Huami Magazine Cleveland March/April 2021

CLEVELAND

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March/April 2021 Volume 1 Issue 1 FREE

Arshawna Warren Christian Branding & Marketing Cleveland - March/April 2021

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Your A Laughing Matter TherePurpose Are No Is If,Not Ands, Or Buts About It! A Letter From The Editor

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter Editor A long timefrom ago, the when I was a much younger man, and a student at the most prestigious high school in the city of Greensboro, something happened to me that A Letter from thewould Editorchange my life forever. This segment of time was during my fourth period English class, and first week a new What if tomorrow didn’t arrive?

Allthe of your plans,ofhopes schooland year. dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if

everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never What if tomorrow didn’t arrive?

All of your plans, hopes

Back then I was mischievous, very sarcastic, aon. self-proclaimed happened?

There would beano reason to save for a rainy and dreams wouldn’t have street to and park What if ‘class clown’.

I would try to set the tone for my classroom my day, and you could someone theuntil trouble ofamongst making everything that youspare decided to put off tomorrow never classmates with jokes, and I thought, the bigger the audience, the grander promises. What your last happened?

Thereif would be opportunity no reason toseemingly save for aexpired rainy my performance could be. However, in this particular class, the teacher today?

What wouldspare you do? day, and you could someone the trouble of making was a formidable opponent. She was short in stature, very elegant and full promises.

What to if your last seemingly of finesse, and seemed lock in onopportunity me like a torpedo beforeexpired the tardy bell I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too today?

What would you do? even sounded. Her name was Mrs. Kerr, and I would soonmuch. learn that she I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm wasn’tHonestly, one to play around.

believer in knowing that God seem wouldn’t on me I’ve been told that I often like put I do anything too much. that couldn’t handle. sometimes wonder how would Iinfeel like Iclass, amI not doing and I’mlife aand firm OneHonestly, day Iwhile English I began toenough get comfortable execute my form humor.

I that ledand off with a cough, a slight sneeze; be of if Icheap chose to sit idle accept whatput itand presented to I believer in knowing God wouldn’t anything onme. mesilly acts that usually worked pretty well with getting my audience into position. haveI found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity that couldn’t handle.

I sometimes wonder how life would But my snuffed immediately. sneeze ortocough isact aifblessing that isn’t afforded to“Don’t everyone.

A challenge be Iwas chose to sitout idle and accept what ityou presented me. Iin my classroom.

Take that outside”.

Those were the words spoken directly to mefound is an adventure.

What is the In worst that can opportunity happen? to have that to be very boring. my opinion, me and I knew she was serious by the way she stared into my eyes. From If aI do nothing, if I try to I don’t, but instead learn is blessing thatI fail, isn’tand afforded everyone.

A challenge that point on, I never laughed in her class unless I was led by her permission something new about myself. yourcan pride and in to me is an adventure.

What is Relinquish the worst that happen? to do so. I must admit that my ego was a little bruised, but I would return acquire life.

If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn eventually get over it. something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in The best advice ever given me happened when someone acquire life.helped In soreturn many words, she me totounderstand that my purpose in no told me to make my tomorrow happen today.

In doing so me laughing matter. I genuinely appreciate Mrs. Kerr because she helped have pressed way given through doors with a key only The best advice ever to me happened when someone to alsoI understand themy English instruction she provided wasthat not a laughing hope provided.

I have also learned the difference between told make else my tomorrow happen today.

Inand doing so of matter, andme I ortoanyone wouldn’t prevent the learning growth blesses and what cana burden with other Iwhat students. haveGod pressed my me waywith through doorslife with key thatme only as well.

I compare it toalso knowing when be confident and hope provided.

I have learned the to difference between As the school year progressed, I began to look forward to my fourth whenlife tocan be quiet, what God blesses me with and what burdenbecause me with periodasEnglish class and spending time with Mrs. Kerr.

I soaked up every bit someone may get it confused well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and of information that she had to offer, studied every poem, and recited with being when to bearrogant. quiet, because them back to her with precision, and made it a someone may get it confused point to show her that she changed my Make youarrogant. tomorrow with being life by stopping me from robbing myself of happen today, but most sound instruction. importantly make it count.

Make you tomorrow Life is but a whisper and happen today, but most Mrs. Kerr obviously loved me and we must put ourselves a importantly make it count. her other students, thousands ofin them position to hear what it is Life is but a whisper and she encountered of several decades of telling we must puthero. ourselves in alike me teaching.

She isus. my Students all deserve a heroto such aswhat Mrs. Kerr position hear it is in their classrooms, either telling us. in the form of a peer or instructor. She helped to understand Terry L.me Watson that my purpose was no laughing matter.

www.huamimagazine.com Editor In Chief

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CONTENTS

MARCH/APRIL 2021

CLEVELAND

Be Shiny! Face and Body

Tamike Herkley

On The Cover

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Blackstock Insurance Agency Rodney Blackstock

Meantime Max

Jay Maxwell

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Skye Larae’s Culinary Services

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Chef Eric Wells

Honeyed Lips and Skincare

Autumn Shelton

Also Featured Indianapolis

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Arkansas

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Florida

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Branding and Marketing Yolanda Smith Author, Coach, Speaker Kocysha LaShaun Let’s Take Flight. The 99th Squadron Ramone Hemphill

Atlanta

La’Roy Crumble Latony Crumble and Willie Wilkes

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Mia Collins

Meet the face and founder of Mia’s Ohh So Good Seasonings.

Little Rock, AR

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Cutest Baby Photo He is a real cutey.

Introducing Railyn Bozeman

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Cleveland - March/April 2021

Arshawna Warren Christian Branding & Marketing

By Jalessa Rogers Photos by Arshawna Warren In the era of smartphones and social media there are many ways that both can help establish and grow your business. For example, in the middle of a pandemic, social media has presented itself to be a useful platform for businesses such as churches and other ministries. Arshawna Warren, a Cleveland, OH native, is a Christian branding and marketing professional. With her business, I Am Arshawna LLC, she has been successful utilizing social media as a tool to help ministries stay active and spread their message and information.

