Strawberry Letter

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dominique Leonard.

 The founder of Jus' Free Parole Package Services. Once classified as an inmate a few short years ago, he wrote my own parole plan and was granted the privilege of freedom. Since his release, He has been dedicated to humanizing inmates with favorable representation in their quest to obtain parole.
Jus' Free is a parole package provider that goes above and beyond to bring forth and present the best potential of our clients. Due to a lack of knowledge, inmates are unaware of what is given to the Board of Pardons and Parole. Our company works with offenders and their loved ones to ensure the Board hears YOUR story. Together, we humanize and purposely create a narrative for the Parole Board that deems those requesting the privilege of parole worthy of the transition to freedom.

At Jus’Free, they recognize imperfection as part of the human experience. Our mission is to restore dignity to those who have been dehumanized and bring families back together. Through our programs and initiatives, we strive to empower individuals, promote understanding, and foster reconciliation. While we can't guarantee specific outcomes, we're committed to supporting each person's journey with compassion and empathy. Together, we work towards a more just and compassionate society.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Marcus Sonnier.

Founded the BOSS Network is an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs, and event-based networking. The mission of the BOSS Network, which stands for "Bringing Out Successful Sisters," is to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women of color.

The BOSS Network has had a long-standing commitment to women entrepreneurs. The mission of The BOSS Network is to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women of color. The BOSS Network Celebrated Its Milestone 15th Anniversary?:

This year, The BOSS Network announced two exciting initiatives during its yearlong celebration, highlighting its 15th anniversary milestone year.
“Invest in Progress” Grant and “The BOSS Impact Fund
The BOSS Network is changing how enterprising women are viewed among the masses and becoming a resource for companies seeking female minority influencers as their target market.  Through initiatives, it has supported the careers and small business developments of more than 200,000 women of color nationwide. One of them is BOSS Business University, a digital platform that provides comprehensive mentorship programming through industry business experts.

How Has The BOSS Network Celebrated Its Milestone 15th Anniversary?:

This year, The BOSS Network announced two exciting initiatives that took place during its yearlong celebration highlighting its 15th anniversary milestone year.
“Invest in Progress” Grant and “The BOSS Impact Fund”:
The single greatest barrier to success for new businesses and startups is access to capital, and minorities make up less than 1% of founders that get investment.
The BOSS Network and Sage (via the Sage Foundation)—the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), are partnering together to remove that barrier with the return of the BOSS Impact Fund and its three-year, $1.5 million commitment to support the Fund with the “Invest in Progress” grant investing in Black women led businesses.
In 2022, the BOSS Network announced the launch of its BOSS Impact Fund, which focuses on investing in Black women led businesses and preparing these entrepreneurs to build scalable, growth aggressive companies. Its goal is to raise investment funding for Black women entrepreneurs over a three year period.
Through the “Invest in Progress” Grant Program, 25 Black women entrepreneurs had the opportunity to receive a capital investment of $10,000 toward successfully starting and growing their business in addition to an entrepreneurial mentor program in support of Black women-owned small businesses.
The “Invest in Progress” Grant has also provided coaching, curriculum, and connections while removing capital barriers to help this group achieve success.
For more information, please visit: BOSSImpactFund.com.

Pathways to Success:
In addition, The BOSS Network partnered with both Sage and Swoop, a global fintech company specializing in funding solutions for businesses, on the launch of “Pathways to Success”–a new training and mentorship program designed to support Black women entrepreneurs in Atlanta.

The Pathways to Success training and mentor program, developed and delivered through Sage Foundation, equipped 150 Atlanta-based Black women entrepreneurs with a structured series of training and roundtables, providing tactical advice to address and overcome financial and capital-raising challenges.

The program was developed as a direct result of Sage, The BOSS Network and Swoop’s report titled “Voices of Strength: Pathways to Success for Black Women Founders” launched in September 2023. The report identified the most prominent challenges Black women founders in Atlanta face, including a lack of access to funding through grants and government resources, mentorship, and the ability to digitally scale their businesses for growth. Participants will receive one year of training access and a three-year membership to The BOSS Network.

The BOSS Network Donating $250,000 to Divine Nine Sororities and the Chicago Urban League:

Earlier this year, The BOSS Network announced awarding $50,000 each in grants and scholarships ($250,000 in total) to the Divine Nine sororities—including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated—the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated, and the Chicago Urban League.

Four women from each organization received a $10,000 grant from the BOSS Impact Fund and a scholarship to BOSS Business University (valued at $2,500).
This investment exemplifies The BOSS Network’s longstanding legacy of supporting Black women in the arenas of business and community.
The Ladies That Lead Conference: This celebrated annual event honors extraordinary women who have made significant contributions to their fields. Past honorees include the Divine Nine Sorority Presidents, Michelle Williams, Tina Knowles, Beverly Johnson, and other luminaries.

“Invest in Progress” Grant and “The BOSS Impact Fund
The BOSS Network has had a long-standing commitment to women entrepreneurs. The mission of The BOSS Network is to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women of color. 

Speaker, investor, and award-winning entrepreneur - these are just a few words that describe Dr. Cameka Smith, Founder of The BOSS Network, a community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through conversation, online engagement, and event-based networking. Working towards one simple goal, BOSS® is “Bringing Out Successful Sisters” to promote and encourage the small business spirit and professional development of women. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership, The BOSS Network has become one of the fastest-growing women communities, garnering several accolades such as a Top 50 Website for Entrepreneurs (Inc. Magazine), 10 Best Career Sites for Women (Forbes.com) and a top Twitter Account to Enhance Your College Experience (BlackEnterprise.com). In recognition of her achievements, Dr. Smith was listed in Ebony Magazine as a 40 under 40 Entrepreneur, named one of the Top 40 Chicago Game Changers by Ariel Investments, The Network Journal listed her one of their, 40 under 40 Business Leaders, and she was presented with a Brand Star award by Adweek.

With a Doctor of Philosophy degree, Dr. Smith developed student academic programs for more than ten years. After being displaced from her job in 2009, she established The BOSS Network to support women in their journey to become independent and successful by utilizing the power of networking and technology. Since then, The BOSS Network has evolved into a go-to resource for companies seeking Black women as their target market. A one-stop-shop for career and entrepreneurial-minded women, The BOSS Network provides its members and partners with professional connections, resources, and marketing and promotional opportunities.

As the author of "7 Steps to Grow Your Professional Network," Dr. Smith frequently travels to college campuses with her non-profit, BOSS On Campus, and speaks on career development and leadership topics. She currently resides in Chicago, where she is actively involved in charity work and mentoring youth. In 2022, Dr. Smith launched the BOSS Impact Fund and invested in 35 Black women-owned businesses. JPMorgan Chase honored Dr. Smith during Juneteenth with a leadership award for her work uplifting entrepreneurs in the Black community.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed T. Dallas Smith.

T. Dallas Smith began his commercial real estate career in 1982 at Atlanta Air Center Realty under the guidance of Thomas W. Tift, Jr. as leasing and management representative for the portfolio. In 1989, he became the first African American broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia. His affiliation with the company opened doors for many minority brokers. In 1995, he pioneered the brokerage division for H.J. Russell & Company, an African-American-owned construction and management firm, where he served as VP of the Brokerage Division. In 2006, with the blessing of the late Herman J. Russell, Dallas opened T. Dallas Smith & Company (TDS&Co), specializing in tenant representation. Now, he leads the firm’s branding and strategy efforts, which includes creating and overseeing all new business verticals within TDS&Co that align with the company’s core business. Dallas is a proud Atlanta native who prioritizes industry exposure and active community engagement in his day-to-day life and as part of the company's culture.

Company Description *
T. Dallas Smith & Company (TDS&Co) is the country's largest African American-owned pure tenant rep commercial real estate firm. For more than 17 years, TDS&Co has taken pride in catering to the needs of clients requiring office space, industrial space, and land. As an exclusive tenant and buyer representation firm, TDS&Co eliminates any conflict of interest when negotiating leases and/or purchases for clients.

Based in Atlanta, GA, the TDS&Co team has more than 150 years of combined commercial real estate experience and has collectively worked on assignments in over 40 states exceeding $16 billion in aggregate value throughout their careers. The TDS&Co team has served in leadership roles at some of the largest, most reputable real estate services companies in the country including Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, CBRE, Newmark, Physicians Realty Trust, H.J. Russell & Company, Equitable Real Estate, Lend Lease Real Estate, Morgan Stanley, Colliers International and Bank of America. The TDS&Co team has also represented the commercial real estate interests of some of the most notable corporations in the country, including but not limited to, Airbnb, ALSAC/St. Jude, AT&T, The Athlete’s Foot, The Coca-Cola Company, FedEx, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Truist and Veritext.

#AMI

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley-Lauren Elrod.

She is a true champion of diversity, safety, and inclusivity in all aspects of entertainment, media, marketing, and advocacy. At Visionary Woman Productions, they are the experts in bringing visions to life through powerful storytelling that connects with your audience and philanthropy that heals the world.

