Keisha Lance Bottoms is a CNN Political Commentator, based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she served as the 60th Mayor. A visionary leader in bringing equitable outcomes to the forefront of government and commerce, she is proof that “a dream deferred is never a dream denied” in her current position.

Keisha Lance Bottoms is a CNN Political Commentator, based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she served as the 60th Mayor. She is a visionary leader in bringing equitable outcomes to the forefront of government and commerce. Keisha became the first Mayor in Atlanta’s history to have served in all three branches of government, having previously served as a Judge and a City Council member. As Mayor, she committed herself to realizing her vision of “One Atlanta” – an affordable, resilient, and equitable Atlanta.

Sworn in on January 2, 2018, Keisha served as Mayor during one of the most challenging times in the history of Atlanta. In the midst of a global pandemic and a racial justice movement, Keisha became a leading spokesperson regarding the challenges and opportunities facing cities and leaders across America.

Proactive Measures

While navigating these unprecedented challenges, the Bottoms Administration was able to remain focused on the resilience of Atlanta, negotiating and closing the largest real estate transaction in the history of Atlanta, and one of the largest in the Southeast United States, delivering millions of dollars in community benefits to people across the city.

Keisha took proactive measures to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the City and its agencies. As a result, during one of the worst economic  downturns the world has ever faced, the Bottoms Administration delivered four years of balanced budgets, without resorting to property tax increases, layoffs or furloughs of City employees. At the conclusion of her term, City’s reserves remained at a near high of $181M, far exceeding the requirements of the City Charter.

Shaped by a childhood and professional career that highlighted the inequalities amongst Americans, Keisha led her Administration in undertaking several major initiatives that would seek to eradicate systemic issues facing Atlanta, while creating a model for all cities to follow.

Building a Model

The major initiatives included:

• Welcoming nine Fortune 500 companies who established a global or regional headquarters in Atlanta, helping the city add $11 billion to its total economic output and attracting $4.5 billion in total capital investment. Also ensuring that developments that would reshape Atlanta included historic levels of community benefits that would lift-up Atlanta’s most vulnerable. These benefits included affordable housing requirements, securing the funding necessary to launch a city-wide affordable housing trust fund, technical school training program, and city-wide savings account for public school children.

• Closing the City Jail to U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, eliminating cash bail bonds for non-violent offenders, and leading the transformation of the City’s jail into a diversion center that prioritizes providing individuals with the human services they need to make permanent change in their lives versus an endless cycle of incarceration.

• Took the landmark decision to remove members of the Atlanta Police Department from joint operations with the United States Department of Justice due to DOJ’s refusal to allow officers to wear body cameras. Shortly after taking this action against the Federal government, the United States Department of Justice announced that Federal agents would be required to wear body cameras when executing search warrants or making pre-planned arrests.

• Leveraging a whole of government approach to add over 7,000 units of affordable housing, including multifamily, senior-living, and single-family developments. This effort was bolstered by issuing $140 million in new housing opportunity bond funds and making nearly $6 million in financial down payment assistance available for Atlanta’s legacy residents to purchase homes.

• Establishing the “HomeFirst” $50 million investment ($25 million public and $25 million private). Projects funded include the creation of 550 permanent supportive housing units, over 1,000 shelter beds, housing for single women and families experiencing homelessness, and legal assistance for eviction protection for over 250 families.

• Engaging with Partners for Home to execute the LIFT Initiative, providing more than $17 million in funding for emergency hotels and rapid rehousing. This resulted in the placement of nearly 1,000 people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing.

• Utilizing innovative and resourceful leadership, the City financed infrastructure projects totaling over $3.59 billion for airport, water and wastewater, and multi-family / affordable housing projects. This included the opening of Westside Park, Atlanta’s largest greenspace, which features a 2.4-billion-gallon water reservoir that increases Atlanta’s emergency water supply from three days to up to 90 days.

• Leading Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, traditionally one of the busiest in the world, through the COVID-19 pandemic by quickly reducing operating expenses, implementing budgetary reductions, utilizing federal relief grants to stabilize finances, and restructuring debt for near term savings, amongst other cost cutting measures. These measures ensured the City’s airport bonds continue to be rated among the highest of airport bonds in the country. Notably, the airport became the first airport in the world to receive a LEED Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizing the City and the Airport’s sustainability efforts.

