May-June 2017

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Candys Mayo A Leader With a

Passion for Engineering

Highlights Empowering Women 2017 Conference

Betsy Gates Owner, Simply Betsy Co.

MONIKA MOSS-GRANSBERRY Founder, MKM Management Consulting

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Beletu (Bele') Wondwossen

Founder / Publisher

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Shelley M. Shockley

Managing Editor

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Writers Shelley M. Shockley Ruby Lee Gamble A. Michele Garrett Kim Brown

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Creative Bele’ Wondwossen

Cover Story: PWM Team Photo: Eric Benson

Contributors Michelle Phillips Fay Stephanie Phelps Deborah Prince Kimberly Smith-Woodford

Guest Contributors Robyn C. Hill

Advertising Sales ads@phenomenalwoman.me 216.702.0845

Inspiring Women To Reach Their Highest Potential! phenomenal

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Phenomenal Woman Magazine A subsidiary of Atlantic Creative Productions 5247 Wilson Mills Road #141 Cleveland, OH 44143

© 2016 Phenomenal Woman Magazine.

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ISSN 2330-2534 (Print) ISSN 2330-2550 (Online)

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From the Editor: Shelley M. Shockley

T

he days are longer as we wake to the chirping of birds and bright light. Spirits are higher and everyone is walking with a little more spring in their steps. Summer has returned to the north coast, but are we all happy and giddy with joy?

I can say that I have good days when the melodious sound of nature makes me smile, but there are many days when I'm grappling with the very thought of rising. In the last several weeks, I've heard or read many accounts of men and women struggling with deep depression and it makes me scratch my head and ask “Why has there been such an uptick in illnesses like depression?” Or is this something that has existed for years, yet languished in the closet hidden from the world?

My belief is the latter. As a society and particularly as women, depression is something we experience from time to time, but we fight on because someone is depending on us to keep families and businesses moving forward. The stressors are similar, yet emphasized due to advances in technology. With apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, the world is inundated with images of the joys of life but is this realistic?

What I would like to suggest is that we all must remember that my reality is not the same as yours, and when we settle into and accept who we are, we can appreciate that imagery for exactly what it is – someone's perspective of their world. Additionally, when we're not feeling so great about what we see through our lenses, take a moment to be still. When you’re still and the television is off, phones have been muted or put away and you sit with yourself, your heart rate will slow, your mood will rise and just for a moment hopefully, the stressors of the day will be a faint memory.

These suggestions are not meant to simplify the symptoms associated with medically diagnosed depression. In these situations following doctor's 4 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2017

orders is the best remedy, but a little stillness can't hurt.

In this issue, columnist Robyn Hill offers some summer specific methods to distress and enjoy your summer. I don't want to spoil the read but she discusses vacation planning and the importance of soaking up as much Vitamin D as possible, be sure to check it out.

For us adults, summer does not mean we're free to loaf around all day, we still have businesses to run, jobs to attend to and strategies to plan. As usual, we introduce you to some fantastic women who are creating their destinies and offering guidance to you.

Locally sourced and grown food has now become a staple around the country and Betsy Gates wants that trend to continue with skincare products. The owner and creator of Simply Betsy products offers insight on how she became an entrepreneur while introducing you to her products.

Offering insight into sustaining a business for more than two decades is Monika Moss-Gransberry, founder of MKM Consulting, LLC. In her own words MossGransberry assures the reader that while the road is not always smooth, with hard work and a vision you can achieve your goals of success.

We also introduce you to Candys Mayo, an engineering designer who left her corporate job to start her own business. Mayo's company provides top notch engineering services and support, ensuring innovative edge on technology.

Her journey to success is remarkable and worth checking out!

Finally, we offer highlights from the 2nd Annual Financial Literacy and Business Opportunities Conference.

Phenomenal Woman Magazine was pleased to once again join forces with JumpStart, Inc. to bring to life some of the principles we share in the magazine. It was an opportunity for delivering messages on business and finance, but just as importantly a time to network and gain resources and develop relationships to assist and sustain your business and personal growth.

Thank you for allowing us to enter your space once again, and we look forward to your feedback!

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CONTENTS

GIRL SCOUTS OF NEO,

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARD

COVER

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CANDYS MAYO

A Leader With a Passion for Engineering

HIGHLIGHTS, 2017 Women Empowerment 12 Conference

BETSY GATES Owner, Simply Betsy Company

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ROBYN C. HILL

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MONIKA MOSS-GRANSBERRY A Strategic Planner/ Entrepreneur

Gives Self-Care Tips For The Summer

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30 Movie MOVIE Review

REVIEWS

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Girl Scouts of North East Ohio 2017 Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon

Macedonia, OH –Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO)held its annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon on May 19, 2017 at The Union Club of Cleveland.

The event was established to raise funds for Girl Scout scholarships and financial aid, while honoring women who go above and beyond to make our communities better places to live, work, and raise a family. This year's event set new records both for attendance, with 240 guests, and in the amount raised, at $41,000.

In attendance were this year's honorees including:

This year's Advancing Women Award, was presented to The Sherwin-Williams Company for their support of women in the workplace. SherwinWilliams believes that employees who have the resources they need to balance family and personal obligations with work feel valued and are therefore more productive. As such they offer a number of employee benefits; vacation days, personal days, family medical leave and leaves of absence programs. For women specifically, they offer paid maternity leave and on-site lactation rooms, flexible work arrangements, which may include working from home or providing a flexible work schedule, and much more. In addition is the Sherwin-Williams Women's Club, an inclusive group of women, established 106 years ago to promote camaraderie and philanthropy. Over the years, the club has grown to more than 600 members who devote countless volunteer hours to organizations promoting the health and well-being of women and children.

