EMpeccable Magazine People Edition Volume 3

Volume 3

TWO-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNING REPORTER / ANCHOR

“I never lose.

Either I or

.”

Nelson Mandela

VOLUME 3

2023

CONTENTS From the

Publisher

G

reetings: Once again we are proud to present Empeccable Magazine People Edition. This is our third issue and we remain very excited and grateful for your support. We are still on a mission to feature and highlight the successful endeavors of people from our communities because if we don’t toot our own horns, no one else will. We all know that on a regular basis mainstream media will spin a negative narrative when it comes to us. But, we can tell our own stories.

In this issue of the magazine, we are introducing a new section.

We call this new section OUR and it features AfricanAmerican public figures that you should know about.

Share your legacy. We would love to publish your success story for the world to see. You can contact us on our social media platforms, or via email. Let us know that you have a story to tell and we will get back with you. "info@theEmpeccablecompany.com" For your reading enjoyment, the magazine is available in digital and print format and you can purchase it from our website TheEmpeccablecompany.com.

Our Team PUBLISHER / CEO

DR. ALICIA CAIN ADMINISTRATOR

TATONNA HICKMAN

Don’t forget to check out the amazing Wig Phoenix machine that restores old raggedy synthetic wigs to look better than new! It too can be purchased on our website.

Much Love, Dr. Alicia Cain, Publisher/CEO

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

AHNA MASON DESIGN & LAYOUT

DONALD JOHNS SOCIAL MEDIA

TAYONNA HICKMAN

COVER

La’Tasha Givens

Visit us at: www.theempeccablecompany.com

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Diamond McNulty Jacqueline Blake Jerry Mitchell Jevoni McCallister Dr. Daquesha Chever Natalie Graham Madison Summers Marcella Boothe-Davis La'Tasha Givens OUR ...

Congresswoman Gwen Moore Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Mayor Sylvester Turner Mayor Karen Bass David Stewart Kierston Clarke Bankston

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. . .is an Executive Chef, and has been in the Culinary field for over 15 years, he is an Entrepreneur and the Author of several books, his most noted being “How To Become A Successful Young Man.”

To empower kids, teens, adults and elders to eat healthy and succeed in life.

Today we would better describe Diamond McNulty as a man who believes in others just as much as he believes in himself. Diamond is passionate about helping others succeed and empowering the next generation to strive for greatness.

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He is an active Executive Board Member for various schools and Non-profit organizations. Diamond prides himself on being very active inside the community and making a difference. All of his endeavors have the same underlying mission, to help others eat healthy and succeed through literacy. He assists others in developing their success plan while motivating them via speaking.

With all that Diamond has accomplished at such a young age, from starting grass root businesses and winning competitions such as Steve Harvey’s Act Like A Success, McNulty wants to share his experience and knowledge to those coming behind him. Success without a successor is failure, let’s just say McNulty embodies this quote with every fabric of his being.

“Hi, I’m Chef Diamond but my Aunt calls me Chef CEO! I’m passionate about helping others succeed and my #Gift is cooking. My ultimate goal is to take over the world, but don’t worry I’m not stingy, I’ll share it with you. I have one dog named Kai, I’ve written 15 books and I love pineapples and broccoli, not together of course. If you’re ever looking for me I’m always inside the kitchen.

See you inside the kitchen” - Chef Diamond

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TEAMWORK Coming together is the Beginning Keeping together is Progress Working together is Success Henry Ford

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HR Director and Entrepreneur . . . is a passionate HR Director and Entrepreneur based in the Washington DC metro area. Her passion for business began 13 years ago after graduating from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta GA with a bachelor’s arts degree in Business Administration.

After graduation Jacqueline moved back home from Atlanta to the Washington DC area where she worked at various Fortune 500 companies then finally landed her dream job in Human Resources for the U.S Federal Government.

In 2019 Jacqueline used all her professional skills she acquired in her government and corporate experience to open her own HR consulting company Ava & Blakely Enterprises. She stands in as a business partner to help small black and minority owned government contracting companies build their HR structure and strategy from the ground up. .

Jacqueline is of Filipino and African American heritage and is a proud cheer and Stem mom of two girls Ava & Blakely, whom she named her business after, that currently reside in the Northern Virginia area. She juggles a very busy working mom schedule, as a mom to two young girls, with whom she shares a strong coparenting relationship with her ex-husband. As a hard-working business owner, she attends her eldest daughter’s cheerleading competitions. Although she is clearly career-driven, she says there is “nothing she loves more than being a mother.” Her hobbies including traveling abroad, hiking, salsa and bachata dancing.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - EMpeccable: Please tell our readers why you do what you do and what inspires you?