Born and raised by a single mother in Cleveland, Warren was an active child, involved in singing, dancing, painting, acting, and ministry. “Being an only child raised by a two-time breast cancer survivor, my mother made sure I was educated on self-breast exams,” she says. During a selfexam, Warren discovered a lump and was later diagnosed with breast cancer at the tender age of sixteen. After being examined by her doctor and having a lumpectomy, her cancer was discovered and removed in surgery.

After her experience with breast cancer, Warren started a workshop called Be Pretty in Pink, in 2013. “My workshop was created to educate middle school and high school girls about breast cancer, encourage them, empower them, and teach them about the seriousness of breast cancer,” stated Warren. Her willingness to help other young girls and educate them about breast cancer gained national attention, and she was invited to be a guest on the Steve Harvey Show. In 2015 with the help of Steve Harvey, she was able to turn her workshop into a nonprofit organization.

As a recent psychology graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, Warren reflects on how her childhood was the reason she

chose her school and major. “Being bullied as a child made me want to help young people with their mental health. Although I did not want to stay close to home, I felt that God wanted me to go there,” she says.

“Whatever God has for me, whatever that is, I am going to be helping somebody reach their full potential,” said Warren.

Growing up as an active church member helped Warren figure out a growing market that she could navigate and be successful in. “As a Christian branding and marketing professional my goal is to help different ministries, churches and brands navigate the social media world and market themselves in a professional way,” stated Warren.

Now that it is the third month in this new 2021 year, it has been almost a full year since the first stay at home orders were announced throughout the United States. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of churches and ministry leaders decided to close places of worship and stream their services online. When asked about working with ministries and navigating them during this time, Warren stated that helping ministries navigate social media and their online presence is a big part of her business and has been even before the pandemic.

“I genuinely believe that my ‘why’ and my purpose is to help people, but it starts from the home. How you cater to the people who are around you, your family members, and your friends, they are what motivates me. I’m truly encouraged by their love and their support.” stated Warren. She feels that her motivation has always been her family, and they are one of the biggest reasons she has accomplished so much in her young life. Motivation to her has been labeled as her “whys” and her “whys” are her family and the people who she serves.

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In her business, she has worked diligently to help ministries spread their message about God in an effective way. Warren’s main goals are to have a perpetual effect and reach more people, and to pay it forward as much as possible. She is also a big advocate for mental health because she was bullied as a child, so she plans to “give back to so many people who are struggling,” said Warren.

The future looks bright for Warren and she isn’t displaying any signs of slowing down. She shares her motivating mantra, “whatever God has for me.” To learn more about Arshawna Warren, please visit her website. h

Mia Collins

Let Her Spice Up Your Life

By Terry L. Watson - Photos by Mia Collins What is the use in eating if the food doesn’t taste good? Pose that question to Mia Collins and she would probably present some spices direct from her product line, Mia’s Oh So Good Seasoning.

Mia is sort of a down home girl from Arkansas, who is currently living the Vegas life in Las Vegas, NV. Her mission is to add flavor to every household, one jar at a time. “I would like to see Mia’s Ohh So Go Seasonings collaborate with major retail markets and expand to other countries throughout the world. She isn’t too far off the mark, as her products can be purchased in 36 states, and two countries (United States and Jamaica).

Mia’s intrapreneurial spirit was planted into her life as a child. “I am inspired mostly by my mother and father. I lost both parents before I was age 25. My mom passed away when I was 16 years old on Mother’s Day, a day I will never forget. I grew up seeing my mom as an entrepreneur.

She did nails and makeovers for women, and always worked hard to provide a good life for us. Thinking about her drive, truly keeps me motivated,” Mia says.

The official name of her business is Mia’s Ohh So Good Seasonings & Cookware. It was established in 2015 and according to Mia, the rest is history. “After 14 years in the food industry, I wanted a change, so I went back to Corporate America. However, my customers still wanted that flavor. Some friends suggested I start selling my seasonings as a side hustle. The orders started to flow in, so much so, that I needed a website to track them. Next, I launched Uncle L’s Errthang Seasoning, and in 2017, we rebranded and Mia’s Ohh So Good Seasonings was created,” she says. Over the years, additional flavors have been added to Mia’s brand.

While Mia offers a variety of seasonings, her best and top seller has been her Errthang Seasoning. “People love it because it’s good on Errthang. I currently carry 14 Flavors. My top five are Errthang, Apple BBQ, Ranch Steak & Garlic, and Peppercorn Herb. I also carry Zesty Lemon Pepper, Cajun Hot, Salt Free, Yo Favorite Burger, Spicy Taco, Spicy Errthang, Cheesy Popcorn, Fish Fry, Spicy Garlic Pepper, and Chili in a Bag,” she says.

Her cookware line was launched in January 2021. Pre-Seasoned cast iron skillets were the first items to debut. They were a huge hit and sold out of inventory in just week one. Fortunately, she has restocked them and can be purchased directly from her website. To compliment her cookware, she also offers Mia’s Ohh So Good Recipe Book, oven mitts, and aprons.

Like most other businesses around the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Mia’s business, but not in a negative way.

While many businesses struggled during the pandemic, Mia says she was positioned to win. “More people were doing home cooking, to be safe. People wanted to add a new flavor to their meals, and we were in position to meet their demands. We updated all our social media information, developed new and improved logos, including packaging.

We also were fortunate to receive sound mentorship and collaborate with other businesses. We reached a new audience by doing tradeshows in 2020, which help to expand our audience, and capture a new market in the process,” she says.

Business has been good for Mia, and while she wouldn’t change much about her journey, there is one thing she admits she could have done differently. “I wish I would have researched my website more before going with what I have. I’m working on implementing an E-commerce website that will allow me to reach a bigger audience and increase my resources,” she says.