The mission and vision are to create partnerships and content that make a lasting impact on the world for the better. 

Talking Points/Questions *
1. Social impact in entertainment and media.
 
2. How we are propelling change in and out of the industry to help give back to communities.
 
3. My inspiration for this company and how we transitioned into this space today.
 
4. The importance of true and accurate representation in media, marketing, and entertainment.
 
5. The work we are doing to change lives, such as with our upcoming project Verge of Remembrance in support of survivors and Project CAN HOPE with the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. A project to raise awareness and funding for SA, DV, and sex trafficking survivors in America.
 
6. The importance of utilizing one's story in leadership positions to create change.
 
7. Our plans to make the entertainment industry and world a safer and more healed place to be.
 
8. The people and orgs we are partners with and supporting.
 
9. The importance of mental health in the work field.
 
10. How to have a greater impact in your business that not only aids in profitability but world sustainability.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed, Dr. Sonia Lewis, is the CEO of award-winning business The Student Loan Doctor LLC. She is considered the people’s expert on all matters related to student loan debt repayment. She has over 14 years of practical higher education and financial aid experience.  

Dr. Lewis is an expert speaker across all audiences, regardless of age. She has been invited to share her expertise in written work, conferences, or live media: CNN, The White House Briefing on Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color, Black Enterprise, SALON Magazine, RT America, Essence Magazine, KYW News Radio 1060 AM, Fox 29, The BET Network, Money Magazine, Forbes, Investfest (EYL) and a host of other notable platforms across the nation. Sonia is also a 3-time self-published author.

Company Description *
The Student Loan Doctor LLC has been recognized as the first African American and woman-owned student loan repayment company in the country. The City of Philadelphia has also awarded us two citations for our business’s impact on the Philadelphia community.

The company was designed to educate others about their student loan debt and provide assistance in making a tangible plan for repayment. The social impact goal of the business is to help a generation of borrowers become free of debt to promote social mobility and wealth building.

Talking Points/Questions *
1.    Student Loan Forgiveness and the Election: How the current administration’s policies are shaping forgiveness programs and what borrowers can expect from candidates in the upcoming election.
2.    Financial Freedom and Student Loans: Why student loan debt is a major obstacle to financial milestones like homeownership and investing, and how to navigate debt to move towards true financial freedom.
3.    Staying in Good Standing: Why keeping your loans in good standing is critical for personal and financial health, and actionable steps borrowers can take today to avoid penalties and default.
4.    The Student Loan Doctor LLC, founded in 2016, has been recognized as the first African American and woman-owned student loan repayment company in the country. 
5.    The City of Philadelphia has also given the business two citations for its impact on the Philadelphia community. 
6.    The Student Loan Doctor LLC was designed to educate others about their student loan debt and assist them in making a tangible repayment plan. 
7.    The social impact goal of the business is to help a generation of borrowers become free of debt to promote social mobility and wealth building.

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My husband and I have a blended family, but my side has blended and his has not. His twelve year old child said she didn't feel comfortable in our home, and we understand it because I have two sons. For the past year, she's done activities with us, and we pick her up and take her back home. Most of the time, my husband does things with her by himself, and he doesn't ask me and my sons to join them. My husband said he has to go the extra mile to make his daughter feel included, and that's fine with me........................................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed, Rod Griffin.

Rod Griffin.  He is the Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian, to unpack the essentials of financial health and identity protection. Griffin dives into savvy strategies for improving your credit score, understanding fraud prevention, and managing personal finances for lasting success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to take control of their financial future and gain peace of mind in today’s digital world. Perfect for listeners eager to unlock financial freedom and protect what matters most.

Talking Points/Questions *

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Douglass Fort.  He founded The Blerd Academy (Black Nerds).  It’s a wealth building program that helps High-Achieving Black-American youth get scholarships to HBCU’s. They have secured over $8 million dollars in scholarships!  Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Master Class Douglass Fort.

· Since 2016 Fort has secured $8 million in scholarships for 63 high-achieving Black American students. Full-ride and tuition-only scholarships to HBCUs through graduate school.
· PJ’s sister, Marissa, also went through the program. She graduated Cum Laude from Hampton University with a degree in Accounting, earned a Master’s degree from Columbia University all debt-free, and now works for Deloitte in New York City.
· Other success stories: A Tennessee State U graduate now works in the front office for the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
· Two are Obama-Cheskey Voyager scholars.
· Fort says: “We don’t talk enough about Black scientists, mathematicians, and doctors. Only 1% of athletes make it to the NFL. We’re hustling backward having our kids focus on sports over education.”
· Criteria for the students he assists: a 3.5 GPA, a 28 ACT score, or a 1300 SAT score for a full-ride scholarship, or a minimum 3.2 GPA, a 23 ACT score, or an 1130 SAT score for tuition-only scholarships. AP and/or Honors classes, community service, and school leadership is also beneficial.
· Since the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina struck down Affirmative Action in college admissions Fort has been busy.
· Several HBCUs saw a surge in applications, including Washington D.C.’s Howard University, Clark-Atlanta University, which outpaced the University of Georgia, and Florida Agricultural Mechanical University (FAMU).
· Fort says: Parents just don’t know there is money and resources at these institutions for their high-achieving students, but they should because their kids have excelled in the classroom, and they deserve it.”

MONEY MAKING CONVERSATIONS TALKING POINTS
Guest: Douglass J. Fort, Founder, The BLERD Academy
· Grew up in East Palo Alto, California
· Liked school but got caught up in the streets
· Was shot as a teen.
· A childhood friend suggested he apply to Jackson State University. When he was accepted, hesitated, but did go.
· Graduated from JSU. A Criminal Justice Major/Urban Affairs/Development minor. After graduation, he returned to East Palo Alto where he started the violence prevention program, For Youth By Youth.
· Worked with law enforcement to help clean up Black neighborhoods.
· His son received a full-ride athletic scholarship to Morehouse College but turned it down to play Division 1 Football at a PWI, and never played.
· Doug was heartbroken that his son turned down Morehouse. A close friend told him he had to get over it and focus on kids who wanted the HBCU experience.
· Founded The BLERD Academy, a combination of the words Black and Nerd in 2016 in Oakland; a non-profit wealth-building program that assists high-achieving Black American students graduate, debt-free from more than 100 HBCUs.
· Found the first BLERD while working at a Bay Area JSU Black College Expo booth. It was 6’5 honor roll student, Phillip Patrick Jr. who had a 3.6 GPA and 28 ACT score. Fort offered him a full-ride Presidential scholarship to Jackson State on the spot.
· Phillip Patrick had played baseball all his life and thought he would have to continue playing in college on scholarship. When he received the full-ride, he told his mother he no longer wanted to play baseball, he wanted to be a brain surgeon.
· Patrick Jr. majored in Biology Pre-Med and graduated from JSU in 2020. He is now in the 3rd year of a five-year medical program at UC Irvine Medical School where he will receive his Master’s in Public Health and Medical Degree in Cardiac Anesthesiology. UC Irvine is fully financing his medical
degree. He is engaged to a fellow Blerd who graduated from Howard University and is in Medical School at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Also debt free.
· Fort advises his kids to leverage their B.L.E.R.D and secure their bag of money through graduate school.
· He is especially passionate about young Black men from tough neighborhoods like he came from.
· He is a big proponent of kids buying property as early as possible.
· Fort says: “This is a spiritual calling. My mission is to rebuild our community, and it starts with young men because they are the ones who will be the providers for their families. We exist as an organization to build a healthy community that is Black, Educated, Resourceful, and Determined, and we are doing it one B.L.E.R.D at a time.”
· Website: www.theblerdacademy.com, Instagram: TheBlerdAcademy

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I was messing with my homegirl for years and finally her husband caught us naked from the waist down in the coat closet. He came home early and we got busted hiding in the closet. So here we are a year later and her divorce is final and my long term girlfriend dumped me. My homegirl thinks that since I was messing with her while she was married, that it's fate and we are meant to be together. No we're not and I told her that, but she has trouble understanding me. We've been cool since high school, but it's never been more than sex. Back when I was married, I did not mess around with her. I honestly don't know why I went back to her...................................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed, Tim Mercer.  He is the author of Forbes Books "Bootstrapped Millionaire."   He is also the CFO of Cadence Ventures, INC.  It is a boutique private equity firm that invests in private mortgage notes and offers "nontraditional" financing to real estate investors, builders, and developers. As a private lender with discretionary capital, we've become a reliable capital partner for real estate professionals needing execution and timely closings.  Tim has over two decades of experience in finance, real estate, and government contracting; Mercer is currently the CFO of Cadence Ventures, INC and IBOX Global, LLC, ranked #357 on Inc. 500’s list of the Fastest Growing Companies. 

