NABWIC

Host Jada Williams kicks off February (Black History Month) with an up close and personal interview with NABWIC member and Co-Host Ersula Odom who recently launced her new entreprenuerial venture, "Ersula's History Shop", located  at 1421 Tampa Park Plaza, Tampa, FL  33605.

Ersula K. Odom is the owner of Sula Too LLC, a legacy writer, the author of "At Sula's Feet", "African Americans of Tampa" and, co-author of The Doris Ross Reddick Story. She is a motivational speaker and portrays Mary McLeod Bethune as a one-person show. She is a founding member of Fortune's Friends.

As founder of Sula Too, LLC she has published books for clients from Georgia to California. She was raised in Georgia, graduated from Eckerd College and is deeply rooted in Tampa with business, family, and friends.

Recent commendations: Signed copy of Congressional Record, presented by then U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, of the decision to place Dr. Bethune's stature in Statuary Hall in Washington, DC.  Odom performance was written about in the Wall Street Journal. Separate commendations from Tampa City Council Commendation for her roles on the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Economic Impact of Cultural Arts and as co-founder of Fortune Friends. @ersulashistoryshop | ersulahistoryshop.com

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

NABWIC TALKS WITH ENGINEER, AUTHOR AND NABWIC'S WOMAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BELLANDRA FOSTER, PE

Our special guest is Bellandra Foster, PE, President of  BBFoster Consulting, PC, which is a North Carolina-based corporation providing engineering, facilities management, utility coordination, inspections, program management, quality control and technical assistance. BBFoster Consulting, PC is an SBA certified 8(a) and HUBZone Corporation and a certified and prequalified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).

Dr Foster has provided management consulting and coaching to various city department including transportation, and public works. She is a liaison for senior leadership, city planners, and research teams to ensure the company’s engineering support and management structure is driving the organization forward with minimal expenditures.

Dr. Bellandra Foster is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and has obtained the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designation.  She is a member of NABWIC and has the honorable distinction of being recognized as NABWIC's Woman in the Spotlight for NABIC's Billion Dollar Luncheon in Transportation Opportunities, which will be held virtually on January 22, 2022.

Company Website: www.bbfosterconsulting.com

Coaching Website: www.bellandrafoster.com

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

NABWIC presents comments for U. S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, and Ebony Pittman, Deputy Secretary NC Department of Transportation.  Tune in to listen to segments from NABWIC's Billion Dollar Luncheon in Transportation Opportunities.  

Pete Buttigieg took office in January, 2021, as the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Secretary Buttigieg served two terms as mayor of his hometown of South Bend, Indiana. A graduate of Harvard University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Buttigieg served for seven years as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, taking a leave of absence from the mayor’s office for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014.In South Bend, “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg worked across the aisle to transform the city’s future and improve residents’ everyday lives.

As deputy secretary for Business Administration, Ebony J. Pittman directs the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, the Office of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Outreach and oversees Purchasing and Facilities Management. As a 16-year veteran of the N.C. Department of Justice, Pittman provided legal support to NCDOT on a wide range of transportation issues related to the use of highway right-of-way, state contracting and procurement, and personnel matters. Most recently, Pittman provided legal support to the N.C. Turnpike Authority.

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

Eric Boyette was named secretary for the N.C. Department of Transportation by Governor Roy Cooper in February 2020. As transportation secretary, Boyette oversees one of the largest state-maintained highway systems in the nation, and all modes of transportation, including aviation, ferries, rail, public transit and bicycle and pedestrian transportation, as well as the Office of Civil Rights and Division of Motor Vehicles.  He is the chairman of the N.C. Turnpike Authority Board of Directors and serves on the State Ports Authority Board of Directors and State Emergency Response Commission.  

Boyette brings more than 25 years of state government experience in various roles, with responsibilities ranging from technical to financial practices.

As deputy secretary for Business Administration, Ebony J. Pittman directs the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, the Office of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Outreach and oversees Purchasing and Facilities Management.

