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Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute

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The Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute, Inc. (ELI) empowers women to lead with a global perspective. ELI is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit leadership training and development organization that expands participants capacity to achieve success in their chosen professions and community-led organizations.Through our four core programs - Leadership, Young100 (collegiate), Apprentice (high school), and JEWELLS (middle grades) -ELI participants experience an intense program that specifically focuses on progression and succession techniques so that the end result is a person who emerges with the assurance of her own special skills and resources and a plan on how to attain her desired level of success.

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ELI is comprised of four core divisions - Leadership, Young 100 (collegiate), Apprentice (high school), and JEWELLS (middle grades). Over 200 women and girls from ages 11 to 62 in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Japan have completed this program since 2008.
ELI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization incorporated June 23, 2008. The Founding Members recognized the need for a womens leadership and development organization that focused on the intangible qualities of successful leadership.
11/5/11 - Click here to read LeadersNow e-newsletter12/3/11 - JEWELLS Partnership renewed with Atlanta Prep Academy12/11/11 - ELI Sip & Style Wine Tasting and Silent Auction at The Loft at Castleberry Hill
Are you interested in learning more about our programs?expanding the ELI vision to other states and/or countries?serving as a facilitator in one of our divisions?establishing a partnership?If you answered yes to any of the above, contact us today!

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Meet the class of 2011!

Message from ChairEducate. Develop. Mentor. Empower. This is the commitment made by every person who volunteers his/her time and resources to train and develop our participants. As a co-founder of ELI, it is my honor to serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors for 2011. Over the next year you will see initiatives to establish affiliates in various states that include Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee; provide more continuing education for our graduates in the form of weekend retreats and webinars; develop more opportunities to partner with community organizations; and expand our website to include more content that shows you why ELI has grown from 15 to 206 participants in less than three years.Our volunteers work tirelessly to provide innovative materials and training methods to ensure our participants success, and we were honored to receive the 2011 Community Empowerment Award from My Sister's Keeper Foundation for Women. And to individually reward our volunteers, we are now a certifying organization with the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. I welcome your feedback, and look forward to developing ways in which we may collaborate in the future for the total empowerment of women everywhere.Sincerely,Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell
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About ELI