Finally, three deserving Girl Scouts received the Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Award: Megan Garvey, Nordonia High School Rebecca Trumbull, Lake Catholic High School Shelby Stevens, Columbia High School

2017 Women of Distinction Honorees Stephanie Brown-Houston, NASA Glenn Research Center Debra Green, Medical Mutual Victoria Kress, Ph.D., Youngstown State University Ann Manby, AAA Akron Board of Trustees Carole Mount, Ph.D., Walsh University Ilene Shapiro, County of Summit LaToya Smith, Fifth Third Bank Cheryl Stawicki, Health Design Plus Mary Verdi-Fletcher, Dancing Wheels Leila Vespoli, FirstEnergy These women were recognized for their remarkable achievements as business, community, academic and civic leaders dedicated to supporting opportunities for women and girls. The 10 nominees were selected by a committee of community members led by Women of Distinction Event Chair Theresa Carter. Carter is President of OMNOVA Solutions Foundation and a former Women of Distinction honoree.

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These honorees have a strong commitment to engaging in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

They also demonstrate high scholastic achievement, creativity, initiative and community outreach, and they embody the Council's belief that young women with promise today will become tomorrow's leaders. The three finalists each received a college scholarship.

For more information about the event and to learn about sponsorship opportunities or nomination for 2018 please email Candace at ccampbell@gsneo.org or call 330983-0368.

The Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon is made possible by a number of generous sponsors: Presenting sponsor First National Bank, other sponsors of the event include FirstEnergy, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation, Medical Mutual, Palmer & Cay, McDonald Partners, Oswald Companies, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Sikich, Summit County Department of Job and Family Services, Ashdon Farms, Jenni Pops, Wiley Photography, Fifth Third Bank, Merrill Lynch, Huntington Bank, KeyBank, Metis Construction Services, Mutual of America, Thompson Hine, and Petitti Garden Centers.

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Candys Mayo

A Leader With a Passion for Engineering

“At its heart, engineering is about using science to find creative, practical solutions. It is a noble profession.”----Queen Elizabeth II. Science and technology helps and improves our quality of life in so many different ways and these occupations are of special interest for a variety of reasons. Among other benefits, science and engineering jobs typically have low levels of unemployment and higher levels of wages and they are cornerstones for enhancement of research and findings. While the need for them is quite immense, studies indicate that demand in the workforce by far outweighs supply, calling for an increased effort to inspire students to study and pursue careers in science and engineering.

Compounding the problem is the fact that females are disproportionately represented in science and engineering fields of studies. Although we've come a long way, a study

by Dr. Brian Yoder indicates that females were awarded only 19.9 percent of all Bachelor's degrees awarded by an engineering program in 2015 and made up 21.4 percent of undergraduates enrolled in engineering. They received 25.2 percent of Master's degrees and 23.1 percent of doctoral degrees in 2015. Traditionally engineering has been delineated as a “boys club” and efforts are necessary to help more girls join engineering fields of study.

Analytical findings reveal that inspiring and instilling a love of science and engineering into the minds of young girls could be a key factor in getting them interested in the pursuit of science and engineering studies.

Candys Mayo, an engineering designer/entrepreneur continues to build her engineering company while also leading the way to get more girls to join science and engineering fields of studies. Phenomenal Woman Magazine recently caught up with Mayo to explore her extraordinary journey to success and highlight her vision for the future!

Mayo was born in Youngstown, Ohio and grew up in the humble streets of the city. Against the backdrop of all odds stacked against her, she studied hard and obtained a Bachelors degree in Applied Science from Strayer University and a Masters degree in Business Administration with a focus on Project Management from the prestigious University of California at Berkeley.

She joined the work force and started a career as an engineering designer at the then second largest engineering firm in the country, Northrop Grumman.

There she was deeply engaged in the design of aircraft carriers for the US Navy and provided technical support to

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her team. “I had to be tough and corporate America is where I fought my toughest battles,” Mayo revealed.

She recalls taking her first engineering course in her junior year of high school. It was presented to her by an African American teacher as a challenge to ensure that she came back to school after becoming pregnant in her sophomore year of high school. Undeterred by the challenges, a fighter spirit Mayo, knew there was no room for backing down and proved that for her teacher.

After continuing her career as engineering designer with other corporations including Quality Connector Systems, SAFE Boats International and at Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Mayo realized that establishing her own design company was a passion she wanted to pursue and worked tirelessly to transform her vision into a reality.

Today, Mayo's company, 'QUEEN-OHIO' based in Youngstown, Ohio provides top notch engineering services and support, ensuring innovative cutting-edge technology. Her company is also a registered vendor with the US Government at the Pentagon. So how did this bright engineering designer end up becoming an entrepreneur and her own boss?

According to Mayo, “I was tired of being passed over for promotions, having noble ideas stolen and watching people that I had trained or out-performed be promoted above me, were the driving factors that forced me to start my own business.” Her response tallies with the findings of a study by The Guardian Life Index which cites “office politics” as a driving factor for women leaving Corporate America and starting their own businesses.

She admits encountering tough challenges but failing several times never let her down. Instead, she used them as a major driving force for her success! She says “the vision that existed in my spirit and heart was one of huge success and passion, giving up was not an option. It was a separate heartbeat, alternating my own. I knew it was QUEEN-Ohio coming to life.”

On the personal challenges she faced while establishing and running her company, Mayo stated “cutting the umbilical cord and fully pursuing QUEEN-OHIO when everyone told me not to, was a tough decision to make.”

She continued “ I have given this company my life, I've slept on the floor in my office because I was homeless, waking up, leaving at 4 am and returning to the office at 9am like I was just getting there for the day. I faced a barrage of people who felt like I couldn't do it and should have given up. I focused, I sat still at times, I cried, God did I cry…”

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, more than 9.4 million firms are owned by women, employing nearly 7.9 million people, and generating $1.5 trillion in sales as of 2015. Yet they account for only 31% of all privately held firms.

Aspects of Mayo's journey are unique...She was the first to graduate from college in her family, the only female in most of her classes, the only female to actually finish her program and the only Black female in her department at her first Engineering Designer job....

Despite these achievements, Mayo conceded that there was nothing special about her, nor was there not a qualified woman that came before her. Underscoring the need to help other women owned businesses, she says “my heart rests on the thought that there just wasn't a heartbeat for them. There was no one there to encourage them when they hit that hard rock. Those of us that seem to find our way through the barbed wire need to stick around and encourage more of us. Bruised, bleeding and hurt, we are Titans and we can still run the world.”

