Our Sponsors are supporting a full-day of Critical Conversations & Transformational Talks focused on the next steps 4BusinessRecovery!
About this event: Register @ https://bit.ly/4thAnnualNationalBusinessWomenWeekConf-10-20-2021
The Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC) continues to pivoted and repositioned our programming to meet the needs of our local, regional and national entrepreneur women associated with the military. This year, for our 4th Annual National Business Women's Week Conference our sponsors are bringing their funding and sharing their expertise 4BusinessRecovery.
You are invited to join us as we focus on “Reviving Business Performance." This year's program will bring back our series of "Critical Conversations" & "Transformational Talks" as well as feature our "Inaugural 2021 Pitch Platform."
As always our program is designed to cultivate a viable ecosystem system for entrepreneur women associated with the military that drives business performance.
2021 THEMES • #4BUSINESSRECOVERY: REVIVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
Join us for a day of engaging activities that will keep you informed and connected to the resources you need to succeed!
2021 THEME • #4BUSINESSRECOVERY: REVIVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
Join us for a day of engaging activities that will keep you informed and connected to the resources you need to succeed!
PROGRAM:
Registration: 7:30AM-8:15AM
Welcome Remarks: 8:15AM - 8:30AM
A Year in Review - New Sponsors & Programming
Get connected as the VWEC looks ahead to 2022 with capability building strategies and new programs that revive and drives enhanced business performance!
Early Morning Sessions - Government & Policy Review 4BUSINESSRECOVERY
Critical Business Conversations: 8:30AM - 9:00AM - The Road to Recovery - Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD)
Critical Business Conversations: 9:00AM - 9:30AM - The Value of Public/Private Partnerships - Renée J. Johnson, Senior Advisor at Public Private Strategies
Morning Sessions Sponsored by: JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Critical Business Conversation: 9:30AM - 10:30AM - Defending Against Cyber Fraud - Meagan LaBossiere, Middle Market Commercial Banking
LIVE 7 Eleven Merchandising Review: 9:40AM - 9:50AM - Sergeant T’s Savory Sauces and Spices
Transformational Talk: 11:00AM - 12:00PM - 3 Essential Capital Resources Every Entrepreneur should Master - Kimberly Evans, is a Vice President and Community Manager
Afternoon Pitch Platform & Special Presentation
Ericka McKim, Founder, And I Like It, Dallas, TX.;
Eldonna Fernandez, Founder, Baskets and Beads Kenya, Irvine, CA.;
Karen Roberts, Founder, Jus Sandwiches, Chicago, IL.;
Debra Moore, Owner, Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn, Grand Prairie, TX.;
Kelli Mumphrey, Founder/CEO, MilkSpace, Garland, TX.;
Carrie Roeger, Owner, Semper Fi Bar and Grille, Woodstock, GA.; and
Ashley Booker-Knight, Owner, Words Unite Bookstore, Killeen, TX.;
Meet Our 2021 Inaugural Pitch Platform Judges:
Janis Barnes, Fresh Food Field Program Coach, 7 Eleven Inc.,
Ashley Hawkes, Small Business Vice President Military & Veterans Affairs JPMorgan Chase and
Michelle "G-I" Gardner-Ince, Director of Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative (WVOSBI), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Department of Veteran Affairs
Afternoon Sessions Sponsored by: 7 Eleven
Critical Business Conversation: 2:30PM - 3:30PM - Current landscape & opportunities for female founders - Marisa Bertha, Vice President of Growth, Business Development & Head of 7-Ventures
LIVE 7 Eleven Merchandising Review: 2:40PM - 3:50PM - Cura BELLO
Transformational Talk: 4:00PM - 5:00PM - How to navigate convenience & what takes to be successful at 7-Eleven - Edgar Vargas, Merchandising Lead, Growth, Business Development & 7-Ventures
Evening Keynote Panel - Off The Cover of AVOW featuring:
Christina Wilkinson, Creative Mastermind & Publisher
Elizabeth Diamant, Fashion Designer featured in UK Vogue & Vanity Fair
Sharon Caples McDougle, Our Modern Day Hidden Figure & Author
ADDITIONAL GUESTS ARE JOINING DAILY!
