HONOREE ALAN SMITH -

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: My inspiration to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism stems from a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and empowerment. From my early years growing up in church, my decade as a United States Marine, and my decades in law enforcement, ministry, and business, I have dedicated my life to servanthood focused on serving, protecting people, my communities and my nation, and helping others rise above challenges.
I believe that true success is not just measured by personal gain, but by how many lives you uplift along the way. As an entrepreneur, I saw a powerful opportunity to merge business with service, creating sustainable pathways for people to achieve financial independence while also serving their communities and beyond.
My faith and mission drive me to teach, inspire, mentor, and equip others with both the skills and mindset needed to break generational cycles of poverty, strengthen families, and build lasting legacies through business owner, biblical principles, and self-development.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: Volunteerism has deepened my leadership philosophy, reinforcing the idea that servant leadership is the highest form of influence. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. In my career as a United States Marine, police commander, chaplain, ministerial leader, and entrepreneur, I have learned that people follow those who genuinely care about their success.
My business approach is built on commitment, honor, integrity, loyalty, mentorship, and empowerment, ensuring that every venture I lead prioritizes people over profit. Serving others has refined my ability to listen, adapt, and lead with empathy, making my business more impactful and sustainable. It has also allowed me to connect with diverse communities, ensuring that my efforts are inclusive, transformative, and driven by real needs rather than assumptions. The more I volunteer and serve, the more people I encounter and learn from, the better I am able to help and serve others.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: The most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur is witnessing transformed lives. Seeing someone break free from financial hardship, gain the confidence to start their own business, or discover their God-given purpose is an indescribable joy. My mission goes beyond financial success—it’s about empowering people to live with purpose, dignity, and faith and to see people grow through self-development. Every act of service is an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on families and communities.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: I have had the fortune of having many impactful moments through servanthood. A specific moment where my service made a meaningful impact occurred while I was the police chaplain for a police unit. I responded to the scene of an officer involved death which occurred while the officer was on duty. I helped liaison with the officers’ family and fellow officers, offered spiritual guidance, and helped the family through the process of preparing for the funeral arrangements through the memorial. The parents of the offers thanked me for helping them and following up with them throughout the process, offering support during the funeral, and following up with them after the funeral. Moments like this reinforce why I do what I do because I enjoy helping people, especially during difficult times.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: I use my entrepreneurial skills to create change within my community through leveraging my business as a tool for empowerment. I do this by:
a. Providing mentorship and financial education through teaching people how to build sustainable wealth through sustainable residual income.

b. Creating job and business opportunities by helping others establish businesses that serve their communities, that help them make money for their household, business, and communities.

c. Advocating for economic empowerment by guiding people in breaking free from cycles of financial struggle, lack, and generational curses.

d. Partnering with faith-based and marketplace organizations to bridge the gap between business, ministry, and servanthood.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: a. Put God first in everything they do. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) Putting God first puts people in a position to get more and do more.
b. Make service a core value, not an afterthought. Build businesses that solve problems and not just lead to profits.
c. Mentor and uplift others. True success comes by empowering the next generation of leaders. Giving people tools to succeed can help them and allow them to help others.
d. Use your resources wisely. Find ways to give back through employment, training, and community investment.
e. Stay purpose driven. Align your business with a mission that helps others and extends beyond financial gain.
f. Use the power of collaborate economics by collaborating with like-minded individuals. Great impact happens through strong networks and strategic partnerships.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Through volunteerism my view of true success has evolved. My mother taught me the value of volunteering and servanthood. She taught me how to volunteer in church, in school, and in my community. She showed me the satisfaction in helping others. As I grew older, through business and entrepreneurship, I consistently heard that “service to many leads to greatness.” That reinforced my desire to help as many people as possible.
My focus is not on how much wealth I can accumulate but on how many lives I positively impact. My ultimate legacy will not be measured in dollars, awards, or accolades, but in the number of people who I help or inspire to achieve personal, time, and financial freedom, stability, and purpose because of the work I have done.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: I have been blessed and fortunate to have had incredible mentors, leaders, and faith-driven individuals who have poured into me, including:
a. My faith in God which has been the foundation of my purpose, wisdom, and perseverance.
b. My family has been a source of strength, wisdom, and unconditional support, in particular my mother, Vera, who taught me the value of servanthood, my Wife, Carrie and my brother Ken who have been in the trenches with me serving God, our church, our communities.
c. My fellow Marines instilled in me the values of honor, courage, and commitment.
d. My mentors in ministry and business taught me that leadership is about service, not status.
e. My communities continually inspired me to work harder, give more, and create a lasting
impact.