Mayo credits several people who mentored and shaped her thinking. She singled out the late Don Allen who worked with her during her time at Northrop Grumman. Recalling the extensive support he rendered to her, she says “he inspired me to remain true to myself while learning the game of Corporate America. He was a Black man and an Engineering Designer who was originally from a rough part of New York. He understood my aggression, it was actually the reason he sought out to work with me.” Mayo continued “he taught me to use that fire and re-direct its energy into something positive that I could use, something that would catapult my career. My fiery spirit, which came so naturally, was the key to my success. I never recognized it was actually a gift I possessed.”

When asked to give some advice to young women and girls, she stated “my advice to them would be to use their passion, fear, anger, frustration and anything else that they may be experiencing to launch them into a new season. Energy is neither lost nor destroyed, it is simply transferred. I would encourage them to transfer it to something positive that they can use and look a stereotype dead in the face and spit in its eye!”

Mayo continues to give back to the community through mentoring kids, teach a class on workplace concepts and conflict and volunteers with various kids groups throughout the city. She works with a local STEM Museum to help incorporate some STEM like programs throughout the city. In addition, Mayo serves on a committee to incorporate entrepreneurial curriculum into one of the troubled high schools in her city to help re-direct some of that negative energy the students have there. To help her community and the country at large, she admits her interest in politics; serving recently as campaign manager and aspiring to probably run for public office in the future.

Summing up, she stressed “I've had lots of failures in my life, but I had to master the art of failing forward. For every setback, I had a comeback. For every punch life threw my way, I had an even harder counter-punch. Do yourself a favor and fight smarter than the system that is against you.”

Moving forward, Mayo plans to put together a program to introduce more underprivileged, minority and female students to STEM. She hopes to build an Apprentice School where she will teach the trades for Shipbuilding and Aerospace to students that aren't necessarily college material but are looking for a leg up on the competition during their job seeking process.

Candys Mayo continues to shine in her field of expertise and coupled with her great contribution to the community makes her inevitably Phenomenal! She is one tough cookie and her success gives us more reason for optimism.

While we continue to root for her sustained success, we should also be mindful in the urgency of creating more Mayos to make our world a better place! www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 11

Highlights from the 2nd Annual financial literacy and business opportunities Conference

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n April 28, 2017, Phenomenal Woman Magazine once again joined forces with Jumpstart, Inc. to host the 2nd Annual Financial Literacy and Business Opportunities Conference. This year's conference was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors; JumpStart Inc., Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and The AKA Team. The conference provided an opportunity for women to receive advice on starting, financing and maintaining their business. The conference also offers general financial literacy for women, so even if you are not an entrepreneur, you will walk away with some life-changing information. It also provides useful information on business certification and creates links to business opportunities.

This year's group consisted of entrepreneurs, private and public sector employees and graduating students. To enlighten the attendees, a varied cast of local experts in areas ranging from financial wellness to lending and capital took time out of their day to share best practices and advice based on years of experience.

To start the day, Monique Winston, Chief Executive Officer of OPTIMA Lender Services welcomed the ladies to a have some “girl talk.” Her keynote address focused on offering practical knowledge of the business world and a high-level view of her career in lending services, an area of the financial world with few female or minority CEOs. As she explained, Winston's path into lending services as well as her journey to Cleveland was not part of her master plan, instead, it was divine intervention.

When dealing with finances, both personal and business, Winston urged the women to understand that the decisions made are “80 percent behavior and 20 percent knowledge,” because women are emotional about their 12 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2017

finances and that leads to a lack of financial empowerment.

To aid in making better financial decisions, Chalana Williams, Community Development Officer with First Federal Lakewood offered practical advice in changing your relationship with your banks. Her key message was knowledge about your lending institution. It is important to know the products offered and understand them because “knowledge makes you think differently and execute differently.”

The early part of the day was “girl talk,” but every good gathering needs a little male perspective. Offering his views on the financial world, Todd Allyn Williams, associate professor of Business and Economics for Cuyahoga Community College brought great advice with a wealth of humor. Highlighting his presentation was the concept of “letting your money work for you.” He spoke at length about the relationship one has with money and how you as an individual are your greatest asset.

Tirah M. Thompson, Business Banking Specialist with Huntington Bank offered insights on being an entrepreneur, franchisee, and bank executive. For more than a decade, Thompson was owner of seventeen Burger King restaurants in and around northeast Ohio, where she learned about the trials, tribulations and hard work one must endure to be successful. She was also able to elaborate on the relationships that one can develop with lending institutions. Key to a successful business she said is to “determine your benefit versus the cost and develop a spending plan, not a budget.” This message tied into what other speakers presented in terms of your relationship with your money.

Gloria Ware, JumpStart's Principal, Inclusion gave an informative presentation on the Core City Impact program which aims to provide the support and advice that entrepreneurs need as they begin their journey to success. As always, Ware also imparted a wealth of statistical information that proves the need for individuals to take the leap of faith into business ownership. The statistics speak volumes about the importance of women in business and the impact they can and do have on the economy. As an example, businesses led by women have added over 300,000 jobs during a time that many question the strength of American businesses.

Shelley Shockley, Moderator

Jermaine Brooks, Certification Officer/Outreach Coordinator with the Cleveland Airport Systems outlined the steps on business certification and presented a list of projects for participants to do business with his office.

Raymond Graves, lender relations specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration provided useful information on his office's programs that benefit small businesses. He encouraged participants to make use of its' Cleveland office to get help on business counseling, contracting and credit services.

Monique Winston, Keynote Speaker, Chief Executive Officer OPTIMA Lender Services

Networking among participants -a principal objective of the conference- was done successfully during lunch and break times discussing and sharing ideas as well as exchanging contact information.

The organizers of the conference plan to hold the 3rd annual financial literacy and business opportunities conference on April 27, 2018 and all are reminded to mark their calendars and be part of the grand event, Stay tuned!