• Ensuring diverse opinions and perspectives were brought to government processes by creating the City’s first Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Office of Violence Prevention and appointing the City’s first Director of LGBTQ Affairs.

• Creating government transparency and fostering trust with the public by creating the Office of the Inspector General and rollout of the most far-reaching financial transparency platform in the City’s history – Atlanta’s Open Checkbook.

• Opened three new police precincts, two new fire stations, two new EMS facilities, and two new @Promise Centers to provide all Atlanta residents, regardless of neighborhood, with access to critical services.

• Successfully hosted College Football Playoff National Championship Games, the Major League Soccer All Star Game, the National Basketball Association All Star Game and Super Bowl LIII, which included unprecedented community benefits – a $2.4 million renovation of John F. Kennedy Park on Atlanta’s Westside, more than 20,000 trees planted throughout the community and the seamless coordination of 40 federal, state and local public safety agencies.

• Ensured several of Atlanta’s historical inequities were respectfully remembered, including the Atlanta Child Murders and the preservation of the Chattahoochee Brick Company land. Keisha’s steadfast leadership and equity-focused philosophy have led to numerous accolades and leadership positions, including having served as the Chair of the Community Development and Housing Committee and the Census Task Force for the United States Conference of Mayors and as a Trustee for the African American Mayor’s Association. She was also selected to Chair the Platform Committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and serves as the DNC’s Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and Voter Protection.

High Honors

Tracing her family’s roots to a slave plantation in Georgia, it was Keisha’s highest honor to be named the 2020 Georgian of the Year by Georgia Trend Magazine. She also was named one of Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year and was named a member of Ebony Magazine’s prestigious Power 100 List. She has also been honored as a BET 100 Entertainer and Innovator of the Year and was named the Smart Cities Dive 2020 Leader of the Year. Keisha was also the recipient of the Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate Award presented by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law in recognition of her equity-driven leadership to help guide and protect marginalized communities. 

Keisha is the daughter of R&B icon Major Lance and Sylvia Robinson. She and her husband, Derek, are parents to four children.

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Wendy Turner Miller feels strongly about ignoring naysayers, not taking ‘no’ for an answer, thinking outside the box, and believing in yourself— all have one major thing in common: pushing past fear.

I’ve always felt that the purpose of life is to evolve and create growth opportunities for both myself and for others. The efforts we make towards achieving dreams—ignoring naysayers, not taking ‘no’ for an answer, thinking outside the box, believing in yourself—have one major requirement in common: pushing past fear. In fact, the negativity of naysayers often acts as the premium gas that motivates me to do my research, ensure I always have a strong base of knowledge, challenge myself to be constantly learning, work with an open mind, and never stop listening.

Embrace Life’s Journey

The essential elements of life include home life, children, family and work. The continual struggle to create work/home integration is forever challenging and forever changing. I committed myself from the onset to be the best wife and mom that I could be, all while continuously learning and practicing law. More importantly, I wanted to be an example to my children. I always wanted to show them that love, hard work, compassion for others and true commitment to your priorities can successfully co-exist, as my parents taught me. In addition to instilling in me the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, they also encouraged me to build my confidence, set out with ambition, and develop a work ethic that they knew would be important in my life’s journey.

My first job out of law school was at a small law firm that did a lot of bankruptcy work for municipalities and in the automotive industry. It was there that I started learning bankruptcy law through hands-on experience. I had my first son, Kirk, and then my second, son Kyle, 4 years later. I realized at that time that working 60 hours each week for someone else in the traditional office environment was not my vision to best integrate my work/home balance.

So I started my own law practice by taking on criminal and probate assignment work through the courts in addition to bankruptcy law, which I already knew well. In this chapter of my life, I was again pushing through the fear of the unknown, learning a totally different sector of the law, and moving towards my quest to create my own journey. During school hours I would appear in court for court appearances and would later pick up my kids from school. We did homework, played, and had dinner together each night. I would put them to bed and then work until 2am developing reports, drafting motions, and preparing for trials. The next day, I would wake up and do it all over again. During that time, I remember developing the skills of thinking fast on my feet and learning to strongly articulate my thoughts and feelings, all the while evolving and honing my skills and opinions. I learned that each new chapter of life would continue to pose different challenges and provide different perspectives.