Jacqueline: I would say it is good for me because I am able to be creative and also organized. HR helps me understand rules and interpret them.

It also helps companies overall reach their goals and compliance. This makes me feel extremely accomplished because I am running my own business and help run others as well. Keeps you on your toes.

EMpeccable: How do you balance your personal life and your professional life?

Jacqueline: It is hard balance because work never stops. I would say I try my best to check out of work after 6pm. It’s important to decompress and spend time with family and yourself.

EMpeccable: What advice can you give someone that is just starting out or interested in becoming a business owner?

Jacqueline: Have a clear goal and work towards it every day until you accomplish it. Looking at it head on can be stressful. Create a checklist and complete as you go until you have it all done!!

EMpeccable: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are working on?

Jacqueline: I am working on a podcast called Bestie Chat on Spotify where I will be invited celebrities and influencers to chat about hot topics that you would share with your closest friends in a judgment free space.

EMpeccable: What makes you EMpeccable?

Jacqueline: What makes me EMpeccable is my ability to connect with people in a way they will never forget me.

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EMpeccable: Please tell our readers why you do what you do and what inspires you?

Jerry: I serve as President and CEO of the Birmingham-based Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce (ASBCC), www.alblackcc.org. The ASBCC is focused on advancing the interests of its membership and chartered affiliates through advocacy, education, business, and economic research, accessing competitive intelligence and forming strategic alliances to maximize opportunities

President and CEO for success. In this position, he interacts with businesses across Alabama and oversees the ASBCC’s 8 network affiliates: the Birmingham Metro Black Chamber, East Alabama Black Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Metro Black Chamber, Mobile Area Black Chamber, the Northeast Alabama Black Chamber (Gadsden/Anniston), the River Region Black Chamber (Montgomery), Tuscaloosa Area Black Chamber, and the Wiregrass Black Chamber of Commerce. He has consulted with more than a thousand businesses/nonprofits providing business development planning and technical assistance.

Additionally, he assisted

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over 100 businesses in acquiring needed capital for start-up and expansion, securing amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1.1 million.

I do what I do because of the experiences and struggles I had as a young business owner. I love helping entrepreneurs position themselves for sustainable success and fostering a space where Black business owners can connect with each other and our community, to collectively grow their businesses.

EMpeccable: What inspires you and who are some of your greatest influences?

Jerry: I am inspired by a number of things such as, the creativity and fearlessness of our youth in developing services/products that are not currently in the marketplace, the fact that Black women engage in business activity at a much higher rate than any other group, and that our organization can do a lot with limited resources.

EMpeccable: What advice can you give someone that is just starting out or interested in becoming .....?

Jerry: The primary advice I give to those launching businesses is to plan like your life depended on it. For those currently in business, you must know thy customer and gain/maintain expert knowledge of the market environment in which you intend to operate.

EMpeccable: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are working on?

Jerry: We created a statewide on-line Black business directory with 65 industry categories.

We currently have 2200 listings and by the end of 2023 we should have more than 5,000 listings (www.alabamagreenbook.com). In Huntsville, we have secured a facility, and are fundraising to re-purpose the building into an entrepreneurial and workforce development & co-working center that we are working towards opening in 2023.

EMpeccable: What makes you EMPECCABLE? Jerry: I am a relentless advocate for and a servant of my people, which makes me wonderful to many and scary to others.

“CHANGE WILL NOT COME IF WE WAIT FOR SOME OTHER PERSON OR SOME OTHER TIME. WE ARE THE ONES WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR. WE ARE THE CHANGE THAT WE SEEK.”

- BARACK OBAMA

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

Marilyn Monroe

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Registered Nurse and Businesswoman In 2018 while working as a registered nurse, JeVoni began searching for a vegan backpack to carry her nursing supplies. She remembers browsing through Instagram vegan brands and noticing the clear lack of representation. She was a black woman looking to support vegan fashion brands but clearly not feeling marketed to. “ I didn’t feel good supporting the brands who didn’t “see me” as a consumer”.

Therefore, she began doing more research which led her to starting her own brand. She withdrew her Nurse Practitioner application and focused on fulfilling a gap in the market. She began researching the handbag industry, deciding what materials she wanted to use. The more she learned about animal leather and its impact, the more it became clear that she didn’t want to take part in the production of that material.

