Crystal Washington
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Unleashing the Future with Crystal Washington: A Tech Strategist and Keynote Speaker

When I joined the National Speakers Association, one of the first people to welcome me was the super intelligent, super cute, super friendly, and super amazing keynote speaker, Crystal Washington. She was well-known and highly respected in…
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From Fired to Fired Up: Meet Jaime Ross, Award-Winning Real Estate Broker Associate

Do you remember the last time you started a new job? After I earned my MBA, I accepted a job as a marketing manager with ServiceMaster. I was so nervous and unsure of myself and, honestly, questioning if I made the right decision to leave…
Mayor Julian McTizic
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Mayor Julian McTizic: S.O. What! Success Story

How often do you meet people who impress you? Not just with their accomplishments but equally with their humility and kindness. A few years ago I met the Mayor (Julian McTizic) of my original hometown, Bolivar, TN, at a restaurant. Soon…
Melissa Graham
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Melissa Graham: S.O. What! Success Story

One thing I always tell my students is to talk to people. And something that almost always happens is you’ll find a lot that you have in common. Melissa Graham and I started talking because both of us have a passion for student success.…
Ekundayo Bandele
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Ekundayo Bandele: S.O. What! Success Story

When the artist becomes a businessman a beautiful creation and asset to a city is born. Ekundayo Bandele has always known he was an artist, a creator. Since I’ve lived in Memphis, I have heard his name and admired his work. Ekundayo Bandele…
Summer Owens at the JCM class of 1997 25th anniversary class reunion
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25 Life Takeaways from My 25th Anniversary Class Reunion

Last weekend I attended my 25th anniversary class reunion. Even typing 25th anniversary doesn't seem like it could possibly apply to me.  It seems like it was just a couple of years ago that we got our green caps and gowns and excitedly walked…
Joshua Cobb
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Joshua Cobb: S.O. What! Success Story

Can you imagine one moment walking around doing your job and the next moment you don’t even have your legs? The unthinkable happened to Joshua Cobb only two weeks after he was standing in my living room.  Just as unbelievable as the…
Tim Ware
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Tim Ware: S.O. What! Success Story

Find your cheerleader. That was the closing advice given by the former athlete turned education leader, Tim Ware, in our interview. When we met over a decade ago, Tim Ware had started a school and today he leads another one just for young…
Bud Richey
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Bud Richey: S.O. What! Success Story

Bowties. Crawfish. And leadership. They are all things I immediately think of when I think of Bud Richey. As a student leader over 20 years ago, I met Bud Richey when he came to the University of Memphis to direct the Emerging Leaders…