For anyone who may be thinking about starting a business, Mia offers the following advice. “Do your due diligence and research the industry that you are entering. If possible, incorporate your business and follow legal guidelines that are in place. And most importantly, try to collaborate and connect with like minds as much as possible,” she says.

In the future, Mia is looking forward to expanding her cookware line of cast iron skillets to full cookware sets. She is also a lady who understands the power of numbers. “I am looking to participate at tradeshows with 25,000 or more attendees,” she says. She also has five new Food Ambassadors on her team that are helping to promote her brand around the United States. They are in Memphis TN, Philadelphia PA, Las Vegas NV, Little Rock AR, and Shiloam Springs AR. h

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Cleveland - March/April 2021

By Dillian Teabout Photos by Chef Eric Wells A disciple of Christ, husband, father, and author are just a few ways to describe this astounding chef. Chef Eric Wells, who is from Cleveland, Ohio has pushed boundaries, and, in the process, he has made a name for himself.

Chef Wells is the proud owner of “Skye LaRae’s Culinary Services.” He specializes in intimate dinners for two. However, his company also offers dinner parties and catering events for potential clients. “Skye LaRae’s Culinary Service” provides cooking classes that serve as a great bonding exercise for couples and help improve amateur chefs’ skills. When asked what the chef’s favorite dish was, he stumped but concluded it was Pad Thai. “I love southeast Asian cuisine. It’s just like stir fry but done with rice noodles and a bunch of vegetables thrown in it. It’s a great dish and different,” Chef Wells said.

His biggest inspiration came from home. When Chef Wells was a child, he enjoyed watching and helping his mother cook. “I loved watching her cook,” Chef Wells said. “I enjoyed seeing how food brought people together.” It was at this early age that he observed the power of food.

While working for a Fortune 500 company, Chef Wells’ mother advised him to change career paths. At the time, he was at age 30, and his faith in God helped him to make this decision. “Before my mother passed away in 2003, she told me to take this gift of cooking given from God and use it,” Chef Wells said. “At the time, I had a wife and kids. I also had bills to pay, but I decided to go to culinary school.”

Chef Wells has won many awards and appeared on TV a multitude of times. He has been seen on “Fox 8 in the Morning,” “Good Day Cleveland,” and “The Robin Swoboda Show.” He has won awards such as the “Vintage Ohio Celebrity Chef Cook-Off” in 2003, and in 2015.

Despite winning awards and his television appearances, he doesn’t consider any of these to be his greatest accomplishment. When discussing this topic, Chef Wells recalls when he graduated from the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute in Chesterland, Ohio, in 2004. “Being the first African American to graduate from the institute was an amazing feeling. That is my biggest accomplishment overall.”

Currently, Chef Wells is looking to expand his business, as he is training chefs to work for him. As it continues to grow, he finds himself wanting and needing some additional help. “The only negative about my business is that I’m one person,” Chef Wells said. “I have a couple of young chefs to help me. With their assistance, I will be able to do multiple events in one night, soon.”

Chef Wells planned on opening a restaurant of his own until he began cooking for his coworkers at his old job. The smiles he put on people’s faces and the conversation he had, caused him to fall in love with being a personal chef.

For aspiring chefs, he advises they find a niche and be themselves.

“The problem with what’s going on now is that everybody wants to be something they’re not. Find a niche that makes you stand out in a crowd and do not care about what people think about you.”

Chef Wells believes the lord gives each of us a purpose and doesn’t provide vision without provision. He also believes that God tests our faith in Him while we are going through life. “There have been several times I wanted to turn around and walk away,” Chef Wells said. “However, I know that God was testing my faith to see if I believed in him.” h To learn more about Chef Eric Wells, please visit his website.

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Cleveland - March/April 2021

Tamika Herkley Be Shiny! Face and Body

Tamika Herkley of Cleveland, OH is a daughter, mother, wife, and entrepreneur.

Her journey in business began at the young age of 16, as she was first introduced into the world of retail. She shares how she loved playing in makeup, and also applying it to her friend’s faces before school dances. When she started modeling with local fashion shows, she would often do the makeup of the models who were participating as well. It was then Tamika realized she had a love for retail, customer service, and makeup, and everything it involved.

As her life began to happen, her interest in makeup would grow also. Tamika attended Esthetician School in 2004. Now today, she is the owner of Be Shiny! Face and Body. With her company, she offers facials, waxing, and makeup services on occasion. She also sells skincare products.

So, how did Be Shiny! Face and Body happen. “I started working at Mimi’s Hair Heaven and Spa in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 2005. My boss, Teresa Saxton-McCurry was the owner and my mentor, and she taught me to have excellent salon customer service. She always said, “I can do this with you, but if I have to do this without you, I will.”

What she meant was she wanted to work with a group of amazing people and provide excellent service, but if you don’t have it in you, she did and will. Fast forward ten years later, a close individual asked my husband if I would be a partner with her in a spa. I said no because although I was well trained, I had no desire to be a business owner.

She asked again and I accepted the offer. She had her side of the business and I had mine. Two separate entities in one space was an awesome idea. I enjoyed working for myself and having events at our location was amazing,” she says.

If the truth is told, Tamika’s business almost didn’t happen. She shares, “My business partner just up and left one day. So, my husband and I had to pick up the pieces. There were plumbing issues that weren’t addressed. I decided to use the space for events, and I was still servicing my customers, however, because we had so much space and no events that were booked, we decided to close. I opened shop in a much smaller spot that I adored,” she says.

It’s because of the many challenges Tamika has faced, that her input is valued to anyone who may follow in her footsteps. “I tell anyone who is interested in starting a business to start small and do it affordably. Your customer service will be the main thing people remember.