Talking Points/Questions *
1) Phases of entrepreneurship (i.e. solopreneurs, intrapreneurs, business owner, investor)
2) The importance of financial literacy and how to level up your financial knowledge
3) How government contracts can help scale your business
4) Advice to small businesses seeking to get into government contracting
5) Why real estate is the safest and most profitable investment 6) How to invest passively into real estate

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#SHMS

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm a thirty one year old single black man and about two months ago I was not ready to settle down yet, so I was mingling and dating. After countless failures with meeting women, I finally came across a much older woman who was on the same page that I was on. She only wanted sex and that's it. She invited me to her house one evening, and from the moment I got there, it started getting heated. We were kissing and grinding on her sofa, and as it was about to go down, she left me on the sofa and went upstairs to her room, and she told me to give her ten minutes. So I undressed and went upstairs, and it was pitch black. She told me where to go, and I followed her voice into a room where all I heard was jingling keys and metal clinging, and something that sounded like a towel was hitting a mattress.................................................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ken Taunton.  He is an executive search and healthcare professional staffing leader who founded The Royster Group in 2001. With vast experience conducting executive searches for public and private companies and the healthcare sector, he has built a reputation for excellence in his field. Recently, Taunton was awarded the prestigious SBA Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Georgia, further solidifying his success.

Talking Points: 

Are there benefits to being a certified Black-owned professional staff firm?
How does one become certified?
Why did you start your company?
SBA Small Business Person of the Year for 2023
The importance of DEI.
What business model was it based on?
Grew up in the Birmingham, AL, projects. he could only afford college because my mother, who worked in housekeeping, received a discount. A first-generation graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He knows what it’s like to be marginalized, so he has made it his mission to support others who have talent but are often overlooked.
The National Institute of Health said it best: A diverse nation calls for a diverse healthcare force. That is why a significant portion of our efforts is dedicated to the healthcare sector.
He has been successful because they focus on five core values: Customer Service, Integrity, Teamwork, Accountability, and Respect.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, The Royster Group, Inc., a certified minority-owned business enterprise, is a leader in executive search and professional staffing services in the private and public sectors and the healthcare industry. The Royster Group assists clients in meeting and exceeding their human capital objectives by providing highly qualified leaders and healthcare professionals at all organizational levels.

#BEST

#AMI

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Travis T. Wade.  A seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of corporate experience. His company THE GUARDIAN is a private security corporation with three separate divisions: Armed & Unarmed Uniformed Security Officers, Personal Protection, and Private Investigations. Serving the Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina states.

Their mission is to maintain a strict and unwavering code of ethics with our employees, clients and community; To provide the most qualified, dedicated and professional officers that represent both the client and THE GUARDIAN. And to establish and maintain the most effective security services available.

THE GUARDIAN is dedicated to providing the highest level of integrity available in the field of Security Management and Protective Services. We hire and train our people to be the most professional and qualified officers in the industry.

Talking Points.
1.    The transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship 
2.    Transitioning from NY to ATL 
3.    Current Company Guardian Security Management Inc. 
4.    Taking a company from a mom and pop operation to a corporation 
5.    Working with the competition 
6.    Operating multiple businesses
7.    The importance of Human Resources for a small business
8.    The transition from corporate to entrepreneurship
9.    You company’s mission is to maintain a strict and unwavering code of ethics with your employees, clients and community; 
10.    To provide the most qualified, dedicated and professional officers that represent both the client and THE GUARDIAN. 
11.    And to establish and maintain the most effective security services available.
12.    We hire and train our people to be the most professional and qualified officers in the industry.
13.    Each work independently, supporting the other to provide our clients with a cohesive security program
a.    Armed & Unarmed Uniformed Security Officers
b.    Personal Protection
c.    Private Investigations.

Most recently serving as the FVP Head of Human Resources at Carver Federal Savings Bank. Known for strategic leadership, Travis has excelled in developing and executing HR strategies aligned with organizational goals. His expertise spans succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational development, performance management, and compensation.

In his previous role, Travis led a team supporting 125 employees, demonstrating strategic partnership with division executives for effective workforce planning. He implemented a talent calibration process, fostering the identification and development of high potentials. Travis managed all aspects of HR, from recruiting to diversity initiatives, and redesigned the department to align with evolving business needs.

Travis’s impact extends to compensation, where he introduced incentive targets and designed innovative programs, including Management Equity Stock Award and Annual Incentive Programs. His commitment to culture management is evident through defining Core Values, enhancing company culture with workshops, and initiating recognition programs like the Carver Core Value awards and “Women’s in Business” Recognition program.

His dedication to employee development is reflected in the creation of the Leadership Pathways program, incorporating Graduate Leadership, Middle Management Leadership, and Diversity and Inclusion training. As Travis takes command of The Guardian Security Management, his wealth of experience and commitment to strategic HR leadership promise a positive impact on our organization.
Armed with a bachelor's in business administration from Queens College, Travis brings a solid educational foundation to his role.

His professional journey is marked by significant certifications, including Professional in Human Resource (PHR) and SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). These credentials underscore Travis’s commitment to excellence in the HR field, ensuring a high standard of expertise and best practices in his leadership.

#AMI

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed, Isaac Hayes, III.  His business career started in 2013 when he served as president and C.E.O of Isaac Hayes Enterprises. Managing the name, image, likeness, brand, masters, and publishing catalog of his soul icon father, the late Isaac Hayes.  He is also a visionary to change social media forever.  That vision is Fanbase. 

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cicone Prince.  Founded a Personal Development and Leadership Development company specializing in real-world business leadership and personal accountability approaches. He helps individuals, organizations and companies get to the root of their behavior, performance, and areas of improvement to change their overall outlook and become more productive, encouraging, and inspiring.  

He is the CEO of CiconePrince.com where their slogan is “Making Motivation Personal by Introducing You to Yourself.”TM

With an Associate’s Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering, Mr. Prince has used his love of learning to continue educating himself. He then passes on those lessons via engaging stories and illustrations during his motivational speeches.  

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My husband tried his hand at comedy a few years before I met him. He started doing amateur nights, but his career never took off after a local club burned down, so he started doing fundraisers at the church, and his jokes almost got him put out of the church. I married him after he got a job at a car dealership. He's great at selling cars, so I encouraged him to stick to that. He told me years ago that he has to exercise his comedy muscle or he would lose it. He never had it, since he doesn't have an audience. He tells all of our business and tries to pass it off as jokes....................................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning Television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ken Taunton, founder and president of The Royster Group, a nationally recognized, certified Black-owned professional staffing firm. Solidified with the five core values for success, including customer service, integrity, teamwork, accountability, and respect, The Royster Group is one of North America’s fastest-growing professional staffing agencies providing diverse and highly qualified executive-level talent for the public and private sectors, including healthcare and government.

Here are some interview highlights:

Ken established The Royster Group after noticing a need for more diversity, including women and people of color, in senior-level executive searches while employed at Korn Ferry.

A minority business enterprise certification legitimizes Black-owned businesses' capability and capacity to do business with Fortune 500 companies.

Healthcare support services careers are among the top job markets due to the nation’s growing population of people who need help caring for themselves.

As a new business owner, having a mentor who shares free information about important business decisions can help you avoid costly mistakes in the future. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE are excellent resources for small business owners who need guidance on establishing the appropriate business model.

Established in 2001, The Royster Group is a multi-million-dollar firm with national clients in over 20 states. In 2023, Ken was named the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Businessperson of the Year for Georgia.

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm dating a twenty nine year old mama's boy. We dated off and on for a few years, so I'm really cool with his mom. I decided to date him again even though I know his mom is a huge part of his daily life. His father died when he was a teenager, so he feels responsible for his mother. That's the part I love about him, but he needs to realize his mother is only forty seven and she can have a man if she wanted one. Here's the part I don't like. He is staying with her temporarily because someone tried to break in one night. They live in his grandmother's old house, and all of the furniture is from the eighties. The windows are nailed shut, so there's never fresh air circulating in there. The drapes are dusty, and so is everything else in there........................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Valerie Obaze.  R&R Skincare is a premier, woman-owned beauty brand dedicated to crafting high-quality, cruelty-free skincare products that harness the power of Africa’s natural resources.  

1. Overview of R&R Skincare as a woman-owned, cruelty-free beauty brand founded in 2010 in Ghana. Emphasis on the brand’s commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability.

2. Valerie's background as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mother.

3. The inspiration behind founding R&R Skincare, highlighting the personal connection to her mission. + Valerie’s clear vision is to establish R&R as one of Africa’s leading beauty brands using indigenous African ingredients, such as Shea and Baobab, and their healing properties.

4. How R&R Skincare empowers African women through job creation and fair trade practices.

5. The role of African culture and heritage in shaping the brand’s identity and product offerings.

6. R&R Skincare prioritizes sustainability in its supply chain and product formulations.
The brand’s approach to creating luxurious products that are environmentally friendly.

7. Overview of R&R Skincare’s plans of expansion into the U.S. market and its significance for the brand, along with future plans for engaging with diverse audiences while showcasing African beauty secrets.

8. Valerie’s commitment to philanthropy and community support through R&R Skincare.

9. Reflections on balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood.

10. (Closing Thoughts) Invitation for listeners to connect with R&R Skincare and explore its product offerings. Encouragement to support ethical and sustainable beauty brands that celebrate African heritage.