Now the brands focus is not only vegan products but sustainable fashion. Therefore, the mission of VONI Los Angeles is simple, to offer beautiful accessories that are cruelty-free and sustainable.

VONI Los Angeles is a focused E-commerce brand that offers sustainable handbags and accessories. To learn more about VONI visit www.shopvoni.com , IG : @shopvoni

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EMpeccable: What obstacles or barriers have you encountered getting your business started or keeping it going?

JeVoni: One major ongoing obstacle is being self-funded.

Maintaining a handbag brand is quite expensive and I’m only able to scale the brand as fast as I’m able to fund it as a travel nurse. Another obstacle I encounter is building a team. Due to the economy, finding people who believe in my vision and not just a check, is hard to come by EMpeccable: What advice can you give someone that is just starting out or interested in becoming a vegan bag designer?

JeVoni: Have a clear vision of the kind of business you want to build, and give it great thought and time. Focus is definitely needed with the obstacles and barriers you will encounter as you grow. You must embody your mission because those same obstacles will become lessons needed for your success.

EMpeccable: What has been your favorite moment?

JeVoni: Moment! There are so many parts of the process that I enjoy, being the creator of this brand. Starting with an idea in my head, placed on paper then having a physical product made and worn by consumers is worth the journey.

EMpeccable: Why did you choose this profession?

JeVoni: It sounds cliche but it’s true, I didn’t choose this business, the business chose me. I was left with two options after graduating with my nursing degree. Get into more debt acquiring a master’s degree or get more debt building a business. The latter seems like more fun.

EMpeccable: What makes you EMpeccable?

JeVoni: My resilience is what makes me Empeccable. I believe that VONI will be a top tier brand, loved and worn by everyone.

Therefore, no matter what comes my way or challenges I face. I will remain empeccable in my goals as a business owner.

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ertified Physician - Dr. Daquesha C. Chever, a boardcertified family medicine physician, is a renowned and much sought-after author, speaker, and consultant.

Dr. Chever earned her doctorate degree from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2009. Upon successfully completing an empowering and rigorous internship year at Genesys Medical Center in Grand Blanc Michigan, Dr. Chever went on to complete her residency in Family medicine at NSU-Palmetto General Hospital in Miami, Florida, in 2012.

Dr. Chever immediately went on to her next call and spent her next year working at Ameriderm Research in Ormond beach Florida. There she learned the fundamentals of conducting clinical trials and was privy to the latest advancements in the treatments of Psoriasis, and various skin cancers. Since graduation, the much sought-after Dr. Chever found her niche in the medical field with a fierce love of teaching. Subsequently Dr. Chever was awarded Clinical Preceptor of the Year at her Alma-mater in 2015.

DR.

As a much-welcomed addition to the WellStar family, Dr. Chever is currently employed as an Urgent Care physician and enjoys being available to meet the necessary and rigorous health care demands for all those in and around her community.

In her free time, she enjoys hosting Vision Board Workshops and strives to be an

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inspiration, while she instructs others how to be their best selves. She strongly believes that anyone can benefit from a proper and positive mindset to assist individuals to get through the multitude of challenges in everyday life.

EMpeccable: What advice can you give someone that is just starting out or interested in becoming a physician?

Dr. Chever: I would encourage them to believe in the impossible, to trust the process, and release any doubts from their minds while setting their sights on their end goal. I would tell them to seek out strong mentors and build a team of family and friends that can encourage and become their strong support system when things get challenging. I would recommend they exercise their faith in order to stay positive when those challenges arise.

Lastly, I would want them to know that a setback should not stop them from stepping into their destiny.

EMpeccable: What has been your favorite moment?

Dr. Chever: A favorite and most humbling experience I’ve had was when a patient I urgently treated came back to thank me for helping save her life. I am beyond grateful for being able to do what I love and make a substantial impact on the health and livelihood of others.

EMpeccable: What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far?

Dr. Chever: My greatest accomplishment thus far has been reaching my dream career -becoming an outstanding physician and using my talents and voice to make a difference in the lives of those around me. I learned that in order to persevere and believe in myself, I had to release my fears and self-doubts.

EMpeccable: Do you have any upcoming projects you are working on?

I will be celebrating my book titled Releasing this spring by holding Releasing Spree Experience in various cities such as Los Angeles,

Las Vegas, and Jacksonville. During these experiences guests will be able to purchase an autographed copy of my book, have intimate one on one conversations with me and my team, and get their releasing spree on to inspire them to keep moving forward.