Everything I have learned have been a result of the influence others have had on me.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: Receiving this service award will professionally and personally validate the work I do. Professionally, it shows that hard work and servanthood is fulfilling and rewarding. Personally, I am honored to be considered for the United States Presidential Award, not because of personal achievements, but because it represents the impact of my life dedicated to serving God and others selflessly and those who have mentored and influenced me. My life's work is dedicated to serving and pleasing God and helping others achieve success, financial freedom, and purpose. I am committed to continuing this mission nationally and globally.

HONOREE BOBBY BELL -

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: After working in corrections for over 30 plus years, at the Children's Court Center as a correctional officer Supervisor, I was in the prime position to recognize the pitfalls and short comings of the predominantly black population of Juveniles being incarcerated which caused me to want to do speaking engagements to the youth.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: It was heartwarming and self-motivating that the incarcerated juveniles took the time to vote each year on "Who they considered to be the best supervisor of all the institutions." I was voted number one every year. "

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: The most rewarding of serving others is taking pride and providing adequate and affordable housing for all people, as a landlord and Elder at my local church. It also allowed me to pass on the Good News of Jesus Christ to my tenants and individuals I came in contact with.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: While working in detention as a supervisor, I was very instrumental in taking all youth to worship services, both Protestant and Catholic, and counseling them on how to get out of gangs, and become productive citizens. I'm now worshipping and fellowshipping with them in churches all over the city.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: Because of my entrepreneurial skills, and counseling the youth who were part of gangs, they are now respectable tax-paying citizens, encouraging other youth to take the respectful approach to life.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: Keep God first in your life and business ventures, never forget where you came from.

-Always be sympathetic and uplifting when counseling others.
*Never talk above the juveniles' ability to comprehend.
How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: It has taught me the importance of sharing our lifetime experiences and knowledge with other generations, so that our legacy and historical accomplishments serve as a catalyst to motivate our youth and inspire them with the desire to be productive citizens in our community.
Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: My family and friends have always encouraged me to give motivational talks to our youth due to being so successful with helping juveniles, because of the passion I have working with juveniles.
What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: This award reminds me of just how good God is, and that if you keep God first in your life, you can become a successful entrepreneur, and live a life free of crime, with no arrest record.

HONOREE CARRIE SMITH -

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: For me, entrepreneurship is more than a business, it is a ministry, a mission, and a movement. It is about breaking barriers, building opportunities, and creating lasting change in the lives of others.

As a female minority business owner, I have seen firsthand the struggles that come with breaking generational cycles of poverty and lack mentality, overcoming adversity, and striving for financial independence.

Through my journey in business, retail management, corporate training, and entrepreneurship, I have learned that true success is not measured in money, fame, or accolades but in the lives we touch, the communities we uplift, and the legacies we leave behind.

I was raised with the belief that "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). That belief fuels my mission to integrate service into my business model, ensuring that my work is always aligned with a greater purpose.

Being nominated for this prestigious award is an incredible honor, reaffirming my commitment to serving others, empowering individuals, and transforming communities through business and faith-driven leadership.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: Volunteerism has shaped every aspect of my leadership and business approach, reinforcing the principle that servant leadership is the most powerful form of influence.

It has strengthened my ability to better connect with people. I have learned to listen, empathize, and understand the unique challenges people face. It has deepened my commitment to impact, ensuring that every business decision I make is guided by service, integrity, and inclusivity. It has made my leadership more transformational, shifting my focus from personal success to creating opportunities for others to thrive.

The more I serve, the more I learn that business is not just about profits, it is about purpose. Furthermore, I have seen that when you prioritize people, success follows.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: The greatest reward of serving others through entrepreneurship is seeing peoples’ lives change for the better. It is about helping people move from struggle to stability, from doubt to confidence, from survival to success, from lack to abundance, and from sadness to happiness.

There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing:

a. People taking charge of their financial future and launching a business that provides for their family.
 
b. A young entrepreneur stepping boldly into their purpose, breaking free from fear and limitations, improving themselves, and achieving greater things than they thought they could achieve.

c. A family finding economic stability, breaking generational courses, building generational wealth, and securing a brighter future.
For me, entrepreneurship is a calling and a way to equip, empower, and elevate others to their highest potential. Every act of service is a seed planted for a greater harvest in its appropriate season.
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Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: There have been many moments where service has reaffirmed my calling, but one of the most powerful was helping a woman who was a wife, a mother, church member, and volunteer, who was working full-time but struggling financially, launch her business.

She was overwhelmed, financially unstable, and doubting her ability to succeed.

