OG INSPIRATION

Dr. Odell Glenn Jr. holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from The State University of New York at Stony Brook, two master of science degrees from New Jersey Institute of Technology (electrical and manufacturing systems engineering), and doctoral degrees from The University of South Carolina in chemical engineering. His dissertation title is entitled "Fundamental aspects of novel technology and Computational Fluid Dynamic model that includes air, carbon dioxide, dry ice, and essential oils to deactivate allergenic proteins typically found on carpets and mattresses in indoor home environments.  Dr. Glenn is a full-time instructor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and has taught chemistry and organic chemistry part-time in the science department at the historically black university Allen University.

Dr. Glenn is also a full-time caregiver and has been over 13 years. He has written a book, entitled "CAREGIVING: THE INSPIRATIONAL MANUAL" to and for caregivers. His book can be purchased on his website www.ogcaregiving.com.  The wisdom and experience that he has gained are intended to be shared to help, shape, inform or guide someone else along life's tedious journey.  His overall mission in life is to minister to the intellectual, social, and spiritual needs of all people.  One of his favorite scriptures is 3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

Dr. Glenn is also the founder and CEO of his non-profit organization entitled "The 3 Tier Foundation."  It serves 3 unique facets of individuals in society. First and foremost, the foundation provides S.A.T. preparation classes for high school students, secondly, the foundation provides guidance for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and last but not least, the foundation provides respite care for caregivers.  Information can be found on his website at www.3tierfoundation.com.  

Dr. Glenn is also an ordained minister and has his own radio show entitled "OG INSPIRATIONAL RADIO". that educates, inspires, encourages, uplifts, and motivates. His radio show can be heard nationwide through IHEART RADIO and other platforms each work.

Dr. Glenn can be described as a man of faith with many hats. His purpose is to utilize all of his experiences and education to empower and motivate all faiths, nationalities, backgrounds, and persuasion.

Dr. Calvin Tibbs is the pastor of Kingdom Dominion Church (KDC) in Villa Rica, GA is the CEO of Daylight Ministries, and is an advisor to multiple boards. He is the author of four books and is working on his 5th work designed to help Christian leaders and believers fulfill Jesus' 4 Big Commands. Tibbs is a husband of 37 years to college sweetheart Kimberly, is a father of three grown children and grandfather of 2 girls.

Pastor Tibbs holds an earned doctorate in Ministry from South University with a concentration on integrating Millenials at Church (IMAC), a succession plan designed to keep the ministry thriving for years. Pastor Tibbs is a native of Hampton, Virginia.  Dr. Tibbs received a B.A. in Broadcast Management from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia, and was honorably discharged from the United States Army with the rank of Captain.

Dr. Tibbs is an ordained minister through the International Congress of Churches and Ministries (ICCM) and Certified as a Purpose Development Coach through the Purpose Development Institute (PDI). The ministry reaches the global communities through audio, video, and print media, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and restoring confidence to the battered. The vision and purpose of this ministry is to strengthen the saved and love on the lost, to empower Christian leaders and believers in no less than 85 West Georgia cities and 2,000 churches worldwide.

A Master Certified Teacher of Entrepreneurship, Scott L. Steward, Big Stew, Professor Steward, depending on how you know him, is an 18-time award-winning teacher of entrepreneurship, expertise is frequently sought after by various publications. A former Chicago Public School teacher, he provides tips on entrepreneurial ventures and suggestions for emerging entrepreneurs. In addition, Scott authored a business plan that is featured in the book, Make $1,000 in 35 days, is a contributor to the textbook, Entrepreneurship: Owning Your FUTURE 11thEdition, (Pearson, Prentice Hall), and author of 31 Ways to Improve Your Life: a Book of Stewisms’s.

Known as the “force” behind a student’s limitless future, Scott empowers students to become CEOs of their own businesses and lives and to create wealth on their own terms. A business owner, educator, entrepreneurial expert, and father of five, Scott knows firsthand the enjoyable, and not so enjoyable, aspects of entrepreneurship.

Scott learned the importance of financial independence at an early age. Encouraged by his mother, he started his first business, Scott’s Enterprises, at age 12. Scott’s Enterprises provided car washing and lawn care services in his neighborhood. In high school, Scott and his cousin began successfully promoting parties and album release dates for national artists. It was these early experiences that created a foundation for his free enterprise journey.

The former Interim Director of the Small Business Development Center at Chicago State University, CEO of Break Bread Marketing & Media, a boutique multimedia production company and marketing consulting firm, Master Certified Teacher of Entrepreneurship by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), and Professor of Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Chicago State University, Scott is dedicated to helping students realize and achieve their dreams. Through his more than 15 years of corporate marketing and business experience, Scott ignites the dreams of students by pouring belief into their minds and optimism in their souls. His passion and determination enable him to create an unprecedented connection with his students, who have turned into young entrepreneurs under his tutelage.

