Tanisha Pugh
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Tanisha Pugh S.O. What! Success Story

Do you remember your high school Biology class?  Connected to dissecting a frog is my memory of my classmate, Tanisha (Johnson) Pugh. It actually goes back to elementary school but most vivid are my memories from Biology class. When we…
Greg Caesar
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Greg Caesar S.O. What! Success Story

What are some of the positive moments in your life that you’ll never forget? One of those moments for me was when as a teen mother I stood on the football field at halftime during the University of Memphis homecoming game in October 2000. And…
Odell Bizzell
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Odell Bizzell S.O. What! Success Story

Doesn’t it feel good when you meet someone doing the same thing as you and they immediately cheer you on and offer real help? I met Odell Bizzell as part of the National Speakers Association a few years ago but really got to know him when…
Montorius Herron
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From Imprisoned to Inspiring: Montorius “GG” Herron S.O. What! Success Story

Recently, I saw a short documentary about someone I knew in high school. I remembered Montorius Herron, known as GG to me, very well. He was a few years older than I am and part of the “cool” clique.  I didn’t know what he did after…
Andy Dallin
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Andy Dallin S.O. What! Success Story

You know the saying about how a person may forget what you did, but they won’t forget how you made them feel? Well, I have not seen or heard from or even about Andy Dallin. Ever since the first few months of the Memphis Grizzlies’ move to…
Wanda Taylor
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From Just Surviving to Helping Others Survive: Wanda Taylor S.O. What! Success Story

Starting a business is not easy. I learned this when I started both an LLC and a 501(c)(3) organization. But in the learning process, I’ve met some incredible people. At a workshop on bookkeeping for nonprofits, I was amazed by the lady who…
Leshundra Robinson
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Leshundra Robinson S.O. What! Success Story

Many nonprofit organizations are born out of need and many are created from painful personal experiences. When I met Leshundra Robinson she asked me to speak at an anti-bullying conference she organized for the nonprofit she co-founded, UCAN…
Havilah Malone
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Havilah Malone S.O. What! Success Story

When I made the decision to become a professional speaker, I was excited that I qualified to become a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA). One of the most amazing connections I made through NSA was with this woman with a speaking…
Dr. Shirley Raines
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An Uncommon Journey: Dr. Shirley Raines S.O. What! Success Story

When I entered college in 1997, I quickly got involved in various organizations including the Student Ambassador Board. This is where I interacted with the university president, Dr. Shirley Raines. Surprisingly, I didn’t pay much attention…