Press Release | I AM B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

IAB Welcomes Shay Shipman to the Executive Board

IAB Web Admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 16:30:59 +0000

Shaleacia “Shay” Shipman is a two-time board-certified Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Mental Health Specialist who specializes in providing pediatric healthcare to patients up to age 21 years old.

Shay is committed to providing exceptional healthcare to pediatric patients in the Metro Atlanta area. In her role as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Shay has spent the past five-and-a-half years fostering life-long relationships with her patients and their parents, making her a beloved member of her community and an integral part of her patients’ lives.

In addition to pouring into her patients, Shay also spends much of her time developing future nursing leaders. As an Adjunct Mental Health Professor and Clinical Instructor at Lanier Technical College, Shay has spent the past three years educating prelicensure nursing students and guiding them through their on-site clinical experiences. Additionally, Shay serves as a preceptor for nurse practitioner students, teaching them what it means to be a healthcare provider and demonstrating the heart of a servant leader.

Shay holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Brenau University, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Emory University, and she most recently earned an Executive Women’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Brenau University in 2024.

Shay is excited to join I Am BEAUTIFUL as a member of the Board of Directors. Her passion for advocating for and inspiring young women makes her a perfect addition to this team, and she hopes to make a lasting impact in this role!

IAB Welcomes Shirleyse Haley to the Executive Board

IAB Web Admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 16:27:44 +0000

Shirleyse Haley is a motivated and outgoing marketing professional with over nine years of experience in B2B/B2C marketing and inside sales. Currently serving as a Senior Security Skilling Marketing Manager at Microsoft, Shirleyse has developed training for cybersecurity professionals.

Prior to Microsoft, Shirleyse held various marketing roles at Sharecare, nThrive, and athenahealth, where she consistently delivered impactful marketing strategies and campaigns.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from the University of Georgia. She also is the vice-president of the Black Alumni Leadership Council for UGA.

She enjoys traveling with her husband and daughter and cuddling with her goldendoodle.

IAB Welcomes Monica Fenton to the Executive Board

IAB Web Admin — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 18:15:02 +0000

Monica P. Fenton, a native of Indianapolis, IN, is a graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration. She also holds master’s degrees in Strategic Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and Public Health from Walden University.

Monica’s career journey began in Chicago, IL, where she worked with Northwestern University, supporting the administration of employer health and ancillary plans. She later joined Mercer Consulting, collaborating directly with mid-to-large-sized employers in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, Monica relocated to Atlanta, GA, after accepting a role with the University System of Georgia, where she had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Tina Woodard.

Currently, Monica is proud to work for an organization dedicated to women’s health and family planning. In this role, she has discovered her purpose, educating and raising awareness about the importance of women’s health. Beyond her professional achievements, Monica is passionate about travel, exploring new cuisines as a self-proclaimed foodie, and indulging in suspense and romantic comedy movies, TV series, and audio books. A highlight of 2024 for her has been attending the Paris Olympics.

Monica is thrilled to serve as a board member with *I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.* and is eager to contribute to the organization’s mission of supporting and promoting programs for women and girls of all ages.

IAB Welcomes Martina Martin-Roberts to the Executive Board

IAB Web Admin — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:16:37 +0000

Martina Martin-Roberts is a dedicated Commercial Relationship Manager with a strong commitment to supporting small to midsize business owners, CEOs, and CFOs across the healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, and professional services sectors. With over 20 years of experience providing tailored financial solutions, Martina has been instrumental in helping companies achieve their goals through effective financial planning and strategic growth.

In addition to professional expertise, Martina will bring a deep passion for mentorship and empowerment to the role of board member for I AM B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L Having navigated her own journey through the financial sector, she understands the importance of mentorship and guidance, especially for young girls aspiring to succeed in their careers and personal lives. Driven by a commitment to giving back, Martina is honored to support this mission by sharing her insights, encouraging self-confidence, and helping young women explore their potential and achieve their dreams.

With a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Martina is eager to make a positive impact on the next generation, fostering resilience and inspiring young women to reach their highest potential.

IAB Welcomes Raven Lee to the Executive Board

IAB Web Admin — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:04:53 +0000

Raven Lee is a passionate leader dedicated to fostering growth, wellness, and meaningful connections. With a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology, Raven brings a deep understanding of human behavior and workplace dynamics to her work. Her career has included roles in strategic planning, quality assurance, operations, and years as an HR executive in the technology and transportation sectors, where she created people-centered environments that prioritize employee well-being and development. She is also a certified leadership coach, guiding leaders to unlock their potential and create thriving, high-performing teams. She currently serves as the Founder & CEO of a leadership and organizational development firm.

Raven joined the Board of Directors for I Am Beautiful, because she believes in the power of mentorship and support for youth. “I want to ensure that girls journey through life with confidence and a network of people ready and willing to support them,” Raven shares. “It’s so important that we nurture and care for their development—this is how we build stronger communities and brighter futures.”

