signal Corps by reclassing to an Information Technology Systems Specialist She was on track to do awesome things in the Army But her plans were interrupted when Andréa was formally diagnosed with lupus In 2014, upon retiring from the U S Army, she and her family made North Carolina their home

Many nights were spent trying to figure things out It was overwhelming Andréa tried to find balance with family, school, purpose, and functioning with lupus. The journey was filled with failures, misplaced energy, disappointments, and hopelessness But in 2015, she founded Blazing Beauties, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young ladies and women by promoting individual and collective mental, spiritual, and physical wellness She forged forward alongside the co-founder and CFO of Blazing Beauties, Cheryl Monroe and the Public Relations and Community Liaison Officer,Simone Reed Although small in numbers, Blazing Beauties is mighty in heart and commitment to community service

Andréa currently works for a Fortune 500 company that provides Information Technology services worldwide. What makes Andréa a champion is not the worldly things. Instead, it has been the ability to turn her wounds into wisdom and impart that wisdom on others We all fall But the champion rises from the fall every

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Clip Joint Salon Last but not least, Thank You to the fantastic #IAmTheChampion team and all of our beautiful runway "Champions".