Angela Lewis is a former professional basketball player, championship winning coach and author who is passionate about empowering the lives of young women. Due to her global experiences, she understands the challenges young women face today and the opportunities the future holds.

At ten years old Angela was already five foot eight inches tall and a victim of sexual assault by a neighbor. A shy and insecure child, she overcame the ridicule of others by having basketball as an outlet. Basketball literally opened a world of opportunities and Angela is committed to using her voice to help young women prepare to lead the next generation. In 2015 Angela Lewis Basketball was born, with the mission to develop girls as leaders on and off the court. Through various programs such as camps, clinics and virtual academies, girls around the world, are guided by three principals: lead, give and bounce back. She has published four books, The Game Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose Success, The Game Changing Assist: Workbook, Post Moves: The Female Athlete’s Guide to Dominate Life After College and The Fundamental Game Plan: Every Basketball Player’s 12 Week Success Tracker.

Prior to starting Angela Lewis Basketball, she coached over a decade at every level, giving her a clear understanding of the needs of young women. Now she regularly gives inspirational speeches to girls throughout the world, igniting the confidence within them, to conquer any challenge. Angela has been recognized nationally for her efforts being the recipient of the prestigious Robin Roberts Sports Communication Award, Urban League St. Louis Young Leader in Youth and Education, UnSung Heroine Award, Black Girls Rock St. Louis and US Bank Woman of Distinction. Angela received a full athletic scholarship to play NCAA Division I basketball at Saint Louis University. She was an All-Conference player who scored over 1000 points and grabbed over 500 rebounds. When Angela is not hard at work inspiring girls, she is visiting beautiful parks, sitting next to rivers and searching for the best outdoor basketball courts in the world.

One can contact Angela Lewis at angelarlewis.com.

Abdulrahman Atif has worked in the construction, oil, and gas infrastructure for  9 years.  He is also the host and co-founder of "Civil Engineering vibes" podcast

He believes life is a journey where you have to learn and discover and evolve each day where goals and purpose could change as we evolve.   Learning each day is self-investment and he offers this as best advice. Failure is nothing more than an opportunity. He has been in startups wherein  90% of them failed, but he took it as an opportunity to learn.

Teamed up with  Dr. Ganem Kashwani, they talk about topics about civil engineering,  Mental health, Startups, New technologies, career improvement, smart solutions, and entrepreneurship as well as others. The podcast title is called “ Civil Engineering Vibes” and can be found at https://withkoji.com/@bahr_albahar.

Alicia Butler Pierre’s career in operations began over 20 years ago as a chemical engineer in several chemical plants and oil refineries in her native Louisiana. Her passion is in designing processes that help people, places and things flow more efficiently. Alicia is the Founder and CEO of Equilibria, Inc., a 16-year-old operations management firm specializing in business infrastructure for fast-growing companies. Her company is currently the world’s largest and most comprehensive repository on business infrastructure for small businesses.

It is at Equilibria where she invented the KasennuTM framework for business infrastructure and software by the same name. She has since successfully applied this framework in over 30 different industries and counting. Alicia has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Tulane University.

Her ability to blend scientific, business and mathematical methodologies to solve complex operational problems enables her to bring a unique, tactical, and realistic perspective to her clients, who have also included larger organizations like The Coca-Cola Company, The Library of Congress, and Shell Oil Company.

Alicia is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has produced over 500 articles, podcast episodes, case studies, videos, and white papers in the areas of business infrastructure, process improvement, and operational excellence. Combined, her content has over a million views across various online platforms.

Alicia hosts the weekly Business Infrastructure: Curing Back Office Blues podcast. Her show was only one of six initially hand-selected in the world by HubSpot to become a part of its new podcast network. Alicia is also the author of the 2x Amazon bestseller, Behind the Fascade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. Her book debuted in Oct. 2018 on Amazon as the #1 New Release for business books in the Production and Operations category. Committed to doing the right things the right way, Alicia's mantra is "to leave it better than you found it"

Jaer Armstead-Jones has been a middle school English teacher in the St. Louis area since 2007 (known as Mr. Jarrod Jones). He earned a bachelor’s degree in media communications from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri, and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Phoenix. 

Throughout his teaching of reading and writing, he has always had a burning desire to write books for middle grade and high school teens that they can relate to, find enjoyment in, and books that are alluring to keep them in a state of suspense. My Invisible Father is his first novel. He has also written for a local St. Louis newspaper as a reporter/writer covering stories from politics, to sports and education, to business.

