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EMPOWER ATLANTA VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3 FALL 2023

Honoring the Legacy of

The Tony Award®-Winning Best Musical

HBCU’s

ACT

Is the Test Necessary for College Entrance?

“THE WIZ”

CAM KIRK The Visionary Leader Transforming Atlanta’s Creative Scene

TABLE OF

CONTENTS Cam Kirk University Of Maryland To Become The National Headquarters For The Clark Scholars Program Network The Wiz Melissa Winkfield, Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Camp Creek Parkway, Atlanta, GA Location What Is The FAFSA Simplification Act? Agnes Scott College’s Fourth Annual Women’s Global Leadership Conference Clark Atlanta University’s School Of Education Receives High Ranking On The U.S. News And World Report Best Graduate Schools List

Billy Eichner, Wanda Sykes, And Margaret Cho Aren’t “Just Joking” In Chilling New PSA By Sandy Hook Promise 1099-K Implementation New $600 Threshold For 1099-K Reporting

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BEAUTY & FASHION The Beauty Mother Pat McGrath Joins Forces With IPSY For An Inclusive Limited-Edition Box

Banana Republic Launches Exclusive Capsule Collection With Peter Do

Valentino Beauty And Her Campus Media Team Up For A West Coast Bus Tour

Saks Launches Branded Merchandise Collection In Celebration Of World Mental Health Day

11:11 Media Launches The “Be An Icon” Collection By Paris Hilton Of Home & Kitchen Products Exclusively At Walmart

Crème Of Nature Has Announced The 2023-2024 Scholarship Winners And Further Commitment To Education With The Thurgood Marshall College Fund

I Want To Become A Homeowner, But I Don’t Know Where To Start

“Dashing Through The Snow” To Debut November 17, Exclusively On Disney+

Jad-Évangelo, Multilingual Globalist And Cross-Cultural Strategist

Denise Wells, Executive Director Of Public Relations And Communications

The Expand North Star Event In Dubai Brought Together 1800 Start-Ups From Over 100 Countries And Over 1,000 Investors

What Is Fentanyl? 48 Hidden Star Releases New Master Class: Entrepreneurship For Women And Minority Founders To Address Systemic Inequities

When Should You Sell Investments?

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Is The ACT Test Necessary To Take For College Entrance? North Carolina A&T State University Partners With Kaplan To Offer Students Free Comprehensive Test Prep Courses

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY Savings For Early Bookers On Summer 2024 & 2025 Princess Cruises

The Islands Of The Bahamas Is The Official Destination Partner Of Miami Athletics

Miami Has A Wonderful New Way To Celebrate The Holidays: Christmas Wonderland At Tropical Park

Expect An Enhanced Visitor Experience In 2024 At The Palm Beaches

Ceasars Entertainment Offers Exclusive Culinary Experiences During Race Weekend With Gordan Ramsay, Nobu Matsuhisa, Giada De Laurentiis, & Lisa Vanderpump

FROM THE

PUBLISHEr Greetings Everyone! Welcome to our 2023 Fall Edition of Empower Atlanta Magazine. I love this time of the year. Soon, I will begin preparing for Thanksgiving and spending some welldeserved time with family and friends. It’s also the time of the year I am at my youngest son’s high school basketball games, cheering him on. During these months, I start to reflect on the things I am grateful for. This year is bittersweet because he graduates in 2024. In this edition, we are focused on preparing parents and students for life after high school. Our goal was to provide information on different colleges and to prepare for applying for financial aid, standardized testing, and more. I wanted to provide students with options, especially the possibility of attending an HBCU, (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, Flordia A&M University, and Tuskegee University are a few of the most common HBCUs. However, there is a list of approximately 107 HBCUs in the United States that are identified by the U.S. Department of Education. The talented Cameron Kirkland, aka Cam Kirk, of Cam Kirk Studio, is featured on the cover. He is truly a selfless leader who has transformed Atlanta’s creative scene. He has photographed many artists in the hip-hop industry, such as the Migos, Gucci Mane, Future, Jeezy, 21 Salvage, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, Coach K, and P of Quality Control, and so many more. Cam has also worked with large brands, such as NIKE, PUMA, Barcardi, American Express, PayPal, Sprite, Airbnb, NBA, NFL, and more. Cam also launched Collective Gallery, a record label-style company for photographers. He signs, develops, and assists with structuring deals for creatives. Cam has taken entrepreneurship to another level by not just making a name for himself but also assisting with creating opportunities for others. He is constantly pouring into others. We want to take this opportunity to give him his flowers and recognize

