NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2016
JANUARY 4-10, 2017
19
ENTREPRENEUR
HEALTH
Renee D. Thomas
TE’ONA WILLIAMS, BSN, RN
The love that Renee D. Thomas possess for children and families is what led her to establish a safe, happy environment where they can grow healthy. Believing that God has entrusted her to serve children and families, she opened A Child’s World Daycare Center Inc., in 1995, where she is currently the founder and director. The center, located in Braddock, Pa., serves children ages 1-12, in grades PreK-7. Thomas, a Schenley High School graduate who holds a degree in child development and family studies from the Community College of Allegheny County, says she is “truly blessed to have the opportunity to nurture and love the total child-mind, body and spirt,” and that it’s her goal “to help parents to produce happy, intelligent and well adjusted children.” She calls it her life’s mission and adds that she “loves it!”
With her dedication to providing high-quality, patient-centered care to our nation’s veterans, Te’ona Williams, a professional registered nurse who has worked in the field for more than 10 years, demonstrates the highest level of expertise in the telemetry and surgical specialty care service unit at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Williams holds an associate’s degree in nursing from the Community College of Allegheny County and a Bachelors of Science in nursing from Carlow University. She has also earned certifications in the Center for Frontline Leadership Program as well as Peritoneal Dialysis, Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She also plans to pursue a master’s degree to become a family nurse practitioner. Along with her extensive certifications, Williams led the implementation of the Bedside Rounding Project, a new approach to improving patient education and patient care excellence. The project became such a huge success that she was invited to be a presenter at the AONE Center for Care Innovation and Transformation Conference in New Orleans, La. In addition to her academic and clinical experience, Williams strives for excellence in providing service to all mankind. She is committed and passionate about serving as treasurer within the Healthcare Ministry at Triumph Church; organizing a blood drive for the Central Blood Bank; and promoting the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and Go Red for the American Heart and American Stoke Associations. She also is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter). She says one of her greatest joys in life is spending quality time with family, her loving husband and raising her daughter, Savannah.
Owner A Child’s World Day Care Center
Registed Nurse VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
MEDIA BOFTA YIMAM Anchor/Reporter WTAE-TV
When Bofta Yimam isn’t reporting the news as the weekend morning anchor at WTAE-TV Pittsburgh’s Action News, she’s trying to live it. She has received multiple professional honors throughout her career, including a Regional Emmy award and the Edward R. Murrow award. Yimam first started at WTAE as an Investigative Reporter in 2013. Originally from Maryland, she began her career as a Weekend Anchor/Reporter in Georgia. Following that, she has worked at FOX13 in Memphis, Tenn. During her college days at the University of Maryland, she also interned with “Good Morning America” in New York, and studied abroad in Seville, Spain. When not reporting, Yimam hosts an online health fitness group, blogs, and when the opportunity arises, scratches destinations from her travel bucket list. So far, she’s swam with dolphins in Mexico, climbed a mountain to a remote Ethiopian monastery, jumped off a 35-foothigh Jamaican cliff and backpacked in Europe—twice. Yimam is grateful to have landed in Pittsburgh, and continues to be thankful for the amazing family and friends who bless her life.
Men of Excellence
We are looking for African American men in Pittsburgh who motivate and inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and participation in community service. Watch for nomination forms in