There will always be people that make it look pretty. You have to work within your scope of expertise. If you do decide to add something different, do your research first. It may be hard to find help and sometimes you have to do the work yourself. Oftentimes you may have to be the secretary, bookkeeper, trash collector, and supply person.”

To learn more about Tamika Herkley, call her directly.

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Cleveland - March/April 2021

By Dorjae’ McClammey Photos by Faith Blackwell Photography Introducing, Yolanda M. Smith, a people growth leader, and brandthrupist.

As a personal branding expert and career coach, Yolanda has a passion for helping others achieve their highest potential by unleashing the power of personal branding. She teaches her clients how to articulate their value, live authentically, and stand out so they can earn, lead, and win more.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Yolanda grew up in a singleparent household with her brother and was blessed to never want for anything. Her mother, an amazing woman who did everything for her children, always told her that she can be anything she wanted to be as long as she worked hard for it. Her mother instilled this mindset into Yolanda giving her the power and courage to make whatever she wanted, a reality.

Yolanda attended St. Rita Catholic School for elementary, and there she had a community of people that cared for her.

Her mother was adamant about making sure she received the best education so, when it was time for her to attend high school, they moved out to the suburbs which opened the opportunity for her to enroll at North Central High School, a township school. “There I received a sort of culture shock with only 10% of the population being African American, and realized I had to learn how to assimilate with others, she says. While this was easy for my brother, it took me a minute to adjust, then finally, I guess I realized well, if you’re going to have fun, if you’re going to live fulfilled, you’re going to have to figure this one out.”

Her next move landed her at Indiana University - Kelly School of Business which she paid for herself, in full, without taking out a single loan. While in school, she and a friend started their own business, a clothing line of imprinted sportswear called Yotra Designs. Once she graduated, the duo shut their business down and Yolanda moved to Tennessee after accepting a job in pharmaceutical sales. She would eventually hold different roles in the industry, but soon focused on expanding her education and went back to school to obtain her master’s in business administration at Indiana Wesleyan University, and in true Yolanda fashion, paid for it herself. She now lives in Indianapolis and is married with two children. This is also where Branding 4 Success, LLC was born.

Back in 2009, Yolanda was asked to be a part of a team that would help create employee engagement strategies. One day, she was in a meeting and in walked the CEO of the company she worked for. He was going around the room Yolanda shares, asking everyone who they were and what they did. When he got to her, she choked. At that moment she knew Cleveland - March/April 2021

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she had blown the opportunity to tell the single most highest-ranking man in the company, something interesting about herself, and not just her job title. She took that as a learning experience. Fast forward to 2013, she is now the chairman of the board of the non-profit organization, Girl Talk Incorporated.

While brainstorming on how the organization could do more for the girls in programming (ages of 10 to 18), she started researching topics and came upon the idea of, you guessed it, personal branding.

After doing more research, she ended up creating a personal branding workshop. While presenting these workshops to the girls, she noticed that their mothers would stay for the sessions, and told her how they need the information as well. Yolanda took that as an opportunity to take her workshop to the next level and serve corporate professionals.

She held two workshops during one of the employee resource group forums at her company, both packed with hundreds of participants and when she took the stage, she knew she was in her element. In that moment, she knew this was her calling. “That’s when I knew, I have something here. I just knew...this was my purpose, to help others build a powerful personal brand” she says.

The real magic of Branding 4 Success happens when Yolanda and her team help others discover their true self, their superpower and passion. Now let it be known that the difference between Yolanda and other motivational speakers is that she follows up with action. While some motivational speakers inspire you in that moment, Branding 4 Success not only inspires, but offers practical solutions to get you into action through classes, workshops, coaching, and more. Yolanda helps people take the journey of not only branding themselves, but also bringing their vision to reality, “I take people through a process to help them understand what their purpose and values are, know their why, and then know their worth.

Because once someone gets this, they acquire a level of courage and confidence that is unwavering,” she says.

Along with her business, Yolanda has authored a best-selling book called Reputation to Reward: Mastering Your Brand Signature to Earn More, Lead More, Win More. She also facilitates masterclasses to corporate and non-profit organizations, and associations. She has an online course called Reputation to Reward: Creating and Maximizing Your Brand Signature and provides individual and group coaching programs which are customized based on the client’s needs. One of her popular programs is the Brand Assessment Survey, where she uses a validated tool to assess people’s brands. Her other coaching programs are customized to ensure she helps clients brand themselves and strategize to accomplish their goals. She is also a National Public Speaker available for booking.

Yolanda emphasizes the importance of having a powerful personal brand, especially during the uncertain times the world is currently experiencing. People are starting to feel invisible due to the isolation from the pandemic. “How do you maintain and elevate your visibility so you can continue to achieve the reward you desire?”. She states you must use the best of what you have, to keep moving forward.

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“It’s not about getting back to normal; we won’t be going back to normal, and who wants to go back anyways. Who said it was all that great,” she says? “I like the idea of getting to a better place, something new and exciting. Now is the opportunity that individuals have to be able to transition and reinvent themselves and start doing what they are passionate about.”

Yolanda teaches her clients everything she has learned through her own trial and error, so they will not make the same mistakes.

Fortunately, she has experienced success, despite not having any mentors or coaches until she was mid-career. “I often stop and think about how much further I could have gone faster if I had guidance. When I was faced with certain obstacles, I realized I could have navigated through them better if I knew the protocols of corporate America,” she says. She learned that you must be strategic and intentional with the things you do to ensure you get results, and that not everyone is interested in your opinion, so think before you speak.

“Influential people are not concerned with always being right; they are concerned with being effective,” she says.

A major situation that helped push Branding 4 Success forward happened when her job underwent a massive restructuring. All her coaches, mentors, and sponsors were gone. Team Yolanda was out the door and the replacement boss was not exactly her cheerleader.