Critical Business Conversations
How public and private partnerships are working together #4BusinesRecovery!
Transformational Talks
Learn strategies to transform your business to Revive and Thrive!
The Road to Recovery:
The Road to Recovery, features updates from the Small Business Administration(SBA) , Office of Veterans Business Development(OVBD), and information about the projected launch of the new SBA Equity Initiative.
MEET THE SPEAKER:
Mr. Larry Stubblefield is the Associate Administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role, Mr. Stubblefield oversees the OVBD team in formulating, implementing, administering, and promoting policies and programs that equip veterans, service members (active duty, National Guard, Reserve), and military spouse-owned small businesses with counseling and education, access to capital, and contracting opportunities.
Mr. Stubblefield joined the SBA in 2016, serving as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights, and most recently as the Acting Associate Administrator for OVBD. Prior to the SBA, he held numerous leadership positions with the US Army, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Diversity and Leadership and Functional Chief Representative for the Army’s Equal Employment Opportunity Career Program. Mr. Stubblefield has first-hand military experience, having served 30 years as an enlisted soldier and active duty officer in the US Army. In 2005, he retired from the military as a Colonel and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. Mr. Stubblefield is the recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee and a BS in Business Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
The Value of Public/Private Partnerships:
Examining the past and future of public private partnerships and how they are leading change and support in the small business arena.
SPEAKER:
As a Senior Advisor to Public Private Strategies, Renée Johnson develops innovative strategies for clients to impact the conversation surrounding small business needs with a focus on access to capital, especially to small business owners of color while advocating and creating partnerships and opportunities to provide educational resources for their businesses to thrive. Renee has over fifteen years of experience where she served in numerous roles focusing on her passion to have more women of color enter politics and policy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocate for themselves.
Prior to joining PPS, Johnson served in government affairs positions at several small business advocacy organizations, including the Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority. In those roles, she networked and cultivated unique partnerships with business leaders, civil rights organizations, chambers of commerce, foundations, and corporations to increase awareness and advocacy around small business needs. She also has experience in galvanizing government agencies and private industry to create solutions and innovative programs to address issues that impact small business owners within Black and minority communities., such as access to capital.
Johnson’s career includes her tenure of serving as the Training Director at The United State of Women, where she provided women across the country with opportunities for personal, professional, and political advancement. She also served as the District of Columbia Department of Human Services Director of Legislation and Policy in a variety of roles supporting the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia. Johnson began her career on Capitol Hill working for U.S. Representative Bobby Rush and Senators Roland Burris and Richard Durbin.
In 2019, Renée was appointed by District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser to her Financial Services BlockChain Board and previously served the Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs, received the District of Columbia Council Cornerstone in the Community Award and was named one of the "13 Caribbean American Women in Politics You Need to Know." In 2017, she received the "Rising Star Award" from Campaigns and Elections Magazine. She was recently profiled in Forbes and Essence Magazines for her achievements, where she emphasized the importance of getting more women of color into politics, entrepreneurship and advocacy.
Defending Against Cyber Fraud:
Business email compromise (BEC) fraud is conducted by sophisticated organized crime groups who use email to trick your employees into sending fraudulent payments by impersonating your executives, business partners or vendors. Similarly, ransomware is a form of malicious software (“malware”) designed to block access to a computer system or data, often by encrypting data or programs on information technology systems to extort ransom payments from victims in exchange for decrypting the information and restoring victims’ access to their systems or data. Both BEC fraud and ransomware can result in devastating financial losses for an organization. It is imperative that business owners are aware of the risks that these bad actors pose even to smaller businesses.