Mission, Vision, ValuesThe Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute, Inc. (ELI) is committed to developing a diverse organization that fosters creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit by enriching the lives of women through leadership opportunities, personal and professional learning, and cultural experiences. We empower women to contribute to society as global leaders.ELI holds itself to the highest moral principals by leveraging innovation and strategic resources to reinvest in the further support of women in their respective communities.ELI values fairness, integrity and accountability. We support training, education, and community service; and we are dedicated to the total empowerment of women everywhere.
ProgramsELI is comprised of four core divisions. A brief description of each is below. For a more comprehensive overview of each program, visit our Programs page.The Leadership Division guides a group of adult women to further develop core competencies through a holistic approach to build a professional portfolio. The Young 100 Division prepares collegiate women to appropriately manage interpersonal and professional experiences by developing social and critical skills. The Apprentice Division equips teen girls with essential life skills that facilitate a positive transition to adulthood. The Joining Emerging Women Everywhere to Learn, Lead, and Succeed (JEWELLS)® Division introduces fundamental skills that encourage positive social, intellectual, and emotional development within middle school girls.
Community PartnersBelow are the organizations that ELI has had the honor to work with over the past three years:Atlanta Preparatory AcademyBonner Scholars Office of Community Service at Spelman CollegeCenter for Working Families Sisterhood ProgramDeAndre' Rafael Adams Memorial FoundationDorothy Height Leadership Academy at Benjamin Mays High SchoolKIPP STRIVE Academy
Founding & HistoryELI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization incorporated June 23, 2008 committed to developing a diverse organization that fosters creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit by enriching the lives of women through leadership opportunities, personal and professional learning, and cultural experiences. ELI empowers women to contribute to society as global leaders.In the Fall of 2007, founding members Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, Dashawn Mayweather, Deborah Williamson, and V. Ivana Foster recognized the need for a womens leadership and development organization that focused on the intangible qualities of successful leadership. Six months of research, program development, and innovative collaboration with fellow members of the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women resulted in the formation of the Emerging Leaders Institute. The organization was named in honor of Jewell Jackson McCabe, the founding board of directors (Chair Jordan R. Murphy, Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, LaTosha N. Keown, Travena Wilson-Evegan, Syrica Wilson, Deborah Williamson, and Wendy S. Miller) established, the first sessions held in Fall 2008 and Spring 2009, and the first class of 15 emerging leaders graduated May 2, 2009.Based on the enthusiasm and warm reception from the metro-Atlanta community, ELI launched again. In the Fall of 2009, the Leadership division, now led by Dorna Carrington Scott, incorporated distance learning that allowed participants from Nashville, TN and Miami, FL to participate. The Young 100 division was launched in the Spring of 2010 in partnership with the Bonner Office of Community Service at Spelman College. The graduating class nearly doubled to 26, with the celebration held April 24, 2010 at the Atrium on Spelman College campus.After newsfeeds of ELIs success were picked up online by Yahoo! Finance, Business Week, and USA Today, ELIs growth expanded exponentially. The Leadership division included students from Birmingham, AL, Greenville, NC, and Yokusoka, Japan. The Young 100 division was once again launched with the Bonner Office at Spelman College, but incorporated a training and facilitation component that allowed participants to lead courses through the Joining Emerging Leaders Everywhere to Learn, Lead & Succeed (JEWELLS) middle school division. The JEWELLS division, led by ELI Alumnae Felicia Davis and Erica Jenkins, was launch with both Atlanta Preparatory and KIPP STRIVE Academies. The Apprentice division, led by Natasha Lyles and Nan Walker, was launched through both a community recruitment effort led by Founding Director Travena Wilson-Evegan, and a partnership with the Dorothy Height Leadership Academy at Benjamin Mays High School. And through the outreach efforts of ELI co-founder and Continuing Education Director V. Ivana Foster and volunteer Sheryl Belizaire, ELI completed life skills training for the Center for Working Families Sisterhood Program. On April 16, 2011, ELI graduated 155 women and girls. In recognition of its hard work, ELI was the 2011 recipient of the Community Empowerment Award, presented by the My Sisters Keeper Foundation for Women.The program is set to launch again August 1, 2011, with efforts to establish affiliate organizations in Nashville, Durham, NC, and Houston, TX underway. We are very grateful for the hard work and dedication of our incredible volunteer force and dedicated alumnae.