It seemed like they made it a mission to bring Yolanda down and she took the wait and see approach. “I knew I had not done anything wrong,” she shares. That was a huge mistake as the narrative they created resulted in Yolanda being demoted, and the remainder of her team were taken away. This became a true nightmare for her. Yet, Yolanda stated that she knew in the end, she had no one to blame but herself. “I knew how to brand myself. I knew the importance of telling your story because if you don’t tell your story someone else will and it may not be the story you want to have told. The reason I didn’t crumble is I already had built my brand, I was confident in myself, and when you build your brand, you know who you are,” she said.

She has also made it clear that just because she is an entrepreneur, she wasn’t going to stop generating multiple streams of income. She didn’t leave her employer, and now, as a parallel-prenuer she still works in the corporate setting, and her employer is a big consumer of her branding services. “They utilize me to teach employees how to be visible and gain recognition for the expertise they have to advance their careers.

Yolanda notes that her greatest satisfaction comes from seeing others succeed, “working with other people and seeing their successes is one of my greatest accomplishments.” It should also be mentioned that she has many awards under her belt, including the LRL President’s Award for Diversity, the 360PM Elite Award for Transformational Leadership, and the Indianapolis Business Journal named her one of the 2017 Women of Influence. She admits that receiving external rewards and recognition is awesome because it lets her know the work she’s doing truly matters.

Yolanda has shown us that she is a non-stop woman of motivation. In January, she experienced a few nights of restlessness and was constantly awoken out of her sleep, and hearing the words, “Look Up, Get Up, Level Up.” At first, she ignored it, but once it happened the second night, she realized she wasn’t going to get any sleep until she figured out what this meant. So, she looked up, got up, and went to her office, and she began brain dumping. “Within two hours, I had a full-blown 4-week group coaching curriculum outlined to be conducted on a specified day for 2-hours, each week,” she says. The program sold-out in 2 weeks and launched in February and she is hosting the monthly series for individuals who want to achieve next-level excellence by building a brand, creating strategies, and developing a positive digital footprint. Can you guess the name of it? If you said anything other than “Look Up -Get Up -Level Up” I’d be disappointed. I would join quickly because her classes are filling up fast.

Looking forward to the future, Yolanda is currently working on her next book. As she continues her journey, she plans to invest in Branding 4 Success full time. Her end goal is to be a premier branding and career coaching company, helping people around the world discover their passion and purpose to reach their highest potential.

If you are interested in connecting or learning more about Yolanda and Branding 4 Success check out her social media handles and website, LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/branding4success, Twitter - @_YolandaSmith, Instagram - branding4success, h www.Yolandamsmith.com, or contact her at yolanda@yolanda-smith.com

Helping Client’s Unleash The Power of Personal Branding www.yolandamsmith.com 18

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Bridging The Gap for Minorities in Aviation

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By Gamal Williams Photos by Ramone Hemphill Flight (noun) – the action or process of flying through the air. For Ramone Hemphill, flying is a dream come true.

A 9-year licensed pilot and Charlotte, North Carolina native, Ramone now resides in Melbourne, Florida working as a Systems Engineer in Avionics. “The first interest I had in aviation was in high school. I was in this group called The Explorers Club, and I was looking into Air Traffic Control. I got to go to an air traffic control tower for the first time. That’s what got me geared up thinking about aviation in general. Fast forward, I ended up with a career spanning from aviation electronics (avionics) and flight controls, to flight test engineering. From that point, it was about getting a deeper understanding of aviation.

The idea early on for me was that if I could obtain my pilot’s license, I could have a deeper operational understanding of it,” he says.

Ramone recognized the lack of African American representation in the aeronautics field. While African Americans are present at airports as baggage handlers, flight attendants, or security guards, they are vastly under-represented in the overall aviation community. Aeronautical engineering, air traffic control, aviation maintenance, all have low representation of African Americans, but none more than aircraft pilots. According to a 2018 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 3% of all commercial pilots in the US are African American. Ramone wants to change that.

Along with his wife, and Board of Directors, Brinkley Wright, and Richard Winchester, Ramone formed The 99th Squadron in Brevard County, Florida. The 99th Squadron, so named after the first African American fighter squadron, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the aviation field and our community. According to their website, The99th.org, Ramone and his team “expose our youth to the vast opportunities of the aviation industry, starting with the most basic fundamentals of flight for middle school and high school students.”

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The 99th offers a “free to students” 5-week curriculum, or “Flight Plan” as his website states, that involves 1-hour courses on Saturdays, with a 30-minute homework review every Wednesday to gauge student comprehension and potential topics of discussion. The 99th teaches students a wide range of fundamentals: Aerodynamic Principles, Instruments & Engines, Air Traffic Control, Decision Making, Charts, Navigation Systems, Aviation Weather, and Weather Services.

At the end of the course, each student (along with a chaperone) gets to take to the air for a handson flight, allowing students to co-pilot and apply what they have been learning.

“I’ve had the most fun introducing aeronautics to people, specifically people that didn’t realize there are hundreds of airports, not just the big ones, but smaller ones. People don’t realize that ‘Hey, you can do this too. You can get your pilot’s license and here’s what that looks like,’” Ramone explained. “I have seen that people don’t see this as a tangible field. I had one student tell me they were thinking of being a flight attendant… but there are other things besides that. That tells me in their day-to-day, they are in an environment that is limiting their options. We don’t even limit the program to being a pilot, it just starts out with that because that is what the industry is centered around. But we expose them to all facets of aviation,” Ramone says.

“I’ve had the most fun introducing aeronautics to people, specifically people that didn’t realize there are hundreds of airports, not just the big ones, but smaller ones. People don’t realize that ‘Hey, you can do this too. You can get your pilot’s license and here’s what that looks like.”

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Once the course is over, Ramone and his team encourage the students to stay involved in the aeronautical field. “Once they complete the program, my idea of the best way to keep them engaged is to keep them in the air. We may not be able to get them in the air every week or every month, but we encourage them to continue in the program through our Continuing Education initiative, where we take them on site visits. We’ll also collaborate with other local STEM initiatives, namely the General Chappie James, Jr. Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., the South Brevard County Task Force, and the Rising Star Leadership Development.”