the difference he is making in the creative industry and photography. The Tony Award®-winning musical, The WIZ, has launched a Broadway National Tour, the first one in over 40 years. The extraordinary cast features Alan Mingo Jr. (Kinky Boots) as The Wiz, award-winning recording artist Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody Betts (The Factotum, Lyric Opera of Chicago) as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman (A Strange Loop) as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson (“Sharper,” A24), and recording artist Avery Wilson (“On Top of the World) as Scarecrow. Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray, National Tour) makes a star turn Broadway debut as Dorothy. Atlanta’s own Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker are producers of the musical, as well as a few others. We will continue to inform, inspire, and make a difference in every edition of Empower Atlanta Magazine. We sincerely appreciate each of our readers and advertisers for continuously supporting and believing in our mission. Yours truly,

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-INCHIEF Towanna Hogue MANAGING EDITOR Jada Alexis EDITOR Jerome Hogue, II DESIGN EDITOR Saheed Adio ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Scott Tyler ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Alexis Harder John Buchanan

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tia Cardine Davaul Carter Zuri Randall Jennifer Watson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Caesars Entertainment Gem Hale Ben Hassett Matthew Murphy Kayla Paige Gene Reed Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Denise Truscello STUDIO Cam Kirk Studios

Empower Atlanta Magazine (ISSN 2693-3381) is published quarterly, with four issues per year by T.H. Publishing. Principal office address: 1201 West Peachtree Street., N.W., Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30309. Mailing address: P.O. Box 362, Conyers, GA 30012. Main number: 1 (833) LOVEATL. Copyright © 2023 by Towanna Hogue. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The one-year domestic print subscription rate is $79.96 plus shipping for each edition. The digital subscription rate is $4.00. The single edition rate is $19.99 plus shipping.

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Photo Credit: Gem Hale

Cam Kirk

The Visionary Leader Transforming Atlanta’s Creative Scene By Jada Alexis

2023 FALL EDITION

am Kirk, originally hailing from PG County, Maryland, embarked on a photographic odyssey that would lead him to become a revered figure in the industry. Born and raised in Maryland, Cam eventually found himself in Atlanta after enrolling at Morehouse College in 2007. This move would transform his life, as he decided to make Atlanta his new home and creative hub. During our interview, Cam Kirk, also known as Cameron Kirkland, shared his experiences, insights, and wisdom, offering a fascinating glimpse into his journey as a photographer and entrepreneur.

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to work at parties and nightclubs. I was the original photographer at Beer and Tacos when it first launched, and then I started to work at this club called Esso on the east side. It was really, really early work I was getting, I think, at Beer and Tacos, like $40 a night to do that. At club Esso I was getting $75 a night. So, it was like, really, really early work. But a lot of

Where are you from? I’m originally from PG County, Maryland, and was born and raised there. I moved to Atlanta in 2007 to attend Morehouse College and haven’t left since. So, Atlanta has kind of adopted me.

Do you remember what age you were when you first picked up a camera? The age I was when I first picked up a camera would have probably been somewhere in the range of eight to ten. I grew up in a photographer’s home. My dad’s a photographer, so I used to have to assist him on set on certain photo projects he had. So, that was my first time actually picking up a camera, but never in like a professional setting or anything I was passionate about. My first time really picking up my own camera would have been in April of 2010 when I bought my first camera.

Do you remember your first paid gig as a photographer? When I first started doing photography, the first work I used to do was for local artists; I was managing an artist at the time. I started using my camera to kind of document his life and document some of the things he had going on. From there, a lot of other local artists in Atlanta used to hit me to do little things with my camera. So, that was some of my early work. Then I used Photo Credit: Gem Hale

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EMPOWER ATLANTA MAGAZINE

it was like little clubs or local artists and things of that nature.

How did you find yourself making more money and more connections? When did that shift happen? Or what job was it that made that happen? The cool thing about it is that it wasn’t so much that I found new relationships. It was the relationships I had; they became the best versions of themselves. So, when I was managing my artist, well, my artist at that time, I don’t manage him anymore. At that time, he used to hang around another upcoming artist, and that artist was K Camp. Me and K Camp have had a relationship now for 10-plus years. At that time, he wasn’t “K Camp” or famous, but he turned out to be. I also used to do some photo work for a sneaker store in Atlanta called Fly Kicks. One owner went on to own TRG, and the other owner Ebonie Ward, went on to be Future and Flo Milli’s manager. So, it wasn’t so much that I just found brand-new relationships. It was like, the relationships I had and the people I kind of had the privilege of working with early on really started to become somebody. I mean, I met Metro Boomin in a dorm room. So, I was just lucky enough and had the vision to surround myself with people who had great potential, and their potential paid off, which in turn allowed me to collaborate and have my work seen on a much larger scale.

