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A Letter From The Editor
It appears that out of nowhere the Covid-19/Corona Virus pandemic has arrived. With its onset, the world all of sudden came to a screeching halt. Churches have been closed, businesses are shutdown, the new term of social distancing became part of society’s vocabulary, and it has been alright to shop in the grocery store while being masked. This is our new normal.
What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired today? What would you do?
As a small business owner who greatly depends on the business and support of other small businesses and their patrons, I have felt the brunt of this global pandemic also. It has caused me to adjust the ways I operate and develop more effective methods to produce and share my products and services, all while to trying to be profitable and relevant. The new normal is quite simply learning how to survive during a pandemic.
I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return acquire life.
With revenue being the most vital component needed to operate and sustain a small business, many owners have been greatly impacted by Covid-19 in a negative manner. How do we survive? How will our bills be paid, and most importantly how will I be able to feed and care for my family? We need revenue and the support and patriotism from those who have kept our doors open. Unfortunately, these individuals are facing the same or similar challenges themselves.
The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.
As a result of everything that has occurred, our ability to survive and maintain has become our new normal. The things that we once did, just don’t work the same today. This doesn’t mean the end is near, I believe that God is really telling us that He continues to have all the power and our today and tomorrow still flows through Him. In our complacently of accepting the hustle and bustle of yesterday, God proves yet again that He will turn our world upside down to get us on track with Him. Surviving has become the normal. Lets embrace it and be better than we were before Covid-19.
Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.
Terry L. Watson
Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder
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of LA
By Terry L. Watson
by Leah Rogers
Leah Rogers is really big on family. Affectionately known as Leah Marie, she is the eighth born of 11 children, and the fourth youngest. She is a native of Kinston, N.C. and grew up watching her parents struggle to provide for their family.
Leah shares that while under her mother’s tutelage, she learned the value of hard work and determination. “In my household, I learned many lessons that established the framework in building a successful business enterprise. At the age of 16, I started my journey by working modest jobs but I realized that I needed to pursue a higher education to solidify my goals. With my eyes set to attend college but not sure how to finance this goal at the age of 18, I joined the North Carolina Army National Guard. Upon completion of my military training, I was accepted into North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (HBCU). In 2014, I graduated with a degree in Business Management,” she says.
The training Leah received in the Army provided the discipline needed to accomplish her educational goals and created the opportunity to strive for more. This included the option to pursue an advanced degree. In 2018, she graduated from Liberty University Online with her MBA, and later received a professional certification in Human Resources. Later that year, she was called to serve her country in an austere environment located in Afghanistan. She returned from Afghanistan organized, disciplined, and focused. Those three words can accurately describe the guiding principles on how Leah pursued her business ventures, how she supports her community, and her commitment to mentor young women. “When I set a goal, I pursue it with passion and vigor until it is reached,” she shares.
Currently, Leah owns and manages House of LA, LLC. It is also the parent company for her clothing boutique (LA Kloset) and hair extension brand (LA Luxe). LA Kloset is a boutique for women wanting a curate mix of clothing and accessories that reflects their personal styles. LA Luxe provides ready to wear and custom-made wigs for women wanting to switch up hairstyles, protect their natural hair or dare to be different. “Our wigs are glue-less, making them perfect to throw on in little to no time, without the need for a hairstylist or visit to a salon. Our custom units are 100% human hair and can be made with your preference in regards to length, texture and/or color. Our goal is to provide our customers with an all in one seamless shopping experience, eliminating the need to shop in multiple locations to put together one look,” Leah says.
How did it all began for Leah? She was first introduced to the beauty of fashion while working as a sales associate at a women’s clothing boutique in Greensboro, N.C., called “Q Fashions”. Then, she was a part-time guardsman and full-time college student studying Business Management. Her job as a sales associate consisted of showcasing the store’s most popular items and offering solutions or ideas to customers, providing guidance on product fits and styles. As her passion for fashion grew, so did the relationship with her customers. It was then Leah realized she wanted to get into fashion more. “What started as a dream, selling my own used clothing and shoes, eventually tuned into much more. In 2013, I started my
clothing boutique, known now as LA Kloset. In 2018, I relaunched and rebranded my business to House of LA, LLC,” Leah says.
