Monica JohnsonDianne Lofton

Monica Johnson MARJ Consulting LLC

Monica Johnson, MA, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), of Atlanta, Georgia is a dynamic professional speaker, published author, lecturer and expert in mental health and leadership. She has worked in the behavioral health field for over 24 years, including working in a variety of executive leadership roles within state government and a variety of settings in private, for profit and non-profit organizations.

In addition, she’s a seasoned executive leader with a proven track record of success. Over the last couple of decades Monica has led several high-profile large scale change initiatives, chaired several collaborations, and served as board members for a variety of governing boards. “I have had success creating and leading projects that others thought would fail and brought people together with different perspectives to work towards common goals to accomplish complex initiatives,” she says. “I am most passionate about developing and empowering women leaders and educating the community on mental health wellness; ultimately reducing the stigma associated with mental illness for healthier lives.”

In 2019, Monica wrote and independently published her first book, Fab 30: Critical Leadership for Women which focuses on providing the opportunity to bring women leaders forward to make lasting impact on our communities and ultimately the world. Her impeccable record reflects a deep determination to succeed. She has earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology (minor in Communications) from Kennesaw State University and a graduate degree in Professional Counseling/Psychology at Argosy University. She is a proud Alumnus of the Georgetown University Leadership Academy and a recipient of the Intensive Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Schizophrenia Certification at the Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Philadelphia.

Currently, Monica operates MARJ Consulting LLC in Atlanta. Her firm provides three primary services and products that include Women’s Leadership Development, which involves the Fab 30: Critical Leadership Lessons for Women book designed to reach larger audiences to serve as a reference guide on successfully navigating their leadership path. There is also the Fab 30 Women’s Leadership Masterclass, which is a live version of her book. It is conducted in an intimate class setting designed to bring the principles of the book to life through interactive discussion, exercises, and lecture. The amazing experience helps to bring women leaders together, to be stronger, better, and empowered. The Masterclass is offered up to three times per year in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The third product is the Fab 30 Workshops for Businesses, a modified version of the Masterclass specifically tailored to corporations, non-profits, public entities, community organizations, etc. “Many organizations have women leadership groups or other similar names with the goal of uplifting and empowering their women workforce. I target these organizations to provide the workshops at their site locations,” she says.

“That sentiment is not about just one person, but lots of people in high profile leadership roles that are supposed to lead but are not doing that.”

Monica Johnson MARJ Consulting LLC www.monicajohnson.com

Some additional products and services offered by MARJ Consulting LLC are Specialized Workshops & Keynote Speaking. With this, Monica is able to develop unique workshops and seminars on a wide range of topics related to leadership development and mental health wellness based on the needs of an organization. These are usually co-ed, and more broad than the Fab 30 series. Similarly she also provides keynote speaking for conferences based on the needs of the organization.

Monica is also a Mental Health Expert and is available for speaking needs for organizations, special events, conferences, and any media outlet. Particular areas of interest as it relates to mental health wellness center around reducing the stigma of mental illness in the Black/AfricanAmerican community, reducing stigma of mental health overall, promoting mental health wellness for all ages, promotion of mental health wellness for women.

MARJ Consulting LLC began about three years ago as a result of Monica’s frustration about the lack of leadership that existed in our country. “That sentiment is not about just one person, but lots of people in high profile leadership roles that are supposed to lead but are not doing that. Instead of continuing to scream at the TV, or be irritated by strangers on social media, I decided to do something more productive,” she shares. “Be the change you want to see. I started drafting the Fab 30 Critical Leadership Lessons for women as a workshop curriculum. That was my initial goal, develop the workshop and start talking to women. I started with women on purpose. I felt that often times women fill the void of pretty much everything. We are every day superheroes that when empowered make magic happen. I began to think if I could use my experiences and lessons to help new leaders as well as seasoned leaders feel empowered to do more they would. I did not have any idea at the time that a plan and outline for a workshop would evolve into anything more.”

She completed the curriculum in a couple of months and started facilitating workshops from the curriculum. She learned quickly by talking and listening to more and more women that the information being shared was indeed inspiring and empowering women of different ages, races, nationality and experience levels.

Monica shares that she is inspired by different things, at different times. She is also inspired mostly by her dad, Joseph Saxby who is also a writer and lifelong coach and captain for #teamMonica. “He pushes me to be better than I think I can be and when I reach the goal, he pushes for the next level. I recently saw the movie Harriet and was inspired by it. Ellen DeGeneres also inspires me. I love that she is relatable, lived in her truth at a time that was not convenient and came through it on top eventually. But I am honestly inspired by every day things around me. I see inspiration in hearing my kids talk to each other about how someone they know may have mental health issues but it is not a joke and they are seriously talking about how the person should get help. I see inspiration in my husband who taps more and more into is natural leadership skills, owns his past mistakes, and is dedicated to being a good husband and father. I am inspired that years ago he said he didn’t think a woman could be president but now he thinks I could be,” she says. h

By Laci Ollison Photos by Katrena Wize Artography

“If we speak life to a thing and we believe what we say, it’s going to come to pass and it’s going to happen.”