I know a lot of photographers who really like shooting artists as well. But a lot of them are talking about how sometimes the pay isn’t good, they might not be treated fairly, or sometimes they are even put in dangerous situations. So, what would you say are some of the cons of being a hiphop photographer? I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a problem Photo Credit: Gem Hale

2023 FALL EDITION

with hip-hop or anything in particular. It’s more about being at the early stages of your career. In music, you are more of a documentary photographer. That’s the best way to classify it. So, in any form of documentary, when you are immersing yourself in someone else’s world, it’s real life. You are capturing real-life moments. I mean, real-life things happen. So, it doesn’t matter if you are with an R&B, Country, or Hip-Hop artist. You are subjected to whatever world the artists you are working with. So, I would say that anytime you are doing documentary work, there’s a level of danger that can come into play because it’s not a controlled environment. There are a lot of variables. But I mean, you hit it on the head. My early work, yeah, I’ve been in high-speed police chases. I’ve been shot at. I’ve been in handcuffs; I’ve been involved in entourage fights. Yeah, I’ve been in everything, and it is not something that I think a lot of the younger photographers have to go through. It is not as much of a rite of passage as it was when I first started, which is a blessing. A lot of your local artists are performing at places that only the major artists used to perform at. So, the looks and stuff that you get now are much bigger than at an earlier stage. With back in the day, you could be kind of locally famous for a longer time, which keeps these artists in the neighborhoods and involved in street life, where now you take somebody like Sexyy Red, who has blown up. I mean, she’s probably staying in five-star hotels or better everywhere she goes. The lifestyle is just completely different. There’s so much more money involved.

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? A lot of it is some of the struggles and stuff you mentioned earlier. You know, and music-based photography, specifically, what I found was, if I maintained my position being two feet in the music industry, I was going to be subjected to music industry protocols and hype. And what I

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mean by that is that most people in the music industry have a short lifespan. It’s a very front-andcenter, in-the-spotlight type of career path and position. So, I felt like if I’m just to fit in the music industry; there’s a chance that after five to six years or so, it doesn’t have enough stability in it to say that people are still going to want to see my work. Or that I’m still going to be a cool photographer. So, I felt like I had to diversify. When I thought about ways to diversify, I thought about just business and having a staple, specifically in my city. It’s something that can kind of stand the test of time. I mean, you have certain businesses, landmarks, you know, just think about our neighbor Magic City. They’ve been there for close to 40 years and still thriving and still going. I thought about legacy places, legacy businesses like that in Atlanta, and thought about creating one for myself. So, when I started Cam Kirk Studios, I had that in mind. I had thought of establishing my own legacy and not being dependent on what artists I was working with today or tomorrow, but more of like my ideas being put on Front Street. Then I thought about the position I was at in my career. I was five years in as a photographer. I was kind of tired of being a documentary photographer. I wanted to advance my position. So, I knew I needed to learn studio photography. I needed to be able to be a photographer so that the artists I wanted to work with could call for bigger projects. I knew a lot of that depended on me having my own space to bring them to and a comfortable environment to work with them. I knew I needed a studio. I knew that Atlanta didn’t have a lot of options that I felt were relatable and culturally relevant. So, I saw a void there. I was like, if I need a studio, and I feel this way, there are hundreds if not thousands, of more people that I’ve been inspiring throughout my career that would probably feel the exact same way as they are starting to get inspired to get into photography. So that was kind of like the void I saw. Then I was like, man, I’ve always had a business mind. I tell people

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all the time that I’m 50% creative and probably 50% business. For me, it’s half and half. I’m not, like, overly creative. I really enjoy the days I’m on set as much as I enjoy the days I’m at my office and sitting at my desk, or having a team meeting about what we’re doing tomorrow, or what we’re doing next month, what our goals are. I have that same passion for both. So business was always on my mind, and I was going to start a business. A studio was the first one.

I know you had a lot of the people who have helped you to get where you are. Who are some of the people who helped you bring that idea of Cam Kirk Studios to life? I have had a great team that helped put that in place. I definitely would not have had Cam Kirk Studios if it wasn’t for one of my co-owners, Keenan Litmon. I met Keenan when I was just doing my own thing with photography. He’s always invested his time, energy, and resources to help me achieve the best version of what I was trying

Photo Credit: Gem Hale

to achieve. It was honestly his spirit and the way he treated me, which is what kind of inspired the culture of what Cam Kirk Studios is.

the vision to life, and I definitely wouldn’t have Cam Kirk Studios as successful as it is without all of their involvement and a few others as well.

It’s to help one another, look out for each other, and put others above yourself at some point. It’s about being open to having other photographers around you. That was the kind of spirit that I think he brought to my life. So, he was the first individual that really helped me launch it and get it off the ground. I also have my lawyer, one of my best friends, J. Rose, who was like a business partner of mine. He was also involved early on and really helped me see it through and just give whatever advice or late-night talk about the game plan or whatever; he was there to help with that.

Can you tell me a bit about the Collective Gallery and what your goal was in creating it?

I had my assistant at the time. Maddie Ivey. She really helped from a creative perspective. Just really put the foundation of what we stood for creatively, the design of the space, the look and feel of what Cam Kirk Studios is, like the brand. She played a major role in that. I’m sure there are so many more I could name. You know, another is co-owner, Marley. He came in about a year later into the start. He brought a level of hustle and business strategy that really allowed us to scale from a business perspective and a monetary perspective. So, we had a lot of hands in, really helping bring

We launched Collective Gallery about three years ago, maybe four years ago. The Collective Gallery was like a natural evolution of Cam Kirk Studios and my career. I started as a solo photographer, then built community around creativity. During the process of running a studio, I got to meet so many other photographers, creatives, other people that were inspired by my work. I got to mentor a lot of people. Although we were filling a void, we are also giving them a creative space to work at. I still realized that some creatives still needed more hands-on support and guidance. I could only mentor so many people. So, the idea of the Collective Gallery came about because I was having so many young photographers ask me the same questions like, “How do I turn my craft into an actual sustainable business?” That’s where the idea of starting a label came from. In the same way, Coach K and P got QC, Master P had No Limit, and Birdman had Cash Money. It’s like the same concept. If I have a little bit of the

2023 FALL EDITION

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blueprint, then maybe I can start a label, sign other photographers and help guide their careers, and create other careers similar to the one that I created for myself. That was the original game plan. The blueprint I follow with my own career is kind of heavily inspired by the music industry and artists I’ve had the privilege of working with. A lot of the artists I’ve worked with have started their own labels, so it’s just kind of my way of doing that same exact thing. To this day, we’re a label, but we also have an agency component that allows us to work with a lot of major brands on a really high level by handling all their production needs and things of that nature. So, it’s been a great journey, the last three, four years from a revenue standpoint. My biggest business to date.

Can you share a specific example of how the collective gallery’s approach has positively impacted photographers’ careers? When we started our label, we signed three artists probably within our first couple of months of existence and then went on to sign, I think, about five more. So, throughout our time, we manage the process of not only securing work for them but also managing the inquiries that come in to strategically placing them in certain rooms or with certain brands.

Photo Credit: Gem Hale

Throughout our time, our artists have worked with artists directly, not even including myself, have worked with like Netflix, Halle Berry, Latto, Rick Ross, Squarespace, Bacardi, eBay, Nike, and Adidas. I mean, the list goes on, on a lot of opportunities we have been able to provide. Although a lot of the talent on our roster had a lot of things going on before, I can confidently say the work that we have done together with the artists is some of the biggest work in their portfolio. That’s something that makes me proud. I think they have generated a revenue

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shoulders of me, my vision, my investment, my leadership, and my creativity. You know, when I started Cam Kirk Studios, it was very important that I did. I didn’t even lean on any of my industry relationships, to be honest, like. There are still some friends I have in the industry who have never been to my studio. We have been doing this for six years. I never wanted anybody else to feel like they created or did this for me. I wanted to really step out on my own and see what I could create for myself. So, that’s what makes those two very, very, very, very proud accomplishments for myself and my career. I mean, I love all the photo workouts I’m able to do and the things I’m still consistently doing and the longevity I’ve had in the game for 11 years, and the growth I’m still seeing. But those by far, those legacy pieces are, by far, some of my favorite accomplishments.

What do you think is a great piece of advice to give creatives? Photo Credit: Gem Hale

Looking back at your journey The best advice I can give creatives is that it sounds very during your career, what stream that’s pretty sustainable, cliché, but I think it’s the most personal or professional like maintaining their lifestyle important thing is studying and accomplishment are you and things that are needed. mastering your craft. Whether So, I’m really proud of that. We most proud of, and why? really help like all across the from brand partnership deals to photoshoots to establishing new revenue streams to producing their events or galleries, etc. We have had our hands fully integrated with their careers.

