The CWR Team
Donell Edwards
Founder, Editor, and Publisher
The College World Reporter
Donell Edwards founded The College World Reporter as one of his many business enterprises, and it quickly became an obsession. Donell has an insatiable desire to help empower college students because he remembers his years as a college student a few years ago, and having witnessed the challenges of student life wanted to do something to help students succeed.
Donell is an entrepreneur and has always wanted to be a business owner. He has owned a wireless telephone business, an export/import business, and still owns a media and marketing business and a motivational speaking and training business.
Donell began his professional career at an early age, and while working as a local radio announcer at the age of 16, he developed an interest in writing song lyrics. So Donell hand selected the members of a vocal group to record his songs, and he also managed, produced, and promoted the group. After discovering how difficult it was to break into the record industry, at the urging of his uncle, Donell started his own record label, SuperStar Productions.
Donell later advanced into radio advertising sales and decided that he wanted to someday have a marketing and public relations business. His time would come.
After over a decade in radio announcing, advertising sales, and automobile sales, Donell received a major opportunity to work for IBM Corporation in 1981. Donell enjoyed a successful career of over eleven years at IBM, where he served as Asset Operations Manager and Business Analyst. He also received the prestigious “IBM Means Service” award, the highest award presented by IBM to administrative employees, on three separate occasions. It was here that the foundation for his management and coaching skills was developed.
After being downsized at IBM in 1992, Donell decided to use his experience to become a business and marketing consultant. He also had the opportunity to attended world renowned motivational speaker, Les Brown’s, “Speaking For A Living” seminar in Washington D.C. in 1996. This enabled Donell to incorporate public speaking into his consulting business.
Donell always felt that his mission in life would not be fulfilled until he completed his education. So Donell enrolled at Philander Smith College at the age of 47 in 1998, and graduated Summa Cum Laude and was ranked number two in his graduating class with a BBA degree in Business Administration in May 2002.
Tara Goodfellow, MBA
CWR College Funding BrainTrust
President
Athena Educational Consultants, Inc.
Mrs. Goodfellow owns Athena Educational Consultants (AEC), Inc. based out of North Carolina. She launched AEC after 10 years of experience guiding students and parents through the information maze that makes educational choices more difficult than they need be. Her years of experience in different educational settings provide the skills to advise students and parents about the opportunities open to them that best match their interests and needs. Most recently, she worked as a Southeastern Account Executive in student lending where she visited close to 100 colleges and universities meeting with financial aid departments and students. She’s presented to thousands of students on topics from Identity Theft to Financial Aid 101. Prior to her employment at Chase, she was the Director of Administrative and Financial Services at The Art Institute of Charlotte where she managed four departments including financial aid. Positions also held at The Art Institute of Charlotte were Director of Financial Aid and Financial Aid Officer. While an Admissions Counselor at Belmont Abbey College, she traveled the state of Florida, attended college fairs and met with students and their families.
Mrs. Goodfellow earned an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte while continuing her career in educational services. Her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Belmont Abbey College and her communication skills led to employment at her alma mater as an Admissions Counselor upon completion of her degree.
She has participated in, or been a member of, the following organizations: NASFAA, NCASFAA, SASFAA, NACAC, ACICS, CACRAO, scholarship judge, FAFSA Day volunteer, and co-chair of an admissions committee.
Contact Information:
Athena Educational Consultants, Inc.
4023 Cameron Creek Drive
Matthews, NC 28105
704-641-4000
aec@consultathena.com
www.consultathena.com
Sylvia Henderson, MBA, DTM
Success Language - Interpersonal Skills for Workplace and Life
Chief Everything Officer (CEO)
Springboard Training
Sylvia Henderson is Founder and Chief Everything Officer (CEO) of Springboard Training. She is an expert in the “people skills” for workplace, professional, and life success. Sylvia facilitates workshops, trains, speaks, writes, and has a television program that all focus on personal development and interpersonal skills. An alumna of Cheyney University (BS-Education; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority) and the University of Pittsburgh (MBA), Sylvia’s affiliations also include Toastmasters International (DTM-level speaker), National Speakers Association, Girl Scouts of the USA, and Women On Wheels Motorcycle Association.