Jaer has worked with teens in a number of capacities since 1993: as a youth minister, in 2004 as a youth facilitator at a juvenile correctional facility, and in 2007 he started his teaching career at Brittany Woods Middle School in University City, Missouri, and in 2016 at Hixson Middle School in Webster Groves, Missouri.

In 2015, he began working at the St. Louis County Public Library as a librarian. Jaer’s thoughts on being a librarian: “Working at this library is the absolute best part-time job ever, especially for a wanna-be writer like me.”

Jaer was a high school basketball player at University City High School and earned a full scholarship to Harris Stowe State College in 1988. He went on to finish his basketball career at Webster University. He coached middle school and high school basketball for ten plus years. He even officiated grade school, high school, and men’s basketball leagues for several years. 

He also has been in a hip-hop group and managed one as well. He uses his knowledge of music and infuses it with his novels. Along with his novel My Invisible Father, he has produced an EP album titled Invisible to accompany the book.

Jaer lives in a suburb just outside of St. Louis with his wife and daughter. He also has three grown children.

Katie O'Malley, M.Ed., is a Leadership Coach and Educator with 15 years of professional experience serving the nonprofit, corporate and higher education sectors. Across these workplaces, Katie noticed her strengths and values consistently steered her toward the support and development of others. In 2013, Katie translated this observation into action and pursued a Master's Degree in Counseling and Board Certification in Executive and Career Coaching.

Currently, Katie works full-time as the Senior Associate Director of Leadership Development at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In this role, Katie designs developmental workshops, provides team and leadership coaching, contributes to the creation and delivery of leadership education curriculum for students in the Full-Time MBA program. In her spare time, Katie serves as a Coach and Mentor for start-up businesses through the Policy Center for Entrepreneurship and founded Courage, Coaching Chicago, a private coaching practice specializing in career and leadership development for underrepresented populations in the C-Suite.

Let's imagine the possibilities for your career journey, leadership practice, or small business at www.encourageocoaching.org / [email protected]

Lucille Glenn Swain was born on May 27, 1920 in Saluda County, South Carolina. She is the second oldest of nine children (7 girls and 2 boys). When Lucille graduated high school in 1940, she moved to New York. She knew her younger siblings wanted to go to college, but she also knew her parents who were poor farmers, could not do it alone.  Consequently, she convinced her parents to let her go to New York to work and she sent money home to help her family for many, many years; even until her parents death. Lucille has lived in New York for 80 years!!

During her time in New York, Lucille held several jobs. Her first job was to work for a family as the live-in help.  Shortly after that she began working in the Fashion District for the owner of a fur coat store.  On more than one occasion, she was asked to model, but because of distrust of "the fast life" (as she called it), she never took that job. Other jobs Lucille had included working at an undergarment factor and eventually R.C. Green Day Care, where she retired in 1982. 

Lucille met and eventually married Ralph Swain and they had an incredible life until his death in 1994. Lucille loves traveling and over the years have had cruises to the Caribbean Islands, Jamaica, and Mexico.  She has also visited Atlantic City, Hawaii, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia--just to name a few.

Lucille is currently the mother of her church, Hebron Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York as well as one of its original founders.

Lucille is the oldest of three surviving sisters: Gladys, Ruth, and Grace. Though she never had children of her own, her sister Grace's oldest daughter Dr. Wandy Taylor, became her godchild and they are as close as any parent and child could possibly be.  Lucille loves her family and she loves the Lord. Her mantra is to "treat everyone the way you want to be treated."

On May 27, 2020, Lucille Swain became the first in her family to reach this centenarian milestone.

Dr. Wandy W. Taylor holds a doctorate in educational leadership and management from Capella University, an Ed.S. in educational administration from the University of West Georgia, and M.Ed. from South Carolina State University, and a B.A. from the University of South Carolina. She has worked in public education for 23 years, having served as a counselor, assistant principal, principal, and director. She is a consultant with the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement and CEO of Taylor & Taylor Education Consultants, LLC, a company she co-owns with her husband, Dr. James A. Taylor.

Dr. James A. Taylor has worked in public education for more than 40 years, having served as a teacher, high school principal, executive director, and associate superintendent. He earned a doctoral degree from the University of South Carolina in 1978 and completed additional post-graduate work at Auburn University and The Univerity of North Carolina. He is also the author of "From Unequal to Unwanted: Reforms Needed to Improve K-12 Public and Higher Education." He is a consultant with Taylor & Taylor Education Consultants, LLC,., a company he co-owns with his wife, Dr. Wandy W. Taylor.