It would have to be both Cam Kirk Studios and Collective Gallery. The number one reason why I’m most proud of that is that those are two projects and business ventures that are completely standing on the

you’re a photographer and learn the ins and outs of how to use your camera, how to operate your camera, how to work your camera, but also the industry of it. Learn how photographers can generate money, learn how they license photos, learn the

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legalities of photography, and learn about copyrights. Learn about all these other revenue streams that you can directly monetize your work with. Once you can understand the industry and the business, then I think you’ll have an easier time manipulating that, creating your own style, your own flair, and deciding what you bring to the game. You have to know the history of it. You have to know the photographers who came before you and their work and what steps they took to be where you think you could be because nothing’s new under the sun. I think those same things apply to any form of creativity. Like the music industry, you want to learn in the music industry. It makes no sense that rappers are still signing bad deals when you hear about bad deals every single day. You hear about that, but if you don’t take the time to learn it, you can still be subjected to a bad deal. So I think it’s all about educating yourself and continuing to train and educate your mind, continuing to learn, continuing to stay hip to trends and new things that are happening in the world, and finding ways to make sure that your hip and up on new things that are happening in your industry. AI is huge in the creative world right now. Know how to manipulate that and work with it. It’s going to be critical for the next 10 years.

Photo Credit: Gem Hale

To unleash your creativity at Cam Kirk Studios, visit www. camkirkstudios.com and book the studio today! If you are a creative who is interested in joining the team, visit www. collective-gallery.com. To view the projects Cam has worked on, visit thecamkirk.com. Follow Cam Kirk on Instagram @thecamkirk and the studio @ camkirkstudios. Like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecamkirk.

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University of Maryland to Become The National Headquarters for the Clark Scholars Program Network

he University of Maryland announced that its A. James Clark School of Engineering will become the permanent home of a multi-university program that provides holistic support to exceptionally talented students with financial need, thanks to a generous $20.6 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. Currently active at 11 of the nation’s top engineering institutions, including UMD, the A. James Clark Scholars Program provides scholarships to outstanding students who share the foundation’s commitments to leadership, innovation, and community service in engineering and other disciplines. “Jim Clark would often say, ‘This is our home; we should build it.’ And build it, he did. He believed that if you gave a person a chance, they would create greatness. The Clark Scholars Program has

given hundreds of students a chance, and the greatness they are creating will shape the world for decades to come. We are excited and honored to carry forward Mr. Clark’s legacy of impact,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “We are proud to introduce the Clark Scholars Program Network, the first-of-its-kind program to outlive the sunsetting foundation that created it. The sense of community between program staff across all 11 university partners is part of what makes this program so unique. The Network will forge an even closer-knit community of collaboration among program leaders along with their universities, Clark Scholars Programs, students, and alumni,” said Joe Del Guercio, president and CEO of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. Launched in 2016, the Clark Scholars Program combines engineering, business, leadership, and community service. To date, the program has provided support to 591 Clark Scholars across its partner institutions, consistently exceeding national averages for female representation, underrepresented minorities in STEM, and Pell Grant-eligible students enrolled in undergraduate engineering degree programs. An impressive 50 percent of Clark Scholars are women, compared to the national engineering student average of 25 percent, and 46 percent are underrepresented minorities, compared to 26 percent nationally. During the 2022–23 academic year, 71 percent of Clark Scholars were able to pursue their education without taking on private student loans, thanks to the program’s support. The new Network will facilitate forums for sharing best practices and novel ideas, establish a robust alumni network, and host an annual Clark Scholars Summit at partner institutions, including Duke University, The George Washington University, Georgia Tech, Johns

Hopkins University, Penn State, Stevens Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, and Virginia Tech. “By translating innovative science into technology solutions, engineering is poised to address critical societal challenges facing humanity. We are proud to educate the next generation of engineers; the Clark Scholars Program is indispensable in this endeavor,” said Samuel Graham, Jr., dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering. “Mr. Clark was a visionary who built a successful business but never lost his connection to his local community. We are proud to carry forward Mr. Clark’s legacy, opening the doors of opportunity for aspiring engineers and continuing his commitment to community service.” UMD’s Clark Scholars Program was established as part of Building Together, the Foundation’s $219.5 million investment in the University of Maryland, announced in October 2017. Including this newly announced investment, the Clark Foundation and the Clark family have invested over $300 million to build new infrastructure and support students, faculty, staff, and research at UMD alone. About the University of Maryland The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university and a leading public research institution, propelled by a $1.3 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers an unparalleled student experience with more than 300 academic programs, 25 living-learning programs, and 400 studyabroad programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD faculty are global leaders in their field and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and members of the national academies. For more information, visit umd.edu.