MEET THE SPEAKER:
Meagan LaBossiere is a Middle Market Commercial Banking associate for JPMorgan Chase in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantitative Economics. After completing flight training in Pensacola, Florida, Meagan was stationed both in Norfolk, Virginia and at the Pentagon in the Washington, DC area. During her active duty military career, she deployed twice to the Middle East region as a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot.
While stationed at the Pentagon, Meagan obtained her MBA from Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, in the evening part-time program and graduated in August 2018. She subsequently earned a Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University in June 2019. Meagan transitioned from active duty to the reserves in January 2020 when she accepted a role as a rotational associate at JPMorgan Chase. She has completed a rotation in Treasury Services and in Credit Underwriting before assuming her role as a relationship manager in the Middle Market Banking Specialized Industries.
Trophenia Kineard is from Detroit Michigan’s East Side. She is a veteran, an entrepreneur, and an Agilist. Where did her love of cooking come from? Her love of cooking was started when her mother Annie would teach her how to cook. Her mother actually taught all her brothers and sisters and grandchildren how to cook.
It was in Detroit where she decided to join the Army. The recruiting slogan that captured her attention and imagination was “Be All (That) You Can Be”. She wanted to experience everything she thought this would mean. In fact, she was so curious about what military life meant, she asked her father and other old-timers who previously served what she could expect. All of them just laughed and said “Hurry Up and Wait”! Huh, what does that mean? No one ever answered her. Oh well, I guess those were the good old days before the internet where you could look up videos on how to prepare for military life starting with Basic Training.
While in the U.S. Army she served as both a Heavy Equipment Operator and as Food Service Sergeant. As a Food Service Sergeant, she enjoyed servicing the needs of our troops both. She misses the days when her infantry friends would teach her secrets of combat techniques.
During my separation from service, we were told that there were plenty of jobs for veterans. It wasn’t until after my transition to civilian life as a veteran where I saw many of our veterans were unemployed and homeless. I didn’t understand this then and still don’t. Now I remember why recruiters and senior enlisted would tell us “We won’t make it in the real world, we will be back in the military soon”. How could I how my fellow brethren? It was then I thought about pursuing starting a business to raise funds needed to help homeless veterans and their families. This is where Sergeant T’s Savory Sauces and Spices was born.
https://www.facebook.com/SergeantTsSaucesandSpices/
https://www.instagram.com/sergeant_ts/
3 Essential Capital Resources Every Entrepreneur should Master:
1) Capital – Money is like marriage, if not a good match it will not work.
2) Social Capital- Your Network IS NOT your Net Worth.
3) Intellectual Capital – What you don’t know can impede your progress.
MEET THE SPEAKER:
Kimberly Evans, is a Vice President and Community Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In her current role Kimberly works directly with local community non-profits, for-profit entities, and community influencers to deliver financial literacy trainings, host events, and identify opportunities to deploy resources that will enable Chase to meet their community banking goals.
With over 15 years of financial services career experience, Kimberly prior worked with institutions such as BBVA Compass, Ameriprise, and Wells Fargo. She was also Chief Financial Officer of Ceca Supply & Services located in Houston, TX and Managing Partner of a boutique consulting firm that focused on providing enterprise resource planning to lower-middle market companies. Kimberly served in the United States Army and is a war-time Veteran of Desert Storm, Desert Shield.
She is a graduate of Texas Southern University and received her MBA from the University of Phoenix.
PITCH PLATFORM - 12:15PM - 2:15PM
The platform is designed to provide support to entrepreneur women associated with the military in the hospitality/retail industries across the nation. The $40k in prizes is sponsored by JP Morgan Chase & Co., second year sponsor 7 Eleven, longstanding three-year partner/sponsor DISD/Minority & Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE), and Frost Bank.