PRESENTERS...

Chalana Williams, Community Development Officer - First Federal Lakewood

Jermaine Brooks, Certification Officer/Outreach Coordinator Cleveland Airport Systems

Tirah M. Thompson, business banking specialist Huntington Bank

Gloria Ware, Principal, Inclusion JumpStart, Inc.

Todd Allyn Williams, associate professor of Business and Economics - Cuyahoga Community College

Raymond Graves, Lender Relations Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration

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2nd Annual financial literacy and business opportunities Conference Photo highlights continued ...

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Photos: Pages 12 - 15, Sheila W. Baylers

Our Sponsors!

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Photo: Getty Images

OPERATION ORGANIZATION

Plan your way to success this school year

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ach new school year can feel like getting caught in a whirlwind of activity. Before things spiral out of control, take some time to get back to basics and organize your way to success.

Whether you're taking advantage of back-to-school season to get yourself on track or you're helping a student gear up for a new year, these ideas can make getting organized easier than ever.

Planners Technology, take a seat. An “old-school” solution to keeping tabs on daily tasks is making a comeback.

Physical study guides and planners are on the rise, according to data from consumer research firm NPD Group. Last year, sales of appointment books and planners grew 10 percent, while other types of calendars posted an 8 percent rise.

At least in part fueling the growth are on-trend planner alternatives called bullet journals (bujos). Websites like Pinterest feature thousands of ideas for customizing traditional book-style journals into ultra-personal planners that keep every detail of life organized.

The trick to using planners effectively is creating a system that makes it all fun. Setting up days of the week in various colors, or different tasks by color, help the user quickly identify what needs to be done at a glance. Colored pencils and no-bleed highlighters can also improve the usability and aesthetics of planners and study guides.

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Pens Staying organized and achieving success means having the right tools to get the job done, and having ideal writing implements is a must. Never worry about lost pens again with Zebra Pen's F-301 pens that not only look great, but also take serious wear and tear while delivering clean, fine tip ink that works seamlessly in the tight spaces of planner and study guide layouts.

“Our Steel series pens, the F-301 in particular, look sleek and sophisticated while standing up to active use. You can tote them and trust they're as committed to your day as you are,” said Ken Newman, director of marketing at Zebra Pen. Learn more at zebrapen.com.

Backpacks If you think backpacks are only for the littlest of kids, think again. Big kids and even adults are making great use of the carry-all packs. The most obvious benefit is that a backpack leaves hands free for other activities, but today's backpacks are incredible organizers, too.

For the most flexibility, look for a bag that features padded compartments to protect tech devices and plenty of storage compartments to keep pens, calculators and other necessities organized and in easy Locker Organization Most lockers offer little in the way of organization, but that's easily remedied. With the addition of some shelving and magnetic containers, you can easily transform the tiny cubby into a stylish storage space. Don't forget to add

photos and other mementoes for extra character and personality that makes a stop between classes fun instead of frustrating.

Plan for Success Relying on a planner isn't just for the working crowd. They may not be scheduling meetings or planning power lunches, but students can make just as much use out of a planner as their grownup counterparts when it comes to keeping homework, activities and social plans organized.

Share these tips to get your student off to an orderly start this school year.

Start with style. A planner that is eye-catching and fun to use will get better mileage, so skip the boring, somber monotones and look for patterns and colors that pop. Just remember not to judge a book by its cover and check out the inside pages, too, to ensure there's plenty of space to jot down all the important details for school and extracurricular activities.

Organize your organizer. Many people find that color coding is an effective way to keep a planner organized. For example, designate a color for each subject or class.

Multipack pens such as those offered by Zebra Pen allow for plenty of flexibility. The reliable steel series pens are sleek and durable to attach in pen loops, while Super Marble Gel Pens offer a fun departure from the strict organization of boxes and columns in most traditional planners and guides.

“Choosing a planner or bullet journal layout that works best is the first step, but the writing implements are just as important,” Newman said. “These are literally used all day,

every day, so choosing products that are reliable and smooth take even tedious tasks to the next level.”

Add key dates. At the start of school, many teachers will share important dates for the year ahead of time. Go ahead and enter these dates so you can plan and prioritize around them later on. Where appropriate, also notate time needed for activities like study sessions or research for term papers.

Keep it neat. A sloppy, unreadable planner is practically useless, so it's important to take time to write legibly. To make it easier to remain neat, sleek and efficient, Sarasa Fineliner Pens and Sarasa Gel pens come in colorful packs that can brighten every page while increasing productivity. Another pitfall is making short notes or using abbreviations that don't make sense later, so use care to capture information in a way it can be easily recalled.

Continue to update. A planner is only helpful when it's used consistently. That's why it's a good idea to carry it daily and make notations and updates throughout the day for new assignments, practice schedule changes and other important information. Having a single repository for those details makes it easy to find answers when memory fails.

Celebrate achievements. For some people, the simple act of crossing off an item from a to-do list is a reward unto its own. For others, hitting a milestone on the way to a larger goal is equally gratifying. Starting, and sticking to, a planner is a commitment worth celebrating, so take the time to revel in putting some organization and discipline into a demanding school year schedule.

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Monika Moss-Gransberry, A Strategic Planner/Entrepreneur Sits at the Helm

(Photos, page 18,20: Eric Benson)

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After 30 years, MKM Consulting Continues to Flourish

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rom a very young age, Monika K. MossGransberry understood basic economics. She had a room full of commodities – books that others wanted to obtain as with most free libraries she offered them to you, but if you were late you had to pay a fine. Young Gransberry also had an affinity for the arts in particular theatre, and she used this skill to produce plays. Again, there was a commodity with a price associated with it. So it is safe to say that the role of entrepreneur would be one she is suited for.

Moss-Gransberry recently shared her story with Phenomenal Woman Magazine.

I was lucky and challenged to be educated in the age of integration (the 1970s) when finally after many years, the federal government forced school districts to integrate which they interpreted as busing black students to all-white schools. I was one of those kids in Shreveport Louisiana that went across town to the big white high school.