Bring Sylvia to work with your organization via SpringboardTraining.com. Experience her monthly learning connections via Subscribe2Succeed.com. Sylvia is based in the Washington DC metro area, yet travels extensively and increasingly offers electronic and web-based resources.
Contact Information:
Springboard Training
P. O. Box 588
Olney, MD 20830-0588
Phone: (301) 260-1538
SpringboardTraining.com
Subscribe2Succeed.com
Monica Jackson, MBA
Monica's Writing Skills
Founder & President
Written Expressions Concepts & Designs
Monica Jackson is Founder and President of Written Expressions Concepts & Designs. She is also an adjunct College Professor, author, and speaker.
For over 15 years she worked in the Information Technology industry as a software engineer, senior business analyst, project leader, and product manager. Following numerous layoffs, she decided to change careers and capitalize on her God-given creative talent. She secured positions in marketing and journalism as a marketing manager, marketing associate, writer, editor, graphic artist, and columnist for such publications as Black Enterprise, Upscale, Inland Valley Daily News, Inland Empire Business Journal, Riverside Business Journal, The Press Enterprise, The Business Press, Friendship Speaks, and numerous others.
After finally discovering her passion, she founded Written Expressions Concepts & Designs in 1999, a firm that offers graphic design and journalism services to businesses and individuals. In this capacity she has successfully planned and marketed events (business expos and more), delivered impeccable graphic design concepts, and helped self-publishers realize their book publishing dreams. She is the author of "I Have A Book Idea: Now What?" Monica also designs and conducts self-publishing workshops that allow her to provide a hands-on approach that motivates and encourages individuals to complete their book projects.
Monica is also the founder of Chearts 4 Canswer, which is a service Monica provides to deliver greeting cards to people living with cancer. According to Monica, her vision is to remind survivors, worldwide, that "God has not forgot. I have found that beautifully crafted, Biblically- based greeting cards are the hearts answer during turbulent times."
Contact Information:
Written Expressions Concepts & Designs
2276 Griffin Way
Suite 105-161
Corona, CA 92879
www.writtenexpressions.com
www.chearts4canswer
Jeanne King, Ph.D.
Breaking the Cycle
Partners In Prevention
Director - Psychologist, Author, Speaker
Dr. Jeanne King helps people stop domestic violence before it spirals out of control. She shows individuals and professionals in healthcare how to break the cycle of abuse and heal the wounds of interpersonal violation. She is a 25-year seasoned psychologist, published author and leading expert in identifying the subtle communication patterns of battering relationships.
Dr. King serves as a consulting expert in criminal and civil cases of family violence, and offers keynotes and training for government and healthcare organizations nationwide. She has been featured in dozens of newspapers and appeared on numerous radio and TV talk shows across the country. Her work is known as the bridge between psychology, healthcare, and domestic abuse advocacy.
Her groundbreaking book, All But My Soul: Abuse Beyond Control, has been used as a college textbook in criminal justice and has helped thousands of people break the cycle of abuse and reclaim a life of peace, dignity, and respect.
Dr. King developed the Intimate Partner Abuse Screen®, which is an assessment tool that makes detection of intimate partner violence more expedient and accurate in both professional and personal use. It is the first tool to clearly bring to light the subtle communication patterns of intimate partner violence.
Before shifting her focus to helping abuse survivors and their advocates, she pioneered the Biofeedback and Stress Reduction Program®, conducted in hospitals with thousands of patients for the treatment of pain, stress, and illness.
Her shift in professional focus from bio-behavioral medicine to domestic abuse victim advocacy was precipitated by her own personal encounter with family violence and the legal abuse syndrome instead. Instead of letting the tragedy of her own losses define her, she chose to turn the crash into a crusade and inspire her to help others.
Dr. King brings a wealth of knowledge, training, and professional experience to The College World Reporter and our readers.