Anyone interested can follow me @DrDaquesha on Instagram and Facebook, or go to my website at Releasing1.com EMpeccable: What makes you EMPECCABLE? I decided to live my life fearlessly and with passion to fulfill my heart desires and help others bring forward and release their phenomenal side.

Through my books, coaching and Releasing Spree Experiences I promote purposeful awareness of one’s healthyme progression – (positively releasing the best in you and worst out of you) to get to your next best. In doing so, I positively inspire all that you are and hope to become.

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Smart

F i e r c e Kind Beautiful

Kind

Sensual

BOLD Wise Fearless Sensational Resilient Darling

Virtuous P a s s i o n a t e INDEPENDENT Natural Elegant BRAVE Responsible Grounded R a d i an t CompassionateCHOSEN Persistent Enough Lovely

P r o ud

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. . . is the Founder and CEO of N CORP, a proven successful company driving the transformation and leading over 18,000 families to financial stability, time freedom, and implementing strategies to assist in attaining their personal goals.

Natalie is a globally recognized and respected Millionaire Mentor, Lifestyle and Social Media Coach whose core mission is to change the trajectory of people’s lives, upgrade their mindset, bank account and zip code.

Natalie’s relentlessness to not succumb; but break the glass ceiling of business; has catapulted her to the prestigious honor as the #1 Income Earner in the World of Travel. This was the segue to establishing her company NRG Society. She is on a quest to help retire more people and generate 6 and 7- figure income earners. A highly sought – after Motivational Speaker & Health/ Wealth Ambassador, Natalie statement “everything you want in life, starts in your mind” is often virally shared at seminars, conferences and on multiple social media platforms.

Natalie is a force to be reckoned with a trove of well – deserved accolades and accomplishments. However, as a notable philanthropist, Natalie is using her influence and platform to heighten the awareness of Teen Pregnancy, Single Moms, and Domestic Violence Victims through her foundation TAPS & Co, a nonprofit organization which focuses on providing financial, social, and emotional support.

Natalie zest for life shows up when spending time with her family, writing, music, networking, traveling the world and EATING. EMpeccable: Please tell our readers why you do what you do and what inspires you?

Natalie: I am a professional network marketer and lifestyle coach. I teach people how to upgrade their mindsets, lifestyles, and bank accounts. I started in the network marketing industry 7 years ago with no experience. I was able to grow a team of over 18,000 travel professionals around the world, which allowed me to retire at the age of 33. Getting into that industry allowed me to fund my other businesses.

One being my NRG SOCIETY where I teach others how to manifest their best life and create their lifestyle vision.

EMP: How do you balance your personal life and your professional life?

Natalie: I am a wife and mom of 4. I also have to include

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that I’m also a devoted aunt, sister, cousin, and friend. With that being said.. I had to figure out how to include everybody in the midst of me building an Empire. I have learned to schedule everything in advance as much as possible. Sometimes I’m a better businesswoman than I am a mom (at that moment) Sometimes I’m a better wife than I am a businesswoman (at that moment) Sometimes I’m a better mom than I am a businesswoman at that moment. The key is to not let one area lack for a long period of time. Prioritizing is key.

EMP: What inspires you and who are some of your greatest influences?

Natalie: I get inspiration from all around me. Life inspires me. I am one of the biggest optimists I know. Art inspires me. Music inspires me. I love that I get to pull inspiration from all of the nooks and crannies of life. Both good and bad. Some of my greatest influences are Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Beyonce, Oprah, Lebron James, Kobe, Prince & Michael Jackson. I am attracted to people who serve.

I am attracted to those who drive. I see myself in each and every one of them.. either work ethic or philanthropy.

sense. I used to pray to be blessed to be a blessing. I never knew what form it would come in but it came in the form of network marketing as my gateway to helping the masses. My past jobs all reflected my love for serving, helping, and making others happy. When this opportunity was presented to me.. I naturally walked into DIVINE FAVOR. EMP: What makes you EMPECCABLE? Natalie: My heart for others make me EMPECCABLE. My desire to see people embrace their best versions of themselves. What makes me EMPECCABLE is my loving persona. My genuine spirit and my insatiable desire to exude and help create Happiness and help others DREAM BIGGER.

EMP: Why did you choose this profession?

