Award Recipients

Cardiologist - Executive Director of Piedmont Healthcare Corporation Covid Task Force

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Jayne Morgan, M.D. is a Cardiologist and the Executive Director of the Covid Task Force at the Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, GA, the largest healthcare system in Georgia. Within this role she serves as the system Covid vaccine expert, analyzing the science and data from Piedmont and nationally, drives efforts at addressing vaccine hesitancy via education to internal staff, external stakeholders, media, and the greater external community. Dr. Morgan has been named to the Health Equity and Covid Task Force for the Governor of the state of Georgia and selected to support the Department of Health in its series of “Ask The Experts”. Additionally she serves as a CNN medical expert contributor and is the owner and creator of The Stairwell Chronicles - a social media series directed towards addressing questions surrounding Covid vaccines in a conversational format.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director of Public and Governmental Affairs and Director of Public & Governmental Affairs, respectively.

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Ms. Natalie L. Ammons has been with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for over 28 years and is currently the Deputy Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, appointed in June 2018. In this role she assists the Public and Governmental Affairs Director in coordinating all aspects of media and public relations for the GBI. Additionally, she serves as a legislative liaison to Georgia's legislature and the Governor's Office on behalf of the agency.

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Founder and Chief Executive Officer Journey Forward Strategies, LLC

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Journey Forward Strategies is a solutions-focused consulting firm that specializes in leadership development and organization effectiveness. Working with Fortune 500 corporations, private  

companies, and the not-for-profit sector, Shan leverages over 30 years of diverse experience and expertise to deliver sustainable results for her clients. She excels in the areas of executive coaching, talent development, organization cultural assessments,  

DEI strategies, as well as business process design and technology transformation.

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DeKalb County School District Superintendent

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Cheryl Watson-Harris is an exceptional education leader and equity warrior who brings nearly three decades of experience and success to her role as Superintendent of DeKalb County Schools. She has been and continues to be a champion for children, drawing praise for her innovative leadership style that improves both employee engagement and morale throughout the school system and positively impacts student achievement. Throughout her 29-year career as an educator, administrator, and community leader, she has demonstrated outstanding skills and knowledge of teaching and learning, professional development, and policy implementation, as well as a collaborative leadership style that consistently strives for excellence.

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent

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Dr. Herring began her position at Atlanta Public Schools on July 1, 2020, coming home to make a difference in the state that raised her, and in the city that made her an educator. A Macon, GA, native and graduate of Spelman College, the Univ. of South Carolina, and Georgia Southern Univ., Dr. Herring’s enduring career includes experience in both public and private, and urban and rural settings, notably serving as Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, Chief Academic Officer for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY, and Deputy Superintendent of Academics for the Charleston County (SC) School District.

President of Society of Human Resource Management (Atlanta) & HR Business Partner

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Akilah Charlemagne is an influential Human Resources Business Partner and Relationship Builder with 22 years of experience working with Technology, Higher Education, Healthcare and Non-Profit organizations. Akilah’s passion and purpose is to create remarkable experiences where professionals feel safe, energized, and empowered to take risks and propel their careers! Akilah founded Career Lemonade in 2019, where she partners with professionals and entrepreneurs who are looking to make a shift while increasing their confidence and supporting them in making better Career & Business decisions.

Program Leader with Mahogany At Hallmark

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​As a full-time Hallmark employee, Sharnel leads the Mahogany Writing Community and manages the team and its contributors. She works remotely from her home outside Atlanta, Georgia, where she lives with her husband. She is a graduate of the GREAT Bethune-Cookman University and currently pursuing her Master of Science in Business Analytics from Mercer University. Sharnel believes that this community will elevate Black women’s voices by acknowledging, appreciating, and affirming them.

Global Impact Christian Ministries

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Leading Lady Coylitia lends her expertise and service to many areas. As a second generation business owner, she along with her mother and sister uphold the mantle passed by her father, the late Coy C. Williamson, Jr. Leading Lady Coylitia is affiliated with numerous civic and service organizations. Leading Lady Coylitia has a heart for enriching marriages since so many are failing due to a lack of knowledge.” She established the Covenant Couples Ministry at Global Impact because of her passion for educating couples about how to strengthen and maintain Godly marriages. 

Business Coach and Pivot Strategist

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Britney “Jeanine” Canidate is the owner and founder of Pivot to Launch, a business coaching firm based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. Serving as the head Business Coach and Pivot Strategist, Britney believes that every entrepreneur should build a business they are most passionate about—even if it means slapping fear in the face and pivoting accordingly. 

Wife, mom of 2 and a business owner for over fourteen years, Britney has established herself as an industry leading business and brand strategist, and has supported clients across a multitude of industries.

MICROSOFT Global Communications Manager & Author of “Water For Your Garden”

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Mia chose to highlight the many aspects of her experience as a millennial minority professional in predominantly white spaces through her blog, "Code-switching Creative." Her podcast "Since Y'all Don't Read" explores an array of shared experiences and expertise from other black women across various industries. Mia works in Communications for a major tech company where she leads in skills and training for employees.  She is also an author of “Water For Your Garden,” a coffee table book filled with self-affirmations and illustrations to inspire women to pour into themselves.

 Henry County Board of Commissioners District 2

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As a mother of two daughters, a wife, a lifelong entrepreneur, an elected official, and a community advocate, one may wonder how she does it all. Dee  founded multiple units of child care centers, owned several restaurants, a cattle farm, a security company, transportation service, and a mobile car wash. She owned a mobile kitchen, a skating rink,  horse ranch, tutorial service, a property management company and a janitorial supply company. Dee has also manufactured and sold her online toiletries, owned a gymnastics gym and a performing arts studio. Dee is affectionately known as the She E O of serial entrepreneurship.

President of Progressive Techniques, Inc.

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Nancy J. Lewis is a leading motivational & inspirational keynote speaker, trainer, author, and registered corporate coach.  She is the president of Progressive Techniques, Inc. based in Fayetteville, Georgia where the theme of her organization is “Developing a Better YOU!”  She earned a M.S. degree from Georgia State University in Urban and Public Affairs with concentration in Human Resources.

CEO, God's Purpose Over Everything Corporation, Senior Program Project Manager at Cricket Wireless, & Adjunct Professor at Beulah Heights University

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​Erica serves on the executive board of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in her local section. Erica is a member of the National Association for the Advancement  of Colored People (NAACP). In April 2020, Erica started God's Purpose Over Everything (GPOE), a women's ministry tailored to helping women uncover their God-given  purpose while deepening their faith and walking with God in 2020.

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Chief Schools' Officer of Indianapolis Public Schools and President of Henderson Group Consulting 

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Nathalie Henderson, PhD is an award-winning educator who has served urban, suburban, and rural school communities for  19 years. She is a practitioner having been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, principal manager, adjunct professor and cabinet-level district administrator achieving improved student outcomes at every level and a national conference presenter and speaker. 

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Restoration Community Ministries

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Co-Pastor Deloris Westmoreland has spent 50 years serving in all facets of ministry, including international and national worship tours (she is a superbly gifted psalmist), as a conference speaker/evangelist, ministry project management, and both in-reach and outreach care ministries. For the past 10 years she has served along with her husband, Charles Westmoreland, as Co-Pastor of Restoration Community Ministries in Jonesboro, where she serves weekly, ministering to individuals and families, and meeting the needs of a growing community.

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