I experienced my early education in a small college town where my mother taught called Durham, NH. And I had parents who knew the value of education so I was not segregated into low- level classes in high school and got a pretty good public education.

I went on the study at Howard University in DC and Columbia University in NYC. Both of my degrees are in theatre. My masters is in Theatre Management and Producing. I worked in Theatre as a manager and MMG: I have had a very eclectic life producer for many years and I also and career. So there is no short worked for the Support Centers of answer to this question. I will be as NY & NJ. This is where I was succinct as possible. I grew up both We must provide a 5-Star mentored into consulting and in the North (Durham, New service no matter who our learned meeting facilitation, Hampshire) and the South client is or how much they t ra i n i n g d e s i g n , s t ra t e g i c (Shreveport, Louisiana).

This pay. Then our reputation planning and many other things and the truth of our work experience profoundly shaped my life that aligned with the will stand on its own and by creating a duality in me. I know organizations' mission to provide need no explanation. what it is to experience pure freedom low- cost training and consulting and racial oppression. I know what it to nonprofit organizations. It was means to have a multitude of in 1987 that I founded my own opportunities and be blocked in your consulting firm, MKM Management success from outside forces and from internal limiting Consulting with the intent of supporting both beliefs. I understand the high intellect of the academic nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and world and the practical spiritual grounding of my government agencies to map their future and make ancestors both in the south related to slavery and my their visions real via strategic planning and other African ancestry. And I have been supremely blessed. capacity building services. It was this same year that I did my first Life Map and began practicing Life My values are freedom, love, and spirit. I learned Mapping and eventually began teaching it to others many years ago that values are the ideals that and wrote a book called Life Mapping: A Journey of influence your every decision. I found that in my Self Discovery and Path Finding. This year I am personal life, my politics, my work, FREEDOM was celebrating my 30th Anniversary in Business. what I was seeking, the freedom of choice, having a choice and being able to choose. The only thing that PM: What inspired you to establish the MKM would make me give up my freedom was LOVE. I Management Consulting LLC and what do you like would reduce my choices if it meant creating more most about the company? choice for those I loved, my children, my husband, my mother and father, my sisters and brothers, my MMG: I have always been a planner, teacher, and community. And SPIRIT. My spirit and my connection entrepreneur. As a child, I created a lending library in to spirit is strong and when all else fails, my intellect, my room and would lend books and collect fines from my physical, the internet and I have no answer, this is my friends when they brought my books back, late. where I go. I go to Spirit for answers when there is no Our constant games as kids were bank, school and answer. performing.

(Continued on next page) PM: Can you share with us insights on your upbringing, values, education and career experience?

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I was always performing and creating shows and selling tickets to the neighborhood kids to see our plays and music performances. In 7th grade, my friends and I had a jewelry making business. So entrepreneurship was inevitable.

At Howard, I had to take a class called Theatre Production and that class was all about creating a plan to produce a show, a prospectus of sorts. It became my favorite class and I found myself producing shows for my friends to perform in at school. Somehow we found ways to get paid during black history month as we toured one show around to 3-4 venues. That led me to the Shubert sponsored theatre management program at Columbia. I had a vision for my production company. Doing consulting was an outgrowth of that vision as it began as a strategy to fund my artistic ventures. After the birth of my first child, reality and practicality took hold and I dropped temporarily some of my producing and managing aspirations reallocating those investments into being sure I could provide for my lovely son without fail.

And it stuck. And as I became successful, I would produce a show or do other artistic ventures at my leisure. And I loved the consulting and coaching and being an entrepreneur in a way that was helping leaders and entrepreneurs and the community.

My business, being a consultant was also strategic. I wanted to be able to raise and be with my children without the fear of losing my job the way many women are challenged every day. I loved the flexibility of consulting. I remember when my children were young, I would spend summers at the city pool with them daily having fun and writing reports on my laptop. I had the luxury and privilege of working from home and being there most of the time when they got home from school, take off on school holidays, attend school functions and advocate for my children at school when the teachers and administrators were still in the building. This was the privilege of ownership. The challenge was the ups and downs of business.

These days what I like most about my business is the impact I am having on my clients and the impact they are having on others. This is my joy, honor, and privilege today.

PM: As the founder of MKM Management Consulting LLC., can you share with us its mission, staffing level and activities?

MMG: Mission: Visions Real�

“Mapping Your Future and Making

Helping one leader, one organization, one community at a time make their vision real and create a corner of 20 â–’ MAY-JUNE 2017

the world that is more happy, healthy and whole as a result of the work we do together.

We are a virtual organization with several consultant contractors working on projects on an as needed basis.

Since the economic downturn, I have rebranded the company and I am doing more coaching and teaching and less of the larger change projects. This is great.

Now I look to take on 3-4 strategic planning clients per year and I am busy writing and creating new learning products for my clients.

Major accomplishments are tricky because people including my clients and colleagues are doing such amazing things that I often feel my accomplishments are small in comparison. I am celebrating my 30th anniversary in business. And that feels like a huge accomplishment.

I have worked with hundreds of organizations including small businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies and thousands of leaders in those organizations and communities. It is hard to believe that it's been 30 years. There have been ups and downs like any business. These days the ups and downs are less dramatic in scope.

Preference have always been with us. We must provide 5-Star service no matter who our client is or how much they pay. Then our reputation and the truth of our work will stand on its own and need no explanation.

Excellence and success will improve the situation. One of my role models is Lisa Nichols. She is the CEO and founder of Educating the Masses. The only publically traded transformation (self-improvement training) company and one of the only black woman owned companies that are publically traded on the NY Stock Exchange. And she started her business in her walk-in closet. She is a great example of focus, passion and continuous personal development and evolution. That is what created her success. Others are driven to fight for issues of diversity and inclusion and social justice.

My contribution to these issues is to support them with my gifts and talents.