Contact Information:
Partners In Prevention
13918 E. Mississippi Avenue
Aurora, CO 80012
(720) 222-1058
www.EndDomesticAbuse.org
Matt Maginley
The Maginley Report
Journalist, Business, Sales, and Media Consultant
President
Enterprise Cable Networks, LLC
Matt Maginley currently serves as President of Enterprise Cable Networks, LLC, a political spot cable placement and rep firm. Matt is responsible for company P & L of a spot TV firm engaged in political spot cable sales, placement and stewardship. Also, coordination of business from 15 client agencies and 100+ national sales managers for Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Communications, Viamedia, Verizon and others.
Matt has over 20 years of experience in establishing media and communication strategies in B2B and consumer marketing. He has served in the role of director, account executive, media director, and media and marketing consultant, with a number of major companies. His experience includes: P&L management, sales strategy development, programming and market research, media contract negotiation, and new business development.
His marketing and sales expertise encompasses ad agency work with Ogilvy & Mather, Foote Cone and Belding, SSC&B Lintas, and Towne Silverstein and Rotter, to create media plans and buys to launch new products, including entertainment vehicles and consumer package goods, through target audience measurement and strategic competitive market analysis.
In addition, Matt has worked with major brands like American Express, Paramount Pictures, Hershey Foods, Campbell Soup, Star Wars Licensed Toys, Mattel, Google, Time, Inc., Disney ABC, CBS, Discovery, NBC, and FOX.
Matt explains his reasons for joining the CWR team: “It was apparent to me that today’s college student/graduate must realize that in order for them to participate as fully as possible in today’s media and technology centric world, they will have to take responsibility for that world and help to create and build it. I believe that the work that today’s youth must do is substantial, and will require every tool at their disposal. If I can contribute in some small way to the ongoing dialogue and community building that must go on, I consider that to be work worth doing.”
Contact Information:
Enterprise Cable Networks, LLC
New York, NY 10168
www.maginley.info
Gilbert Michel, MBA
Building Wealth with Gil Michel
CEO and President
The Caleb Group
Gil Michel is the CEO and President of The Caleb Group, Inc., a small business solutions firm located in South Bend, IN. As a 2nd generation accountant and entrepreneur, Gil has had a sense of financial stewardship engrained into him from his father, who started Gil working in his NY accounting firm arranging tax returns since he was 10 years old. Gil’s experience has evolved from working in top ten CPA firms to working one-on-one with small business owners in developing realistic budgets to create wealth for their families.
Gil’s Caleb Group is the parent company of BlackMoneyMatters.com, an interactive website that seeks to educate, inform, and enlighten the Black community in areas of financial health. This is done through the advice column on his website, through the articles that he has written, and the use of a weekly serial story called Jamal Washington: CEO, in which financial principles are taught and interlaced in the midst of a story. Gil’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to empowering the Black community is infectious, to say the least. It is this non-traditional approach that has him in demand by businesses and media outlets across the country.
Currently Gil is featured on Sheridan Gospel Network’s The Light. The Light is syndicated in 56 radio stations/48 cities across the United States and is owned by the largest African-American owned radio company in the U.S. In addition, Gil is also featured on The Good Life Radio broadcast financial segment every week in a feature called “Stacking Paper.” The Good Life is aimed at the 18-24 year old demographic and is well on its way to doubling its exposure by 2007. Currently, The Good Life is carried in 11 radio stations across the United States and two stations in the Caribbean.
Gil’s passion to see urban cities turned around in the next 10 years inspired him to form TACTT, Inc. (www.tactt.org) in 2003 (Teens Achieving Community Through Training). TACTT is a financial literacy program that empowers teens in the five areas of entrepreneurship, real estate, banking/personal finance, investing, and positive life skills. In addition TACTT seeks to match teens with mentors and create part-time jobs to develop a strong work ethic. Gil’s work with TACTT, Inc. has garnered him respect by working with organizations such as Upward Bound College Preparatory Program, Family & Children’s Center, and Goodwill Industries.
As an ordained minister, Gil’s missionary work in Ghana, West Africa is considered one of his life’s highlights.
Contact Information:
Caleb Group, Inc.