Natalie: I feel like this profession chose me in a

Website and social media handles are : @thenatalielifestyle @nrg.society http://nrgsociety.com/

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Architect Designer and Entrepreneur Madison Summers an Architect Designer and Entrepreneur from Washington, D.C. Madison graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from Hampton University in 2020 (remotely) with a concentration in Sea Level Rise. She started her first successful business in 2020 and is still learning how to make it fully thrive. Madison currently works as an Architectural Designer at Ashley McGraw Architects where she designs schools, housing projects, and lifestyle projects.

Madison still lives in her hometown where she grew up with just her mom and her mom’s family. Madison graduated from high school when she was 16 years old; and was fortunate enough to receive a fellowship from the National Organization of Minority Architects after she graduated college to jumpstart her career. She has always been interested in personal finance and income outside of her day job. Now, I juggle her design interests and her finance interests, and it can get hectic, but it’s all working in her favor.”

In life, she thought the only thing she ever had the passion to pursue is her own personal development. Madison just wants to be the best version of herself. Growing up, she had a plethora of options of interests, but she has never been dead set on one thing. Life has led her over the years to become an artist, architectural designer,

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PEOPLE EDITION and entrepreneur. Her biggest goal was always to just give herself the fullest life possible, something she’s still working on. When Madison was a senior in high school, she applied to a plethora of colleges for engineering and thought that’s what I would be doing. Luckily, Madison applied for an architecture school, and it is the only one she got into. Not only was it the only college she got accepted to, but it was an HBCU, in a town where there were family connections, that gave me a scholarship.

Madison had no idea that designing buildings was her future, but it has become a profession that she loves. The sheer way that life works has kept me going. The universe will put you in the right places.

Aside from her 9-5 architectural design job, her other interests and entrepreneurship come from her desire to provide the fullest life that she can for herself and to serve others. After work, Madison either works on her spiritual e-commerce business (The Serenity Shoppe, LLC), writing the business plan for a non-profit that she wants to start, investing into other sources of passive income, or working on developing her art skills.

At work, Madison has been renovating a sorority house at Syracuse University, developing a STEM wing at an Elementary school, and should be working on an addition to her best friend’s middle school in the coming months. Soon in her business, she finally got her DC State Sales Tax License, and is looking to hire the right person to help me market it.

Madison has faced plenty of obstacles in her career, but she can’t let any of them become show-stopping.

Madison graduated into the pandemic, so she’s built for flexibility. Right now, Madison is trying to decide how to order her career. Although she focuses mainly on architectural design and e-commerce now – she has dreams of working with her nonprofit, designing and flipping homes, running a consulting business, spending more time on her art, and even getting back into tattooing. Madison is going for everything she can.

What makes Madison EMpeccable is her ability to be resilient. Through every challenge she face, she keeps the attitude that things will work out for her and others. It’s not always easy, but it’s the only path forward. If you don’t believe things will happen, then they can’t.

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arcella Boothe-Davis has been happily married for 19 years to Timothy Davis. Being equally yoked in servanthood and love, they help each other.

She was raised from a troubled past of child abuse and surviving ovarian cancer. God task

her with becoming a caretaker. Her husband survived stage 3 Prostate Cancer December 2022; the best Christmas gift God could have given them and their love ones. Marcella continues to be a light to others.

She’s a foster parent for troubled youth in Virginia. She supports men and women in the LGBT community in education for parents. Her role in the movie Boy Drama was to educate parents on how to love their children through their life changes; and to love them for who they are.

Marcella will be filming for another role in a Donbon production for Christmas 2023. She has a calling to love and have understand in our community.

PSALMS 34:6 "In my desperation I prayed and the Lord listened, he saved me from all my troubles." On

Author, Actress and Foster Parent

my YouTube page "SPEAK WITH YOUR GIRL MARCELLA" I strive to help people with their troubles through the help of God. EMpeccable: What obstacles or barriers have you encountered getting your business started or keeping it going?

MARCELLA: My obstacles were: I had to learn to adjust to learning ways of children that weren't mine.

I had to start studying and learning again after being out of school for quite some time. My husband and I had to do training and we continue to do so now as well. I also worked a corporate job I left to

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give my undivided attention to any child we accepted in our home. I’m so happy I chose this!!! I am loved so much by children that need love too.

love, and room in your home…I PROMISE, YOU WILL ENJOY bringing a child up when life has torn them down.

EMpeccable: How do you balance your personal life and your professional life?