In life, there things that happen that cause us to question what it is that we believe in. We find ourselves in situations that can shake our faith and push us past our limits. In those moments, we may also begin to wonder why certain things have to transpire. Who or what can you trust when your world is suddenly turned upside down? While some people might put their trust in horses and chariots, Dianne Lofton has chosen to put her trust in someone much higher than herself.

Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Dianne is a wife, mother, associate pastor, prophet, and author. She has traveled various states as a motivational speaker, including New York, South Carolina, and Virginia. For ten years, she managed a radio broadcast called “Signs of the Times” which aired on WEAL, WQMG, and WGHP.

Along with her husband, she founded Sings of the Times Evangelistic and Missionary Association. This organization serves as a training and licensing hub for pastors, evangelists, teachers, and missionaries.

Dianne has also studied at both Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and John Wesley University in High Point, North Carolina.

But while this woman of God holds many titles, she is most proud of how God has chosen to use her to speak life into dead situations; both literally and figuratively. It was her obedience to the “still small voice” she heard that led Dianne to become an instrument for God to perform a supernatural miracle in the life of her husband.

Dianne’s husband, Pastor Johnnie T. Lofton III, was hospitalized for 112 days. He spent 84 of those days in the intensive care unit. As Pastor Lofton’s health declined, doctors gave up hope twice and advised his family to say their final goodbyes. But it was Dianne who refused to believe what the doctors said about her husband both times.

“I laid in his bed next to him and spoke to his spirit, just as Elijah did,” said Dianne.

Doctors remained hopeless, unsure of what medical treatment or course of action would even work for this man of God. In their professional medical opinion, there were no other options for Pastor Lofton. But Dianne was sure of the word and the promise that God had spoken to her. Although her husband’s situation did not look good, Dianne knew that she had to remain steadfast and unmovable in her faith.

So, while the healthcare providers did what they could, Dianne did the only thing she knew to do: she prayed.

“If we speak life to a thing,” said Dianne, “and we believe what we say, it’s going to come to pass and it’s going to happen.”

For three days, Dianne prayed and fasted. She remained by her husband’s bedside pleading with God and reminding Him of every promise that He spoke concerning her husband.

After days of praying that her husband would regain consciousness and live, Pastor Lofton opened his eyes. Even after the doctors said that it wasn’t possible, this small physical activity was God’s way of saying yes.

“Hezekiah cried to the Lord and for 15 more years of life,” Dianne recounted, “and January of this year made 15 years.”

After having to re-learn how to speak, walk, read, and use basic motor skills, Pastor Lofton and Evangelist Lofton now travel together sharing their testimony of grace and healing to people around the world. The anointed couple have a deep passion for seeing people healed, delivered, and set free. Together they have cast out many evil spirits in the Name of Jesus. Their hope is to be examples of leaders who exemplify unconditional love.

Dianne also transformed the story of her husband’s testimony, among others, in a book entitled “Shine: Unlocking the Door to Your Miracle.”

In this book, Dianne shares a collection of true short stories of miracles that are written to inspire the reader to increase their faith in God. The book talks about how her obedience to the Holy Spirit has allowed her to be a first-hand witness to numerous miracles, signs, and wonders. She also writes of a woman who was called to rescue her child out of the morgue.

In addition to being a woman of faith, Dianne is a proud mother of four and grandmother of five. She says that her family is her greatest motivation.

Dianne and her husband, Pastor Lofton, currently co-pastor Bethlehem Baptist church in High Point, North Carolina where they have been serving in ministry for 34 years.

You can also find Dianne working tirelessly in the cities of High Point and Greensboro. She is an active mentor for the Weed and Seed Project and serves in the prison and nursing home ministries.

She also has affiliations with Total Christian TV and Morning Alive in Graham, North Carolina where she acted as a prayer partner and co-host.

When Dianne isn’t doing ministry work, she loves to sing and dance, no matter who is watching. She is inspired by music of all genres. Dianne also loves to admire nature and calls it “God’s work.” The best art to her is when God paints the sky with beautifully colored hues in a cloudy day or starry night.

“Lady Di,” as she is often called, believes that her mission is to “rescue the underdog.” She has a genuine drive to see others succeed. h

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