Join the VWEC in welcoming their 2021 Pitch Platform finalists:
Ashley Booker-Knight, Owner, Words Unite Bookstore, Killeen, TX.;
Carrie Roeger, Owner, Semper Fi Bar and Grille, Woodstock, GA.;
Debra Moore, Owner, Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn, Grand Prairie, TX.;
Eldonna Fernandez, Founder, Baskets and Beads Kenya, Irvine, CA.;
Ericka McKim, Founder, And I Like It, Dallas, TX.;
Karen Roberts, Founder, Jus Sandwiches, Chicago, IL.; and
Kelli Mumphrey, Founder/CEO, MilkSpace, Garland, TX.;
Each finalist has created a call to action for their city/state to vote for them for the Audience Choice Award, and to help them win additional supplemental prizes. Check out their call to action, and support these amazing women as they pitch for funds to grow and expand their business.
Ashley shares why her city/state should support her for the Audience Choice Award.
"Dear Texas support system, think of a world where your local authors could have the opportunity to take their books all over the world. Supporting Words Unite Bookstore supports your neighbor, daughter, brother, military veterans and the love of literature. "
Carrie shares why her city/state should support her for the Audience Choice Award.
"Rally Point Grille Franchising is based out of the Atlanta, GA area, specifically Cobb and Cherokee County. From its beginnings as the currently operating Semper Fi Bar & Grille, RPG Franchising is on a quest to connect and serve the veterans and first responders of our nation, one community at a time. Woodstock, GA, Cherokee County, the home of Semper Fi Bar & Grille is proud to have this establishment in their city. By supporting RPG Franchising/Semper Fi Bar & Grille in this event, the city, the surrounding community, and the state will send a message of respect and appreciation to all veterans, active military, first responders, and all of their families in the state."
Debra shares why her city/state should support her as the Audience Choice Awardee.
"Over 30 years ago, a graduate of Bennett College and a newly commissioned 2 nd Lieutenant in the United States Army, I traveled into Texas to report to my duty station at Ft. Hood in Killeen, TX. I was in awe and fell in love with the open vistas and plains that seemed to stretch for miles. Little did I know then that Texas would become my home to present day. Over the last three decades, with the gracious support from my devoted husband, I have raised a wonderful family, immersed myself in numerous volunteer activities, served as a substitute teacher in our local school district, and, for the last 9 years, built a thriving Gourmet Popcorn business located in Grand Prairie. I believe my city and state would be proud of my contributions and accomplishments as they reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Lone Star State!"
Eldonna shares why her city/state should support her for the Audience Choice Award.
"Through supporting me, this in turn supports over 30 women in poverty and as the business grows the plan is to hire veterans here in California that need an opportunity to work to get themselves back on their feet. Our plan all along was to grow the veteran economy in California along with growing the women in Kenya to give them opportunities."
Ericka shares why her city/state should support her for the Audience Choice Award.
"1 in 3 Texans are obese! The increasing prevalence of overweight and obese children and adults is a serious concern for Texas. Fortunately, consumers are becoming more health conscious and inclined towards a healthy diet. This is especially true since 78% of those that have contracted COVID-19 were either obese or overweight. These people are the ones that need a sugar substitute that tastes like real sugar because they struggle to transition off sugary foods. We pride ourselves in having a sugar-like taste without the harmful effects of sugar. We have been able to keep many Texans on their health course. As we grow, we are hiring more employees which supports the Texas economy. We think Dallas, Texas should support us as their representative in this nationwide competition."
Karen shares why her city/state should support her for the Audience Choice Award.
Jus sandwiches is on the brink of becoming one of the fastest growing and well known organization that is not only feeding and providing SIMPLE SEXY SANDWICHES, but also giving back to the community in various ways. Not only will we be locally hiring , we will be working closely with other local food entrepreneurs from the community to provide a shared kitchen space and access to their own local deli market where they know their products will be sold, and marketed to individuals n their communities. Supporting Jus Sandwiches will not one enable the provision of fresh and healthy meals, but it will also help the local food entrepreneur to expand their financial footprint right in their very own backyard.
Kelli shares why her city/state should support her for the Audience Choice Award.