Work Towards a Forever-Changing World

In the 1990s, Janet Reno was the U.S. Attorney General yet there were hardly any women in the US Trustees Offices and few Black females in these positions in the entire nation. Kudos to Janet Reno for seeing the need and the opportunity to make a change and to create a more equitable and inclusive membership for the Trustee panel. There were five open positions for Chapter 7 Trustees in the Eastern District of Michigan and I knew that I had the knowledge base and the experience needed to do the work, so I applied.

Fast-forward to February 1999. After multiple interviews, I was appointed as a panel Trustee by the US Trustees Offices, a component of the Department of Justice, to serve in this position. To further enhance my need to mentor and teach others, I became an adjunct professor teaching bankruptcy law at a local law school. This additional position allowed me to give back and teach something that I was very passionate about to young, eager-to-learn students. It was here, while a professor, that I realized how very important perspective is in our lives. New experiences create personal growth.

In addition to running and growing SIS, I still do trustee work today. This work gives me an amazing perspective on business—what works, what doesn’t work, and the best ways to run a business. Every day I challenge myself to constantly work on becoming my best self, learn from each moment, pick up new skills, and look at situations from new perspectives.

Challenge Yourself and Be Your Own Mentor

Soon after my divorce, I realized the absolute need, as a single mom, to create financial longevity and stability for my children, particularly for my special needs son. My law practice and Chapter 7 Panel Trustee positions were not something I could pass on to them; however, creating a company and a legacy for my children was, and it became a passion and my vision. Once again, I had to push back the fear of the unknown. I wanted to establish a business in an industry that weathered storms and would always be necessary. Through intense research and networking, I realized that service work, particularly waste management, janitorial services, and industrial cleaning were mainstays. These service industries have seen a steady, substantial gain in both revenue and the need for each in facility maintenance services. I saw an opportunity.

I created a business plan and incorporated Superior Innovative Solutions, LLC (“SIS”) in 2018. I started focusing on automotive work but quickly branched out to other industries including engineering firms, construction firms, utility companies, hospitals, municipalities and the US government. I am strongly committed to SIS becoming a premiere, one-stop shop for a company’s facility maintenance needs. I believe that building this business will not only provide a legacy for my kids, but will also allow for my sons to do things their own way. I want to challenge women to think outside of the traditional box. I am impelled to undertake endeavors knowing that I’m working for more than just myself.

Push Past Fear and Reach the Destination Your Past has Led You To

Are there many women who do what I do? No. There are still men who do not see my intense commitment to giving superior, safe and on-time solutions with a talented team of experts. Have I received some not-so-nice comments? Absolutely. But I am living proof that women can thrive in different industries and different positions in different chapters of their lives, and that seeing opportunities from new perspectives can build entire businesses. Maybe even empires!

https://www.sisautomotive.com/

Wendy’s Background

Wendy Turner Miller is an entrepreneur, attorney, adjunct bankruptcy law professor, Chapter 7 United States Bankruptcy Trustee for the Eastern District of Michigan, and servant leader who is committed to superior business and community service, all the while advocating for women’s growth in leadership and development. She received her undergraduate Degree at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and her Juris Doctorate at Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC.

She currently services as the President and CEO of Superior Innovative Solutions, LLC, (“SIS”), which company, with its roots in the automotive arena, specializes in industrial cleaning, COVID-19 disinfecting and cleaning, janitorial services, hydro-blasting, vac truck services, and waste management.

SIS is a certified, 100 percent minority/woman owned and operated business committed to exceeding the expectations of our customers with superior, innovative, safe and time driver work product and service to each of our private, public and municipal clients.

Wendy is also an owner of Blue Springs Metals, LLC, in Blue Springs, MS, and Georgetown Metal Processing, LLC, in Georgetown, KY, both ventures with Toyota Tsusho America, which involve blanking and slitting steel at the Mississippi plant and aluminum on the Kentucky facility.

Wendy further serves as a Chapter 7 US Bankruptcy Trustee since 1999, hearing over 2,500 cases per year, a job that involves the discovery of undisclosed assets, the liquidation of assets, and the payment of funds to creditors.