Through mentorship and business coaching, I helped her:

a. Develop a clear plan that aligned with her skills and goals.

b. Build the confidence to believe in her ability to succeed.

c. Plug into our success system and culture to secure resources that allowed her to grow her business and to work towards becoming financially independent.

Today, she has more confidence in herself and her ability to succeed, to thrive as an entrepreneur, to provide for her family, and to pay it forward by helping others as she has been helped.

This moment reminded me that one act of kindness, one investment in someone’s future, can lead to a movement where others are helped and lead to generations being changed for the better.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: I leverage my business expertise, leadership, and faith-driven approach to create opportunities for economic empowerment and transformation in my community by:

a. Providing mentorship and business training to help aspiring entrepreneurs build confidence and skills.


b. Teaching financial literacy and wealth-building principles to equip individuals with the tools to break generational cycles of poverty.


c. Creating employment & entrepreneurial opportunities, ensuring that economic empowerment is accessible to all.


d. Partnering with faith-based and community organizations to bridge the gap between business, service, and ministry, while helping them generate revenue through business ownership, collaborative economics, and fundraising events.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: a. Put God first in everything you do. When you build with purpose, provision follows.

b. Write down your goals and visions.

c. Make sure to partner or work with reputable businesses, organizations, and people.

d. Mentor and uplift others. True success is measured not by competition, but by collaboration and contribution.

e. Seek wise counsel to help you be a good steward of your resources to improve your effectiveness in giving back and helping others.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Volunteerism has redefined what true success means to me.

Growing up, I was taught that money does not grow on trees, wealth may come and go, but impact lasts forever. My mother, my first role model of selfless service, instilled in me the value of helping others, even when no one is watching.

Now, as a business owner, I realize that real success is not about how much you earn, but how many lives you touch.

I want my legacy to be one of:

a. Empowerment through helping others discover their purpose and potential.

b. Transformation through breaking cycles of struggle and replacing them with opportunity.

c. Service through leaving behind a movement of people inspired to lead, give, and uplift others.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: I have been blessed with incredible mentors, leaders, and faith-driven individuals who have shaped my journey, including:

a. My family, especially my mother who modeled resilience, generosity, and the power of selfless service. She taught me the importance of having faith in God, which has been my source of strength, wisdom, and endurance.
 
b. My community of entrepreneurs and business leaders, who continually challenge, inspire, and uplift me.

c. The incredible women and minority business owners I collaborate with some who mentor and push me to keep striving for greater impact and change and some who I mentor and inspire to do greater things.

Every lesson I have learned, every hardship I have overcome, and every success I have achieved has been made possible because someone poured into me and I in turn have poured into someone else. My mission is to continue doing the same for others.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: I am deeply honored and grateful to be considered for the United States Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

Receiving this service award will impact me both professionally and personally.

Personally, this nomination is not just a reflection of my work, but of every life I have been privileged to serve, mentor, and empower. I will continue to uplift others, create opportunities, and lead with excellence, ensuring that my legacy is one of faith, service, and generational impact.

Professionally, it will give me documentation and creditability that the work I do through business, ministry, and servanthood has been recognized. It will further help me when seeking to meet, work with, and build relationships with businesses, ministries, and organizations.

HONOREE CHANDRA COOPER - 

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: I believe you can’t effectively do one without the other. As a business owner is crucial to lead and raise capital but at the core you have to care about the community which leads to some type of volunteer work.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: I believe my volunteer work allows me to be a more compassionate person towards others and it makes me recognize the need to be a conscious giver to causes and people in.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: Serving others allows me to be mindful and kind to people in our community and to find ways to open the door of opportunity for other people.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: One of Mentees told be I helped changed her life. Thats not something you hear often. She said without someone like me in her life she doesn’t know where she would be. The impact of me volunteering and giving my time to her helped her changed her life. I understand impact of volunteering fully.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: I think through innovation and creating new opportunities for people I best serve the community. Offering jobs and then mentoring and supporting people along their professional journey has been one of my greatest strengths.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: Find ways to impact the people you want to serve. Show up authentic and with your sleeves up ready to do the work. People appreciate genuine support and a caring spirit. However you chose to give back just do it with compassion and genuine kindness.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Volunteering gives me a sense of pride within our community. It’s like my way of leaving my mark that I did something significant to ensure that the community will be better. My legacy is tied to the this volunteer work because I want to be a change agent for the community.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: My church family has played a huge part of my success in entrepreneurship and volunteerism. I learned a lot from our community leaders like Bishop Daniels and his sisters Commissioner Hattie Rush and Dr Valerie Daniels Carter. There’s a beautiful marriage between entrepreneurship and volunteerism.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: This service award is significant because for more than two decades I have been serving the community in multiple ways to help improve the lives others. I also openly collaborate with others to strengthen the community as a volunteer as well. I am grateful for this award and the work I have been able to do to change the lives of others.