"I am an East Coast girl learning, loving, and living in this Texas world! My family and I started from the bottom with no home, and no jobs after relocating from Virginia! Over a span of 7 years, we have been on the GRIND to accomplish our family goals. As a wife and mother of two little girls, I tell them they can be anything they want to be. Every day this mama works hard to live by those words and be the first example of a woman creating HERStory! It’s hard, but I am committed to seeing it through until the end living a life of service, business, and fulfilment on my terms that is pleasing to my God and my family! Your support will help keep the flame to my fire burning knowing Texas supports my existence as I take five more steps each day towards my dreams!"
Meet Our 2021 Inaugural Pitch Platform Judges:
Janis Barnes, Fresh Food Field Program Coach, 7 Eleven Inc.,
Janis Barnes is a versatile professional who has worked at 7-Eleven for 20 years. Experienced in Acquisition Growth, building Franchise Relationships, and strong vendor Partnerships.
Janis is certified as a Business Consultant and has worked in Merchandising, Operations, and as a Human Resource Corporate Learning Specialist.
Currently, Janis is a Fresh Food Program Coach who coaches and trains Operations Teams and their Franchise Owners. She facilitates, plans, and delivers training on New Concepts and Platforms within the company. Within this role she also manages programs/events and is a liaison between the Fresh Food Category Teams in the organization.
Janis is an Author, Mother, and a Pastor, who has a passion for the growth of others.
Ashley Hawkes, Small Business Vice President Military & Veterans Affairs JPMorgan Chase
Ashley is currently the Small Business lead for JPMorgan Chase’s Military and Veterans Affairs Team. In this role, she is focused on supporting military, veteran, and military-spouses in all stages of their entrepreneurial journey and collaborative partnerships with veteran service organizations.
Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, she led General Electric’s (GE) federal government engagement strategy for additive manufacturing solutions. Ashley is an US Air Force veteran and Air Force Academy graduate, who served on Active Duty as an Acquisitions Program Manager for an array for aeronautical systems.
Michelle "G-I" Gardner-Ince, Director of Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative (WVOSBI), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Department of Veteran Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) plays a significant role in ensuring that programs, services, and support resources reach the Veteran small business community. As the Director of Program Development and Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative, Ms. Gardner-Ince leads the Department's efforts to develop programs that connect and enable underrepresented target groups with VA, the federal and commercial marketplaces to increase educational, employment and economic opportunities. She is the architect of the Department of VA's inaugural Women Veteran-Owned Small Business (WVOSB) Initiative. The program brings together like-minded female veteran and non-veteran entrepreneurs to position and enable their success and to remove obstacles that often stand in the way. The effort is known in the veteran and small business community as" VetBizLady or VetBizLadies."
Ms. Gardner-Ince has successfully led several Directorates within OSDBU. As the Director of National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE), Ms. Gardner-Ince led the NVSBE is the Department's premier event for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) to connect with Procurement Decision Makers and contracting experts from the federal and commercial marketplaces. She simultaneously served as Operations Director, where she led the management and delivery of services and products to OSDBU directorates, enabling 242 federal and contract staff to help veteran businesses. She oversaw the human capital, financial, security, administrative, logistical, information technology, and support functions that are critical to its mission. Focusing always on "people, process, and technology," her vision brings significant value to the federal government's largest Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).
Before being the Director of Operations, she was the Director of the Center for Verification and Evaluation, formerly known as The Center for Veteran Enterprise (CVE), within the OSDBU at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) from December 2011 to November 2015. As Principal of the only Federal Government program that audits and verifies ownership and control of Veteran-owned businesses for the Department of Veteran Affairs and other federal agency contract set-asides, CVE enabled $3.8B in contract set-asides making the Department of Veterans Affairs the leading supporter of Veteran small businesses. Under her leadership, CVE was certified as one of three ISO- 9000-1 registered organizations in the entire Department of VA. Further, she successfully led the historic transformation of the new CVE to achieve historical precedence: 100% of applications processed within the Veterans First law timelines for the "first time" in the history of the Veterans' First Program. The CVE program is known within the supplier diversity and veteran small business communities as VetBiz.gov and is recognized as the "Gold Standard" for Veteran Small Business certifications.
