Founder, Executive Director

 

Tameka is committed to empowering our young girls and making sure their voices are heard at all levels.  First Gen Success was created by her vision to achieve this and preparing our future generation for a sustainable education and access to many opportunities. 

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By being a product of a first generational graduates; she understands the importance of preparing our future scholars. With her many years of corporate experience and voluntarism in the mentoring space gives her the knowledge and capacity to achieve this worthy vision. Also, spends her time being a social justice advocate and community partner.

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Tameka earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Finance & Marketing at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Masters in Business Administration at Gardner Webb University. 

Sponsorship Engagement Chair

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Rose is a passionate educator that has first on-hand experience in the classroom to the district level in Fayetteville, North Carolina. By being able to see the education system from a holistic perspective; she understands the importance of a strong academic program.

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Her unique approach and experience is instrumental in First Gen Success and able to personally assess each of our scholars throughout the program will set them up for ultimate success.

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She is a first generational college student with a Bachelors and Masters in Education. A sustainer through the Junior League of Fayetteville Chapter and an active community innvoator and role model.

Treasurer

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"I focus on individuals to see their goals through their eyes. I give personal proactive advice after understanding each person’s measure of success." Julie's passion to others and always strive to support others in their endeavors including our future female scholars. 

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Julie is a certified public account and principal of her major firm, LBA Haynes Strand located in Charlotte, NC.

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In 2014, Julie was named the Board President of NAWBO Charlotte where she has been a member for over 10 years and has held many positions, including Treasurer.  NAWBO is the National Association of Women Business Owners and is a national organization that provides resources and knowledge to women business owners.

Secretary

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Bridget is on her second act. She taught special education students in Florida and North Carolina before enrolling at North Carolina Central University as an English major. That decision led to an internship with First Gen Success and her current role as a member of its Board of Directors. As a technical writer, she assists with writing newsletters, requests for proposals and presentations. She is a first-generation college student and works with the Scouts of America helping Scouts earn the rank of Eagle. 

Board at Large       

 

Betsy is a passionate volunteer serving to increase access to higher education, empower women and girls, build community, and advance social justice within the Charlotte area. Her mom and paternal grandmother instilled in her the importance and value of education, as the first women in their families to attend college. Betsy works as a Chief of Staff for Rockwell Automation and has a background in management consulting and hospitality. Betsy has her JD, MBA, and BS from Indiana University and is an active member of the New York Bar. In addition to volunteering, her hobbies include calligraphy, watercolor painting, and gardening.

Strategic Board Chair

 

It takes both discovery and integration to create solutions to the big challenges, or perhaps more importantly, identify the right problems to solve to unlock real growth for brands.

For more than 20 years I've worked in strategic planning, communications planning and marketing consulting for Blue Chip clients and not-for-profits. As a brand champion I focus on understanding and strengthening brands, and developing creative solutions for the challenges they face. In the consumer and shopper realm it's about building strategies and programs that influence choice along the purchase journey. It's never either/or: a brand's persuasion-based, consideration-building efforts OR programs that drive shopper decisions in the moment. It has to be both. Hard to hit that sweet spot? Sure. Worth it? Always.