HONOREE DEBRA BELL - 

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: Time and Financial Freedom inspired us to combine entrepreneurship and volunteerism. The Time Freedom we get from being entrepreneurs allows us to volunteer, and the Financial Freedom allows us to enjoy Entrepreneurship.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: It inspires others to come out of their comfort zone. Entrepreneurial has impacted our transformational leadership style by enhancing the way we Inspire, and motivate others to learn and achieve positive change.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: Elder Bell and I love helping people have lasting memories through affordable travel.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: The 2024 Ark Encounter trip made such an impact on other's lives, by gaining more biblical knowledge. Being able to see life-like statues of people and animals from biblical times from the bible had a meaningful impact on the group.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: We use our entrepreneurial skills to create change in the community by inspiring others to stop pressing the snooze button on their dreams. Also by changing their thought pattern from leaving bills to leaving a legacy.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: Advice would be to treat others how you want to be treated. Don't forget where you came from and Lead with Love.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Volunteerism has shaped my perspective on Success & Legacy, by realizing that Success is not just Retirement but creating legacies and teaching others how to do the same.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: I want to start with my Dad, Henry L. Harris, Sr. who was a serious businessman. He taught us that you can have whatever you want if you work hard for it. Don't ever be envious of what someone else has, if you want the same, and your job does not afford you to have it, he stated to get a better job or a second job to make your income greater. Then my husband Bobby Bell, a Great supporter, and my daughter Tamara Washington.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: It's an Honor
It lets others know we are serious about our business, and this is not a fly-by-night thing for us.

HONOREE DIONNE BARNES -

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: My passion for creating a positive impact inspired me to merge entrepreneurship with volunteerism.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: Volunteerism has profoundly shaped my work, enabling me to serve others on a deeper, more meaningful level.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?:
The greatest reward of serving others as an entrepreneur is celebrating their successes.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: For over 20 years, I have been a guest speaker at the state's largest homebuyer counseling agency, educating aspiring first-time homeowners.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: I leverage my entrepreneurial skills to educate, empower, and create opportunities, helping individuals achieve homeownership, while fostering community growth.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: My advice for entrepreneurs looking to give back is to identify a need, take action, and create meaningful solutions that make a lasting impact.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Volunteerism has shaped my perspective on legacy and success by showing me that true impact isn’t just measured by personal achievements, but by the lives we uplift and the communities we empower.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: My journey in business and volunteerism has been supported by Shirley Barnes, James Barnes, Luddie Holmes, Margaret Grandberry, Dr. Shontina Gladney and many others. The individuals I’ve had the privilege to serve have also been a constant source of encouragement, inspiring me to keep making a difference.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?:  Recieving this Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredible honor, both personally and professionally. 

Personally, it is a reflection of my passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving others. It reaffirms that every effort to uplift, educate, and empower people has made a meaningful impact. It also reminds me that success is not just about personal achievements but about the lives we touch along the way.

Professionally, this award is a milestone that validates years of hard work, innovation, and service. It fuels my drive to continue creating opportunities, mentoring others, and leaving a lasting legacy. It’s a testament to the power of combining entrepreneurship with purpose, proving that business can be a vehicle for positive change.

This recognition is not just for me—it belongs to everyone who has supported, inspired, and walked this journey with me. It motivates me to keep pushing forward, knowing that the best is yet to come!