As a National Guard soldier, Leah had the opportunity to serve her country, while also pursuing a civilian career. She wore her uniform one weekend out the month and 2 weeks during the summer unless deployed or activated state side. While in uniform, there are certain regulations that must be followed when it comes to appearance and hair. Being a black female with natural hair, Leah shares how she had to work around the frustrating limits of the Army regulation. To eliminate the constant troubles with her hair, Leah started wearing wigs to cover it up while on duty.
LA Luxe Extension Brand was created in 2019 under the parent company House of LA, LLC. Its focus is to allow female Soldiers the opportunity to not have to compromise their personal styles to adhere to military standards.
Starting a business is a big accomplishment for many aspiring entrepreneurs, but maintaining it can be the biggest challenge. Time management is essential. Leah shares that when she initially started, she was a full-time college student, working part-time with the Army National Guard, and working part-time at my civilian job. “In the beginning, I struggled with finding a balance between my business, work and school. Finding ways to devote time to both has proven to be key for achieving a work-life balance. Now that I am done with school, I have a better handle on devoting time to my business,” she says.
Being an entrepreneur gives Leah an opportunity to pour her love into something that she loves, and to help others. “Being an entrepreneur can be daunting at times but my family, friends, customer base, and other business owners make it worthwhile. Serving my growing clientele and learning the day to day operations of building my brand is always an ongoing . Waking up each day knowing I get to do something I love is more than I can say about almost any job that I’ve held,” she says.
Furthermore, Leah loves the opportunity she has to create new clothing outfits and hair styles and the ability to collaborate with other creatives, social media influencers, and business owners all over the world.
Leah says that her parents have inspired her to be the person she is. “My parents are my role models. Their actions in life guided me and give me the courage to face obstacles. Since childhood, my mother has always been a hard worker, working days and sometimes nights and doing everything possible to provide for us. She inspired me to never give up and to keep working hard no matter what. My dad came to the United States with little to no education from the Common Wealth of Dominica. His goal was to make a better life for himself. He is my pillar of strength. I’ve seen him at his highs and lows, and one thing I noticed is that he never gave up or surrendered to the situations life threw at him. At his lowest points in life, he remained positive and vigilant. No matter the circumstances, he continues to smile. He is the most caring, loving, and humble person I know. He gives me strength to face any problem in life. He inspired me to look at the bigger picture in life and focus on what’s really important,” she shares.
For those who may be thinking about starting a business, Leah offers some advice. “Believe in yourself. Your vision starts with you. If you don’t believe in yourself or your vision, how can you expect the next person to do so. Having the vision and believing in myself is the force that keeps me going daily even when times get hard or business is slow,” she says.
Leah also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do the time and put in the necessary work to succeed. “Success doesn’t happen overnight. Everyone starts as a beginner. You have to invest time into your business. No one succeeds in business alone. It took me a while to realize this but now I have the assistance of family and friends to help me with small things. I lived by the saying, teamwork makes the dream work.”
Moving forward, Leah desires to assist other aspiring entrepreneurs on starting their journey. She is in the planning stages of her next business venture. Her next move will involve taking her experience from both the civilian and military side to form Leah Marie & Company. “My dream has always been clear, to one day be my own boss and help others do the same. In order to do so, I had to learn the process on from the beginning. For those that have dreams inside but aren’t sure where to start, my team and I will be able to assist them along the way. I want to provide an all-in-one hub for upcoming entrepreneurs and help them to be able to feel confident when taking this journey by providing them with the resources needed to be successful,” she says. h
By Terry L. Watson
by Andrea Pitts
Andrea Pitts of Nashville, TN is a burn survivor, community advocate, and very kind hearted person. She also believes in the power of a simple smile and laughter from the heart, and thrives off making others smile with positivity and helping those who are less fortunate. These are all qualities that assist her with managing Scars Uncovered, a nonprofit she has been cultivating since 2014.
Scars Uncovered is an organization that encourages survivors to uncover their scars, and to be transparent and free. I have my good and bad days in this area but hearing “Scars Uncovered” continues to give me, as well as those we serve, encouragement.