922 East Wayne Street
South Bend, IN 46617
Phone: 574-288-8260
Fax: 574-288-8265
http://www.blackmoneymatters.com/
Sheryl Nicholson, CSP
Success Strategies From Sheryl
Speaker, Trainer, Author
CSP Sheryl Nicholson is an International Professional Speaker and Trainer and rated in the top 8% in the profession. Sheryl has shared the stage with Maury Povick, Joan Rivers, Thom Hopkins, Zig Ziglar, Deb Norville, and President Gerald Ford...just to name a few! She is considered a People Productivity Expert and her topics include “Power Skills” like sales, life balance, communication, team building, and leadership. Her articles are published in Inc, Success, Entrepreneur, The Futurist, Home Office Computing, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Health Care Access, HR Review, YM, Parents, Woman's Day, Women's World, Ladies Home Journal, Real Women, ME Magazine, Living in Balance, Personal Excellence and more. She is also a New York Times Best Seller International Contributing Author and is published in Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul, and Chocolate for the Woman's Heart and Soul. She is also the creator of the revolutionary customer service business, www.get2results.com and www.kidscount2.com.
Contact Information:
Sheryl Nicholson
60 Avon Dr.
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Phone: 727.729.4937
Terry Pile, GCDF
CWR Career Zone
Principal/Senior Consultant
Career Advisors
Terry is a solutions-oriented career development professional specializing in career transition, outplacement, and workforce development. She has over twenty years of experience in corporate, government, non-profit and entrepreneurial settings. An innovative trainer and empathic coach, Terry's areas of effectiveness include working with individuals to identify their strengths and passions and develop a career destiny within their current company or for future employment. Prior to career counseling, Terry was an educator in the public schools and marketing/public relations executive for Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and Valley Medical Center. She has combined her love of teaching with her creativity in marketing to teach people to market themselves.
Terry has a Master's degree in Education from Indiana University and a certificate in Career Development from the University of Washington. She is certified by the Center for Credentialing and Education as a Global Career Development Facilitator(GCDF). A former Lee Hecht Harrison consultant, Terry also consults for REA Career Services, The Janus Group and the Five O'clock Club. She is qualified, by the Association of Psychological Type, to administer and interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory and other assessment tools. Frequently invited to speak at association workshops and conferences, Terry publishes a monthly column "On Careers" in the Mercer Island Reporter and The College World Reporter.
Contact Information:
Career Advisors
Mercer Island, WA
Phone: 206/236-5697
Fax: 206/236-5699
www.careeradvisorsonline.com
Tracey Smith
Image Maker
Publicist, Image Consultant, Writer
CEO and Founder
Decorum Consulting, LLC
Tracey Smith is a successful publicist, image consultant, and writer. She is the founder of Decorum Consulting, a boutique public relations agency. Ms. Smith received her Bachelor of Science degree in speech-language pathology pre-med from Hampton Institute with a minor in psychology. Ms. Smith gained invaluable experience in sales and management in the pharmaceutical industry, and has held positions in sales training, management, and product analysis.
Ms. Smith's company, Decorum Consulting, LLC, is a boutique agency that specializes in public relations, media relations, brand management, image consulting, and executive finishing. Founded by native Chicagoan Tracey Smith, who possesses an extensive knowledge of sales management and product marketing from her very successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. The goal of Decorum Consulting is to achieve top-firm results while maintaining at all times, the personalized attention only offered in a boutique environment. The clientele ranges from medical thought leaders, lecturers, authors, radio personalities, and foreign policy experts.
Contact Information:
Decorum Consulting, LLC
Chicago, IL
Alduan Tartt, Ph.D.
"The People's Doc"
Relationships TNTÒ (Tartt & Thurman)
Psychologist, Author, Life Coach, and Professional Speaker
Dr. Alduan Tartt is a devoted father, community servant, proud Christian and positive psychologist. He has successfully worked with well over five hundred clients in Georgia, California, and Michigan. He is a graduate of both Morehouse College and the University of Michigan where he was one the youngest African-Americans to receive his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
He has served on the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of DeKalb and Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers - now Forever Family. Dr. Tartt is also an associate member of the National Speakers Association of Georgia as well as Toastmasters International. He is a frequent contributor to Essence, Black Enterprise & Upscale Magazines, and has appeared on MTV, TV One, and BET as a relationship expert, psychologist, and celebrity life coach. He is also author of The RING FORMULA: How to Marry MR. RIGHT.