Ms. Gardner-Ince is a highly decorated Air Force Veteran and a retired Colonel, having served 27 years supporting Veterans, military troops, and their families. Before the creation of her own small business, G-I Strategic Solutions LLC., an advisory and consulting firm, she held numerous executive-level positions. Her experience spans customer-centric business operations, training, consulting, strategic collaboration, and directing award-winning complex global operations. One of her most significant leadership roles was as the Commander (Senior Vice President) of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), Pacific Region where she led a $1.8 billion-dollar retail, food, and services business, with full profit-loss responsibility, that employed 7000+ associates who provided goods and services to over 350,000 military, U.S. government civilian and State Department patrons and their families. While in command, her leadership led to the top highest grossing military exchanges in the world two years in a row. AAFES is the U.S. military's largest retail operation.
Ms. Gardner-Ince's mission is to be "About the business of America's Veterans – serving those who continue to serve America." Ms. Gardner-Ince has a unique perspective in that she has never been without a military ID Card. She is not only a veteran, a military spouse, but she grew up in an Army family and is originally from Albany, Georgia. She was commissioned by her father and Vietnam Veteran, Colonel Arthur Gardner. She holds a bachelor's degree from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, and a master's degree from Troy State University, Troy, Alabama. She is a Dale Carnegie and John Maxwell leadership coach/trainer. She resides in the Metro Washington DC area and is married with two children.
Current landscape & opportunities for Female founders
1. Current landscape of female founders when it comes to funding/investment;
2. What 7-Eleven looks for when investing in CPGs and Tech;
3. How to improve opportunities for more investment in companies of founders of color and women;
MEET THE SPEAKER:
Marisa Bertha is the Vice President of Growth, Business Development & Head of 7-Ventures at 7-Eleven, Inc. As the leader of the corporate VC arm for 7-Eleven, Marisa has created a large portfolio of tech and CPG companies. The success of the portfolio is built upon a carefully developed proprietary deal flow and the ability to help founders scale quickly with a strategic investor and operating partner approach. She is a proven founder-friendly investor with a vast network of entrepreneurs and co-investors in the PE and VC asset classes and has achieved top quartile venture capital results. Marisa has been instrumental in bringing better-for-you food & beverage brands and on-trend consumer tech to the mass consumer. She is an expert in retail, distribution, and go-to market strategies for tech and CPG. Marisa is a board observer for 3 portfolio companies, a SPAC advisor to AF Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: AFAC), a consumer-centric special purpose acquisition company, is a founding member of DFW CPG, and is a steering committee member of Venture Dallas.
Prior to her current role, Marisa was part of the 7-Eleven corporate strategy team. She began her career at Deloitte Consulting, LLP where she advised Fortune 500 clients on large-scale, technology-enabled business transformations in the retail and TMT sectors. Marisa holds a BBA from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Marisa resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Michael, and two-year-old son, Grey.
Lisa Crawford-Thomas is a Wife, Mother, Veteran, Entrepreneur, and has suffered from multiple skin problems, including chronic eczema. It was her desperation to find relief for herself and her children that led to the creation of Cura Bello. Through years of testing on herself and her Family, and with the help of her husband, a pharmacist of 40+ years, she was able to make a clean and effective product that rendered real relief with glowing results. It was at the request of others that Cura Bello was born. With determination to help as many people as she can, the original formula has turned into three additional formulas with more forthcoming. It is the stories and pictures of those who have used her products and found relief, confidence, and their best skin that keeps her going.