#BEST

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My boyfriend was out of town, so I went to pick up our dog so he could stay with me. I heard a female voice say, hello, "who's there?" I knew the voice, so I walked back to my boyfriend's bedroom and it was his female friend lying in his bed. She was all cozy under the covers watching a movie. I remained calm as I asked why she was there. She said that she has been having issues with her marriage, so my boyfriend suggested that she stay at his house while he was out of town. She said that he was supposed to tell me about it. I played it off like maybe he did tell me, and I forgot. I noticed this woman was wrapped up in the monogrammed robe I gave my boyfriend for Christmas as she explained how special my boyfriend is to her and how he always gives her great advice about her marriage..............................................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Paul Rainey. He serves as Executive Vice President of Operations and Finance for Penske Media Corporation (PMC). In this role, he works across PMC’s portfolio of award-winning brands, including Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Vibe, Robb Report, SHE Media, Dick Clark Productions, Luminate, Sportico, and SXSW. Rainey oversees all operations and financial decision-making affecting the various operating companies that report to him. He provides strategic financial input companywide, including developing and implementing operational and financial procedures to improve and maintain the economic health of PMC and its leading media brands. He also guides acquisitions and investments. 

Paul also serves on several boards.  He is the Audit Committee Chair of Redaptive, Inc. board of directors and a SXSW director.  An accomplished senior executive with 25 years of financial leadership experience across multiple verticals with extensive international experience in billion-dollar operations spanning five continents.  

Rainey holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and a BBA in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame.  

*Company Description
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate monthly audience of more than 350 million. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media and live events, reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Dick Clark Productions, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, Vibe, IndieWire, Artforum, Gold Derby and Luminate, the premier data and analytics company. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several of the most iconic and vital cultural events such as the Golden Globes, Country Music Awards (ACMs), Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), New Year’s Rockin Eve, SXSW, American Music Awards (AMAs), LA3C, Life is Beautiful, Latin Music Week, and ATX Television Festival. Penske Media is headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, for more information, please visit www.PMC.com

I have worked for some of the largest companies in the world (General Electric for 15+ years across 5 continents) and have been a board advisor to startups with a few employees that have gone on to obtain Fortune 100 companies as clients.  I have seen many paths and time horizons to financial stability and can share what I have observed in a few areas specifically in a time where people are struggling with remote work to return to offices turning the "work/life" balance and or priorities upside down. While they are also trying build wealth to gain financial security while they pursue professional careers:

Talking Points
1) Work life balance - How to navigate in today's environment
2) Wealth building - What is reasonable time horizon (overnight?), How to think about generating passive income, keys to investing

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Dear Steve and Shirley,  My husband falls asleep on the couch all the time while he's scrolling through his phone. The other night, I thought the TV was up too loud, so I went to tell him to turn it down a little bit. He was knocked out with his phone on his chest and he had his AirPods in. I took them out, and when I did, I could hear a video on his phone and there was music playing and a woman in the background. I started watching the video because a woman was bare chested. She'd bent over and kissed a man and told him to take a selfie with her.................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Ozell Graham.  He is a US Army Veteran who started The Fade Shop Brand in 1996 inside a tent while serving his country deployed in Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor. After eight years of Honorable Service, Ozell transitioned back into the civilian workforce, moving to Arkansas to pursue his career in Cosmetology. Upon graduation, Ozell moved to Dallas, Texas, where he worked in several barbershops where he learned more about hair and how to run a business. In 2005, Ozell stepped out on faith and followed his dream of entrepreneurship, and opened his first barbershop in Dallas. He currently has three successful locations in the Dallas Metroplex,  and a Hair and Skin Care Product Company called AT Ease! 

AT Ease Hair and Skin Care's Mission is to provide universal hair and skin products, education, and training to consumers so they can maintain personal grooming for healthy hair and skin, leaving them relaxed and worry-free.

*Talking Points/Questions
Here are 5 Effective Steps to help you grow and  Maintain a Healthy Beard
Step 1-  Let your facial hair grow
Step 2: Once you have a beard, big or small, you want to wash it using a beard wash. This will remove any dirt, product buildup, and dry or flaky skin that can cause a blockage that stunts hair growth. Keeping it clean will also open your pores and allow your beard to grow smoothly through the skin.
Step 3—After your beard is clean, you want to add a non-pore-clogging beard moisturizer or oil. This will keep your hair and skin moist to prevent dryness, protect the hair from breakage, and prevent skin cracking. Doing this will also improve your hair and skin's texture. 
Step 4-Brushing or Combing your beard daily helps distribute the natural oils to moisturize, while stimulating blood flow that can improve beard growth because the more nutrients that are going to your beard follicles will return a healthier beard.
Step 5-Maintain a nice curb appeal on your beard keeping your borders (top and bottom) clean and neat by using a trimmer or razor. Doing this will be a great foundation for that Stand Out Beard.

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I relocated for work and I rented a house. I used an agency to help me locate the home, and a nice religious man ended up showing me around. When my furniture arrived, he offered to help me get my house in order. He showed me around the city one day, and then he surprised me by asking me out on a date. I was eager to get to know him better. I learned a lot about him, like he likes proper women, as he calls it. He said he likes a woman that is classy at all times, even at home. He said he loves a woman that still smells good after an eight hour workday, and she can command attention without saying a word. I told him the type of men I'm attracted to, and I assured him that he's my type..................................................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm dating a man that was married. When I met him, he was going through a hard divorce, so I allowed him to vent and even cry sometimes because he was going through it. I loved how he never said anything negative about his ex wife. I felt like she had to be an evil person because of how bad the divorce was. I finally talked to her for the first time, and she's far from evil. But first, let me tell you what happened. Two weekends ago. I went to Dallas for the day and I drove back home that same night. My boyfriend said he was out watching the game. He sent me a text that said he wanted to see me before I left, and another one that said please, please please.....................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My boyfriend is in love with his brother's wife and he won't admit it. It started as a joke, but now it's starting to get under my skin. I met his brother. The same night I met him. His brother had just started dating the lady he married. That was four years ago. They are married, but my boyfriend and I are not. My boyfriend idolizes his sister in law and compliments her when she's all dressed up, which is all of the time. Her hair is sure and fly and she has expensive purses and shoes. She called me last week and asked me if we could do a day of pampering together.................................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My husband and I decided early against having children. We have a great social life and our house is still the hangout spot for our friends. He's sixty one and I'm fifty nine, and we have made the marriage work for twenty seven years. Last year I found out he was cheating. His lover kept calling his phone over and over, so I told him to handle it. He told me that he handled it. I decided not to stress about it because there was nothing I could do to stop him from cheating, and I was not ready to leave him and be alone, so I didn't ask any questions. He did all he could to show me how remorseful he was for cheating, and I was just happy that our friends didn't find out, so I didn't have to deal with the embarrassment and stress.........................................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I’ve been dating a very attractive woman with the perfect body and beautiful brown skin. I met her at a gym and she asked me out, which I loved because she is not afraid to go after something if she wants it. We have been dating for a little over a month and we finally had sex over the Labor Day holiday. I wasn’t expecting the performance I got.................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I got married three years ago and I love sex. My husband works hard as a construction worker, so I let him relax before I get nasty with them. I make sure I feed him first. When we go to bed really early because his days start early. He makes sure we're having sex by 9pm. He takes care of business and I go on to sleep every time. I was living the dream and didn't know that he had a problem with anything we had going on in the bedroom. But apparently he does, and I found out through a third party...........................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I am twenty eight years old and my boyfriend is twenty seven. He was an old flame that I had in school, and I decided to rekindle things with him. He pursued me, and I finally gave in. I realized he was the missing piece in my life and he told me the same thing. He moved in with me the second week of our relationship, and we were learning to love each other again. All was well until he took me to his family reunion. His ex-girlfriend was there and he knew she would be there. He has a daughter with her, so she came with his daughter......................................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer, Rushion McDonald interviewed George Acheampong and Carter Cofield. They own Melanin Money, which aims to empower the Black community through financial literacy and wealth-building. They have been recognized for their innovative approach to bridging the wealth gap and fostering a culture of financial empowerment. Melanin Money has implemented the challenges they have had to overcome, as well as their advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

 The interview would cover topics such as:

- The inspiration behind founding Melanin Money

- Key milestones and achievements in your journey

- Strategies for promoting financial literacy within the Black community

- Personal stories of success and overcoming obstacles

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My husband and I have been together for twenty four years and married for fifteen years. We dated and broke up a lot in the past because he's a cheater. He had sex with six women that I know of, and I'm sure there are plenty that I don't know about in the past fifteen years. He said he's been faithful and he stopped all of the messing around a year before we got married. My husband has embarrassed me to no end, and my family still has a problem with accepting him. I thought things were going good and I kind of let my guard down, but my family was right and I never should have married him. I could be wrong, but all the evidence points to him cheating again........................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Rebecca Homkes. She is a high-growth strategy specialist, best-selling author, executive adviser, and Consultant.  