At the age of 18 months old, Andrea was involved in a traumatic incident that left her with severe burns on approximately 30% of her body. “While in the kitchen and watching my mom as she cooked one day, she turned her back for a quick second to get something out of the refrigerator. In that quick second, I instinctively reached for the ladle she had been using on the stovetop, trying to imitate her. This caused a pot of scalding hot water and beans to spill over me. In pain, I was rushed to the hospital and began a recovery process that would greatly shape the rest of my life. In the midst of tragedy, the nurses always told my parents that my smile spread happiness through the burn unit. I went through surgeries and countless hours of occupational and physical therapy and the medical
bills steadily increased. Unfortunately, my parents did not have adequate insurance coverage. The hospital even threatened to terminate treatment at one point, but thanks to the persistence of my parents and the help of others such as the Shriners, I was able to continue my stay. After my hospitalization, the lives of my parents as they knew it changed a great deal. I had to be given special baths, daily wound care changes, and taken to several follow up appointments. My parents were very resilient and endured quite a bit of challenges in order to get me where I am today,” she shares.
That ordeal is the reason why Andrea pushes so hard today. Scars Uncovered was founded November 2014 with an understanding of the journey that encompasses coping with a burn injury. What started as an idea for a walk for burn survivors has evolved into the creation of an entire nonprofit organization. Andrea shares how she started hosting small fundraising efforts in order to obtain funding for start-up cost. “We were simultaneously in communication with hospital facilities surveying their needs and sharing what services we intended to provide. This process lasted for approximately a year and we provided our first set of care packages to Vanderbilt Burn Center in January 2016. As we collaborated with more healthcare entities, we were able to partner with more facilities to provide services and add on the financial assistance component of our services,” she says.
Scars Uncovered has assisted over 1,000 burn survivors. Their focus is to give comfort and support to burn survivors and their families. They provide resources that ease the burdens that often come with the tragedy of a burn injury. They also partner with burn units to deliver “Boxes of Love” care packages to recovering patients and/ or family members. These are specialized care packages filled with necessities hand-picked with the needs of survivors and their families in mind. Each care package costs approximately ten dollars to produce, however Andrea says the impact is priceless. Currently, they are able to provide care packages to Vanderbilt University Regional Burn Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati, OH, and the Reginal Burn Center in Memphis, TN.
Andrea’s personal experience of being a burn survivor hugely impacted her life. Even today, she shares how dynamic the journey contines to be and she has a great understanding of the mental, physical, emotion, and financial trauma that can be experienced throughout the healing process. “Being a burn survivor and creating an organization to support other survivors has helped me in so many ways, especially as it relates to the healing process,” she says.
Besides having compassion and a geniune concern for others, Andrea shares what she loves most about helping others. “I love when I hear from or see a patient that has received a care package or financial assistance from our organization. The gratefulness in their heart is rewarding and so fulfilling. To know that we are helping to make a difference in someone’s life during such a critical time makes it all worth it. Even if we do not hear from a survivor specifically, knowing that you are paying it forward with no expectation of anything in return is a great feeling,” she says.
As a woman of faith, Andrea proudly shares how God is using her to help so many others. “I believe we sometimes go through difficult times in order for God to strengthen us to be used by Him. Through this experience I have learned that it is a blessing to share your testimony. The very thing we try to hide is sometimes the very thing God uses to bless us, and others as well.”
Andrea says they are blessed to have volunteers, sponsors, donors, social media support, and others. Should anyone have an interest in any either of these areas, she encourages them to contact her and learn more on how to be a part. please follow us on Instagram or Facebook @Scars Uncovered, email us at info@scarsuncovered.org, or contact us at 615-933-9083. We would love to chat and/or love to see you following our good works.
By Terry L. Watson
by Dominique Rice
Dominique Rice is a serial entrepreneur. At the age of 22, she started her first company, Perfect Fit Placement. She is also passionate about helping people and inspiring women entrepreneurs.
Dominique currently owns Dominique Rice Consulting and INFLUENT. Dominique Rice Consulting is a consulting firm for women entrepreneurs that focuses on helping them grow and scale their company. INFLUENT is a travel company that allows women to travel in style with groups. Their first trip is scheduled for the continent of South Africa in January/ February 2021.
“I am regularly sought as an adviser to global and North American CEO’s and business leaders. My plan will help your company reach your earning potential. I am driven by my relentless passion to help visionaries get what they really want in business and life. My clients come from a wide range of industries, including consumer packaged goods, childcare development, and professional services. My coaching structure is built on my belief that CEO’s and business leaders can have tremendous business success, along with an enriching and adventurous lifestyle,” she says.