She has provided legal services, specifically Bankruptcy Law assistance through her law firm, Law Offices of Wendy Turner Lewis, PLLC, representing debtors, creditors and financial restructuring clients since 1995.

She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Renaissance (MI) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, National Associations of Bankruptcy Trustees, National Bar Association, and The Wolverine Bar Association.

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WHY WE STARTED CERESE D MAGAZINE

One of the greatest pleasures while growing our brand has been getting to know our community of customers and learning their stories. Among the people we have profiled over the past 5 years are leaders in their communities and churches, teachers, business owners and executives, entrepreneurs, motivational speakers, youth leaders, mothers, military veterans, and even a trainer of astronauts. Some of their stories are similar, and many are unique, but they are all about bold, strong, outspoken, and sometimes quiet leaders, that are blazing a trail towards change in one way or another. 

These are loyal clients that inspire us, and we are honored that they support Cerese D Jewelry. They are incredible role models for our brand.

Click here for the full e-magazine issue.

(Best viewed in full-screen mode)

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Meet Dr. Katasha S. Butler: brains, beauty and belle of the ball all rolled into one! When she is not talking pharmacy strategy and compliance by day, she’s an entrepreneur that lives her life in service to others and in pursuit of the perfect party!

“Hang all the mistletoe
 I’m gonna get to know you better
 This Christmas
 And as we trim the tree
 How much fun it’s gonna be together
 This Christmas”

Meet Dr. Katasha S. Butler: brains, beauty and belle of the ball all rolled into one! When she is not talking pharmacy strategy and compliance by day, she is designing lush and luxe anniversary parties, conferences and Parisian-inspired pop-up parties at night. Katasha S. Butler, PharmD, MBA is a pharmacist and an entrepreneur that lives her life in service to others and in pursuit of the perfect party!

Katasha grew up in rural Danville, Illinois—a small, homogenous, rural town in East Central Illinois. After joining the district’s gifted program in elementary school, Katasha was the only Black female within a core group of students until high school. A last-minute decision during senior year led her to Atlanta, GA, where she attended the premier Spelman College as a Chemistry/pre-pharmacy major. Although it was like entering an alternate universe for the young Katasha, Atlanta, Spelman, and the Atlanta University Center fueled her passion for Black excellence and the Black experience.  

Pharmacy school led Katasha back to the Midwest and she landed in Indianapolis to attend Butler University. Her love for wedding and party planning started there. “Often, I would sit in the back row of class in pharmacy school looking at fashion magazines. I have always loved beautiful things. Next to my class notes were InStyle and Glamour. I studied them as hard as I studied for my class. It was not long before my classmates started turning to me as they were getting engaged. I planned and catered my first wedding for a couple that I did not know as a P4 student. That is how I made extra money while I was on clinical rotations,” Butler told Cerese D. 

She went on to obtain two degrees at Butler, including a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and dove fulltime into a pharmacy career. Katasha became a pharmacy leader in less than six months after passing her pharmacy boards. Currently, a pharmacy leader at a local county safety-net hospital in Indiana, Dr. Butler worked her way up the ranks with several leadership roles:  Clinical Pharmacy Director for a federally qualified health center and a managed care plan, Pharmacy Supervisor for a women’s hospital, and Section Chief/PGY1 Residency Coordinator in the federal health care system.

Throughout her career, Katasha has been recognized for her leadership and hard work, including selection for the highly-competitive national Health Care Leadership Development Program and graduation from the VISN 12 Leadership Development Program with the VHA system. She’s received the 2014 Director’s EEO Award, the 2014 VISN 11 Diversity Award, two Special Contribution Awards and numerous other recognitions. She is a contributing faculty member at Walden University and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Butler precepting pharmacy students in their last year of pharmacy school. She has been published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy and has been featured in several books about pharmacy and entrepreneurship including Single. Women. Entrepreneurs., and Plan C: The Full-Time Employee and Part-Time Entrepreneur by Erin Albert and Entrepreneurs in Pharmacy: and Other Leaders by George Zorich.