This role aligns perfectly with Raven’s lifelong passion for helping individuals discover their potential and make meaningful contributions to the world. Whether through leadership coaching, organizational health initiatives, or community involvement, Raven is committed to creating spaces where people can grow, thrive, and succeed.

Press Release: Passing the Leadership Torch…

IAB Web Admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:29:47 +0000

After 17 years at the helm of I Am BEAUTIFUL, Inc. as Executive Director, Dr. Tina Woodard is passing the leadership torch to Ms. Jennifer Hammond. Effective Aug. 9, 2021, Ms. Hammond will transition from Assistant Director to Executive Director of the award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the self-esteem and leadership skills of girls and women. “We are thrilled to have found someone like Jennifer who possesses the ideal combination of experience, credentials, energy, and passion to lead the daily operations of our organization. Jennifer brings a wealth of education administration and leadership experience that will enable her to lead our program with excellence”, said Dr. Woodard. As Co-Founder and Board Member, Dr. Woodard will continue to contribute to the mission and future direction of I Am BEAUTIFUL while heading Capstone Performance Solutions, Inc., a human resources consulting company she founded in 2016.

Press Release: I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L., Inc. nominated for Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Awards

IAB Web Admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 01:45:27 +0000

Gwinnett County (METRO ATLANTA) GA – September 17, 2020 – The Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Awards will showcase those that dare to start, sustain and succeed and the community that supports them. Recognized as an industry leader, I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L., Inc. has been nominated in the Community Contributor category.

Co-Founders of I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L., Inc., Drs. Tina Woodard and Zenobia Edwards stated respectively, “It is quite humbling to receive recognition for doing what I believe we all are called to do, serve others. We are honored to be nominated for this award and look forward to continuing to support leadership and social-emotional development of girls globally”. “Working with our B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. girls is both a privilege and a blessing. This nomination affirms our mission and encourages our future.”

“At the Gwinnett Chamber, we believe small business is big business,” said Nick Masino, President & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett. “We understand that entrepreneurs are the engines of our economy and we are excited to celebrate their contributions.”

Honoring individuals and organizations alike, designations will be given in the following areas.

Community Contributor Award
Culture Creator Award
Emerging Entrepreneur Award
Founder Award
Launch Award
Minority-Owned/Woman-Owned Small Business Award
Pivot Pro Award
Small Business Award
Support System Award

The awards ceremony will be held Friday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Infinite Energy Forum. Both in-person and online options are available. For more information, visit GwinnettChamber.org/Small-Business-Awards.

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GWINNETT CHAMBER PROGRAM CONTACT

Cally D’Angelo | 678.957.4958 | CDAngelo@GwinnettChamber.org

I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Inc. MEDIA CONTACT

Shirley Sifford | 404.545.9051 | ssifford@iambeautiful.org

I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Inc., an award-winning tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is dedicated to inspiring and equipping girls and women to live Brave, Energetic, Assertive, Unique, Tenacious, Important, Fabulous, Unequaled, and Loved (B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.). Contributions to I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L., Inc. may be tax-deductible.

Dr. Helen Figge Joins IAB Board Leadership Team

IAB Web Admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 02:23:04 +0000

The I Am BEAUTIFUL Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Dr. Helen Figge to our board leadership team!

Dr. Figge was elected to serve as a leader of strategy, development, and marketing committees. Currently, Dr. Figge is the Chief Strategy Officer of MedicaSoft and Adjunct Professor, Global Healthcare Management, MCPHS University. Dr. Figge holds numerous other leadership positions such as Senior Advisor, National Health IT (NHIT) Collaborative for Underserved, New York HIMSS, Board Member at Large & National Liaison and Health 2.0 Boston, Innovation Chair.

Read more about Dr. Figge here or see B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Board for more information on the leadership team.

Press Release: IAB Co-Founders Selected to Join The Leadership America Class of 2018

IAB Web Admin — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 11:08:21 +0000

IAB Co-Founders Selected to Join The Leadership America Class of 2018

45 women competitively selected to explore “LEADING WITH A GLOBAL VISION”

Drs. Zenobia Edwards and Tina Woodard, Co-Founders and executive officers of I Am BEAUTIFUL Inc., have been selected to join an elite network of more than 6,000 women as members of the Leadership America Class of 2018.

Dr. Woodard and Dr. Edwards are two of 45 senior-level women leaders competitively selected from across the nation to participate in the longest-running women’s leadership program in the US. Throughout the year-long program, they will have the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and enhance their recognized leadership skills as the program visits three of our nation’s key cities. Each city’s agenda will feature some of our nation’s thought leaders, noted decision-makers and future- forward thinkers who will provide our participants cutting-edge information to inform their professional and community leadership for years to come,” said Martha P. Farmer, Founding and Executive Director of Leadership America, now in its 31st consecutive year.

