A former high school teacher turned CFO, Deborah Whitby now owns the only woman-owned and operated independent plumbing company in Austin, Texas.  She has been featured in national publications and was named a "Limit Breaking Female Founder" by Thrive Global. She won the Woman's Way Business Award's "Rising Star" after scaling her local family plumbing company, Austin Plumbery in fifteen shorts months. Having generated over seven figures in less than three years, Deborah attributes much of her success to having a strong understanding of her businesses finances and has co-authored a collaborative book about her transition into entrepreneurship. She now has a course 'Prepared to Receive' where she teaches other women in business how to manage their money and profits so they are prepared to receive more!

Congratulations to Dr. Alicia Makaye (the “A” in GXA) is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of GXA Network Solutions, an IT Solutions provider that helps other businesses take command and control of their IT. GXA prides itself on giving back to the underprivileged, not only within the community, but internationally.

Sadaf Haq’s heart for ensuring Frisco grows and changes for the better, just like the people at the heart of it, is what makes her special. Born and raised outside of Bronx, N.Y., Ms. Haq and her family moved to Frisco after a gut feeling Ms. Haq had that North Dallas is where she and her family needed to be. She recalls, “Back in 2014, my husband had a fellowship opportunity in Pittsburg. The whole year we lived there, I kept telling him I really felt like North Dallas was where we needed to be. In 2015, I mentioned that if we ever planned to move to Texas, he would have to get his medical license to practice in Texas, which can take up to six months. I told him to go ahead and start on that, and he did. During those six months, multiple family members moved to Texas out of happenstance, and when we came to visit them, I instantly knew this was the place. My husband still looks back and does not understand how I had that sense.”

Ms. Haq has her master’s degree in public health and is back in the workforce with her husband at his practice, Pain Management of North Dallas, where she does business development and administration work. Ms. Haq has always had a love for civic engagement, and she credits Frisco for making it easy to be civically engaged. “Once we got settled in, I got involved and the trajectory of the city has just skyrocketed. This level of service has been so fulfilling. I am now in my second term on the Social Services and Housing Board and that really opened up my eyes to the soft underbelly of Frisco,” she shares.

Ms. Haq sits on a board for a Collin County Impact Council that also deals with mental health, social services, etc., and roles on those boards led her to apply for Leadership Frisco, where she now sits on the Advisory Council and has just been appointed to the Frisco Census Committee. After her time in Leadership Frisco, others began approaching her about future leadership opportunities and encouraged her to run for City Council, and she has since formed an exploratory committee. Ms. Haq shares, “It is a matter of realizing that no matter where you come from, no matter who you are, you are serving the people of Frisco. My message has always been one of inclusion and how we are not only American first, but we are Frisco first here.”

The future is bright for Ms. Haq as she figures out a possible run for City Council and keeps venturing out of her comfort zone. “I believe God placed me in this position to make this decision and that He will guide me further.”

To learn more about Sadaf, follow #ForSadaf, #ForFrisco, #ForIntegrity, #ForHonesty, #ForInclusion, #ForCommunity

Our #WomanOfTheWeek Shalonda Waggoner is the Founder & President of local Dallas non-profit Latter House Decor sits down with DPW's Global Programming Director, Irum Rashid - Jones to share her heart-work in creating safe, secure and beautiful new beginnings for survivors of domestic abuse. 

Shalonda realized the importance of women not only having a safe place to call home for them and their children, but having a beautiful home filled with light and color. With multiple home installations completed, it is no wonder that service to survivors of domestic violence has become her purple ribbon mission. It is her commitment and belief in the success of making sure that her clients get a fresh start by helping them reach a new level of independence from abuse through interior design.

Shalonda's life is a conduit of healing and hope. She will not stop until the world recognizes that decor helps and decor heals. To learn more about her organization, The Latter House Decor, visit: www.latterhousedecor.com

Zondra Evans is the Founder and Executive Producer of ZTV Network, a global multi-media platform. ZTV touts itself as an affordable global marketing and advertising company that leverages TV streaming platforms such as ROKU, AmazonFireTV, and Chromecast to showcase small business and provide global exposure with a potential reach of more than 200 million viewers and users. ZTV is currently televised on 7 different streaming platforms.  Evans is a bestselling author of The Power of Investing in You, and she is the co-author of “IMPACT, Life, Leadership and Legacy”. Evans has shared the stage with speakers such as Sharon Lechter, Forbes Riley, and Mark Victor Hansen. Evans is the Chapter President for “I’m Possible” Women’s Empowerment Collaboration, Inc. Evans’ work includes national organizations such as: The National Association of Women Business Owners, E-Women’s Network, and Entrepreneurs on the Move.