VANESSA STERLING

Vanessa Sterling is a Dallas-based community engagement engineer, educator, and advocate determined to use her people skills and 30-plus years of management experience to bridge the business equity gap in marginalized communities. Sterling has worked tirelessly with the City of Desoto, the Desoto Economic Development Corporation, and other community stakeholders for the past two years to rebuild and reenvision the DeSoto Area Chamber.

She started her journey with the DeSoto Chamber as a volunteer and her time there quickly became much more. As the president & CEO, Sterling works with her members and community stakeholders to define, set, and achieve business goals and strategies for economic growth in Desoto and surrounding areas. She understands, “People are the heart and soul of all organizations, and people are what I do.” And “small businesses are the heart of the community”. She continues to fight for resources for businesses and for the health of her community. Supporting everything from food pantries to breast cancer and mental health and has always done so over the years in different communities because of her servant heart.

Vanessa received her BA from McKendree College and MA from Strayer University. She comes from a military family and has served her community for years.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA., Tracy Lee-Anderson is a mother of two, and recently welcomed her first grandchild into the world. Tracy’s vibrant personality, love, commitment to her family, and community, are a true testament to her character.

Her volunteerism spans over two decades, VOLUNTEERISM is at the very core of her personality. Volunteerism for Tracy is the voice of the people put into action. She envisions shaping and molding the present into a future of which we can all be proud. Tracy has been tirelessly lending her talents and time to fostering community and family engagement to support the needs of our children more effectively. She assisted in organizing Montgomery Community Colleges’ first Cultural Exposure event in Germantown, Maryland, established North Forestville Elementary School’s PTO, located in North Forestville, Maryland, and sat as the president. She was additionally recognized for her community outreach for Montgomery County, Maryland for raising enough funds to feed over 300 families, recognized with a Citation from Wes Adams, former State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County for her outstanding contributions, a Citation from the County Council of Anne Arundel County, and also by Montgomery County Public Schools for her outstanding volunteerism.