About the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation partners with organizations to strengthen their ability to meet the needs of the individuals, families, and communities they serve. The Foundation focuses its philanthropy in three strategic areas: educating future engineering leaders, improving the lives of veterans and their families, and providing members of the DC community the best opportunity to thrive. To learn more, visit: clarkfoundationdc.org.

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Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel

THE GROUND-BREAKING, REVOLUTIONARY BROADWAY HIT MUSICAL “THE WIZ” IS COMING TO THE FOX THEATRE NOVEMBER 14-19

roducers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, and Atlanta’s own Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker are thrilled to announce that tickets for the national tour of THE WIZ are now on sale! Eight performances are scheduled at the Fox Theatre from November 14th-19th!

of 10 or more should contact sales@ foxtheatre.org. Following its run at the Fox Theatre, the tour will slide into Emerald cities across the country before it begins its limited engagement on Broadway in Spring 2024.

THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadwaybound tour, the first one in 40 years. The Everybody look around! The Tony tour begins in THE WIZ’s original home Award®-winning Best Musical that city of Baltimore, where the show made took the world by storm is back. THE its world premiere 50 years ago. WIZ makes its return to Atlanta at the This groundbreaking twist on The Fox Theatre as part of the Regions Bank Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway in Atlanta 2023/2024 season. Broadway—from its iconic score packed Ticket prices start at $49. Additional with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to ticket information at Foxtheatre.org/ its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to thewiz and wizmusical.com. Groups find her place in a contemporary world.

The extraordinary cast features Alan Mingo Jr. (Kinky Boots) as The Wiz, award-winning recording artist Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody Betts (The Factotum, Lyric Opera of Chicago) as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman (A Strange Loop) as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson (“Sharper,” A24), and recording artist Avery Wilson (“On Top of the World) as Scarecrow. Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray, National Tour) makes a star turn Broadway debut as Dorothy. Director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida) and choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies,’ Black is King) conjure an Oz unlike anything seen

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before. Charlie Smalls’ Tony Award®winning score features iconic hits “Ease on Down the Road,” “Home,” and Luther Vandross’ “Everybody Rejoice,” with new musical moments from Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, and music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and an Emerald Ballet composed by Timothy Graphenreed. Tony® and Emmy®-nominated TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers”) pens additional material for William F. Brown’s trailblazing book.

first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.

Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office, and Broadway Brands. Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of firstclass touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin THE WIZ will play for a limited Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird. Oz is reimagined with scenic design by engagement in Atlanta from Nov. 14 – Academy Award ®-winning Hannah 19. The performance schedule is: CAST INCLUDES: Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Tuesday – Thursday 7:30 p.m. • NICHELLE LEWIS (Dorothy), the Black is King and Lemonade), costume 24-year-old Virginia native, is thrilled Friday 8 p.m. design by Emmy Award®-winning and to portray Dorothy in The Wiz revival, two-time Academy Award®-nominated Saturday 2 p.m., 8 p.m. marking her Broadway debut. Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting Sunday 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. The NY-based singer-songwriter design by Barrymore Award-winning has performed in the national Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored For more information and a complete tour of Hairspray (Dynamite/ Man), sound design by Jon Weston tour route, visit: wizmusical.com Cindy Watkins), Little Shop of (Parade), projection design by Daniel and follow @thewizbway on Twitter, Brodie (Motown the Musical), and wig Instagram, and Facebook. design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the The John Gore Organization Musical). The John Gore Organization is A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, the leading presenter, distributor, and modern pop brings a whole new and marketer of Broadway theater groove to easing on down the road. worldwide. Under the leadership of 20So everybody rejoice! An all-new 21st- time Tony-winning theater producer century WIZ is sliding into an Emerald and owner John Gore, its family of City near you. companies includes Broadway Across THE WIZ ensemble includes Maya America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Sales Box Office, and Broadway Brands. Franklin, Michael Samarie George, The company presents shows in 48 Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia cities across North America as well as on Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Awards in every producing category as Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, well as numerous other Drama League, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Drama Desk, and Olivier Awards. The John Gore Organization is committed Wilson. to supporting theater access and THE WIZ premiered on Broadway in 1975 education programs that introduce and became an instant sensation, going Broadway to the next generation of on to win seven Tony Awards, including audiences and theater professionals. Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Broadway Across America (BAA) Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Broadway Across America (BAA) is Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography part of the John Gore Organization (George Faison), and in a Broadway family of companies, which includes