IN PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT PARTY

When she is not in the pharmacy, event planning and community service are her other passions.  Dr. Butler started her event planning company, K Sherrie+Company, LLC in 2007.  She also co-owned an event venue in Danville for almost seven years—Social.  Social became the gathering spot for Danville! “I love throwing parties and events. I always try to make sure that the events are tailored to the client, innovative—bringing out elements that are not seen everywhere—and an experience,” says Butler. “Although I get annoyed when I see something that I have done before pop up somewhere else, I do realize there is nothing new under the sun and it is nice to be a trendsetter. If you want to do something after we have already done it, fine by me. I am very competitive with myself—making sure I up the ante with every new event I take on.” That is how Katasha came to bring Le Dîner en Blanc (DEB) to Indianapolis. Le Dîner en Blanc is an exclusive all white attire party started in Paris by François Pasquier in 1988 and has taken the world by storm for those that love to meet new dinner guests, dine under soft candlelight, and dance into the night at a public location in a place that is kept secret until the very last minute. Guests arrive from different locations to a landmark in that city. After attending the Diner en Blanc affairs in New Orleans, Cincinnati, and Chicago, Katasha decided that Indy needed its own event, and she could get it accomplished. That led to DEB Indy being introduced to the city with 1,300+ guests on the hallowed Pit Row of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2018. “The funny thing is—after the event, our contact at the motor speedway confessed that he thought we were crazy when I first brought the idea. He could not figure out how I would convince people to buy a $100 ticket to an event where they have to bring everything they need, they do not know where they are going or what they would do when they got there,” Butler explained. “I’m just glad he was crazy enough to run with us!”  And the rest, as they say, is history! DEB Indianapolis had its third installment this year, with over 1,700 guests at the Old Washington Street Bridge in the heart of Indianapolis.

A LEADER WHO GIVES BACK

Exceptionally detailed events with crowd-pleasing intimacy are synonymous with Katasha’s professional and personal brands. It should come as no surprise that when former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to a sold-out crowd of 12,000+ people at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in February 2018, Katasha was connected to that event through her involvement with the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana Options Class 18. She believes in the empowerment of women and young girls and used her network of relationships to help promote ticket sales.  Katasha made sure that 39 of her closest friends were in attendance! The Women’s Fund raised more than $1 million at that event to support their mission.   

Katasha’s passion for creating events for causes dear to her heart also helps fuel her creativity. In 2015, Katasha spearheaded an Urban Scavenger Hunt in support of an international target for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. During the event, hunt teams flooded the Butler-Tarkington area in search of clues to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease, honor the caregivers and those afflicted with the disease, for which every day can feel like The Longest Day. She organized the Urban Scavenger Hunt again in 2016 to include Mass Ave and other downtown Indianapolis landmarks.

“I chose to do a scavenger hunt because we wanted to do something new and innovative – there are only so many walks you can do,” said Katasha. “We had a digital command center where the teams texted their pictures back and then received the next clue.” Prior to the hunt, AKA sisters across the nation prayed together via conference call for all affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s. Later, registered groups showed team spirit by dressing in costume and being ready for the challenge of the hunt. Awards were given before a closing ceremony with balloons, and in 2016, a dance party. “The balloon launch at the end was very serene for me and centering. It made me reflect on my grandmother, who was affected by this dreadful disease,” said Katasha, reflecting on her decision to get involved with The Longest Day.

A STAPLE IN THE CIVIC SCENE

Katasha is a staple in the Indianapolis civic scene, serving in leadership roles in several organizations. She has received numerous awards for her service and dedication to humanitarian endeavors including most recently being named ‘Soror Through The Years’ for the Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is the President-Elect for Ivy Endowment, Inc., the non-profit foundation for her chapter—Alpha Mu Omega Chapter. She also serves AKA on the international level as a member of the HBCU Task Force. Katasha was one of the principal organizers and a Founding Member of the African American Legacy Fund of Indianapolis, the first and only fund expressly for the support of Black people and Black endeavors managed by the Central Indiana Community Fund. As a member of The Links, Incorporated, Katasha was a fellow in the Scott-Hawkins Leadership Institute (Cohort VI) and serves at the Area level. She has also served on the following boards: Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana State Task Force, Butler University COPHS Board of Visitors/Dean’s Advisory Council, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Board of Directors, Dance Kaleidoscope Trustee Board, Laura Lee Fellowship House Board of Directors, Planning and Zoning Commissioner, City of Danville, IL., Shalom Health Care Center Board of Directors, and United Way of Central Indiana Youth as Resources Board.  