Dr. Homkes teaches at two business schools and runs a USA-based LLC SRT Strategy. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Core Faculty for BCGU (Boston Consulting Group), and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A best-selling author, global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several fintech accelerators, and serves on the Boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar and is now based in Miami, San Francisco, USA and London. UK.

Company Description *    

Talking Points/Questions *

Why we need to get away from viewing uncertainty as something inherently negative

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm married, but my husband and I haven't slept in the same bed for two years. His sleep meds didn't work and he would try to watch TV all night. I sleep lightly, so I told him that I needed the room to be quiet. He went and slept in the other room two years ago and never came back. After the first year, he moved all of his clothes into the room with him. He came to my bed a few times wanting sex, but he did not want to cuddle afterwards, so I stopped being intimate with him. Luckily for me, I travel every two months for my job, and I'm gone two weeks at a time. My last work trip was in July and I was having dinner with two other managers, a male and a female.........................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Demond Martin. 

He founded WellWithAll, a Black-owned, purpose-led health + wellness brand.  Their mission is to improve wellbeing for all of us to achieve generational wellness. We invest 20% of our profits in the fight for health equity in Black, Brown, and underserved communities.  

1.    Origin Story: What was the spark that drove you + your co-founder to start WellWithAll?
According to Pfizer, Black people are at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, and diabetes compared to their white counterparts. But that is not all. Based on research recorded by Psychiatry, Black people with any mental illness have lower rates of obtaining mental health services, including prescription medications and outpatient services, compared to white men and women.

Demond Martin, Co-Founder + CEO
An investor and philanthropist, Demond was a senior partner at Adage Capital Management where he invested in the consumer sector for 22 years. A graduate of Harvard Business School and former assistant to President Clinton’s White House Chief of Staff, Demond has served as a trustee on a number of non-profit boards including the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Grammy Global Venture Board, and the Obama Foundation.

We encourage + support our customers on their wellness journey while inspiring us all to do good in our communities and in our lives.

Talking Points/Questions *

1. Origin Story: What was the spark that drove you + your co-founder to start WellWithAll? 

2. Product/Solutions: What are solutions/products that WellWithAll offers to solve for better wellbeing? 
**Demond to share how our product, content, community are here to help put more life into years (pursue our joy/living well), especially for Black and Brown consumers who have been underserved or overlooked in the wellness space overall.

3. What does generational wellness mean to you? 
**Dialogue between Demond and Rushion and their respective points of view.

4. Conscious Capitalism/Biz Model: WellWithAll doesn't just sell quality products, it also has a passion and purpose. 
Can you share more about your innovative business model to build heath equity for driving positive social impact and change? 
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Dear Steve and Shirley, I came home after a party late at night with my sister and walked in on a man having a drink in my living room. I was tipsy and so was my sister, but we could see that this man was fine. My husband was passed out on the couch, so I got another drink and sat with this strange man. He told me that my husband said he could stay over because he was in town to kick it with my husband for his birthday. My sister decided to stay over at that point, and she poured herself a drink. I went to change out of my dress but couldn't unzip it, so I yelled for my sister to help me. The strange fine man came in and said he and I were the only two people still awake in the house. As he unzipped my zipper, his tongue followed the zipper down my back.............................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I busted my husband with his side chick Ace. They were in a booth at a pool hall having wings and beer. I walked up on them, and she smiled because she knew who I was. She says she was just waiting for me to catch them because she's been having sex with my husband for a while. She put it out there and I didn't have to ask any questions....................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm married to a big baby that acts like he can't do anything without me. I even went on his last job interview and sat in the lobby for moral support. I never liked a whimpy man, and he hasn't always been like this. He lost his confidence when he started having problems with the erectile dysfunction. It took away his swagger and ruined our sex life. I adjusted and never blamed him or made jokes about it. He used to drink a lot, and that's why he couldn't have sex with me. Over time, it became the norm. So now that we're not having sex, I tend to treat him like he's just a roommate.......................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Travis May, Sr. and Alair Castro from Northwestern Mutal, one is a financial advisor and the other is a Diversity & Inclusion Specialist discuss how Black Entrepreneurship bridges racial wealth gap.  The racial wealth gap refers to the disparity in assets of typical households across race and ethnicity. The gap in assets is far wider than disparities in wages across races. Income inequality, housing policies, limited educational opportunities, and a lack of support structures contribute to the racial wealth gap.

Talking Points 
-    Can you provide an overview of the Community Conversations initiative and its purpose?
-    This is the third Community Conversation you’re hosting—what impact have the previous two events had so far?
-    Travis joined the firm as a result of the first conversation. How did that connection come about, and how has his journey exemplified the goals of these conversations?
-    In what ways do you feel these events are making an intentional and impactful difference in the Black community?
-    How does Community Conversations help identify individuals who align with the firm’s vision and goals?
-    What makes these events unique in fostering relationships and opportunities within the Black community?
-    Northwestern Mutual is a financial partner that offers personalized plans, top-rated services and life insurance.
-    What inspired Northwestern Mutual’s Callaway Black office to focus this year’s panel series on Black entrepreneurship as a solution to bridging the racial wealth gap?
-    Why do you believe entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in narrowing the racial wealth gap, specifically for Black communities?
-    What unique challenges do Black entrepreneurs face in starting and scaling businesses compared to other demographics?
-    How have historical barriers, such as limited access to capital and systemic racism, impacted Black entrepreneurship, and what changes are being seen today?
-    How important are mentorship and financial literacy in supporting Black entrepreneurs and future generations of business owners?
-    What resources or programs do you believe are most effective in helping Black entrepreneurs succeed in today's business landscape?
-    How can financial institutions, such as Northwestern Mutual, support Black entrepreneurs in accessing the funding and resources they need to grow?
-    What role do community-based organizations and initiatives play in empowering Black entrepreneurs and addressing wealth disparities?
-    Can you share any success stories of Black entrepreneurs who have directly benefited from your efforts or the broader financial ecosystem in Atlanta?
-    How can the success of Black-owned businesses help inspire and empower younger generations in closing the wealth gap?
-    In your view, what are the most effective strategies for ensuring that Black entrepreneurship leads to long-term wealth building within families and communities?
-    Looking forward, what do you hope to see in terms of Black entrepreneurship and wealth-building in the next decade?
-    How can the community come together to support Black entrepreneurs and ensure that their efforts are sustainable and impactful?

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm fifty three and I've been married twenty two years. I've been struggling with my husband's two female friends for twenty five years, since the day I met him. We met at an alumni ball and they were his dates. They had to approve of me before we got serious with each other. My husband's two female friends live next door to each other. Their husbands accepted my husband as their wives bonus husband. I never liked it, but I never said anything about it. Many nights, for many years, my husband has been partying over at one of their houses.........................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Sheila Michelle Foye.  Her career began with the Gas Company here in Atlanta just before natural gas was deregulated. She began as an Office Assistant and moved lattice style into mission-critical senior leadership roles within organizations and across industries such as SunTrust Banks (Truist), CapGemini, Accenture, Cox, and healthcare giants such as Morehouse School of Medicine, Piedmont, and Grady.

Foye leveraged her corporate knowledge gained over the years to become an award winning, respected successful Entrepreneur in Drug Testing and CLIA-waived Laboratory Testing. Drug Testing was chosen due to her oldest son’s murder (age 24), which was drug/ gang violence related and her family history of substance/alcohol abuse that made for a rocky road in life.

Nearly two years into the business, Michelle was able to innovate and pivot Precis Screening by establishing a consulting arm that has now assisted more than 3,000 Entrepreneurs and counting.

#BEST

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I've been messing around with the guy that I worked with. He said he saw something special in me, so he got me transferred to his team. I looked up to his man because of his work ethic and how he commanded the room at our meetings. He is a straight nerd, but there's something about him. It's probably all of the big words he uses, but OMG, he is stuck in the late nineties with his hair, his suits, and even the way he talks.  Thank goodness, he's not that way in the bedroom. He's large and in charge there............................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tonya Millions-Fitch.  ASTRE Wellness is your trusted partner in achieving optimal health and wellness, offering a luxurious environment where personalized care meets clinical excellence. Our commitment to exceptional service, proven results, and meaningful client relationships sets us apart. Whether you're seeking IV hydration, weight management solutions, or cutting-edge medical aesthetics, our team of experienced professionals delivers tailored treatments designed to help you reach your unique goals. At ASTRE Wellness, we believe in empowering you to live your healthiest, most beautiful life, all while indulging in an atmosphere of sophistication and comfort.

Talking Points/Questions     
Medical background
What does “ASTRE” mean
How did you get started
What are you most proud of with your company? (Voted best Wellness clinic 3 years in a row)
What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
What types of services do you offer?

Tonya Millions Fitch is a distinguished healthcare professional with over 25 years of experience, including 12 years as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist. As the founder and leader of ASTRE Wellness, Tonya is committed to transforming lives through her extensive knowledge and passion for health and wellness. Her deep understanding of the healthcare industry, combined with her dedication to patient care, drives the mission of ASTRE Wellness. Tonya’s vision is to empower individuals to achieve optimal health, happiness, and beauty, making her a trusted advocate for holistic well-being and a leader in the wellness community.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kimberly Kelly.  