How to navigate convenience & what takes to be successful at 7-Eleven
1. What does success look like in the 7-Eleven system and when is the right time to launch;
2. Why is it important to select the right route to market in the 7-Eleven system; and
3. How small businesses can win inside of 7-Eleven;
MEET THE SPEAKER:
Edgar Vargas is the Merchandising Lead for Growth, Business Development & 7-Ventures and has had a successful 9-year career at 7-Eleven Inc. He has a passion for bringing better-for-you food & beverage brands to stores and working side by side with brands on growing their presence inside of the 7-Eleven system. Prior to his current role, Edgar was part of the 7-Eleven’s merchandising team where he successfully held roles as National Merchandiser for Center of Store and Category Manager for Package Foods. An operator at heart, Edgar started his career at 7-Eleven as a Field Consultant providing leadership and guidance to Franchisees in the SoCal area. Prior to 7-Eleven, Edgar was an entrepreneur and had several businesses including a Franchise business in San Diego, California. Edgar graduated from the University of Southern California and resides in Keller, Texas with his beautiful wife and two kids.
OFF THE COVER OF AVOW: WOMEN VETERANS
Christina Wilkinson
Christina Wilkinson is a U.S. Air Force veteran who worked in the publications distribution office for most of her 10-year military career.
With over 31 years of experience in the field of publishing, Christina founded and successfully grew a publishing and advertising agency with her husband, David, in 1990. She is not only accomplished in publishing, but is skilled in graphic design, marketing, and is an award-winning illustrator and brand developer. Some of her largest publishing clients over the years have been KC Publications, a publisher for books on National Parks, as well as Paul Oxman Publishing, where she produced custom motorcycle calendars and books under licensing through Harley Davidson. Her design clients have included HBO, Death Valley National Park, NASA, David Cassidy (Partridge Family); Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson); magicians Siegfried & Roy; Desi Arnaz, Jr., The Mirage Hotel, The Bellagio Hotel, and multiple nonprofits including Fundraisers.com and KidsCharities.org, as well as many other clients.
Christina returned to college full-time in 2013, and earned three AS degrees (in Natural Resources, Forestry and Geographic Information Systems), and she currently attends Oregon State University where she is a senior, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in natural resources policy and management.
Even as the publisher of AVOW Magazine, her full-time career has her working for the federal government towards retirement. She is a forestry technician in silviculture where she tends to the health of a national forest.
She comes from a family of military members; Christina is the proud daughter of a retired Army General, and the proud mother of son who has served in the USAF for 15 years; granddaughter of a Pearl Harbor Survivor, and sister to two brothers who served in the USAF and the Army.
Elizabeth Diamant:
Liz Diamant, retired military officer and single mother, picked up designing in October of 2017. In 2019, as a self-proclaimed "fashionista" and self-taught designer, Liz traded in her Army boots for the runway and focuses her fashion lens on creating business and evening wear to "suit" the modern woman on the move. Leaning towards individualism in all aspects of life, her style embodies the same ideals. Her classic taste marries her traditional yet daring fashion sense to create the fingerprint of the brand. After over a decade of inquiries from family, friends, co-workers, and strangers alike, about where she found her clothes, comments on how she was always so "put together" and requests from others to help them achieve their desired looks, Liz has decided to share her passion for style and fashion with the world.
Liz's fashion philosophy is that "fashion is not something you wear but rather something you feel." She believes fashion and how we express it, is a direct extension and reflection of our soul. After being bullied for most of her school-aged years, largely for the clothes she wore, Liz decided that her style was not a reflection of who she was or who she would become. Once she was able to influence her own style choices, she was committed to being true to herself and to allowing people to know a bit of who she was before ever speaking to her. She wanted her style to reflect her bold, sexy, and timeless personality and that the validation of others was of no importance to her. After achieving this for herself, she is on a journey to help others express their "#BoldSexyTimeless" Style.
Sharon Caples McDougle:
Sharon Caples McDougle joined the NASA family in 1990 where she worked in the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department. She began her career as a CEE Suit Technician and was responsible for processing the orange launch and entry suit (LES) assemblies worn by space shuttle astronauts. McDougle was one of only two women technicians and the only African American technician when she began her career. McDougle is regarded as a “modern day hidden figure”. Everyone knows Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to go to space - but many don't know that an African American woman, with her own list of firsts, "suited her up". McDougle was Jemison's suit tech for her historic mission aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor 9/12/92.