When Katasha is not serving others, she is always working on her craft. Forever the innovative, serial entrepreneur, Katasha managed to find time to develop a line of chic, planner accessories—starting with the debut of the Pretty Girl Planner—a disc-based planner system for the ladies of pink and green. Being organized has been one of her keys to success and her planners can help others with time management and organization. In her free time, Dr. Butler can be found recommending the best lipsticks to her friends, following political news and current events, reading, shopping, traveling the world and spending as much time as possible with her HunniBun, Lathen and dog, Marshmallow.

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Sharon Caples McDougle, is truly a modern day “hidden figure” who is not hidden anymore! Her long list of firsts show that shooting for the stars is possible. Her dedication to her country and her trailblazing, glass shattering contributions to science and space have not gone unnoticed.

Sharon Caples McDougle became a vital part of the 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 truly a modern day ‘hidden figure” who is not hidden anymore.  Everyone knows Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to go to space – but many do not know that another African American, McDougle, with her own list of firsts, was responsible for ensuring Dr. Jemison’s safety into orbit and her return to earth. McDougle was Jemison’s suit tech for her historic mission aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor September 12, 1992.

For over a year, McDougle trained along beside Dr. Jemison on all facets of working in zero gravity in her suit. Dr. Jemison has openly shared her respect and admiration for McDougle and once wrote, “There are so many incredible people who ensure that astronauts make it to space and back safely. Thank you, Sharon McDougle, for your hard work!”                             

NASA TAKES Notice

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.  McDougle along with her team met the astronauts immediately after leaving the shuttle upon return from space.

In 2004, McDougle became the only woman and only African American promoted to the position of Manager of the CEE department. She managed over 25 employees who were responsible for training the astronauts on how to donn and doff their suits that were designed to save their lives and taught all the technical aspects of their suits worn into space on the Space Shuttle for the launch and recovered 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 NASA.

Other notable astronauts McDougle helped train for lift off into space safely and recover upon reentry are Charles Bolden (former NASA Administrator), Frederick Gregory (1^st African American Space Shuttle Commander), and Dr. Bernard Harris (first African American to perform a spacewalk). She even had the opportunity to suit up a few celebrities which included actors Tom Cruise and Candice Bergen.

During her career with NASA, 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 as the first and only African American woman suit tech/crew chief in her field.

Prepared for Greatness

The Air Force prepared McDougle for her historic career with NASA. In the Air Force, McDougle was an Aerospace Physiology Specialist who was responsible for training the SR-71 and U-2/TR-1 reconnaissance aircraft (“spy planes”)  pilots on high altitude operations. She performed hazardous duty as an inside observer chamber technician and as a chamber operations team member during hypobaric (altitude) and hyperbaric (dive) chamber operations. During the hypobaric chamber flights crewmembers learned firsthand how hypoxia affects their judgment while flying an aircraft. The crewmembers were taught and practiced how they would handle these types of situations and the importance of wearing all equipment correctly

McDougle also inspected and maintained flight equipment used for the SR-71 and U-2/TR-1 missions. The equipment included full pressure suit ensembles (helmet, gloves, boots, etc.), harness assemblies, and survival equipment (seat kits and parachutes, and emergency oxygen systems). She sized and fitted crewmembers’ pressure suits, assisted crewmembers in donning and doffing their suits, and performed functional tests before takeoff. She also loaded the survival seat kits and parachutes into the aircraft, strapped-in the crewmembers before take-off, and recovered the crew upon landing. During her time in the Air Force, she was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and Good Conduct Medal

McDougle’s military training and her 22 years hidden working with NASA astronauts has given her a wealth of knowledge she shares while volunteering in her community and 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, feeding the homeless, and working in thrift stores, just to name a few.

A firm believer in mentorship and forever thankful for the teachers who inspired her to reach for the stars, McDougle is a TWST4Girls (Together We Stand Tall 4 Girls) 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 collegiate Black students their first Aerospace internship!