I remember when the economic downturn happened, we went from over $400K to my kid qualifying for free school lunch. I thanked God for my nonprofit and government clients whose work with me was grant funded. It was an incredible year on so many levels. I spent months sitting at the dining room table figuring out what I was going to do. I rebranded and revamped our services in ways that made more economic sense for me and my clients and that had the potential for high impact as well. Now we have regained our footing and have been growing into new markets with me having a more national presence as a thought leader, business coach, master facilitator, and strategist. My clients are all over the world.

PM: What are some of the challenges faced by womenowned organizations? What needs to be done to improve the situation?

PM: What is next for you in your work? Do you have messages to young girls and the community?

MMG: There are still tremendous issues of access. I have counterparts who can walk into rooms and land contracts in places that I cannot even get invited. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I needed to do to get in those rooms before realizing that I just needed to find those clients that were perfectly suited for me and serve them with excellence. I created a world of business that was perfectly suited for me and who I am. I envisioned my ideal client and the impact I wanted to make and sought out organizations and individuals who embodied those characteristics no matter what rooms they lived and played in. This is an empowerment strategy that supported me in my strength, my confidence and my power.

MMG: I am currently writing my 3rd book and creating a digital course based on the book, both should launch in July of 2017. You can get on my mailing list at www.mossgransberry.com to stay informed as we get closer to its announcement. I have been invited to be one of the Super Coaches at the FraserNet Power Networking Conference in July as well. And there are other speaking engagements developing. As always I am taking on new clients for coaching and for strategic planning.

I'd like to offer your readers who are entrepreneurs or next generation leaders in the nonprofit or government space who are ready to invest in themselves to sign up for a free strategic consultation at www.monikakmoss.com

To improve the situations for women-owned and people of color owned businesses is excellence. Prejudice and

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Betsy Gates, Owner, Simply Betsy Company When basketball phenom LeBron James said, “In Cleveland, nothing is given, it is earned,” he was speaking of the journey to a championship but he also spoke of the grit, drive, and determination that exists in the people who call Cleveland home.

Betsy Gates' story exemplifies that go-to spirit that many in this town possess. A proud Clevelander, she graduated from Shaker Heights High School before continuing her studies at Kent State University majoring in Arts and Crafts with a focus on Jewelry. However once on campus Gates changed her major to Pan -African studies, where her sense of community and service blossomed.

During her summer breaks, Gates combined her desire to serve with her love of art as a Camp Counselor and Supervising Counselor with the city of Cleveland's recreation department. Her skill with young people led her into childhood education administration before joining Chase Manhattan Bank where she served as a loan officer.

In spite of humble beginnings and the various challenges thrown at her, Gates took a circuitous route to owning her own business – Simply Betsy. Simply Betsy is a successful all natural beauty and skin care products company, that produces handcrafted body products created with natural and organic botanicals to enhance the total experience of body care.

So how did this counselor turned loan officer become an entrepreneur? Phenomenal Woman recently caught up with Gates to get a glimpse of her journey and eventual triumph.

Gates' creativity coupled with career and life challenges led her to starting her own business. But the path to her 22 ▒ MAY-JUNE 2017

success hasn't been all rosy. She recalled how in the span of one month her husband lost his job and his mother and as if that weren't enough, the couple lost their house too.

When she asked her husband what they were going to do she says “he looked at me and said we are going to start selling soap.”

Undeterred by all these challenges, Gates used her talents to create a healthy skin product using only natural ingredients that she grew herself. To enhance her knowhow, she took a class at a local community center and started experimenting, working late at night in the family's basement after putting the kids in bed. Her hard work paid big time and pretty soon she came up with the first batch of soap considered good enough. She started selling her products from the back of her car after dropping off her kids at school.

Gates encourages us all to take good care of our skin because “your skin is the largest organ in your body, and just as you would nourish your body by eating healthy foods, you should nourish your skin by using organic and healthy products.”

Starting and nurturing a business to success has challenges. However, Gates' journey proves that hard work coupled with determination paves the way to success. Quite often, the challenges are worth the rewards in becoming an entrepreneur.

In addition, Gates says support from family members, mentors, and support organizations played a crucial role in transforming her vision into reality. She was quick to point out the unwavering support she received from her husband, Renaldo, and the intensive training and advice she got from JumpStart Inc.

Northeast Ohio and Cleveland, in particular, is lucky to house JumpStart Inc. as it “provides venture capital and intensive, high-impact assistance to diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses owners, working one-on-one to establish and achieve value-creating milestones of growth.”

Gates recently completed the twelve-week Core City Impact Program, organized by JumpStart Inc. that helped her reach a new level of entrepreneurship. The free program is designed to drive economic impact in the city of Cleveland by helping individuals overcome obstacles to entrepreneurship through hands-on advising and industry-specific mentoring. She is particularly grateful for the wealth of information and unparalleled support she received from JumpStart's Gloria Ware, Danielle Morris, Lamont Mackey, Lorne Novick and Patrick Kucharson.

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While the number of women owned businesses is growing much faster than the national average, challenges still hinder their progress. Highlighting the major factors holding women owned businesses, Gates sites “securing small business loans, shortage of forums to discuss marketing and sales options and the stress women face in balancing family responsibilities and managing businesses”as major factors holding women from growing their businesses.

Gates recently participated in the 2nd Annual Financial Literacy and Business Opportunities Conference organized by Phenomenal Woman Magazine in Cleveland on April 28, 2017.She cited this program as an example of the programs needed for entrepreneurs, “the event was awesome and gave me the opportunity to meet up with others and discuss the needs of the female business community. It has been insightful to me as an entrepreneur.” Gates continued, “to have the opportunity to listen to an economist discuss the war on poverty and realize that the majority of financial decisions are made by women, helped me to focus on being realistic, prioritizing, and creating an action plan to lead my company to a profitable performance.”

The mother of four teenage girls continues to nurture her children as well as others in the community, guiding them to reach high levels. She is committed to giving back to the community, and does this by serving as a board member of the Alianna Defreeze Foundation where she works within the community to protect women and children from community injustice and working with youth at the 'Hessler Street Fair,' an arts and music festival held annually in Cleveland.