Leadership

Meet our board

Leo R. "Reggie" Smith a member of the Board of Directors and the Young 100 Division Director of ELI. Dr. Leo R. Reggie Smith is a Talent Acquisition Manager with the State of Georgia. Prior to joining the State in May 2002, Dr. Smiths extensive expertise in industrial supervision and management was obtained during his time with Rohm and Haas North Carolina, Inc., Exxon Chemical Americas, C. R. Bard, Inc., and Siemens Energy & Automation.Dr. Smiths fervency for goodwill and betterment of society led him to partner with the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority to provide affordable housing for his hometown residents in Dillon, SC. His 2001 doctoral dissertation entitled Assessment of the Need and Development of Affordable Housing is a testament to these activities. Dr. Smith has also served as an executive board member of the DeKalb County Tech Prep Consortium at DeKalb Technical College in Decatur, GA and is a certified instructor of Franklin Coveys 4 Roles of Leadership®; The 4 Disciplines of Execution® and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® and IPMA-HR. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.Dr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Sociology from Voorhees College, Master of Arts degree in Computer Resources & Information Management from Webster University in Charleston, and his Doctorate in Human Resource Development from The Union Institute.
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Jordan R. Murphy is a Founding Board Member and served as the first Chairperson of the ELI Board of Directors. Ms. Murphy graduated with a BS in Biology from Spelman College and served as a Bonner Scholar, a highly selective scholastic achievement only awarded to 20 students each year. As a Bonner Scholar, Ms. Murphy volunteered a minimum of 280 hours per academic year to non-profit, service organizations, the majority of which have been used to provide tutoring and mentoring to elementary school students and as a volunteer in the Grady Memorial Hospital Emergency Room.Ms. Murphy also served as president of the Spelman chapter of Operation Smile, and was selected from a nationwide pool of applicants as one of three collegiate presenters during a 2009 training conference in Paraguay, South America. In recognition of her efforts in orchestrating the first Most Beautiful Smile Contest to provide funding for a cleft palate surgery for a child in need, Operation Smile Spelman Chapter was awarded the Spelman College STAR Award for Most Charitable Fundraising Event in April of 2009.Ms. Murphy has served as an intern for Emorys BRAIN program in the department of pathology and cell biology and is a founding member of the Spelman Chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success. Ms. Murphy is also the youngest member ever inducted into the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Ms. Murphy currently serves as a biomedical research fellow with Emory Universitys PREP program.
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Lynita M. Mitchell Blackwell is co-founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute, Inc. Ms. Mitchell-Blackwell is also the Managing Attorney of LMB Law Offices, PC professional services firm. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida A&M University School of Business & Industry (magna cum laude graduate) and Juris Doctor degree from Georgia State University College of Law. Ms. Mitchell-Blackwell is admitted to practice law in the state of Georgia (Georgia Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court) and US Northern District Court, and holds her CPA license in the state of Florida (currently inactive).Ms. Mitchell-Blackwell is a member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (where she has served as president of its Foundation and first Chairwoman of its Civil Pro Bono Wills Project, implementing a legal program for indigent persons infected with HIV/AIDS that in its first year received the National Association of Women Bar Associations Community Project of the Year award), the Atlanta Area Council of the American Business Womens Association, Guardian ad Litem with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (and the only 2007 Honor Roll Honoree in Austell, GA), serves on the Nonprofit Organizations and Government Affairs Committees of the American Bar Association, and on the Chapter Development Committee of the American Association of Attorney CPAs. Ms. Mitchell-Blackwell a 2011 Black Enterprise Young & Bold Business Leader, a 2011 Fellow of the New Leaders Council Atlanta Chapter, and 2010 graduate of both The White House Project, Inc. Georgia Go Run program and the United Way Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP). She also served as president of the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women where she created and established the Bold & Fearless Advocates Awards that recognized community leaders who implemented and/or led programs in Nutrition Education & Obesity Prevention, HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention, Advanced Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurial Development & Career Enhancement, and Primary & Secondary Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (SMET). Ms. Mitchell-Blackwell is married to the Rev. Brian K. Blackwell, pastor of historic St. Luke AME Church of Birmingham, AL. They are the proud parents of Angelica Gwendolyn.
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Leo T. Brown is a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Brown serves as the Executive Director of Curriculum & Training for Kansas City Public Schools, MO. Previously he was the Assistant Director, Human Resources & Administration at Emory University School of Medicine.Mr. Brown is a Human Resources professional with over twelve years of progressive experience in Human Resources, Leadership Development and Training. He has experience in higher education (Emory University) and two Fortune 500 organizations (Delta Air Lines and Georgia-Pacific Corporation). He joined Emory University as a Training Consultant and Program Manager in 2005. Currently, Mr. Brown is the Assistant Director, Human Resources & Administration at Emory University School of Medicine. He has oversight of strategic HR initiatives, staffing, employee relations, and leadership development and is intimately involved in the faculty recruitment, tenure and promotion processes. He also maintains leadership positions on numerous leadership councils and committees with the Emory University School of Medicine Deans Office.Mr. Brown is a volunteer at the Hope Hall Drug Rehabilitation Center of the Fulton County Drug Court and is a dedicated contributor to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. Mr. Brown has also served on the Board of Managers of the JD Winston Branch of the Butler Street YMCA and serves as a guest host on The Sunday Sound-Off radio show. He is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Society for the Advancement of Management the American Society of Training and Development, and the Human Resources Committee of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Mr. Brown is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.Mr. Brown received the Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. His scholarly research focuses on developing strong operational infrastructures for non-profit organizations.