Talking Points:

Talking Points:

#AMI

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm married and I think we have a rodent problem in our house because of my husband's friend. Let me be clear. We don't have a filthy house, and we don't eat anywhere but in our kitchen and occasionally in our living room. My husband got out of the military a few years ago and we chose to settle down in a metropolitan area. When our friends come to town, they always want to stay with us. So when my husband's friend got out of the military, he has to stay with us for a while while he looked for a house in our area. Since he's been in our home, there have been certain smells that I have never experienced before...............................................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My boyfriend and I are on shaky ground because he thinks I'm cheating. He's the one whose phone rings all night long? So why is he so paranoid about me? Whenever I go out without him, he calls me repeatedly. He'll even ask me to FaceTime him so he can see where I am. He thinks he's slick, but it makes me think he could be cheating on me. The thing is, I do not care because if he is, it will come out eventually. He's suspicious about everything thing I do, and now he's questioning me before, during, and after sex..........................................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My husband's office is near the airport, so he usually leaves his car at his office when he travels. He travels at least once a month, and he started ghosting me when he's on a trip. I became suspicious and hid out in the parking lot of his job to see if anyone was getting in the lift with him to go to the airport. I didn't catch him doing anything that day, but the last trip he went on has me thinking that he's seeing someone that lives one hundred miles from his office. Here's what I discovered. The morning of his trip, I checked the odometer on his car.....................................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kier "Junior" Spates.

Co-Host of Steve Harvey Morning Show and founded Kier's Hope to provide underprivileged individuals who suffer from Sickle Cell Disease to ensure they receive the medical, physical, and emotional attention they deserve.

Suffering from sickle cell disease in silence is not uncommon in the African-American Community as there is a lack of knowledge of the disease. So, he created the Kier's Hope Foundation. The annual Kier's Hope 5K Fun Run and Walk and Junior Claus is an opportunity for families and those with sickle cell disease to gather and learn more about new treatments, spread awareness, and increase community engagement. Sickle Cell Disease is misunderstood as being contagious, an automatic death sentence, and that people with SCD can't do what "normal" people do!  Kier is changing that narrative.

#AMI

#BEST

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm a 33 year old single woman and my best friend is a 32 year old wild woman. She works as a bartender and she uses her job to as a way to hit on guys and most of them are in their mid-twenties. She also has sex with these guys. She says that guys our age can't keep up with her so she sticks with the twenty-somethings because they are great in bed. I try not to judge her, but her sex life is a big problem for me, because she always uses my guest room to hook up with these random men...............

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Annie Yatch.  

Annie transitioned from her role as a Consultant for the Defense Intelligence Agency to become one of America's most prominent Team Leadership and performance Coaches. She is a remarkable transformational expert whose prowess extends from startups to multimillion-dollar enterprises. She expertly prevents costly mistakes, boosts revenue, and catalyzes lasting behavioral changes within teams to drive consistent and remarkable results.

Talking Points/Questions *
1. Northstar Leadership is a company driven to help already successful male entrepreneurs surpass revenue ceilings by redefining their leadership at home and in the office.
2. What is trauma, and how does it affect the entrepreneur?
3. What are the lies entrepreneurs tell themselves that reduce their ability to create wealth?
4. Why is unlocking your trauma the key to more success and fulfillment in business?
5. What are the top 3 leadership gaps for most entrepreneurs?
6. How can entrepreneurs redefine success for themselves to feel more fulfillment each day?
7. What are the biggest relationship issues that entrepreneurs face and how can they resolve them to be more connected to those they love?
8. How can entrepreneurs keep their teams growing and inspired?

With a track record of guiding businesses across various sectors, Annie has consulted with companies from ground zero to 1.2B in revenue. Her prowess extends from startups to multimillion-dollar enterprises, as she expertly prevents costly mistakes, boosts revenue, and catalyzes lasting behavioral changes within teams to drive consistent and remarkable results.

Recognized as the Chief Transformation Officer for Influencers and Entrepreneurs, Annie has earned this title through her unparalleled ability to empower you to rewire the subconscious patterns that limit your net worth.

Her methodology extends beyond the surface, aiming to dissolve deeply ingrained trauma patterns that hinder your growth. By helping you and your team overcome these limitations, Annie paves the way for achieving monumental goals with newfound ease and unwavering confidence.

#BEST

#SHMS

#STRAW

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I've been married for almost a year and we have a four month old daughter. We currently live in a hotel suite because the water heater flooded the main level of our home right after we moved in. It's been a rough year so far. I haven't been able to sleep because I take care of the baby all day and I also go back and forth to check on the restoration of the house. My job let me work from home before I have the baby, and my maternity leave is up, so I work and take care of the baby in this hotel room............................................................

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed April Showers.  

My next guest is the Founder of Afro Unicorn, the first black woman-owned fully licensed character brand in major retail with over 20 million in total sales. Her groundbreaking brand celebrates diversity and empowers women and children of color, inspiring countless individuals to embrace their uniqueness and potential. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Master Class April Showers.  

Talking Points/Questions *
1.    Afro Unicorn®️, a brand designed to represent the uniqueness of women and children of color in a truly diverse and inclusive fashion.
2.    You started your entrepreneurial journey at the age of 19, what inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
3.    You’ve created a brand that celebrates diversity and empowers women and children of color, what has your experience been like as a female entrepreneur?
4.    You made history as the first black, woman-owned, fully-licensed character brand in major retailers, how did this happen?
5.    You’ve been nicknamed “unicorn” for your ability to run multiple successful businesses while being a devoted single mother, what does being a “unicorn” mean to you?
6.    As a single mother of two, how do you find the balance between your personal life and Afro Unicorn?
7.    How has your use of social media helped create buzz for Afro Unicorn? What is your philosophy and strategy for social media that has garnered you success on multiple platforms?
8.    You’ve had support from celebrities such as Tiffany Haddish, Sherri Shepherd, Alicia Keys, and Oprah Winfrey since the launch of Afro Unicorn, how has this impacted your brand?
9.    Afro Unicorn has over 25 product categories, including books, bedding, hair care, party supplies and 45 licensee partners worldwide. Can you talk more about your current products?
10.    What's next for Afro Unicorn?

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm a thirty three year old married woman and my husband is thirty six. We met on a blind date that was set up by one of our mutual friends. This friend of ours recently got married and we weren't invited because I don't get along with his new wife. I'm a ride or die type of friend, so I warned our friend about this woman before he married her. She had cheated on her first husband and she used to mess with my brother. She works at night, but she is not always at work. She usually takes a two hour lung break and she goes to hang out at a restaurant next to her job...........................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Craig Calafati.  The Executive Vice President and Director of Lending for Arkansas Capital Corporation, Arkansas Capital Corporation.  A community development finance company that was chosen by SBA to receive one of the three new SBLC licenses and now offers flexible capital solutions nationwide to small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved minority communities. 

Company Description *
Arkansas Capital Corporation (ACC) is a private, nonprofit lending corporation dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs in Arkansas and surrounding states. ACC offers flexible capital solutions to meet the unique needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and economic and community development projects, emphasizing serving low-income, minority, and rural communities. Since 1957, ACC has partnered with commercial banks, government agencies, and others at local, state, regional, and national levels to deploy over $2.34 billion in capital financing.

Talking Points/Questions *
Talking points:

If you don’t have a Business Plan you will not be successful.  

What is the purpose of Arkansas Capital Corporation?

The SBA does not lend money. Instead, it provides guarantees so lenders are more inclined to lend money to small business owners.

Small business owners should establish a line of credit with immediate access - especially for small businesses with payroll employees.

Aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to spend time with entrepreneurs who are already operating a successful business in your area of interest to gain valuable insights.

Small business owners should always know how much money they need before speaking with a lender. #SHMS, #STRAW

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Attorney Jalene Mack, America’s Favorite Entertainment Attorney, and discussed ten tips on developing your business and avoiding signing a contract that can ruin your dream.  There are bad contracts, and there are scam contracts.  Tell us the difference between the two.

Where can you go if you don't have much money for legal advice?