MARCELLA: I do what I do because as a child I never felt loved, I didn't really feel love until my first daughter was born, I needed her more than she needed me. I do foster care because our today children don't get the love they need. Our world has become a big distraction away from family. With that we are losing a whole generation of children with emotional trauma from not being loved or understood.

EMpeccable: What makes you EMpeccable?

MARCELLA: When it comes to my life, I've been in mess, I turned it into a message. I've been tested, its my testimony! With God's grace and mercies, I will be flawless. MY LIGHT WILL ALWAYS BE AN EMPECCABLE ONE, TO SHARE A LITTLE LOVE EVERY WHERE YOU GO OTHERS will GROW!!!

EMpeccable: What has been your favorite moment?

MARCELLA: My favorite moment is: when I see what I tried to instill, is visible and they appreciate that new feeling. They break a cycle. They love and they can give love.

EMpeccable: Please tell our readers why you do what you do and what inspires you?

MARCELLA: What inspired me, (funny?) My very first job was at Wendy's. Wendy was adopted and loved. Literally we were taught to adopt good morals, we as employees were adopted as family.

I never had a family. So I chose to adopt and share my morals and give someone a family too. I also foster because my husband was in foster care, so it felt right.

So, if anyone have extra patience,

IG: @marcellaspeaks

YouTube: SPEAK WITH YOUR GIRL MARCELLA

EMPECCABLE | La'Tasha Givens is a Two-Time Emmy Award-Winning Reporter Anchor currently working at WXIA 11Alive News (NBC-Atlanta). Her passion for speaking and presenting information started at a young age.

During elementary school, she was chosen to deliver the daily morning announcements over the PA system.

She knew then she loved being a source for information and a voice for others.

La'Tasha has been a reporter at 11Alive News in

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Atlanta since 2015, covering everything from crime, severe weather, to politics.

She is also the host of The Business Brief radio show on Hit s 92.3. The live show takes listeners behind the scenes of emerging careers and top industries around Georgia. The show has earned accolades for its focus on local entrepreneurs.

She began her broadcasting career at WCTV (CBS) in Tallahassee, FL. as a reporter- anchor. From there, she moved to Oklahoma where she served as the

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evening anchor for the 9 o'clock News on Freedom 43 and weekend evening anchor on KFOR (NBC) NewsChannel 4. Before working in television news, she worked in public relations and founded her own company.

La'Tasha is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and loves serving her community through various organizations which include, Permission To F.L.Y., The Children's Center, HOPE Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity, and the Junior League.

She has been married to her husband William for nearly 18 years. They have three sons, William Charles (8 years), Winston Xavier (6 years) and Wellington Price (4 months).

As a spiritual person, she believes it is important to set an example for young women. She enjoys volunteering, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and watching movies that either make her laugh or cry.

EMpeccable: Please tell our readers why you do what you do and what

inspires you?

La'Tasha: Ever since I was a child, I’ve always enjoyed writing, researching and sharing information with others. That coupled with having a passion for justice and being an advocate for others made journalism a natural path for me.

EMpeccable: How do you balance your personal life and your professional life?

La'Tasha: Having a surprise baby blessing at the age of 42, making me a mother of three, has presented new challenges to the work/ life balance.

I’m doing my best to cope by being as organized as possible and for the first time in life, asking for help when I need it.

EMpeccable: What inspires you and who are some of your greatest influences?

La'Tasha: Growing up and early in my career, I admired the likes of Oprah, Barbara Walters, and others.

As I’ve gotten older, I have more mentors outside of the news industry.

My greatest motivators at this point in my life are our three boys. My every @latashagivens1on all platforms Instagram, Twitter Clubhouse, Snapchat, TikTok La ’Ta sha Givens 11Alive News TASHAGIVENS1@GMAI L .COM WWW. LATASHAGIVENS.COM

career and life decision now revolve around them.

EMpeccable: What advice can you give someone that is just starting out or interested in becoming an anchor woman?

La'Tasha: The best advice I can give any young professional is to completely immerse themselves within an industry they are interested in. Be bold and proactive so you can learn as much as you as quickly as you can. Be sure to get a mentor.

EMpeccable: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are working on?

La'Tasha: I’m working on a few investigative news reports. I’m also currently booking guest for my radio show The Business Brief on Hits 92.3 EMpeccable: What makes you EMpeccable?

La'Tasha: What makes me “EMpeccable” is that I’ve learned from every opportunity I’ve had and I’ve shared it with others. No matter what challenges I’ve experienced, I faced them with faith and grace.