Travena Wilson Evegan is a Founding Board Member and President of the Board of Directors. Ms. Evegan is an Information Systems Technician with the Federal Aviation Administration.Previously, she was a Team Manager with Compaq and a Support Specialist with Pathfinder, a privately held media and broadcast systems organization. Ms. Evegan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Information Technology from the American Intercontinental University and is completing her Masters of Business Administration at Troy University.Ms. Evegan is a member of the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. She is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
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Wendy S. Miller is the Public Relations Director for the Board of Directors of ELI. Ms. Miller is the owner of WSM Marketing Solutions, a company dedicated to developing marketing solutions for non-profit and for-profit organizations that are looking to build and enhance their brand, grow their client and membership base, and drive revenue. Previous to founding her own firm, Ms. Miller was the Sales Force Marketing Director with FleetCor Technologies, Marketing Manager with MetLife Insurance, and Relationship Manager with Chase.Ms. Miller is a member of the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association, Atlanta Marketing Association, Toastmasters International, Inc., and the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.Ms. Miller earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Economics and a Certificate in Business Project Management from New York University.
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Dorna F. Werdelin is Secretary of the Board of Directors and the Leadership Division Director. Ms. Werdelin is a Supplier Relations trainer and Minority Business Certification Officer at the Georgia Department of Administrative Services. Prior to her current position, Ms. Werdelin served as the Assistant Director of the Georgia Leadership Institute and Enterprise Learning Division (formerly known as Georgia Merit System); Director of Training for Worldwide of the Caribbean, Inc., a vocational training school for displaced workers; and a Training Specialist with HOVENSA LLC, the second-largest refinery in the Western Hemisphere, where she was responsible for Supervisory training and course design and development, and developed core performance competencies for non-exempt workers and served as the Deputy Information Officer on the Incident Command Team at the refinery.Ms. Werdelin is a free-lance writer for SisterSpeakOnline and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was also the 2010 Bold & Fearless Advocate in Entrepreneurial Development & Career Enhancement, awarded by the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.Ms. Werdelin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/Management & Organization from Spelman College and her Master in Business Administration degree from Baker College Center for Graduate Studies, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration.
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Kym A. Harris is Senior Director of Employee & Leadership Development and Training for Manheim, a Division of Cox Enterprises. Dr. Harris twenty-five year career in Human Resources and Talent Development represents experience in the public and private sectors, and higher education. During her time at Emory University, Dr. Harris designed and implemented a leadership development program which was later recognized as an exemplary model of leadership development and awarded the John Blackburn Award by the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA).In 2006 Dr. Harris was among the MBAs featured during the Black MBA Conference in Atlanta and in 2007 she was recognized by the United States Postal Service as one of eleven Women Putting their Stamp on Atlanta in business. Dr. Harris is president & CEO of Vision Compatible Coaching, LLC and is co-founder of Girls with Vision, a development experience created to instill self-confidence, build positive self-awareness, strengthen interpersonal skills, and empowers young girls for future success; the experience was launched in partnership with the Coretta Scott King Young Womens Leadership Academy in October 2009.Dr. Harris holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Masters degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Nova Southeastern University, and a Doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University. Her doctoral research explored the impact of the glass ceiling on the career strategies of African American women in middle management positions of corporate America.
Deborah M. Williamson is co-founder and a member of the Board of Directors of ELI. Ms. Williamson is a Human Resources professional and in her most recent role, she was the Human Resources Manager for Stiefel, a GlaxoSmithKline Company. Ms. Williamson also served as Client Relations Manager of the Voluntary Benefits Division with AIG_Work, and as the US Project Lead for the Total Rewards Program at Ivesco North America.Ms. Williamson is a member of the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. and a former Board member of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources.Ms. Williamson obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Argosy University.
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Dashawn Mayweather is co-founder of ELI. Ms. Mayweather is the CEO of Global Transition Enterprises, LLC, a management consulting firm. Prior to launching GTE, Ms. Mayweather was a Training Specialist at Georgia Quick Start, assisting companies in relocating major operations to Georgia. Her primary client was Kia Motors and she trained over 3,000 employees.Ms. Mayweather Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Grambling State University, her Masters in Leadership from Troy University, and is a doctoral candidate at Cappella University.
DeLana M. Jones is Counsel for the Board of Directors. Ms. Jones currently serves as a law clerk to United States Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker. Immediately prior to her clerkship, she was an associate in the Labor & Employment Group at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Ms. Jones is the Treasurer of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and has served in this role for four years. Ms. Jones is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Harvard Law School. Prior to attending law school, DeLana worked as an auditor for Arthur Andersen and KPMG, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
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LaTosha N. Keown is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of ELI. Ms. Keown is a Certified Public Accountant with the United States Department of the Treasury. Prior to her tenure with the Treasury Department, Ms. Keown was employed as the Tax Accountant for Georgia State University, specializing in non-resident alien tax matters and as an Associate with Arthur Andersen, LLP in its State & Local and Federal Tax practices.Ms. Keown enjoys giving back to her community through her past and present involvement in organizations. She is a Leader with the Girl Scouts of America, Financial Secretary of the East Suburban Atlanta Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, and has served as Treasurer of the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBWSML), and was the 2008 recipient of the Spirit of NCBWSML Award. Ms. Keown has also served as a mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.Ms. Keown obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from Florida A&M University and Master of Taxation degree from Georgia State University.
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Jewell Jackson McCabe