Ten tips on how to develop your Business

#1 Identify Your Project
#2 Make sure you have a Plan
#3 Form a Team
#4 Prepare a Budget
#5 Form a Business Entity
#6 Get an EIN
#7 Open a Business Bank Account
#8 Protect Your Assets
#9 Contracts
#10 Marketing

Jalene is not only an entertainment attorney but this industry renaissance woman and ARTivist has successfully integrated the demanding roles of wife, mother, TV & Film producer, writer, actress, playwright, and author of The Business of Stage, Screen & in Between, Entertainment Attorney Jalene Mack’s Practical Advice for Performers, Playwrights & Producers by keeping the focus on her long-term goal “to make an impact on the entertainment industry.”  From her base in Houston, she has expanded her reach into the film centers of Las Vegas, NV, Miami, FL, Atlanta, GA, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD, New Orleans, LA and the UAE. Ms. Mack’s legal skills in Arts & Entertainment include a wide range of matters regarding Film & Television (scripted and unscripted), from development through distribution, Theater, Music, Books, Performing Artists, Contracts, Film Finance, Distribution, Federal Trademark & Copyright Registration and more. Jalene has served as either Producer or Production Attorney on over three dozen or more films and TV series. A few recent films she produced/executive produced or served as production attorney include Senior Moments, The Pillow Case (BET+), Staycation (ALLBLK), Friend Zone (Tubi), One Crazy Christmas (BET+), The Great Divide (BET+) and My B.F.F. (Aspire). Hip Hop Family Christmas and its sequel, Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding (VH-1), Safe Room (Lifetime), and North of the 10 (BET+), were filmed in L.A., Chicago, and the UAE. A few clients, former or present, include Steve Harvey, Rushion McDonald, Tommy Davidson, Kim Burrell, AJ Johnson, Kiana Dancie, LeToya Luckett, Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles, Kenny Smith, Carl Payne, Greg Carter, Datari Turner, Rhyan LaMarr, Jilly Anais to name just a few. In addition, she’s compiled a long list of acting credits in over 40 productions, including Better Call Saul, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and AllBLK’s Houston drama 5th Ward, a hit television series of two seasons. Look for her alongside Jamie Foxx in The Burial out on Amazon Prime. She even won a Hollywood & Africa Prestigious Award (HAPA) for Best Supporting Actor for BET’s film Christmas Belles. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. You can find Jalene on all social media and professional platforms: @JaleneMack. Websites: www.jalenemack.com, www.mpac-arts.org

#AMI

#BEST

#STRAW

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Stephanie Stuckey.  The Chair of Stuckey’s.  A pecan snack and candy company based in Wrens, GA. She is also the author of “Unstuck: Reviving an American Icon.”  Stuckey’s growth lies in their partnership with almost 5,000 retailers nationwide that sell their delicious pecan snacks and candies.

Questions About the Company’s History and Legacy:

Stuckey's has such a rich history. Can you share what initially inspired the rebirth of the brand after all these years? How does social media on LinkedIn work? The Power of Marketing and Branding. What strategies did you implement to turn Stuckey’s around and bring it back to the forefront of the market? Acquiring a pecan manufacturing facility was a major step. How has owning this facility impacted your product offerings and business growth? What role does innovation play in the resurgence of Stuckey’s, especially in terms of product development and marketing?

Questions About Branding and Marketing:

Stuckey’s is known for its nostalgic appeal. How do you balance honoring that nostalgia while also appealing to modern consumers? How important has social media and digital marketing been in the rebirth of Stuckey’s?

Questions About Leadership and Vision:

What’s your long-term vision for Stuckey’s, and how do you plan to continue the momentum you’ve built? What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs wanting to start their own business?

Questions About Partnerships and Community:

How have partnerships with retailers and other brands contributed to the comeback of Stuckey’s? Stuckey’s has deep roots in Georgia. How important has the local community been in your company’s resurgence? Can you share any upcoming collaborations or new product launches that will be part of Stuckey’s comeback story?

It all started with a borrowed Model A Ford and a $35 loan

With that, W.S. “Sylvester” Stuckey, Sr. founded Stuckey’s as a roadside pecan stand along Highway 23 in Eastman, GA in 1937. With that Ford that he retrofitted to haul pecans and the loan (from his grandmother), W.S. drove around the countryside and bought pecans from local farmers to sell at his stand, along with local honey and souvenirs. His wife, Ethel, added her delicious homemade candies – southern delicacies like pralines, Divinities, and our iconic Pecan Log Rolls.

Through grit and determination, the Stuckeys grew the stores from these humble beginnings to a roadside empire. At its peak in the 1960s, the little pecan company had become an integral part of the American road trip. It boasted 368 stores in over 30 states, each offering kitschy souvenirs, clean restrooms, Texaco gas, and of course, our famous candies.

Stuckey’s also owned a candy plant in Eastman to allow for larger production of sweet treats, a trucking company, and a sign company that produced the 4,000 Stuckey’s billboards that dotted America’s highways. Stuckey’s merged with Pet Milk Co. in 1964 to add capacity and capital for the company to grow.

Decline and Rebound

W.S. Stuckey, Sr. died in 1977, the same year that Illinois Central Industries, a Chicago conglomerate, bought Pet Milk Co., and they began to close Stuckey’s stores across the country. Stuckey’s fell into a decline until 1984 when W.S. “Billy” Stuckey, Jr., son of the founder and a five-term Congressman from the 8th District of Georgia, acquired Stuckey’s and began to turn the company around.

Under Billy’s helm, the Stuckey’s Express concept – or a store within a store – was launched, and the company expanded to over 115 franchises in 17 states. The Eastman candy plant continued operations by a third-party contractor but was shuttered in 2009 during the Recession, although Stuckey’s branded candies continued to be produced by outside vendors.

In November of 2019, Ethel “Stephanie” Stuckey, Billy’s daughter, took over as CEO of Stuckey’s. In August of 2020, Stuckey’s acquired Front Porch Pecans, a pecan snack company that sells to domestic and foreign markets, including grocery channels in the Southeast U.S. With this merger, Stuckey’s gained management support with R.G. Lamar as new President to run Stuckey’s with Stephanie.

In January of 2021, Stephanie and R.G. acquired a pecan manufacturing facility in Wrens, Georgia to drive growth of the company through snack and candy making. Later that year, they added a third equity owner, Ted Wright, a marketing professional based in Atlanta.

Today, Stuckey’s is making a comeback, thanks to reinventing the brand as a pecan snack and candy company. They are once again making the delicious products that Ethel first made in her country kitchen, and Sylvester sold at his roadside stand. There are still 13 original blue roof Stuckey’s stores in operation. These stores are not owned or operated by the parent corporation but are licensed to sell our products and remain an important part of our past and story.

Stuckey’s growth lies in our partnership with almost 5,000 retailers nationwide, including Hobby Lobby, Bealls, Ingles, Wawa, TravelCenters of America, and others, that sell our delicious pecan snacks and candies. The company also maintains an online store, a fundraising business, and a corporate gift program.

In August of 2022, R.G. Lamar, Jr. transitioned to the role of CEO, and Stephanie Stuckey assumed the role of Chair. They continue to run the day-to-day operations of Stuckey’s, with R.G. driving internal growth and Stephanie being the external face of the brand. From a humble pecan stand to a nationwide brand, the future looks bright for Stuckey’s.

Look for our products soon in a store near you — and be part of our comeback journey! #SHMS, #STRAW, #BEST

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm a 32 year old man and I just started a job teaching adults that are getting a GED. I'm loving it so far, but I need advice on how to handle a very aggressive female student in her early 60s. At the end of one of my lectures, she approached me and asked what gym I go to because I have a very nice body. I blushed and didn't know what to say! She winked at me and left.................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I got a call that my husband was sleep in his car behind the bar that he goes to on Friday nights after work. I pulled up on him there and he was asleep in the back seat with the windows cracked. His pants were unbuttoned and his shoes were off. I tapped on the window and he did not budge, so I hit the button to unlock the car. Then he jumped up and screamed. I told him to get out of the car, but he refused to. He said that he did not know how he got there. I should lead because it was not safe for me to be there. I told him I wasn't going anywhere until he got out of the car...........................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Karon Joseph Riley.

He co-stars in the popular The Black Hamptons series on BET+. His book navigates life's ups and downs and uncovers the importance of perseverance, resilience, and determination. It shares his insightful reflections entitled "Keep Pedaling: Things I Learned On My Bike."  

Full-scale production company that has the capacity to take a film or television project from creation to distribution and all the production necessary in between

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Dear Steve Shirley, I'm married to a man that loves to talk big and bad, but when it comes down to handling his business, he lets me handle the tough stuff. It's gotten worse over the years, and he still won't shut his mouth or stop harassing people on our app for the neighborhood. It started when my sons were in school and his way of handling bullies was to go up to the school and talk all big and bad to the principle. But that never solved the problem. I had to snatch one of the bullies up one day and threaten him with the frying pan.  When he came in our yard talking about he was going to kick my sons behind. My husband looked at it all through the window, through the screen door. His boss bullies him and he comes home telling me all that he's going to do and say, but he just takes it and still is not getting paid what he's worth.............................................................. 

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I've been with my boyfriend for seven going on eight years, off and on. He's broken up with me three times because he says I'm not domestic enough, or I say the wrong things when he asked me to do things. Then he'll call so we can get back together. Just recently, I moved back in with him and he got upset that men were speaking to me at a motorcycle event when he left me alone for hours at a time. Mind you, these men were not hitting on me at all, and he knew one of the guys and a guy told him we were all just hanging around and talking, but the whole time he was over with a group of women showing off his bike..................................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jasmine Young.  You would never have guessed that such a powerful, nationwide-spanning voice for the African American community began in small-town Jackson, Alabama, but that is precisely where Jasmine Young got her start. She is the Founder & President of The Financial Literacy Institute, a CPA by trade, and Founder of the Southern Heritage Financial Group in Atlanta, GA. In addition, she is also the Producer of the Black Wall Street Black Business Expo, which aims to empower and uplift the African American community in both the 21st century and beyond—Are you interested in hearing about her mission? Want to know more about her event and what it all entails? Well, tune in to the Money Making Conversation Master Class today to learn more!