Jason Webber was one of those students. The 17-year-old high school senior has always dreamt of being a pilot. “I love airports. When I found out about The 99th, I was excited about the opportunity. My first flight was a lot of fun. I was a little nervous at first, but then what we learned about the instruments and knowledge of the aircraft kicked in,” Jason says. When asked what he did immediately after, he laughed. “I posted a video of it to SnapChat! All my friends thought it was cool and asked how I got to do that.” His mother, Melody, enjoyed her flight as well. “I was a little nervous, but I loved seeing Jason so focused and excited. He has talked of joining the Air Force. Hopefully, this program will inspire him to keep going,” she says.

The 99th Squadron looks for the best in every child, regardless of past academic performance. “The whole point of this is to get the children to dig in a little deeper than what they are getting in school, and actually be able to apply what they are already learning in school to something that is tangible,” explains Ramone. “I’m a firm believer in that.

We don’t exclude children because of their grades. A child’s poor performance could be because they haven’t found something that interests them. This could be it for them,” says Ramone.

The 2021 fundraising goal for the upcoming September class is $5,000 which would cover the five-week course and flights for ten students. If you would like to donate to The 99th Squadron, please visit their website. h

Ramone Hemphill The99th.org

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Be Accelerated Into Purpose, LLC Humbled by His Grace Ministries 24

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By Terry L. Watson Photos by Randall Lee It all begins with having a genuine love and concern for others. By doing so, the purest form of God’s love is expressed and perpetuated. This accurately describes the life of Kocysha LaShaun.

Born and raised in West Helena, AR, Kocysha is the founder of Be Accelerated into Purpose, LLC. In this role, she serves as a Writing Coach, Editor, and Self-Publishing Consultant. She is also the overseer of Humbled by His Grace Ministries, a teaching and coaching ministry. She serves as a Teacher of Spiritual Growth and Development and a Spiritual Mindset Coach to help men overcome mental blocks that lead to feelings of frustration and defeat. Once these obstacles are conquered, Kocysha believes men are able to walk in their purpose with confidence, power, and humility.

Naturally, Kocysha is a writer. Like most writers, it began in the imaginative mind of a young girl, who possessed the ability to see beyond the realms of her reality. “As a little girl, I began writing in the form of poetry, more so as an outlet for frustration.

I never expected to be an author. That happened as a result of a job loss when God began downloading messages to me for a book,” she says.

She is the author of three books and co-author in three anthologies. Her first book was Humbled by His Grace, originally written in 2013, but re-published in 2018. In the same year, she wrote another book as part of the See Self as God Sees mini-book series titled, Out of The Darkness and Into the Light. That one, Kocysha shares, was difficult to write. “This was the book that would tell what was meant to be written in my first book. This was the book I had to write to begin my own purpose walk with confidence,” she says. “It was difficult because it meant sharing pieces of me that I’d hidden for so long behind closed doors, out of fear of being misunderstood and judged while outwardly portraying a spiritual persona that involved encouraging others to be and do better.

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Some of her accolades include Coaching Certifications from Transformation Academy for CBT, REBT, and Spiritual Coaching, as well as Relationship Workshop Facilitator and Public Speaker Training and Workshop Facilitator. She is also a former Personal Development Writer for Success Profiles Magazine.

Kocysha is innately an encourager, giver, and teacher. She is passionate about helping others rise out of their pits of darkness, while also addressing faulty belief systems and addictive behaviors. This helps them become unstuck so they can move forward in their purpose. This passion has extended into her writings, and as an author she uses her platform to teach the importance of selfreflection and the love and grace of God.

There was a struggle with people-pleasing and codependency on others to validate my existence and worth. While encouraging, uplifting and teaching others in the public, I was suffering behind closed doors, battling my own demons.

Photo by Clinton McCoy

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Much like those she serves, Kocysha has had to deal with her own dark pits and addictive behaviors. Parts of her testimony are shared in her books. In short, she was a young girl who lost her virginity at the age of 13, which led to sex addiction in many forms lasting for over 20 years. “There was a struggle with people-pleasing and co-dependency on others to validate my existence and worth. While encouraging, uplifting, and teaching others in the public, I was suffering behind closed doors battling my own demons. Then one Sunday in late 2017, a pastor asked the question, ‘Are you seeing yourself as God sees you?’ That question convicted me so that it literally changed the trajectory of my life. That’s when my own process of being accelerated into purpose began. The process has not always been easy, but more than anything it’s been one of great humility,” Kocysha shares.

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Although it was God that saw her through different trials, she wouldn’t be the person she is today were it not for the testimonies of others. “I can’t pinpoint one person who’s impacted my life the most because it’s a combination of stories from those who have bounced back from different setbacks in life. Losing my job as an instructor was the situation that impacted my life the most. It was devastating to my pride, but were it not for that, I’m sure things would have turned out completely different. That job loss led to me building a free-lance business as a selftaught transcriptionist and virtual assistant, and now as an author and coach,” she says.

The one constant was the ever-present hand of God planted right in the middle of everything.

Pictured with Kocysha is her sister Karena Washington, who also co-authored on the book, The Lost Coin.

For those aspiring to write, Kocysha shares, “Knowing your who and why is most important for the writing process and helps as well with the marketing and promotion process. Create an outline of chapter titles and topics before writing your content. This will help with structure and organization. It will also save you a lot of time and money when it comes to choosing an editor or publisher.”

On March 12, Kocysha released her 7th book titled, From the Heart of God to the Hearts of Men. On June 12, she will be joining the Fair Consulting Group as a speaker for the Leadership Experience Tour in Troy, MI. Over the next few months, she’s scheduled for several podcast interviews while continuing to establish her ministry.