Hidden Figure No More

Her dedication to her country and her trailblazing, glass shattering contributions to science and space, have not gone unnoticed. McDougle has been recognized as a Mississippi Trailblazer at the 2018 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, which honors a Mississippian who holds the distinction of being the “first” in their profession, and the Dr. Cindy Ayers “Legacy” Award honoring a Trailblazer whose singular work and contributions will leave a legacy long after their lifetime.  

Other awards from her home state: McDougle was honored in the Inaugural class of Mississippi’s Top 25 Most Influential African Americans and the Living Legend Lifetime Achievement Award from the Moss Point Visionary Circle. In 2021, McDougle was recognized by Who’s Who of Mississippi Women with the Inaugural Dr. Helen Barnes Award.

The accolades continue, “That Girl” Natasha Lee and the city of Detroit 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.

Loved Around the Country

She is not only loved in Mississippi but around the country! She was made an Honorary Citizen of Lake Charles, Louisiana by Mayor Nic Hunter and was a Remarkable Women of Houston finalist for CW39’s Houston Morning Dose News. McDougle is also a That Girl Brand Ambassador and a member of the Red Hat Society. Her Red Hat Chapter, Divas With Hattitude, recognized her as their very first Woman of the Year! She was also crowned as the 2019 Bluebonnet Queen.

McDougle has been featured in various publications, media outlets, 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 at colleges and university STEM activities. 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 III.

McDougle is happily married to her husband Maronald, a diver for NASA. 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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mcdougle-237465bb/

Website: https://smcdougle2.wixsite.com/sharoncaplesmcdougle

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g5rjNOPjeM6XRffCTusgw/featured

The Wise Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUYJ1RhgiI        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKf3iHvER-c

ThatGirl Merchandise  https://www.instagram.com/imthatgirlnatasha/   

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When Brittany Green isn’t advocating for women and children and using her extensive educational background to help students and her community achieve better literacy, it’s a wonder that she still finds time to run her own graphic design and branding company!

It’s back to school time for millions of school age children around the country! Education lessens the challenges you will face in life. The more knowledge you gain the more opportunities will open up to allow individuals to achieve better possibilities in career and personal growth. Education has played an important role in the career world of the twenty-first century. Meet Brittany Green, an educator with sass and class! 

Dedicated Advocator

Brittany Green, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is an educator with fifteen years of experience ranging from classroom teaching to district level administration.  Dedicated to improving student learning outcomes, Brittany is the co-creator of “Bridging the Gap for Struggling Adolescent Readers”, a professional development series for teachers of students with reading difficulties. Additionally, she is the author of “Therapeutic Approaches to the Treatment of ADD/ADHD”, a published research study.

Born and raised in Chicago, she moved to Mississippi to attend Tougaloo College and begin her career as an educator.  After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Brittany started her career as a Special Education Inclusion Teacher. She focused on individualized student achievement and education plans to support student success. Upon graduating from Belhaven University with a Master’s in Elementary Education, Brittany worked as an interventionist. She then served as a curriculum specialist for two years and the district liaison of curriculum for two years. She is currently earning her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Arkansas State University.

Brittany has a passion for serving students and has dedicated her life to spreading literacy within the state of Mississippi. She is an avid community leader and works continuously to establish and build relationships with other business professionals, civic organizations, and the community itself. An advocate for women and young girls, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a Girl Scout leader of Troop 5323, and active with MAE (Mississippi Association of Educators).

Not only an educator

When she is not in the classroom, Brittany is busy designing and creating for business clients, universities, and non-profits. She is the owner of Classy Creations Studio, a freelance graphic design and branding agency that services fempreneurs and small business owners. As the owner, she leads and manages the overall operations of the company. She is also the co-founder of The Profound Brown, an organization empowering young women and men through literacy. She also serves as an Adolescent Literacy Coach and Research Consultant supporting middle and high school scholars across the nation.  

A military wife, Brittany is married to Major Justin Green and they have one daughter, Raelynn Austin. They currently reside in Mississippi and Major Green is serving a deployment in the United States Army.

Website: classycreationsstudio.com
Instagram: classycreationsstudio

PHOTO CREDIT: MS. DIG PHOTOGRAPHY; CREATIVE DIRECTOR: GENMA HOLMES

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