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I'm a twenty seven year old female and I just got out of a ten year relationship that was going nowhere. Now I'm dating a twenty nine year old man that pursued me for a few years. He was there for me after my breakup, so I got used to him being around. I want to get your advice before I fall for the wrong man again. He works as a manager of two movie theaters and he runs his mobile detailing business on the side. He's also a really good cook, but I can't get him to cook anything spicy...................................

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Dear Steve and Shirley, I wrote in about my husband helping out my best friend after her husband died. My mother visited us from Nigeria and she told me that I was giving my husband permission to cheat, and I didn't want to believe her. I got so offended by what she said because I trusted my husband. My mom wasn't having it, and she was so persistent that she told me to pass by my friend's house after we picked my son up from preschool. My husband's truck was on the side of my friend's house, not in her driveway, but on the side of her house a little ways up from her house. She told me to park the car and call my husband........................................................................

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Dear Stephen Shirley, Everything is a minor inconvenience for my husband, and I need to see if something is going on with him outside of our household. He used to love doing everything with me. He used to initiate intimacy and afterwards he would always get up and cook breakfast, no matter what time of day or night it was. That was our little fun time. He wanted to have a lot of kids before we got married, but now he's saying that he doesn't know if we can afford to start a family. He said that babies take up a lot of time and are inconvenient most of the time. That broke my heart, because how can a child be inconvenient? He's been saying crazy stuff like this, and I've been taking mental notes......................................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Dr. Michael Giles. Our Virtual Dosing Window™ allows patients to record their take-homes by using a phone or computer to scan the QR code on their methadone bottles and then recording a video of themselves dosing for their care team to review. This patented solution helps build trust between OTP patients and their care teams, empowering clinics with real-time insights to make informed treatment decisions. Sonara also increases patients’ likelihood of earning more take homes, which in turn improves program retention rates.

Since starting Sonara in 2020, Dr. Giles has expanded the solution to a network of modernized, tech-enabled clinics in 11 states that provide accessible, patient-centered care for individuals struggling with OUD.

Sonara® is on a mission to support OTP patients, with a remote dosing solution that makes it easier for people with opioid use disorder to commit to their methadone treatment programs, so they can get their lives back.

Sonara provides OTPs with the confidence they need to approve more take-home doses responsibly, to improve the quality of life for patients and expand treatment accessibility for those who live farther away from clinics. Notable investors in Sonara include Mark Cuban and First Trust Capital.

With Sonara, OTP patients can achieve their treatment goals without putting their lives on hold. To learn more about partnering with Sonara or bringing the Virtual Dosing Window to your OTP, visit sonarahealth.com/contact-us to get in touch.

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Dear Steve and Shirley, My husband is threatening to divorce me because I haven't slept in the bed with him for almost two months. I have asked him to do a few minor things, but he won't and to add to the things he does to irritate me at night, he does not wear his sleep mask, so he snores like sasquatch. We got married in 2017 and he moved back to our hometown to be with me. We met over twenty years ago, but we were just good friends until we realized that we had a lot in common.  Our long distance relationship was fine because he always came to see me............................................

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Dr. Tiffany Bussey.   As the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC) Founding Director, Dr. Tiffany Bussey stands at the helm of profit-yielding partnerships bridging the gap between the supplier diversity initiatives at global brands and multi-million-dollar Black and brown businesses. An engaging dialogue with Dr. Bussey around the ways MIEC creates unique pathways to help minority businesses scale using what she calls the three Cs: Capital, Connections, and Contracts. 

Here are some of the interview highlights:

MIEC's engagement with 400 scalable, mid-size minority-owned businesses has been instrumental in creating 850 new Atlanta-based jobs, granting access to $34 million in new capital, and generating nearly $82 million in new revenue growth.

MIEC's unique business education prepares minority business owners to obtain contracts with large firms seeking business-to-business partnerships with small to mid-size businesses.

Atlanta is one of four national accelerator locations for The Clean Tech Infrastructure Academy at Goodwill, a new 4-week program designed to grow the electric vehicle workforce. At the academy, student workers are paid $15 an hour to learn how to install and maintain EV chargers, heat pumps, and solar panels. This training equips them for jobs in the growing electric vehicle industry, where maintenance techs can start earning $30 per hour. 

About MIEC:

·  Since its inception, MIEC has garnered over $50 million in grants and contracts and positively impacted over 2,100 students.

·  MIEC incorporates a holistic approach to supporting the business leaders it serves, providing education, access to capital, procurement opportunities, mentorship, and student involvement.

·  125 minority-owned businesses participating in Ascend Atlanta have experienced an increase in revenue of $13.5 million and have gained access to $5.5 million in capital funding.

#SHMS

#STRAW

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Justin Lee, Sr.   He is not just constructing buildings – he's creating a legacy with Amazon. Whether you're eyeing a real estate deal or a groundbreaking construction project, this member of the Million Dollar Club in real estate is your go-to guy for expert guidance and unmatched service tailored just for you.  Plus he tells you how you can register to make money with Amazon.  

Talking Points:
•    State of the real estate market
•    How does interest rates impact the market
•    How does it feel to be the first in your family to Hold a Dr. degree
•    How do you balance being a full-time single father and owing three striving businesses
•    Ways for first-time buyers to buy without having much money
•    Credit the good the bad, and the ugly
•    ATL real estate meetup / free workshop 8/22 6-8 pm at Fleur De Lee’s Event Space 1932 Austin Dr. Decatur ga 30032

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Angeanette Dowles. Homeownership is one of the critical aspects of the American Dream. However, that dream seems more like a fantasy than an attainable goal for many of us. Well, Angeanette Dowles of NACA is here to tell you that homeownership is achievable for all at an affordable rate too. For the rate of only a few months’ rent, people with even 420 credit scores you can purchase homes in the hundreds of thousands with little interest rates! It sounds too good to be true. Well, this is one time you’ll be happy to be wrong as it is just as good as it sounds. 

With Americans facing skyrocketing rents and climbing interest rates, NACA provides the best affordable homeownership program for low to moderate-income individuals and people of color.  Homebuyers will receive one-on-one counseling from a HUD Approved NACA Counselor during this event, and many will get a same-day qualification for NACA’s Mejor en América mortgage to begin their housing search.  All NACA services are free of charge. 

NACA has over $20 Billion for its unique mortgage, including $15 Billion from Bank of America.  NACA’s Mejor en América Mortgage features no down payment, no closing costs, no fees, no mortgage insurance, and a below-market fixed interest rate.  NACA is the nation’s largest HUD-approved nonprofit community advocacy and homeownership organization.

#STRAW

#AMI

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Shica Little.  During COVID, Dr. Shica was laid off and decided to pursue her dream, and she created Vegan Cookies and Cookie Dough Mix.  Dr. Shica's Bakery:

Nationwide Roll-Out:  Our Snack Cookies (Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Lemon, and Confetti Sugar. 

•    Nationwide Retail- All HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls (throughout US and Canada)- over 4120 stores
•    Costco- We will start a Roadshow with Costco in the Culver City (near LAX) location next month. We'll be in-store sampling and selling our new snack cookies.
•    ISM Middle East/Dubai- Selected to be a speaker at the largest Snacks and Sweets Show in the Middle East, which is called ISM. 
•    Canada Minority Program—Selected to participate in the trade show for the Minority Supplier program in Toronto, Canada.
•    Fundraising- We have a new fundraising opportunity for organizations to use our cookies to raise money. The fundraising link is on our website.

#SHMS

#STRAW

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Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. George C. Fraser.  He is back and bringing another bottle of medication for your financial ills in the form of the “7 Main Streams of Income.  "It's not how you start, it's how you finish, that God has great plans for each of us, we must simply listen for his voice, follow directions, overcome the obstacles, and stay the course. He is the Chairman and C.E.O. of FraserNet, Inc., a global networking movement that brings together diverse human resources to increase opportunities for people of African descent. He is also a renowned networking guru, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. He will discuss action plans for success and tips on developing your plans for success that you can use in your personal and business world through networking. 1. Help Black people build wealth that can be transferred inter-generationally. 2. Help Black people become the #1 employer of Black people in the 21st century 3. To facilitate the building of a global network of Africans throughout the diaspora whose focus is personal and business excellence and to use it to build partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.

Don’t see the importance of financial literacy as an African American? Have thoughts about quitting your job? Are you confused about how High-Yield Savings Accounts and investing in Stocks can benefit you? Don’t understand the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses as an African American? No problem! Dr. Fraser is here to help you build your Black wealth checklist here on the Money Making Conversations Master Class podcast.

#SHMS

#STRAW

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