Inspiring Women To Reach Their Highest Potential!

At a recent event held at JumpStart Gates received the highest prize in a “pitch” competition. Her win demonstrates a clear testament to how far she has come in building her company.

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Moving forward, Simply Betsy Company is launching 'Soap & Sip Parties' which are developed to educate and employ our communities. If you are looking to make a change in your life and willing to develop your economic position, Gates would love to hear from you. She can be contacted at Betsy@simplybetsycompany.com.

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Photo: Getty Images

8

WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR SLEEP

While a healthy lifestyle requires a balanced diet and exercise, sleep is another pillar of overall wellness that is both essential to your health and success, and often overlooked.

By simply making small changes to your daily routine you can improve your quality of sleep. Follow these tips from Dr. Sujay Kansagra, Mattress Firm's sleep health consultant and director of Duke University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, and get on your way to better rest and a healthier life.

1. Manage your sleep time. Rather than trying to accomplish everything on your to-do list at the expense of sleep, reverse your approach. As the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night, make sure to set aside the time needed for a full night of rest.

2. Stay on schedule. Try to keep your bedtime and wake time consistent on both weekdays and weekends. With time, your brain and body will acclimate to these set times, but until then, rely on an alarm – not only to wake in the morning, but to keep you from staying up too late at night, too.

3. Find a routine. A routine performed 20-30 minutes prior to bed every night can subconsciously ease your brain into sleep. Unwinding with a book, taking a warm bath or meditating are all ways to slow your mind and transition toward peaceful rest.

4. Brighten up the morning. Getting plenty of bright 24 â–’ MAY-JUNE 2017

light in the morning helps keep your sleep timing on track, particularly if you wake up early. Make opening the drapes and blinds your first task each morning.

5. Ditch the clock. Fixating on the time can create stress and keep you up at night. Instead, set your alarm, turn your clock around and forget about the time.

6. Get moving. Research shows that exercise can act as a natural sleep remedy, often leading to a more sound slumber. However, if you exercise late and have difficulty falling asleep, consider moving your workout earlier in the day. The increase in body temperature from exercise tends to be prolonged, sometimes making it hard to fall asleep.

7. Kick the caffeine habit. Morning caffeine can linger in your system until it's time to sleep. Coffee, tea, dark sodas and dark chocolate are the main offenders for most people.

8. Pay back debt. If you are chronically deprived of sleep, allow your body extra sleep time to make up for the loss. In these cases, even 8-9 hours each night may not be enough. Allow your body to catch up then commit to more consistent sleep patterns in the future.

Find more resources to help improve your sleep, including tips on how to purchase a new mattress, at DailyDoze.com.

Self-Care Suggestions for the Summer!

By Robyn C. Hill, LPCC Contributing Writer

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ummer is the time of year that we look forward to because it usually means great weather, vacations, family events, and other exciting plans. Along with that, we still must work, find babysitters, readjust our schedules for summer camps, trips, juggle funds, possibly take in out-of-town guests, and maybe even plan an occasional gathering. Now the time we looked forward, to with long summer nights begins to slip away and in comes the cool autumn evenings with back-to-school schedules and fall season line-ups.

An expensive vacation is not an option if it is going to cause you stress. Planning inexpensive day trips maybe more fun than trying to take a trip to a resort and then worrying about the bills when you return.

Third, find time to Slip Away. While you're planning fun for everyone else, make sure you find some time for yourself.

Even if it means just planning a solo day trip or going out with a few friends; make sure you tend to yourself. We often make everyone else a priority without ever really noticing it. So be sure to get a babysitter, or if they are old enough order them a pizza, and slip away for a little while and give yourself a break.

To ensure you get the most out of this summer, here are my “4 Self-Care Suggestions.” First and foremost, make sure that you get some Sun! Sometimes, a vacation is not on the schedule but sun should always be. Sun is a great source of Vitamin D, which helps with increasing your mood. While at work, sit outside during your lunch break or take a slow walk just to take in some rays. On a Saturday or Sunday, take a drive somewhere and spend a day outside. Do this a few times this summer, especially if you can't go on a vacation. And even if you go on a vacation still incorporate this in your routine so that you don't feel so deflated when you return.

Fourth and finally, find some Sanctuary. I am always stressing spirituality as a part of self-care. When we get busy, we tend to neglect our spiritual disciplines first with the good intentions of coming back to them later.

However, summertime can get so busy that later never comes so we must make a special effort to find some sanctuary. Try to get up 10-15 minutes earlier or go to bed 10-15 minutes later and get in some meditation time and talk with God. This helps to reduce anxiety and negative moods and sets the tone for the next day.

Second, watch your Spending.

Budgets are often stretched over the summer. The children are now home and eating 2-3 times more than usual. So factor in the activities and vacations. It is very important to figure out how to tighten up the purse strings to get in the most fun.

Don't let time slip away! Be sure to implement these SelfCare Suggestions so that you can set a calm tone and make the best of your season. I hope you enjoy your Summer!

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Aaron Taylor-Johnson in THE WALL. Photo credit: David James Courtesy of Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions

By R. Lee Gamble Film Diva www.filmdiva3.com

Two American soldiers are hiding in a mountain area looking down on a zone where an oil pipeline was installed.

Everyone around the pipeline had been killed, and the soldiers have to determine if it is safe enough to retrieve the bodies. Matthews (John Cena) and Isaac (Aaron TaylorJohnson) believe they are alone. It is when Matthews decides to come out of hiding and start checking out the scene up close that all hell breaks loose.

Matthews is wounded by a bullet that seems to come from nowhere, and Isaac is forced to go down to try and save him. When Isaac gets close to Matthews, he is fired upon as well. Wounded he retreats behind a piece of a wall that is still standing in the middle of this dessert. So begins one of the most exciting war films I have ever seen.

I am not a fan of war movies. They have to have a great story line for me to be interested. I can watch violent films, but because war movies are showing a reality that I know so many of our men and women in uniform, and veterans have experienced, it is hard for me to stomach at times.

