Background & Challenges
I am a native of South Carolina. I grew up in a loving home with my parents and two brothers. My parents grew up in the segregation era. Life for them was tough. Both attended one-room schools and lived on farms. My dad served in WWII. In spite of it all, they were able to become successful farmers, owning more than 100 acres of land. Most of the land was used for agriculture, crops of cotton, soybeans, corn, and livestock. My mother was an excellent gardener, seamstress, and beautician. I remember many summers cultivating the land and harvesting vegetables – hard work!
Accomplishments
Growing up on a farm motivated me to work hard for what I wanted in life. I knew farming was not my career choice. After graduating from high school, I attended South Carolina State College (University now), where I majored in mathematics. As part of the cooperative education program in college, I worked at the Census Bureau in Suitland, Maryland. After graduating, I decided to move to Maryland and began working for the federal government for agencies such as the Defense Mapping Agency, AMSAA (now CCDC DAC), and EAC (now AEC). I obtained my MBA, with a concentration in Operations Research, from Florida Institute of Technology. In 2007, I began working for SURVICE Engineering.
What Black History Means to Me
Black history month is a time to reflect on the many triumphs, struggles, and accomplishments that African Americans have done throughout history. There is a rich history that is often neglected or forgotten. We need to honor our ancestors who endured many obstacles that afforded us the opportunities we have today. Our history shapes and informs where we are headed in the future.
I am married to my wonderful husband of 30 years. We have two adult children and one granddaughter.