Dr. Tartt is truly a man of the people whose mission is finding divine greatness in everyone. He insists on focusing on clients’ strengths and helping them to use their gifts to improve the world. He indicates that his greatest challenge is not finding the greatness in people, but getting people to see this greatness in themselves so they can share it with the world. While others focus on the problems of the world, Dr.Tartt prefers finding solutions.
Contact Information:
315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Suite 651
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404.377.4757
Toll-free: 877.377.4002
http://www.drtartt.com/
J. Thurman
Relationships TNTÒ (Tartt & Thurman)
Author/Speaker/Writing Consultant/Relationship Guru
CEO
Zodok Publishing
A native of Chicago, J. Thurman uses his experience as a researcher, educator, and historian, to bring forth an offering that will start the movement to redefine the ideas of relationships between men and women. As a published author and relationship guru, he constantly pushes the envelope in the war between truth an honesty in relationships. He is a graduate of Southern University and currently lives in Atlanta, GA. He currently speaks and tours all over the country.
Contact Information: J. Thurman
2798 Peek Road #623
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404-667-2962
www.themanyouall.com
Jermaine A. Wyrick, P.L.L.C.
The CWR Legal Advisor
Attorney, Professional Speaker, and Writer
JERMAINE A. WYRICK is a successful trial attorney whose ideology is, “Pursuing Justice, Delivering Excellence.” In 1997, he began the Law Offices of Jermaine Wyrick P.L.L.C. His commitment to helping people is apparent by his chosen areas of practice which include Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Police Misconduct, and Probate Law.
His awards include the “Civil Rights and Education”, United States Attorney’s Office, Black History Month Award; “Five under Ten” Award from the University of Michigan, African American Alumni Council; the Federal Bar Association, Pro Bono Project Award; Respect for Law, Optimist International; and an award from the Detroit Branch NAACP for Outstanding Leadership in Affirmative Action.
He has lectured at various places, including on “Trial Techniques,” for Lorman Education Services, the Northville Psychiatric Hospital, Continuing Medical Education program, on the topic, “Guardianship: Legal Perspective,” and at the Detroit Branch NAACP George W. Crockett Community Law School in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, on the topic of Racial Profiling/Driving While Black.
He is currently a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and the State Bar of Michigan, and is on the Lawyer Referral Panel for both organizations. He is also a member of the National Bar Association, the Wolverine Bar Association. .
In 1997, he was admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; and the United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.
His civic activities, includes the Coleman A. Young Scholarship Foundation - Board of Directors, and Detroit Urban Lutheran School, Board of Directors.
In June 2001, as a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, he was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court.
In January 2003, the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, certified him as a General Civil Case Mediator.
His published articles which have appeared in the Michigan Chronicle, The Michigan Front Page, and the Michigan Citizen Newspapers include, but are not limited to “ Can Michael Jackson Win?”, and “ Should Michigan Have the Death Penalty?,”.
He made appearances as a legal advisor on radio and television programs, including Frankie Darcell’s “Talk of the Town” Program on 92.3 F.M., in Detroit, Michigan, “Frankly Speaking” Radio Program on 88.1 F.M, in Highland Park, Michigan, the NAACP Radio Program, “Let the Record Reflect,” on 90.9 F.M., in Detroit, Michigan, “For My People” Comcast Cable Television Show, and Dr. Claude Young’s “Health the Bible, and You,” Comcast Cable Television Show.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 19, 1971. He graduated from Detroit Urban Lutheran School and Cass Technical High School. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1993. In 1993, he received the Council on Legal Opportunity Fellowship Award, at Ohio State University. He received his Juris Doctor from the Wayne State University Law School. In 1996
Contact Information:
Law Offices of Jermaine A. Wyrick P.L.L.C.
615 Griswold St. - Suite 1610
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 964-8950