Dominique started Perfect Fit Placement in 2012. “I was a nanny and wanted to start my own firm. This company quickly grew and became in high demand. Before I knew it, I was placing high profile and high net worth clients. I was really rocking it in the corporate baby-sitting world and decided to divide my company in half. All baby-sitting was to shift to the franchise we acquired, College Nannies Sitters and Tutors, and Perfect Fit Placement was to continue doing the entire nanny placement. I knew I could grow the baby-sitting service to the point of selling in a short amount of time,” she says.
Over the last three years Dominique has primarily been consulting. She has helped a handful business owners scale their businesses. Once she sold the baby-sitting service, Dominique knew it was time to really focus on helping others. She used everything she learned along the way and it worked. It was then when she officially launched Dominique Rice Consulting.
“I love helping people the most that is what I am proud of. I am truly inspired by Beyoncé. Not the singer, but Beyoncé the entrepreneur and mother. Beyoncé is one of the greatest not just because she is talented but also because she works the hardest. She is a wife, mother, and creator. She expects perfection from herself and those around her. I admire her hard work and work ethic,” Dominique says.
While being faced with many challenges in business, Dominique has persevered. “I’ve had former employees leave and start their own business while stealing valuable content and work for competitors. I have faced all the issues with growing and scaling too quickly. I feel like I have faced it all and through that, I am able to teach others and help them to learn from my mistakes,” she shares.
Moving forward, Dominique plans to take her business ventures to even greater heights. She clearly understand there is a great deal of work to do and is preparing herself to meet the challenge. “I want to continue to help all women entrepreneurs. I also look forward to having the ability to work aboard and travel. I truly enjoy the perks that being self employed offers such as the flexibility to spend time with my family and friends,” she says.
Indiana University
Indianapolis, Indiana
Miss Indiana University 2020
Kelly School of Business Honors
High Point Christian Academy
High Point, NC
Contra Costa College
San Pablo, California Business Major
Ragsdale High School Jamestown, NC GTCC
Criminal Justice Major
UNC-G - The Middle College
Greensboro, NC
Dudley High School
National Honor Society
NC A&T State University
Animal Science Major
Class of 2020
Grimsley High School
Greensboro, NC
Grimsley High School
Greensboro, NC
Class of 2020
UNC-G
Musical Theater Majo
James B. Dudley High School
Greensboro, NC
Marching Band of Thunder Service Learning Diploma
NC Central State University
Chelsea Alyssia Pettiford
Alabama State University
Suma Cum Laude
Southeast Guilford High School
Greensboro, NC
GTCC
Early Childhood Education
Southampton High School
Courtland, Virginia
Page High School
Greensboro, NC
East Carolina University
Business Major
Minor in Communications
The Academy of Dudley Greensboro, NC
UNC Charlotte
Biomedical Engineering
West Mecklenburg High School
Charlotte, NC
Winston Salem State University
GTCC Middle College.
North Carolina Central University
Theater & Dance Major
Fayetteville, NC
North Carolina Agricultural and State University
Biology Major
Southern Guilford High School
Greensboro, NC
GTCC Cosmetology
James B. Dudley High School
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T State Univ.
The Middle College at NCA&T
Dudley High School
Greensboro, NC
Elizabeth City State University
Phillip O’berry Academy
Winston Salem, NC ECPI
Wanya NaShawn Milton
James B.Dudley High School
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T
The Middle College at NCA&T
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina
Central University
Computer Science Major
Page High School
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T
Supply Chain Management and Visual Arts (minor)
By Terry L. Watson
Executive Chef Carlos Brown is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of C3Culinary Group LLC. He believes that “Food that Makes You Smile” and “Saving Hospitality”.
He began cooking at the young age of eight. By the time he was 16, he was declared to be a professional. “It started at home. I was raised by two great women, my mom and grandmother,” he says. Fast forward, he eventually created the Chef Carlos brand which includes Gullah On The Go, Private Stock, Kitchen by Chef Carlos Brown, Authentic Shrimp & Grits Cafe by Chef Carlos in Atlanta, and Charleston SC. His arsenal includes Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, Hospitality Consultant, speaker, personal and private chef, philanthropist, multi-product developer, and author.
Carlo’s career as a chef is more than food on a plate. It’s artistry, developing, teaching, and training. Under the Saving Hospitality umbrella, he shares his talents with kids who have special needs. “That’s special to me because the love bring families, communities, and homes together,” he says.
Today the impact for me is not allowing my failures to stop or slow me down. Because I realized that my cooking is more food, its an encounter! This catapult me to build a stronger career as a celebrity chef.