In 1994 McDougle was promoted to the position of Crew Chief making her the first woman and first African American CEE Crew Chief. In her new position she was responsible for leading a team of technicians to suit up astronaut crews. McDougle had the honor of leading the first and only all-woman suit tech crew. In 2004 McDougle became the only woman and only African American promoted to the position of Manager of the CEE department. She managed the team responsible for suiting up and strapping the astronauts into the space shuttle for launch and recovering the crew upon landing. She held this position until the Space Shuttle Program ended in 2011. She continued working until 2012 to help close-out the program, ending an illustrious 22-year career with our nation’s space program.During her career she was recognized with the Astronaut “Silver Snoopy” Award, Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award, and the coveted Women of Color in Flight Award from Dr. Mae Jemison recognizing her career as the first and only African American woman suit tech/crew chief in her field. McDougle is also an Air Force veteran. She was an Aerospace Physiology Specialist responsible for training and suiting up and strapping in the SR-71 and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft pilots for high altitude operations. She also worked with the hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers. She joined the Air Force after graduating high school and separated in 1990 with an honorable discharge. She was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and Good Conduct Medal.McDougle has been recognized as a Mississippi Trailblazer at the Annual Mississippi Trailblazers Awards Ceremony and Black-Tie Gala where she received two awards:
• The Calvin “Buck” Buchanan “FIRST” Award named for Mississippi’s first United States Attorney for the Northern District - honoring a Mississippian who holds the distinction of being the “first” in their profession
• The Dr. Cindy Ayers “Legacy” Award honoring a Trailblazer whose singular work and contributions will leave a legacy long after their life has ended McDougle has been recognized as a true leader in her home state of Mississippi where she was honored in the inaugural class of Mississippi’s Top 25 Most Influential African Americans.
She also received the Living Legend Lifetime Achievement award from the Moss Point Visionary Circle.
Most recently, McDougle was recognized by Who’s Who of Mississippi Women at their inaugural gala with the Dr. Helen Barnes Award. “That Girl” Natasha Lee honored McDougle at the “Make Your Mark Symposium”. McDougle received The Spirit of Detroit Award for exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership, and dedication to improving the quality of life and The Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan recognized her with the Leadership and Commitment of Excellence Award. She was made an Honorary Citizen of Lake Charles, Louisiana by the Mayor and was a Remarkable Women of Houston finalist for CW39’s Houston Morning Dose News. McDougle has been featured in various publications, news and radio shows and podcasts. She shares her inspirational story during speaking engagements, virtually and in-person, as keynote speaker as well as participating as a panel member.
McDougle is a That Girl Ambassador and a member of the Red Hat Society (Divas With Hattitude Chapter).She is an avid volunteer in her community and works with several organizations. She serves as Vice President and Executive Administrator for Unveiled Aspirations – a women’s empowerment organization. Other volunteer activities include reading to children, cleaning community gardens, working in food pantries and thrift stores to name a few.
McDougle is a TWST4Girls mentor/facilitator for the Harris County Juvenile Corrections Department Program. She is also a mentor with the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship. The fellowship’s purpose is to give young, collegiate, Black students their first Aerospace internship.
McDougle recently became an author, penning her first children’s book titled “Suit Up for Launch with Shay!” She also shares her story “Does God Love Me?” in the upcoming book Fearless Women Rock Volume Three.McDougle is happily married to her husband Maronald, and they have two adult children, Dominique, and Corbin. She and her husband are natives of Moss Point, MS, currently residing in the Houston, TX area.
Connect with McDougle via the web:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SharonMcDougleHiddenFigure/
https://m.facebook.com/SuitUpForLaunch/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealshaymac/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SharonMcDougle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcdougle_sharon
Website: https://smcdougle2.wixsite.com/sharoncaplesmcdougle
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g5rjNOPjeM6XRffCTusgw/featured
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mcdougle-237465bb/
The Wise Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUYJ1RhgiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKf3iHvER-c
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