Photo Credit: Gene Reed

Horrors (Chiffon/Crystal), Bare: A Pop Opera (Ivy), and Labelless, a new musical. Nichelle would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support. @iamnichellelewis • MELODY A. BETTS (Aunt Em/ Evillene) Broadway: Waitress. Tour: The Sound of Music. Opera: The Factotum and Fiddler on the Roof! at Lyric Opera Chicago. Off-Broadway: Invisible Thread. TV: “Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE,” “Chicago PD/Fire,” “Power.” Text DUMELA to 41444. For

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EMPOWER ATLANTA MAGAZINE

sends his love to family, friends, and GBM! @iamkylefreeman

the Father, my family, and everyone at Stewart. @melodybettspage

of independent music releases. Currently, he’s working on releasing a single called Kiss The Sky produced by Claude Kelly & Chuck Harmony. @ AveryWilson

• DEBORAH COX (Glinda) is an awardwinning recording artist, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, and

international talent spanning the worlds of music, Broadway, television, film, and fashion. Cox’s stage credits include The Bodyguard, Jekyll & Hyde, and Aida. For more information, visit www.deborahcox. com. • KYLE RAMAR FREEMAN (Lion) is a Miami, FL native. Broadway: A Strange Loop (Usher). Kyle recently led the Westend production of A Strange Loop in London. Tours: Once on This Island, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. AMDA Graduate. Kyle

• PHILLIP JOHNSON RICHARDSON (Tinman). Theatre: Dear World/ NY City Center, Goddess/Berkeley Rep, Hamilton/Chicago, Newsies, All Shook Up, Jcss, Aida, The Music Man/MUNY. Film: Sharper (Apple+/ A24), TV: “Little Voice” (Series Regular) “The Last O.G.,” “Chicago PD,” “Proven Innocent,” “The Other Two.” @philsgoodmusic. BFA Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. • AVERY WILSON (Scarecrow), the New Haven, Connecticut native, spent his entire life working towards this moment, singing, acting, & dancing. He dropped a series

• ALAN MINGO JR. (The Wiz) best known for his Dora Awardwinning performance as “Lola” in the Canadian and Broadway Productions of KINKY BOOTS (Best Leading Actor). TV: “Maura Lee Karupt” in Doom Patrol (MAX), The Deuce (MAX), Tales of the City and Jessica Jones (Netflix), Ray Donovan (Showtime), Frasier and Law & Order (NBC). Films: The Hunter and I’m Not Gay. Broadway: The Little Mermaid and Rent. National Tours: Shrek, Hairspray, and Lion King. Countless Regional credits. Proud alumni of UMCP and UCIrvine. @ AlanMingoJr

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EMPOWER ATLANTA MAGAZINE

Melissa Winkfield’s Journey from a Chick-Fil-A Team Member to Owner/Operator: 20 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AND GIVING BACK

By Jada Alexis

n this inspiring interview, an accomplished Chick-fil-A operator takes us through her incredible journey, from starting as a parttime team member to becoming an owneroperator. She shares valuable insight into leadership, teamwork, and the vital qualities required to succeed as a Chick-fil-A operator. Furthermore, she discusses the network and resources available to Chick-fil-A operators, the impact of her role on her personal and professional life, and her aspirations for the future. Could you share your personal journey from starting as a part-time team member to becoming an owner-operator at the Chick-fil-A Camp Creek Parkway, Atlanta location? Yes, I sure can. I started many years ago. Lost count, but I started as a team member learning how to cook food, preparing Chickfil-A sandwiches and nuggets. While I was working part-time from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., I was also managing another fast-food restaurant. Within two years, I decided to stay with that operator full-time. I spent eight years with him, and I became his general manager. One of our business consultants asked me if I was interested in becoming an owner. And I was like, yes, considering I’m going to be here for the rest of my life because I love what Chick-fil-A is about and who we are. So, I told him, yes. After that, I went to school and got my bachelor’s degree. A month before I graduated, they asked me to go and work an interim position at Greenbrier Mall Chick-

fil-A. I spent two years there. However, I think it was six months into being an interim that they offered me Greenbrier Mall Chick-fil-A, and I ended up spending two years there. Then, this location became available, I was selected, and it’s been 20 years since. What are some of the benefits of being an operator? Can I say Sundays off? (laughs) First and foremost, for me, it’s the partnership. The partnership between the franchisees and Chick-fil-A Inc. provides the support you need to assist with becoming successful. As entrepreneurs, we are in business for ourselves. With Chick-fil-A, you’re not by yourself. So, I’m in business for myself, but I’m not by myself. I have tons of support from the corporate office with the resources provided for us. I also have an operator community, and I wouldn’t have that anywhere else where I can call up anyone, any operator, or someone who has been through what I’ve gone through, someone who has done things better than what I’m doing to where that I can learn from. That’s more of a personal benefit. The professional benefit is that it gives me the ability to balance my life. To have a quality life outside of Chick-fil-A. I have a husband and three kids. I can be there when they need me to be there, even when they don’t. Also, I have been able to manage my time better so that I can live my life the way I want to. So, it’s a great balance of my work and family life.