When not writing, Kocysha can be found enjoying the simple life. Her hobbies are reading, listening to praise and worship music, and painting. To learn more about Kocysha and to purchase copies of her books, please visit her website. h

www.kocyshalashaun.com

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La’Roy Crumble Wine Company

By Ayana Bryant Photos by Seawards Dawson Starting a business during a global pandemic could be a daunting task for most, but Latony Crumble and Willie Wilkes have embraced the challenge with open arms. The year of 2020 introduced several obstacles to the world but also birthed La’Roy Crumble Wine for these two business partners.

Wilkes, 31, originally from historic Memphis, TN didn’t necessarily intend on becoming a business owner within the wine industry when first starting his career. Upon graduating from Job Corps pursuing the electrical trade, Wilkes then relocated to Atlanta, Georgia with hopes of becoming an electrician.

When this career path revealed itself to be unsuccessful, Wilkes then returned to school and pursued a track in heating and air. This opportunity eventually led him to meet his now business partner Latony Crumble.

Crumble, a Virginia native and former professional dancer saw the potential of creating his own wine from being so heavily involved in the entertainment industry. So, from there an idea as well as a distillery contact in Detroit would propel the duo to start La’Roy Crumble Wine.

The name La’Roy comes from a cross between Crumble’s first name Latony, and Wilkes middle name, Roy. This black owned business is based out of Atlanta, Georgia and has grown pretty quickly since their launch in late 2020. La’Roy Crumble has developed five signature flavors that are currently available for retail, a Moscato blend, an Alicante, a Dago red, Pinot Grigio, and a Chamblee.

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When asked what motivates and inspires them to continue growing their business, both gentlemen stated that being able to network with so many people and seeing the growth they’ve already acquired is the biggest drive for them. For Latony Crumble, his faith has played a big role in never giving up stating “I believe God gave me a gift to start something from the bottom and bring it to life.” Wilkes explains that connecting with people has always been an easy thing for him and that he is grateful for this business opportunity. He sees it as “a platform to be able to reach an even broader group of people”.

“The sky’s the limit and I see no limits on where this brand can go.”

Crumble and Wilkes discussed the challenges they have faced. One of them is being unable to secure investors and acquire loans to start their business, but they explain it has only encouraged them to work harder to fund it themselves.

They both understand they are still in the early stages of this new journey and face more challenges that haven’t yet been reached.

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After only operating in four months of business and starting out with five different flavors of wine, both Wilkes and Crumble have no desire to slow down any time soon. Plans to continue growing their business are already in motion with four new flavors already in development.

So, what lies in the future for La’Roy Crumble Wine you might ask? “The sky’s the limit and I see no limits on where this brand can go” says Wilkes. Plans for mainstream distribution are definitely in the cards. Despite the challenges and issues these young men might have encountered, they both say that it hasn’t deterred them. They plan to continue moving forward one day at a time. Let’s all raise a glass to the success of this thriving new business and say Salud!

For more information about La’Roy Crumble Wine, and to purchase your selection, please check out the company via Instagram @La’Roycrumble_wine, and on Facebook at La’Roy Crumble. h

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By Laci Ollison Photos by Harazim Photography

Rising entrepreneur Autumn Shelton is taking the natural beauty industry by storm.

At just 23-years-old, the Nashville, Tennessee native has managed to disrupt the status quo for individuals her age by starting her own beauty brand and opening up a brick-andmortar location in her hometown.

Autumn is the owner of Honeyed Lips and Skincare LLC, also known as Honeyed Natural Healthy and Beauty. Through her business, Autumn sells and crafts handmade products for her customers.

“I sell and craft handmade all-natural organic lip care, skincare, and wellness products for the overall wellness inside and out,” said Autumn.

“Our products are designed to target skin types such as sensitive and dry skin, rashes, eczema, acne, and psoriasis.”

Autumn says that she is adamant about helping her customers achieve healthy skin. “Our main goal is to promote healthy skincare,” she said. “So, we do not use any harsh fragrances, chemicals, alcohols, or steroids!”

It was also her customers that inspired the young entrepreneur to start her business. “[I was inspired by] helping others through the process,” she said. “I have struggled with eczema, sensitive, and dry skin, my WHOLE life.

All the dermatology appointments and endless products that did not work for me was just mind blowing.”

After Autumn realized the hard work it took to find products for her skin, that’s when she realized that she had to do something for her own skin, and to help others with similar issues as herself. “Afterwhile I started doing my research and learning about my own body and specific needs,” Autumn said. “I was tired of the steroids and irritants in the soaps and other skincare products I was using and wanted to head in a more all-natural direction.” From there, Autumn gathered the knowledge she had gained and began applying it on her own skin.

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“That’s when I started crafting my own products and changing bad lifestyle habits, and it worked great for me,” Autumn said.

“My eczema is now almost completely gone!”

When Autumn realized that she was able to clear up her own skin, that’s when the inspiration to start a business came to her.

“Once I started getting into making products for myself and seeing how beneficial it was and could be for others, I decided to turn what I was doing for myself into something for everyone,” Autumn said. “I started small with family and friends, got great feedback, and then decided to expand with a plan.”

Her products have helped many of her customers get the skincare results that they have been searching for as well. “I have customers that have noticed a wide variety of results,” Autumn said. “From clearer glowing skin, lightening blemishes and dark spots, evening skin tones, less inflammation, and allergic reactions.”

Autumn’s wellness products have also had a positive effect on her customers overall physical wellbeing.

“When it comes to our wellness products,” she said, “sea moss gel and elderberry syrup customers have reported more energy, fewer aches, and pains, as well as better immunity, digestion, weight loss, lower cholesterol, improved a1cs, and longer/stronger hair and nails.