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Congresspersons Mayors Billionaires Students

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. . . is a member of the U.S. House, representing Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2005. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.

Moore (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District.

She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Prior to the 116th Congress (2019-2020), Moore had been assigned to the Budget Committee and the Financial Services Committee. For 2019-2020, Moore was assigned to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Moore was one of 10 superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin. Moore supported Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

After earning her bachelor's degree from Marquette University in 1978, Moore became a housing officer for the Wisconsin Housing Development Authority. Prior to her election to the U.S. House, Moore served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1989 to 1992 and the Wisconsin State Senate from 1993 to 2003. She was president pro tempore of the state senate from 1997 to 1998.

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. . . represents the diverse Eighth Congressional District of New York. He assumed office on January 3, 2013 and is serving his sixth term in the United States Congress where current term ends on January 3, 2025. Jeffries was previously a member of the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2013.

Hakeem Jeffries was selected to be the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus in the 116th Congress.

Rep. Jeffries was born in Brooklyn Hospital, raised in Crown Heights and is a product of New York City’s public school system, having graduated from Midwood High School. He lives in Prospect Heights with his family.

Congressman Jeffries obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he graduated with honors for outstanding academic achievement.

He then received his master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University. Thereafter, Rep. Jeffries attended New York University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and served on Law Review.

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Sylvester Turner is the Mayor of Houston in Texas. Elected in December 2015 and re-elected in December 2019, Sylvester Turner is serving his second four-year term. He is Houston's 62nd mayor. Turner's current term ends on January 2, 2024.

Upon his election in 2015, Turner replaced term-limited Annise Parker.

Turner was an attorney with Barnes and Turner. He has worked as an adjunct professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, associate attorney at Fulbright and Jaworski, and a seminar lecturer at South Texas College of Law and University of Houston Law School's Continuing Legal Education Program.

Turner is a member of the Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society Board, Brookhollow Baptist Church, Coalition for School Improvement, and the United Negro College Fund.

Turner was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 139. He served in the position from 1989 to 2016. He served as the speaker pro tempore from 2003 to 2009.

Turner was vice chair of the Appropriations Committee from 2011 to 2015 and vice chair of the State Affairs Committee from 1995 to 2002.

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Karen Bass was born in Los Angeles, California. Bass graduated from Hamilton High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from California State University at Dominguez Hills in 1990 and a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California at Los Angeles in 2015. Bass' career experience includes working as a physician's assistant and a faculty member with the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. She founded the Community Coalition Karen Bass is the Mayor of Los Angeles in California. She assumed office on December 12, 2022. Her current term ends in 2026. Bass ran for election for Mayor of Los Angeles in California and won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Bass (Democratic Party) represented California's 33rd Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2013.

She represented California's 37th Congressional District from 2013 until 2022, when she resigned to become mayor of Los Angeles, California. In 2019, Bass became chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Bass began her political career in the California State Assembly, where she served from 2005 to 2010. From 2006 to 2008, she was majority floor leader of the assembly. She then served as speaker for her final two years. Bass was the first Black woman in the U.S. to serve as speaker of a state legislative chamber.

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David Steward was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 2, 1951, the son of Dorothy Elizabeth Massingale (1928 - present), a homemaker, and Harold Lloyd Steward (1925-1999), a mechanic.

In 1953, the family moved to Clinton, Missouri. As a child growing up in Clinton, Steward faced poverty and discrimination. "I vividly remember segregation—separate schools, sitting in the balcony at the movie theater, being barred from the public swimming pool," notes Steward, who was among a small group of African-American highschool students who integrated the public swimming pool in Clinton in 1967.

Steward received his BS degree in business from Central Missouri State University in 1973.

After graduating from college, Steward worked at Wagner Electric as a production manager (1974–1975), a sales representative at Missouri Pacific Railroad Company (1975–1979), and a senior account executive at Federal Express (1979–1984), where he was recognized as salesman of the year and inducted into the company's hall of fame in 1981. He owned Transportation Business Specialists and Transport Administrative Services in the years leading up to founding World Wide Technology.

He is also a founder of Telcobuy, a global technology and supply chain management company.

In 1990, Steward founded World Wide Technology, a systems integrator.

In 1993, WWT concentrated its focus on the implementation of enterprise wide imaging, conversion services, and telecommunication networks.