HONOREE GLADYS MAGEE -

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: I believe the combination of entrepreneurship and volunteerism stems from the desire to create a positive impact while also driving innovation. By merging the two it allows me to address issues in sustainable ways, fostering both economic growth and social good.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: Volunteering has shaped my business and leadership style by emphasizing empathy, and collaboration. It's taught me to listen to others, and work toward solutions that benefit everyone.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: Serving others as an entrepreneur reinforces the value of giving back and using resources to make a tangible impact.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: One specific moment that stands out was when I volunteered at a nursing home. There was a resident who didn't have family to come to visit them often, so I went up to the individual and ask them if they would like for me to sing gospel song and read the word of God with them, just to see the smile on the individual's face was so heartwarming. I told the individual that every time that I would come to the nursing home I would make sure to stop and say hello and see if they needed anything. I was able to personally Ensure the individual that they wouldn't have to feel alone after today because I would make sure that they had a visit from me.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: Entrepreneurship provides the tools and creativity needed to solve problems, while volunteerism offers a way to give back and makes a difference in communities and in the lives of others.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: My advice would be if you focus on people and the community you can build strong relationships, and build trust that will often lead to a more sustainable success.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Volunteerism has reshaped my perspective on success and Legacy by shifting my focus from just personal achievements to the lasting impact I can have on others. True success is about contributing to the well-being of others, creating positive change, and leaving behind a community that is better off because of the work I've done. When it comes to legacy, I've come to realize that the most meaningful Legacy isn't about wealth recognition, but the lives touched, the empowerment of others, and the values and still in those who come after me.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: My journey in both business and volunteerism has been shaped by a combination of mentors family and friends who have supported and inspired me along the way. One key influence has been my daughter who has shown me how to integrate purpose with profit. Her approach to business has been a driving force for me. Additionally, my family's strong values of service and giving back have played a crucial role for me.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: Receiving this service award is a meaningful recognition of my dedication and hard work both professionally and on a personal level, it reaffirms my commitment to making a positive impact and motivates me to continue striving for excellence. Professionally, it validates the contributions I've made and encourages further growth, pushing me to keep setting higher standards in my work. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting others while achieving my own goals.

HONOREE SHIRLEY BARNES -

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: I saw that I could encourage and inspire women in my church and I wanted to be apart of the change.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: It has put me among likeminded people which allowed me to share my ideas of change.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: The most rewarding part for me is to see those I have served progress to the levels they desire.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: Yes, I afforded my platform that allowed a woman who I did not know heal from a devastating loss.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: I use my skills to inspire and impact women and men that they have worth which impacts the communities at large.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: I would advise them to seek God first and then do it.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: It has shown me that he Bible is right when it says that your gift will make room for you and put you amongst great people. I believe that my service will impact for generations .

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: My family has been my biggest supporter along with a host of friends.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: It would validate that my work has not been in vain that I have influenced someone to be all that they can be and to God be the glory.

HONOREE TELISA HOPGOOD - 

What inspired you to combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism?: I believe the combination of entrepreneurship and volunteerism stems from the desire to create a positive impact while also driving innovation. By merging these two, I can address societal issues in sustainable ways, fostering both economic growth and social good. It's about finding meaningful ways to make a difference while pursuing business success.

How has your volunteer work impacted your business or leadership style?: Volunteering has shaped my business and leadership style by emphasizing empathy, collaboration, and social responsibility. It's taught me to listen deeply to others, recognize diverse perspectives, and work towards solutions that benefit everyone.

What is the most rewarding part of serving others as an entrepreneur?: Serving others as an entrepreneur reinforces the value of giving back and using resources to make a tangible impact, which has translated into creating a more purpose - driven and values based approach in business.

Can you share a specific moment where your service made a meaningful impact?: One specific moment that stands out was when I volunteered at a local food bank. We were organizing and distributing food to families in need, and one elderly woman struggling to make ends meet, share how she hadn't eaten in days because she couldn't afford both food and her medication. I was able to personally and sure she received the food she needed, and we connected her with additional support services.

How do you use your entrepreneurial skills to create change within your community?: Entrepreneurship provides the tools and creativity needed to solve problems, while volunteerism offers a way to give back and makes a difference in communities.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking to give back?: My advice would be if you focus on people and community, I've found that strong relationships and trust often lead to more sustainable success.

How has volunteerism shaped your perspective on success and legacy?: Volunteerism has reshaped my perspective on success and Legacy by shifting my focus from just personal achievements to the lasting impact I can have on others. True success is about contributing to the well-being of others, creating positive change, and leaving behind a community that is better off because of the work I've done. When it comes to Legacy, I've come to realize that the most meaningful Legacy isn't about wealth or recognition, but the lives touched, the empowerment of others, and the values instilled in those who come after me.

Who has influenced or supported your journey in business and volunteerism?: My journey in both business and volunteerism has been shaped by a combination of mentors, family, and Friends, who have supported and inspired me along the way. One key influence was my sister Dr. Shontina Gladney, who has show me how to integrate purpose with profit. Her approach to business as a platform for social good has been a driving force for me. Additionally, my family strong values of service and giving back have played a crucial role.

What does receiving this service award mean to your personally and professionally?: Receiving this service award is a meaningful recognition of my dedication and hard work, both professionally on a personal level, it reaffirms my commitment to making a positive impact and motivates me to continue striving for excellence. Professionally, it validates the contributions I've made an encourages for the growth, pushing me to keep setting higher standards in my work. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting others in achieving shared goals.

ELISE MAGEE - YOUTH SERVICE AWARD HONOREE - WISCONSIN

MENTEE (DUANE AND DR. SHONTINA GLADNEY)