Honorary member of the board of directors, ELI was named in Ms. McCabe's honor. Click the document below to learn about Ms. McCabe.

Taunya A. Lowe is the Alumni Affairs Director of ELI. Dr. Lowe is a Behavioral Health Consultant and the CEO of The Resurgent Group of Metro Atlanta, LLC (TRGMA), a trainer for the Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SATTC), and an adjunct professor for DeVry University. She thoroughly enjoys training human service providers on best practices in the field of mental health and addiction to equip them with the tools they need to offer quality services.Dr. Lowe holds a doctorate in General Human Services and a certificate in Diversity Studies from Capella University; a Masters degree in Counseling and Psychological Services, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Education both from Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Lowe brings a wealth of knowledge from various perspectives. Her background spans many disciplines which include: nonprofit organizations, academia, counseling services, consulting, strategic planning, training, private sector, and government. She has worked in various aspects of the field of addiction since 1997 and is most proud of her role as the Statewide Womens Treatment Coordinator for the Department of Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (DMHDDAD) from 1999 to 2004 where she developed the infrastructure for womens treatment, introduced the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment (TREM) trauma model, and earned the 2003 statewide Community Service Award for improving the quality of life for womens gender specific substance abuse residential services.January 2010, Dr. Lowes study, The Impact of Natural Supports on Employment Retention for TANF Women with Substance Abuse was selected as an innovative program by the Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families (HHS/ACF) Welfare Peer TA Network.
V. Ivana Foster is co-founder of ELI and the Continuing Education & Community Outreach Coordinator. Ms. Foster brings a wealth of knowledge and a combination of well over 18 years of solid experience in curriculum and competency development in the areas of communication, organizational and workforce development/achievement, organizational strategic planning and implementation as well as team performance management and enhancement. Credited as one of the two-instructional/program directors who provided the solid foundation for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Management and Leadership Development Program (MLDP), implemented in 2003, to date this program is currently producing successful graduating classes of executive leaders for its agency.Ms. Foster, also known as The Confidence Architect, is the founder and owner of Aspirations Development Consulting, LLC, a life empowerment and consulting firm committed to building and enhancing Success-Driven Women in her quest to achieve her personal and professional goals by leveraging every aspect of her life. Ms. Foster earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Augusta State College, Master of Education in Adult Education and Instructional Technology/Curriculum Design from Troy State University, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Argosy University.
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With wide.pdf

Programs

Are you ready to refine the skills you need to hold the world in your hands?