Although her business is now growing, Autumn says that she did face some challenges during the process of opening up her physical store location. “The hardest part was just trying to get everything together from a product aspect and to a shop aspect,” said Autumn. “I wanted it to be an amazing outcome and create a comfortable space for everyone. I always carry a homey vibe and that is what attracts people to me. From a product perspective, I had a lot of new things I wanted to make and get on the shelves before opening.”

Autumn says that she is also still learning to balance all of her life responsibilities as well.

“Balancing everyday life, my healthcare career, and my business can be challenging sometimes yet very rewarding. It just requires having a strong structure and organization. I love what I do in every aspect of my life. Working in health and beauty is my heart and calling.”

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Even with the normal challenges that come along with building a business, Autumn says that there is nothing about her journey that she would change. “I absolutely love being a product of my environment and rubbing off on others and helping them understand a better way of living,” said Autumn. “Change can be uncomfortable but very needed in some cases.

You cannot expect results if you don’t try.”

Autumn also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to give up in the pursuit of their own dreams. “Never give up. No matter what challenges are thrown your way you have to keep going,” she said. “No one ever said it would be easy. Build relationships and understand that everything is not for everyone but what you are doing is for someone and they will be grateful for what you are doing.”

And when things do get hard, Autumn says that it is her own journey that keeps her motivated. “My own personal journey motivates me to keep going,” she said. “I have been able to touch and help so many who have some of the same challenges as me and to be able to talk to them and tell them ‘hey we’ll try this or do this to see if it works for you’ makes me feel so good. It’s a blessing to be a blessing.”

Over the next few years, Autumn hopes to continue to grow, scale, and expand her business. “I see myself growing and venturing into other sectors of health and beauty,” said Autumn. “Opening Up another Honeyed location outside of TN is in the plans as well. I am working very hard to improve the overall aspect of Honeyed’s products and services!”

To learn more about Honeyed Lip and Skin Care, please stop their new location, or visit their website. h

Pictured with Autumn is her fiance and co-owner, Nate

907 Rivergate Pkwy Suite E-10 Goodlettsville, TN 37072 www.honeyedbyautumn.com

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By Trea’Sure Prince Photos by Keisha Heggie Jay Maxwell, also known as Meantime Max, was born in Newark, New Jersey to a creative household. He later moved to Greensboro, N.C., and attended James B. Dudley High School. After graduation, Maxwell went on to attend Winston Salem Barber College and obtained his professional barber’s license. He eventually became a successful barber in the triad area.

Maxwell was the youngest of three and has two older brothers. He was raised by a single mother and stated that his mother did her absolute best to make sure that she would raise strong black men, even if she had to do it alone. “My creativity was inspired by “school-teacher mother,” he shares. “She has always been artistic, and her gift eventually rubbed off on me.” To keep him busy, Maxwell’s mother allowed him to assist with creating bulletin boards which ignited his passion for a larger scale of art.

“I did not want my artistry to be put into a box. I enjoy how random they can be, as well as the freedom of expression my artwork provides.”

Other than seeing his mother taking art courses in college when he was younger, Maxwell hasn’t had any former training but has always been passionate about street art and graffiti. Unfortunately, his interest led to some trouble and mischief. As a teenager, he was charged for painting the wall of a local grocer, Winn-Dixie. After that, he decided to put a stop to it. After his break from street art and graffiti, he evolved to draw and create mixtape covers for other artist and musicians. He also created flyers for a rap group of which he was a member of at the time. Life would happen and he stopped painting graffiti and street art. Then something horrific happened in our country that would inspire artists from all walks of life to become involved.

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After hearing the news of George Floyd’s murder, a black man who was killed at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, MN, the country responded with swift anger and emotions. Many businesses, including those in Maxwell’s home of Greensboro boarded up their business out of fear of being damaged by vandalism. Turns out, that many of these infractions weren’t being committed by the protesters who marched in peace in response to the killing of Floyd. But instead, were being carried out by criminals.

The city started allowing local people to paint on the plywood boards. While taking his daughter to go painting, Maxwell noticed there just were not enough black artists out there participating. So, he got busy and soon many of his works dawned the building of downtown Greensboro.

Later the city of Greensboro established a Street Mural Program. It was a huge accomplishment for him to be invited to participate in the “One Love” project in downtown Greensboro. Artists painted “One Love” on Davie Street. Here, he met a lot of the big-time artists who were in town to contribute to this unified cause.

Maxwell has a variety of artwork that he does. His artwork ranges from graffiti and wall murals to canvases and poetry. Mainly his creative energies lead him to create large street art. He described his creativity as “a free bird flying.” “This comparison may be cliché but, it is accurate.”

It is also important to Maxwell to produce pieces that are purposeful. “I did not want my artistry to be put into a box.

I enjoy how random they can be, as well as the freedom of expression my artwork provides,” he says. In his pieces, he also wanted to stop making black men look like victims. Maxwell stated, “I wanted to give black men their power back.”

One of his most memorable experiences or works came about a year ago when he lost a good friend of his. Maxwell decided that he wanted to make him into what seemed to be a “black superman” like figure. This piece was very emotional for him, so emotional in fact that he had to stop and take breaks to help keep himself maintained. He also wanted to make sure that he got this particular piece done exactly right. It was done such as it should be, and the finished work has been applauded by onlookers and friends of his deceased friend.

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So, what lies in the future for Mr. Jay, “Meantime Max” Maxwell? He plans to use the art to catapult other projects that he has been working on, and he would like to continue selling more canvases. As of right now, Jay Maxwell is continuing to pursue his passion for art. He is also a local barber who owns a barber shop and has been working on producing music.

“Meantime Max” is simply a jack of all trades.

If you would like to support artist Jay Maxwell, he uses Shopify, but he accepts direct messages on Instagram where he goes by the handle “MeantimeMax” for serious inquiries. h

Follow Jay Maxwell on Instagram @meantimemax Cleveland - March/April 2021

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MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby

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Izabella McDonald The daughter of Shantell McDonald and Gary McDonald

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To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com

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