Launched in 1988 as the first nationwide program for the advocacy of women’s leadership. Leadership America is the national model of its sister program, Leadership Texas, and is run by the Texas-based Leadership Women, Inc. Leadership America was inaugurated by our founders to provide women leaders an opportunity to expand their understanding and influence on the issues surrounding our nation and the globe.

The theme for the 2018 program year is ‘LEADING WITH A GLOBAL VISION: A NATIONAL FOCUS, A LOCAL CONCERN.’ “Participants will visit Boston, MA, San Diego, CA and Denver, CO where each city’s opportunities and challenges will provide glimpses into possible futures in the participants’ spheres of influence and suggest roadmaps for leading us forward as a nation and as members of the global society,” Martha Farmer added.

“We consider it a privilege to assemble these influential women leaders from a broad diversity of professional and personal backgrounds and provide them opportunities to consider new modes of listening; to seek new perspectives; and to imagine new collaborations that will provide new solutions to the challenges of today’s interconnected global society. We recognize it is necessary for today’s successful leaders to understand the cultural, social and economic shifts confronting all nations. The Leadership America experience informs, influences and inspires these women leaders to shape the future of our evolving nation and ever-changing world.”

Through the generous contributions of the Leadership Women Sponsors, the Leadership America program continues to provide the most up-to-date information on leadership and issues affecting our nation. Leadership Women proudly recognizes Texas Instruments and Southwest Airlines as sponsors.

2019 Leadership America will convene in Washington, D.C.; Seattle; and, Atlanta. Interested candidates for next year’s series of programs are invited to visit the Leadership Women website – www.leadership-women.org access additional information and application/registration instructions.

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Leadership Women, Inc.
Leadership Women, Inc. (LW) was established in Austin, Texas, in 1974. LW seeks to advance the power of leadership and legacy through programs that connect, inspire, empower and honor women. To extend LW’s message of strength and build bridges to and opportunities for women, LW founded Leadership America in 1988 and helped in the creation of complementary women’s programs in California, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina, among others. Since 1996, LW has been offering a series of national retreats for emerging women leaders called Leadership Pipeline. In 2009, LW launched one day conferences and workshops. Their Leadership International program traveled to India in 2013, South Africa in 2014, Mexico in 2015, Scandinavia in 2016 and will visit Quebec, Canada in 2018. For additional information please go to www.leadership-women.org.

For More Information Contact:
Laura Logan, Director of Communications

Office: 214-421-5566
Laura.Logan@leadership-women.org

I Am BEAUTIFUL welcomes Dr. Caroline Thomas, Dr. Vicki Young & Dr. Lisa Lanning to speak at the Pee Dee Beautiful Launch!

IAB Web Admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:23:58 +0000

Much of growing into a strong leader is seeing and learning from those who came before you. That is why mentoring and exposure to strong female role models is at the heart of what I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.UL. brings to it’s girls.

Join us at our Launch Party in the Pee Dee to meet three strong role models! Each girl will get to spend time with our speakers and learn more about who she is and how she got there.

Dr. Caroline Thomas has had a passion for dentistry since she set her mind on it in the third grade.  Dr. Thomas received her Bachelors of Science from Clemson University and her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from MUSC in Charleston, SC. She furthered her training in St. Petersburg, FL, by completing a one-year residency program where she gained invaluable experience with cosmetic and implant dentistry, as well as comprehensive restorative dental care.

A member of many local and national dental societies and study clubs, Dr. Thomas greatly values the importance of continually learning the best and most modern dental techniques. She has had the privilege to complete an intensive implant training course, Implant Educators, and continues to pursue many hours of post-graduate dental education at the highly respected Kois Center, Spear Institute, Dawson Academy, and L.D. Pankey Institute.

Over the years, Dr. Thomas has traveled to Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Kenya on dental mission trips. Her hobbies include singing on the church worship team, cooking, traveling, health and fitness, wakeboarding, and spending time with her husband, Phillip, and their three sons, Levi, Micah, and Canaan.

Dr. Vicki Young, Chief Operating Officer with the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association, is responsible for overseeing the areas of clinical quality improvement, public affairs, advocacy, and outreach/enrollment. In 2007, she started her service with the Association as the department head for Clinical Quality Improvement.

Dr. Young has more than 15 years of knowledge and practice in the areas of health care access, health disparities, and quality improvement programming, as well as research. She is committed to the improvement of the health status for all with an emphasis on access to and the provision of quality health care.

Dr. Lisa Lanning has 18 years of experience in the medical field and has served the rural communities of South Carolina since late 2006. Dr. Lanning holds a BS in Biology from Western Oregon University, a MS from Pacific University and is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and specializes in Family Medicine.

Dr. Lanning has also served as a guest lecturer, Faculty member and Assistant Professor at various universities, including Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina.

Dr. Lanning is passionate about promoting and providing outstanding primary care to rural and underserved families and also works to integrate community resources, public education and health care organizations to improve patient and family-centered care.