Can you describe the supportive network and resources available to operators? At Chick-fil-A, we have what we call business consultants to where they come in, and they support you with your needs. You can request business assessments, where they can do a deep dive with you on your business numbers, where you’re thriving, and areas of opportunity. That’s a general assessment. But we also have what we call individual consultants, such as in marketing. For example, if I need assistance with brand awareness within the community and have tried everything and nothing has worked, I can ask them why I am missing the mark in this area. I can ask, can you come and show me what my opportunities are? How can I be better so that I can teach my team how to perform better? If I’m leaving money on the table, not making the money that I would want to make, and not meeting my goals, we have a financial consultant who will come out and provide us with needed resources to assist with overcoming financial obstacles and challenges. Also, as an operator, we don’t have to worry about the process of creating new products. We can come up with an idea and present it to Chick-fil-A, but Chick-fil-A has tons of people who are constantly coming up with new ideas. They market and test it for us. They also provide and select vendors that are vetted to make sure we have everything we need. Can you discuss the role of leadership, teamwork, and maintaining day-to-day operations at your Chick-fil-A Camp Creek, Atlanta location? That is where I spend probably 80% of my time, with my leadership, setting the vision for the store and helping coach them to execute. But most important is effective communication on a daily basis. They have to be able to communicate with me and with one another. They need to be able to know the systems that are in place within the store. They need to be able to talk with each other to tell each other the systems because every day is not the same thing. A prime example is everything that has been happening this morning. I’ve had

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it’s hard to be a compassionate but also disciplined leader. But you must have compassion for your people. I have 140 team members, and all their lives are different. I can’t treat them all the same. I must have compassion for them but also motivate myself. I can’t sit here and wait for somebody to do something for my business. As an entrepreneur, I need to have that vision to go out and do it myself. But I also have to encourage and motivate my team to go out and be better each day. I think about how I can make their life better. It’s like paying it forward because of what others have done for me. How are team members able to become operators, and what advice would you give to them?

Photo Credit: Kayla Paige

three call-outs, and my ice cream machine caught fire. But we’re still going, and they are still smiling. You know, just to be able to communicate that to the next person with a positive attitude. Also, making sure that they are displaying a positive environment and morale within the store on a day-to-day basis. They are in control; whatever we put forth is what we will get back. What qualities and attributes do you believe are essential for people who are interested in becoming operators? The first word that comes to mind is being a servant because I’m the person who wants to serve. You’ve got to have a servant’s heart, wanting to give, help the next person to do better, to be compassionate. Sometimes,

Aspiring operators at Chick-fil-A follow a well-defined path within the organization. They begin by working as team members and advancing to roles like team trainers, team leads, and shift managers. The crucial progression involves taking on leadership roles, including directors, and eventually deciding to pursue the goal of becoming an operator. The journey to operator status may take several years and typically includes educational programs, development, and temporary work within the Chick-fil-A system. The advice I would give is to be willing to be present. If you want the business to be your vision, you have to be present and actively engaged to be successful in this endeavor. You cannot run the business and not be here. I spend about 30 hours a week on the floor with my team. I want them to know who I am and can come and talk to me. Plus, I can spend time with my team and see how they are representing my store. I spend the

Photo Credit: Kayla Paige

remainder of my time on paperwork and developing procedures to have systems in place. I encourage aspiring operators to take the commitment seriously and be prepared to put in the work required for success. Understand that this is not just an investment of money. It’s also an investment of time. If you understand that and are willing to be present, you could move forward to start the process and talk about the journey of becoming an operator/owner of your own Chick-fil-A store. Chick-fil-A Camp Creek Parkway 3410 Camp Creek Parkway Atlanta, GA 30344 (404) 494-9320 Service Options & Hours Monday-Saturday Closed on Sunday Dine-In & Carry-Out 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Delivery 6:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Drive-Thru 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Photo Credit: Kayla Paige

Empower Atlanta Magazine Fall 2023 Edition