In 1999 World Wide Technology spun off its telecommunications division to form Telcobuy.com. Sales for the two companies continued to grow, although revenues slipped in 2002 as World Wide Technology felt the impact of the technology recession. In 2003 combined reported revenues passed $1 billion, and Steward formed World Wide Technology Holding Company as the parent company for the two firms.

World Wide Technology's 2018 revenue is estimated to be greater than $11 billion, which would rank it as one of St. Louis' largest private companies.

According to Forbes, in 2019 Steward was one of 13 black billionaires worldwide.

He was ranked 239th on the Forbes 400 list of American billionaires in 2019.

. . . OUR STUDENT

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uriosity and ambition are just two words to describe Kierston Clarke Bankston. Currently senior at Spelman College majoring in Psychology and double minoring in Management & Organization and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Kierston is a native of a small rural city called Reidsville, North Carolina, where she graduated from Reidsville High School. She took advantage of the College and Career Promise with Rockingham Community College which allowed her to earn dual credits.

She was also actively engaged in community, civic, and school organizations including, JROTC, PGC Mentor (Peer Group Connection), Reidsville High School’s College Ambassador, Gear Up, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Reidsville High School Early Childcare Center Intern, Reidsville’s Branch NAACP, Youth Advisory Committee member for the Reidsville Police department, and many more.

After graduation in 2019, Kierston enrolled in Spelman College. Kierston has become a part of a community of learners dedicated to the education and uplifting of women of African descent. She works on campus in the IT department as a Student Tech Consultant. Her passion for technology is an example of her entrepreneurial mindset. Last summer working as a Lead Associate at the campus wellness center, she learned to code using different programming languages. This fueled the decision to expand her knowledge and experience in technology within Spelman’s IT Department. Kierston also works as a Teacher Assistant for an eSpelman course called Leading Self.

She also serves as a Marketing and Creative Design Board Member for Spel-Trek, a Spelman College Career Planning Ambassador, a marketing volunteer at the Center for Black Women’s Wellness, a gardening volunteer at Spelman’s Victory Garden and more.

After graduation, Kierston will be relocating to Charlotte, NC where she has accepted an offer to join Bank of America at their headquarters working in their Chief Administration Office.

As she struggled during her junior year to gain internship experience in her desired career field, she experienced disappointment and what felt like setbacks. Kierston aspires to be a leader who inspires and motivates others. She believes that leaders should continuously grow and learn, be able to give and receive advice and constructive criticism, adjust and adapt to change, and have a growth mindset. In my various roles, I am working daily to be this type of leader.

EMpeccable: How do you balance your personal life and your professional life?

Kierston: First and foremost, I understand the importance of self-care. When I make sure that I take care of

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my physical, spiritual, and emotional health needs, I can successfully handle the issues and challenges of my personal and professional life. I recognize that life is about balance, adjusting and adapting daily.

EMpeccable: What inspires you and who are some of your greatest influences?

Kierston: My internal drive inspires me. When I make up my mind that I am going to accomplish something, I am intrinsically motivated to see it through.

My internal drive can be attributed to my upbringing.

My parents have always encouraged me to be a life-long learner who sets goals and works hard to achieve them.

I am inspired by their example. All my life, I watched my mom work as a fulltime public-school educator and a parttime college instructor, while also being a full-time wife and mother. My father

worked hard to provide for our family while being a full-time husband and dad. He valued education and both of my parents’ set examples with their educational accomplishments. In May of 2021 (just months before he died), my father completed his bachelor’s degree, graduating with honors.

EMpeccable: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are working on?

Kierston: My upcoming project that I am currently working on is the completion of my undergraduate degree.

I have also accepted a job which will take me to Charlotte, North Carolina.

So I am working to locate housing and making plans for that transition. I am also interested in the real estate industry, and have a future goal to pursue gaining my real Estate license.

EMpeccable: What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far?

Kierston: In reflection, my greatest accomplishment yet is being on track to graduate from Spelman College.

I fell in love with Spelman College

during my sophomore year of high school while completing an assignment in my online ACT course. Spelman became my number one college choice.

I knew the hard work, dedication, and determination I would need to even get accepted. I put in the work (although at times I did not want to and could have given more effort) and was elated to get my “blue envelope” December of my senior year. I, along with my parents, worked hard to make sure that I could financially afford to make this accomplishment a reality.

EMpeccable: What makes you EMpeccable?

Kierston: My educational and extracurricular involvement has Empowered me to create spaces and places to positively Empact women and young girls to embrace opportunities to lead, succeed, and thrive. This makes me Empeccable!

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