Our Programs

ELI aims to empower women everywhere. Such an ambitious goal requires that all directors and facilitators demonstrate exceptional knowledge, skill, expertise, experience, and education to lead and inspire program participants. Meet the outstanding individuals who have committed themselves to this ideal.Participation in the Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) is based upon acceptance. Class sizes are small to create a nurturing environment conducive to personal exploration. Applicants are encouraged to apply once they have determined that they have the interest and motivation to work hard and complete the program. ELI is a leadership organization committed to empowering women to lead globally. Participants must be disciplined and have the time to commit to this challenging program.
Dorna F. Werdelin is Secretary of the Board of Directors and the Leadership Division Director. Ms. Werdelin is a Supplier Relations trainer and Minority Business Certification Officer at the Georgia Department of Administrative Services. Prior to her current position, Ms. Werdelin served as the Assistant Director of the Georgia Leadership Institute and Enterprise Learning Division (formerly known as Georgia Merit System); Director of Training for Worldwide of the Caribbean, Inc., a vocational training school for displaced workers; and a Training Specialist with HOVENSA LLC, the second-largest refinery in the Western Hemisphere, where she was responsible for Supervisory training and course design and development, and developed core performance competencies for non-exempt workers and served as the Deputy Information Officer on the Incident Command Team at the refinery.Ms. Werdelin is a free-lance writer for SisterSpeakOnline and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was also the 2010 Bold & Fearless Advocate in Entrepreneurial Development & Career Enhancement, awarded by the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.Ms. Werdelin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/Management & Organization from Spelman College and her Master in Business Administration degree from Baker College Center for Graduate Studies, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration.
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Leo R. "Reggie" Smith is the Young 100 Division Director of ELI. Dr. Leo R. Reggie Smith is a Talent Acquisition Manager with the State of Georgia. Prior to joining the State in May 2002, Dr. Smiths extensive expertise in industrial supervision and management was obtained during his time with Rohm and Haas North Carolina, Inc., Exxon Chemical Americas, C. R. Bard, Inc., and Siemens Energy & Automation.Dr. Smiths fervency for goodwill and betterment of society led him to partner with the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority to provide affordable housing for his hometown residents in Dillon, SC. His 2001 doctoral dissertation entitled Assessment of the Need and Development of Affordable Housing is a testament to these activities. Dr. Smith has also served as an executive board member of the DeKalb County Tech Prep Consortium at DeKalb Technical College in Decatur, GA and is a certified instructor of Franklin Coveys 4 Roles of Leadership®; The 4 Disciplines of Execution® and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® and IPMA-HR. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.Dr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Sociology from Voorhees College, Master of Arts degree in Computer Resources & Information Management from Webster University in Charleston, and his Doctorate in Human Resource Development from The Union Institute.
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Young 100

The Young 100 Division equips collegiate women with the tools necessary to transition smoothly into a professional setting upon graduation. ELI guides participants through essential skills every leader must master that include team building and conflict management, diversity challenges, environmental scanning, program development and coordination, the role of politics and advocacy, and the fundamentals of finance. This nine week program energizes and galvanizes members to climb the corporate ladder or take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Leadership