As a 16-year veteran of the N.C. Department of Justice, Pittman provided legal support to NCDOT on a wide range of transportation issues related to the use of highway right-of-way, state contracting and procurement, and personnel matters

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

PRE-RECORD SESSION WITH ERIC BOYETTE

NABWIC TALKS WITH ENGINEER, AUTHOR AND NABWIC'S WOMAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BELLANDRA FOSTER, PE

Our special guest is Bellandra Foster, PE, President of  BBFoster Consulting, PC, which is a North Carolina-based corporation providing engineering, facilities management, utility coordination, inspections, program management, quality control and technical assistance. BBFoster Consulting, PC is an SBA certified 8(a) and HUBZone Corporation and a certified and prequalified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).

Dr Foster has provided management consulting and coaching to various city department including transportation, and public works. She is a liaison for senior leadership, city planners, and research teams to ensure the company’s engineering support and management structure is driving the organization forward with minimal expenditures.

Dr. Bellandra Foster is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and has obtained the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designation.  She is a member of NABWIC and has the honorable distinction of being recognized as NABWIC's Woman in the Spotlight for NABIC's Billion Dollar Luncheon in Transportation Opportunities, which will be held virtually on January 22, 2022.

Company Website: www.bbfosterconsulting.com

Coaching Website: www.bellandrafoster.com

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

NABWIC TALKS What's Ahead in 2022: Roundtable Discussion with Women in Construction

Special Guest Appearances by:

Kimle Nailer, President, NABWIC

Dr. Esther Lambert, Vice President, NABWIC

Tylene Henry, President, Detroit Chapter, NABWIC

Bellandra Foster, BBFoster Consulting,PC, North Carolina Area, NABWIC

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

Lisa Colon advises on legal issues involving public and private construction projects and real estate development, along with government contracting compliance. Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar, Lisa focuses on both negotiation of deals and litigation of construction-related disputes involving businesses and professionals.

Owners, contractors, designers and suppliers look to Lisa to draft construction contracts across various project delivery systems. In particular, she has in-depth knowledge of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ConsensusDocs contract forms. Her experience with claims, litigation and arbitration includes matters involving liens, defects, contract disputes and disaster recovery . Lisa has significant trial experience taking cases to verdict in state and federal courts as well as arbitrations resulting in awards for clients. She is certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court and as an arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association. Beyond her work for the construction and real estate industries, Lisa has experience litigating a wide range of cases, including those involving aviation, government contracts and maritime law.

Lisa has experience with federal, state and local government contracting issues, and she has represented clients on: bid protests; Miller Act Bond claims; contractor licensing; small, minority- and women-owned business issues; and land development agreements . She also assists clients in small business certification and compliance.

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

This repeat show features hosts Jada Williams and Ersula Odom as they interview Bell Jackson, owner of Foundation First Permitting,  a leading and reputable permit expediting company serving the Tri-County area of South Florida. 

Services offered:- Permit Expediting |  Permit Running  |   Pre-construction meetings  |  Final Inspection meetings |  City Registrations  | CPR/AED certification & recertification

Bell also heads the NABWIC Haiti Relief Effort. In this episode, listeners will hear more about this important reflief effort.

Contact:  Bell at 954406.7659 or at email:  belljfoundation1stop.com

For more information on the Haiti Relief Effort, call:  Jeff Lovema at 954.520.3987

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and certificate in Project Management, Shamelil is attending Nova Southeastern University to further her education and obtain a

Master of Business Administration degree in Process Improvement. In addition to conquering a college career, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of Teloi Services. Her expertise is in working as a project manager and overseeing operational logistics, process improvement plans and implementation, strategy development, customer management, and organizational

effectiveness. She also works for MCO Construction as an eBuilder Admin Consultant. Shamelil is an active member of her community and an essential part of a few organizations such as National Society of Black Engineers, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where she serves as a Next Generation Leader, Co-Chair for the Women In NAACP better known as WIN, and a board member for the National Association of Black Women In Construction, South Florida Chapter.

Shamelil’s most trusted motto to live by is “Never be afraid to give up the good to go for the great”. Although she wears several hats, her favorite is being a mother to a beautiful six-yearold

a daughter named Lilac.

Email: [email protected] | Phone: (786) 2162724 | Organization: Teloi Consulting | Address: 301 NW 105 st |  Miami

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NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG