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The
2013 Odyssey International Productions Honorees |
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Lady
Ella Dixon Jones
Lady
Ella Dixon Jones, a long time Newark & Plainfield Resident
and Retired Reading Specialist, was born March 29, 1918, in
Columbia South Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s
Degree in 1971 and completed requirements for her Master’s
Degree in 1981. These documents are placed in 600 libraries
throughout the United States; including the Library of Congress.
She retired in 1991 from Mt. Vernon Elementary School, Newark,
NJ as an Elementary School Educator and Reading Specialist,
for 25 years. She has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Inc, North Jersey Alumni Chapter since 1971, a member of Who’s
Who 2006-2007, recognized as a Reading Specialist, a member
of New Jersey Bridge Unit of Newark, New Jersey; Eastern Division
and a member of More Than Just Books; Plainfield Book Club.
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Dr.
Joyce Wilson Harley
Joyce
Harley is an attorney specializing in community development,
economic development, and public policy initiatives. She is
the new Acting Vice President of Administration and Finance
for Essex County College having recently served as the Essex
County Administrator appointed to the post by Essex County
Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo in March, 2005. The County
Executive made history by appointing Joyce the first woman
ever to the hold the position. Prior to joining Essex County,
Ms. Harley served as the Executive Director of the Newark
Downtown District, New Jersey’s largest Special Improvement
District.
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Ms.
Alfa Demmellash
Alfa
Demmellash co-founded Rising Tide Capital in May 2004. As
Chief Executive Officer, she oversees strategic growth, programmatic
innovation and stakeholder engagement at Rising Tide Capital.
She graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a degree
in Government. Alfa is the recipient of Honorary Doctorates
from St. Peter's College and New Jersey City University and
has won numerous awards for her work as a leading social entrepreneur.
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Ms.
Susan Hogan
Susan
Hogan is Supplier Diversity Manager for the Procurement Organization
at Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) in Newark,
New Jersey. Ms. Hogan’s background includes over thirty
years of experience in all aspects of Supply Chain Management
including twenty five years extensive experience in supplier
diversity.
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Ms.
Donna Tucker
As
Chief of Staff and Project Administrator for The Regional
Alliance for Small Contractors Donna Tucker, administers Port
Authority and NJ Transit M/W/D/SBE training and technical
assistance contracts and administers Port Authority Aviation
tenant contract compliance contracts. She leads various Regional
Alliance outreach/networking and fundraising events, such
as the Contractors’ Clearinghouse, Annual Networking
Membership Luncheons and Annual Awards Luncheons.
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Mr.
Travis Reid Travis
Reid has extensive experience as an operational leader in
the City of Newark’s government infrastructure. As a
Policy Advisor to the Business Administrator, he managed Newark’s
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects. Adept
at identifying organization efficiencies, Travis reengineered
countless processes to create more effective systems. In the
Office of Innovation and Performance Management, Travis led
the office as its Assistant Director by managing Performance
TRAC (Transparent, Results-driven, Accountable, Change Ready)
and a city-wide Budget Operating Committee. Performance TRAC
– a performance management system – tracked output,
and outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of government
programs.
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Mr.
Paul Lachhu
Paul
Lachhu is the Chairman and CEO of Paradise Media Group, Publisher
of DiversityPlus, Diversity Global and Diversity Canada Magazines.
Through a lifetime of traveling and living in many countries
Paul has been able to leverage diversity within the context
of each individual culture to bring change in ways never imagined.
With offices in China, Canada and the United States, Diversity
Global and DiversityPlus Magazines are helping companies understand
the challenges of working across cultures and race to do business
with diverse suppliers while at the same time recruiting and
retaining the best and brightest talent.
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Donna
K. Williams
Donna
K. Williams is a lifelong citizen of Orange, NJ and a 1985
graduate of Orange High School.
A former attendee of Shaw University, who has served in the
United States Air Force and currently, is enrolled at Thomas
Edison College completing her degree in Public Administration
with a minor in Labor Relations. Parents Clarence S. Williams
(Connie-Deceased) and Frances Williams, both residents of
Orange. Currently working as a legal assistant for the Professional
Staff Congress which is the union that represents over 22,000
professionals and support staff at the City University of
New York, Donna aids in keeping policies prudent. Donna has
been a member of Local 153- OPEIU for 4years; but has been
affiliated with the international since 2000, serving in the
capacity of Shop-Steward and Business Representative. She
also facilitates training for Omni Travel and Tours in Orange,
NJ and is a licensed realtor with Jordan Baris Inc.
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Rev.
Pamela Carey
Rev.
Carey is the founder and CEO of the Sister’s Fellowship
Ministries, Inc. through the direction of the Lord, which
began in 2005, it is a non-denominational ministry as well
as a non-profit with a 501c3 status that ministers to the
needs of women helping them build a solid foundation and establishing
Christian life principles according to the word of God. The
Sister’s Fellowship is a catalyst to those in need by
reaching souls for the Kingdom of God nationwide. With a vision
to encourage, provide support, and empower women to become
effective and productive women of God, themselves, their families,
church and communities.
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Mr.
Hassans Kriby
As
a motivational speaker, author, and community consultant,
H.L. Kirby is becoming one of the most sought after speakers,
delivering powerful energetic messages of overcoming life’s
obstacles and challenges, and “to live life and stop
trying to make a life”. He has learned from his own
experiences, and is now helping others to actually live life
instead of letting it pass you by.
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Lavita
E. Johnson
After
surviving a motorcycle accident that nearly took her life
and left her occupationally disabled, Lavita Johnson retired
from the Newark Police Department in 2008. Since then, she
has fulfilled her passion for community service working as
a full-time community activist in Newark. Currently, she serves
on the Executive Boards of the Newark Bronze Shields and the
Newark Branch of the NAACP. Lavita is also an active member
of National Black Police Officers Association, Fraternal Order
of Police Lodge #12, Essex County Democratic Women and the
Ras Baraka for Mayor Campaign. As if serving on two boards
and participating in four other organizations is not enough
to tire one out, Lavita also employs her considerable police
skills serving the community as Chairperson of the Ivy Hill
Neighborhood Association Block Watch Committee. Since 2010,
Lavita has overseen the recruitment and training of more than
75 residents as official block watchers while also serving
as community’s point person for communicating with Newark
Police Department officials. Truly, Lavita pursues all of
her community service activities with a purpose and passion
that Vailsburg residents can admire and emulate.
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