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But The Wall is a thinking man's film. It is a thriller. You have two soldiers pinned down by a sniper, and you have no way of knowing how they are going to survive it. Add to it the conversation between Isaac and the shooter and the points that are being made about why they were both there. What they were fighting for - and in the middle of all of this, separating them is a wall.

Directed by Doug Liman (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) The Wall is a fantastic film that keeps you on the edge of your seat without an enormous amount of action. Don't get me wrong there are guns and explosions, but the majority of the film is the psychological chess game that Isaac engages in with the sniper.

If you like movies that keep your mind engaged, then you will enjoy The Wall. It is a war movie, and a psychological thriller all rolled up in one. Aaron Taylor-Johnson gives a brilliant performance as he spends ninety percent of the film with his emotions on full display, which had to be emotionally draining for him.

The Wall is a must see film. It is an intriguing piece of work, and it is definitely worth the price of a ticket!

Noa Koler in THE WEDDING PLAN. Photo credit: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions

By R. Lee Gamble Film Diva www.filmdiva3.com The Wedding Plan is one of the most beautiful films made of love and faith that I have seen in a long time. It is a reminder that magic and miracles can still happen even when you think they won't. Directed and written by Rama Burshtein, The Wedding Plan is not the Jewish version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but it does bring its own uniqueness to this film genre.

Michal (NoaKoler) thinks she has found her future husband after going to see a matchmaker. It is while they are at a food tasting for their reception, she finds out her fiance does not love her and has no plans to go through with the wedding. It is at that moment that Michal decides she is going to trust God to bring her a husband in 30 days and she schedules the wedding anyway.

Viewers will take a journey with Michal as her matchmaker sets her up with potential mates. One after

another, you learn what men are looking for in a spouse, and you also find out more about Michal. One of the most exciting dates was with a man who refused to look at her until they married. He never wanted to lay eyes on any woman but his wife - interesting.

What works in this film is watching the dynamic of relationships that Michal has with her friends and family.

She begins to realize that maybe she is a block to her own happiness. But she also learns that there are many people around her hoping her dreams come true, because maybe then, theirs will too.

I loved this movie! What I loved best is that in the end, I was really on the edge of my seat dying to know how this is going to turn out. That's a great film!!

The Wedding Plan is enchanting! It is a great movie to check out this weekend if you want to see something that is fun. It is definitely worth the price of the ticket!!

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Caption: (L-R) CHRIS PINE as Steve Trevor and GAL GADOT as Diana in the action adventure "WONDER WOMAN," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Photo Credit: Clay Enos/ TM & Š DC Comics

By R. Lee Gamble Film Diva www.filmdiva3.com

Is Wonderful!!

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hame on Warner Brothers for that horrible introduction of the Wonder Woman in Batman vs.

Superman: Dawn of Justice. Thrown into the movie with no rhyme or reason, Wonder Woman has viewers wondering why she was there. It was boring, and it did not make me excited about her upcoming feature film. Even in the final fight scene Wonder Woman just did not wow me.

Fast forward to the Wonder Woman feature and now I am impressed! I went to the screening of Wonder Woman hoping that someone did something fantastic with this character and I was not disappointed. Allan Heinberg's screenplay is compelling; it is such a great script that only bad acting could mess it up and thank God that didn't happen.

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Directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster) Wonder Woman is a spectacular epic that tells the story of Diane, Princess of the Amazons. Unlike other films that portray Amazon women as incredibly manly, Wonder Woman allows these women to be seen as brave, strong and beautiful.

The beauty comes from their ability to be comfortable in their power. These are women who know who they are.

The one who has to learn is Diana.

Portrayed by Gal Gadot, Diana is fighting to come into her own no matter what that means. What makes this film so very powerful is watching a young girl grow up to find her place in the world without the baggage of men and or society telling her what that looks like or what it means.

Since she has not been exposed to gender bias when Diana finally meets "men," she cannot play by their rules.

She forces them to deal with her on her own terms.

Gadot is amazing in a role that she seemed born to play.

You see her struggle with trying to understand why men were doing the things they do and wanting to help save everyone. Her realization that nothing is black and white but that there are many shades of gray becomes clearer throughout the story. Gadot's screen presence draws you into the character and allows you to connect with her.

Let me also point out that Robin Wright in the role of Diana's aunt Antiope was brilliant casting. Wright kicks butt as this character, and she looks incredible while doing it. Connie Nielson who plays Diana's mother is stunning as well.

Chris Pine, Danny Huston, and David Thewlis round out what is a great cast of actors. The chemistry between Pine and Gadot is instant and shines on the screen.

Anyone who remembers Huston from American Horror Story Coven knows he is an incredible actor. He is perfect in the role of Ludendorff.

When it comes to Thewlis, I don't believe there is any role this actor cannot master. I love everything he does because, in any role that he tackles, he never disappoints. This is very evident as he portrays Sir Patrick. Watching Sir Patrick and Diana together is absolutely mesmerizing and really great acting.

Wonder Woman is one of the best superhero films I have seen in a long time and it is all because there is a wellwritten script. Mothers and fathers go see this movie with your daughters and your sons. Young girls will see a heroine who stands strong on her own and shapes her own identity; young boys can begin to see men appreciate a woman in ways that have nothing to do with sex. Wonder Woman does not need rescuing. She is not afraid to face difficult truths. She can save those around her while saving herself.

I loved this movie and I plan on seeing it again. It is so worth the price of the ticket!!

GAL GADOT as Diana in the action adventure "WONDER WOMAN," a Warner Bros.

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Photo Credit: Clay Enos/ TM & Š DC Comics

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GOING THE DISTANCE

FOR OUR

COMMUNITIES. At Dominion East Ohio, going the distance for our customers means more than just delivering safe, affordable natural gas. It means being a positive force in the communities we serve. Our EnergyShareÂŽ program has raised $6.8 million and helped more than 70,000 people in Ohio alone. These resources, combined with more than 6,300 volunteer hours from our employees, have benefited organizations as diverse as the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.