Chef Carlos loves food and finds inspiration in cooking. “It’s starts with having a love in our strong culture of Gullah. I believe that food is an experience. I was born in the low country. Being a black executive chef was so hard and almost never heard of. But I believed that I was born to create art. That belief pushed me to move forward, reach back, and pull others up and show that we can be whatever we desire,” he says.
Chef Carlos shares there have been some ups and downs in his career as a chef. “My wife LaShawn has been the greatest support. She has been on this joinery with me since it began. I’m grateful to be a part of history located in Smithsonian African American Museum For Authentic Shrimp & Grits in Washington DC. I am a 2020 National Black Chef Awards Culinary Excellence Award Winner, and I received the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Award Kingston Chef Scholastic Award Diamond Culinary Medal in 2017. Even more, in Charleston, August 23rd is declared Chef Carlos Brown Day,” he shares. He has also had the pleasure to work with and serve some great celebrity clients that include Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, David Oyelowo, Shaquille O’Neal, Julius Tennon, Jim Carrey, Phyllis Newhouse, Danny Glover, US Congressman John Lewis, US Congressman Jim Clyburn, US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Bo Jackson, Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Susan Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, Mack Brown, Bill Bellamy, TI, LIl Wayne, Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, Fantasia, Rashaun Williams, Darlene McCoy, and many more.
Some of the challenges Chef Carlos has faced have been investors, who tend to run away from restaurants because most restaurant fails. “That happens when owners don’t understand the concept of hospitality or how to effectly run this business,” he says. “We have developed a winning concept to be successful.”
Moving forward , Chef Carlos plans to open new restaurants and expand the Chef Carlos brand that includes several products. He also plans to work with kids who have special needs, juveniles, and continue to share his talents with schools.
Go Hard Performance Systems
By Terry L. Watson
LeRone “Roc” Gray is a Richmond, Virginia native as a graduate of Henrico High School, an alumnus of Virginia State University, and a former multi-sport athlete. Roc is a devoted son, loving Fiancé and visual artist. Most importantly, he is a passionate Strength & Performance coach that specializes in holistic health, pain free functional movement, and sports performance training.
Roc is the owner of Go Hard Performance Systems in Richmond, Va. Go Hard Performance Systems is a strength and performance coaching provider that offers services in functional training, strength development, and sports performance with a holistic approach. Additionally, Go Hard Performance Systems offers services inperson, via online platforms, and has a full line of wearable merchandise. “GHPS is for those individuals who want to move pain free, be challenged mentally as well as physically, and ultimately grow in greatness,” he says.
Go Hard Performance Systems originated in 2016 after Roc graduated from college. It was rebranded in January 2020. “I had been an athlete all my life and like many others, I aspired to play football professionally. In pursuit of that throughout college, I devoted myself to strength and conditioning by researching programs, following prominent coaches and eventually earning a degree in Health and Physical education. During this time span aided quite a few athletes based on the work and changes I had achieved for myself. This along with the dream of being a successful business man I had as a adolescent, I took the time to make my business official,” Roc shares.
Roc says he loves the grind of his business. This is often accompanied with interacting with new people, earning their trust, setting a plan of action based on their goals and deficiencies, and ultimately seeing them expand as a person. “I feel great about the relationships I build during the process of transforming someone’s mind, body, and spirit. Although the money earned is great and needed to maintain a living, seeing the impact my efforts makes is astounding. I can honestly say I’ve had people I worked with years ago reach out and mention how something I did still positively effects them to this day, which is an indescribable feeling,” he says.
It is people who Roc says he is inspired mostly by. “The fight they show on a daily basis and taking opportunity after opportunity to better themselves is amazing to me. Even when times are hard, people find a way to strive forward. I know for some that isn’t easy so those who do it and thrive, that is all the inspiration I need. I want to be a helping hand in those stories where people achieve lifelong dreams, make a huge health change, and honestly become the greatest version of themselves,” he said.
In the future, Roc has set a few things in motion to take GHPS to the next level. “The main goal is to continue to grow and expand in a way that makes more positive impacts across the city. I would love for Go Hard Performance Systems to become the strength and performance provider for local high schools this year. That will afford opportunities to showcase what Go Hard Performance Systems is all about as well as filling a huge void for schools in the area. Within two to five years the goal is to have a facility for our clientele base to call home,” says Roc.
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LeRone “Roc” Gray Go Hard Performance Systems