The Leadership Division coaches women, already well into their careers, to expand their vision of success to encompass leadership and service, and cultivate their strengths to achieve their leadership goals. This is an intense six month program that combines classroom, online, and self-study in the areas of image management and branding, individual and group management techniques, business development, professional and civic engagement, and facilitation and curriculum development. Participants attend classes once a month from September to January on Saturdays from 9a to 4p and are led by professional facilitators with experience in the subject modules. They also obtain professional resumes, biographies, and headshots through our Alumni Affairs program. Last, participants become certified facilitators by utilizing their new skills facilitating courses with our community partners, coordinated by our Continuing Education and Outreach program. At the end of this program, members are emboldened and empowered to lead groups, organizations, and nations.
Jillian Smith is the Program Manager for the Leadership Division. Ms. Smith is a proven leader in the business and IT industry. Her portfolio of experience includes mergers and acquisitions, project management, data analysis, financial forecasting, quality assurance and change control management and implementation.Ms. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Information Systems Management from Auburn University; and is currently a Senior Analyst with the Home Depot Corporation.Ms. Smith has a strong corporate background but also has a promising entrepreneurial future as a franchisee. She believes in giving back to the community and she does this through her role as President of her Home Owners Association and as a 3 year volunteer with Hands on Network Atlanta.
Nicole Latimer is the Program Manager for the Young 100 Division. She has more than 10 years experience in corporate compliance, employment and staffing. Ms. Latimer earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Clayton State University in Healthcare Management and has a diverse background in healthcare compliance and training, recruitment and staffing for the healthcare industry. She is currently using her skill set to assist others prepare for their futures as an Employment Advisor for Westwood College. Ms. Latimer has a strong interest in furthering her education and career in the field of healthcare compliance as well as continuing to nurture her skills in human resources. Ms. Latimer is a volunteer with the Health Fair division of Safe House Outreach, and Habitat for Humanity. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives.
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Erica L. Jenkins is the JEWELLS Program Manager. She is also the Regional Assistant General Counsel for Nationwide Insurance Company, an AM Best® A+ Rated, $2 billion+ revenue company. In addition to providing legal guidance and direction to various company departments and outside counsel over the past five years, Ms. Jenkins also prepares and coordinates training sessions to mitigate losses and encourage best practices that will ensure customer satisfaction and ultimately increased revenue for the organization. She also serves on the State Forms Coverage committee, which approves contract addendums and regulatory documents submitted for approval by state agencies.Prior to her position with Nationwide, Ms. Jenkins was an associate with Timothy S. Smith & Associates Law Firm, which served as In House Counsel for State Farm Insurance Company. During her four year tenure in that role, Ms. Jenkins successfully litigated over 200 cases that included negligence, premise liability, and contract disputes. She also trained claims personnel on litigation management to ensure cases were dispensed in a timely manner.Ms. Jenkins is a member of the Georgia, Maryland, and District of Columbia bar associations. She is also a certified Georgia mediator. Ms. Jenkins received her Juris Doctor degree from the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center where she was a Leo Goodwin Fellowship recipient, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where she was a Michigan Competitive Scholarship recipient.Ms. Jenkins is a member of the American Bar Association, past Treasurer of the Black Womens Bar Association of Maryland, and is former member of the Board of Directors of Next Century Youth, Inc.
The Joining Emerging Women Everywhere to Learn, Lead, and Succeed (JEWELLS) Division of ELI cultivates interest in leadership, service, and learning in middle grade girls. The JEWELLS Division introduces leadership skills, social and business etiquette skills, and inspires an interest in non-traditional fields of study for women that include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
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Natasha Lyles is the Division Director for the Apprentice Division. Dr. Lyles is an up and coming leader in the field of education. With more than 10 years of experience, she has a passion for knowledge, and educational advocacy. Dr. Lyles holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership specializing in grades K-12 from Capella University; A Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Michigan University; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Social Studies. Dr. Lyles brings a wealth of knowledge through her experience as an educator, as well as her organizational and leadership abilities. Her background includes curriculum development and improvement, school safety, emergency preparedness, standardized testing success, logistics and data analysis.Dr. Lyles has a fervor for grassroots education but is also passionate about making a difference beyond the classroom to include local, state and national advocacy for educational change through standards, policies and legislation.
Ms. Nan Walker is the Apprentice Division Program Manager of ELI. She is also an educator with over 10 years experience instilling in young children and teens the fundamental skills to excel academically and socially.

Apprentice

The Apprentice Division instills in teenage girls fundamental life skills to be successful leaders. This program builds leadership skills by immersing high school girls into a curriculum that explores fundamental skills such as financial stability, social etiquette, and conflict resolution, and the importance of leading and serving ones community. The program also cultivates interest in disciplines based in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

News

ELI in the news

ELI News

What's the latest on ELI...

ELI receives community empowerment award!

eli received comm emp award from msk press release 5-22-11.pdf

ELI and Spelman College form strategic women's leadership partnership!

eli-spelman press release 1-18-10.pdf

eli graduation press release 4-5-11.pdf

ELI graduates 155 women and girls... and makes the Atlanta Daily Voice!

4-29-11 atlanta voice.pdf

ELI becomes certifying organization with the President's Council on Service & Civic Participation

eli pvsa press release 4-18-11.pdf

More to come...

Contact

3330 Cumberland Blvd. Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30339 Tel: + 1 678.935.0943

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ELI Affilitates

Are you interested in bringing innovative, strategic, proven leadership development and training to women and girls in your area? Do you have an established network of friends and colleagues who share your commitment? If so, consider joining ELI as an affiliate. Download our affiliate agreement and contact us today!

ELI Affiliate Agreement - 5-9-11.pdf

Facilitator Inquiry

ELI strives to ensure its curriculum remains original and engaging. If you would like to share your experience and knowledge with our participants, we invite you to submit a proposal utilizing the guidelines in the Facilitator Proposal below.

ELI facilitator proposal 6-2-11.pdf

Total Empowerment of Women Everywhere!

Leadership Applications Available 8/1/11

Apprentice Applications Available 8/1/11

GradsProgs