Ci Ci Foster: The New Queen of Drama!

Ci Ci Foster is a true Hollywood renaissance woman, and a multi-faceted entertainment powerhouse who is gaining worldwide acclaim for her vast achievements in the film and literary industries. The prominent film producer, actress, author, and entrepreneur is quickly establishing herself as a true Hollywood icon.

Like other successful Hollywood celebrity moms such as Jada Pinkett-Smith and Kimora Lee Simmons, Foster is known as being one of the hardest working mothers in the entertainment business, and is building her empire from the ground up. Destined for greatness, the wife and mother of two is proving that she can have it all and do it all!

While attending Chicago State University to obtain her B.A. degree in Psychology, Foster developed an unrelenting passion for theatre, and knew acting was her calling when she participated in a question and answer session for Rap So Dee, an off Broadway production. Since she stepped onstage, Foster has been dazzling audiences with her unique talent and stage presence, and has worked in a number of films including Wages of Sin, This is the Remix, and The Piano Lesson.

Since her introduction to the entertainment world, Foster wears many hats in the industry, and she does so with humble perfection. Her charm and beauty has granted her the opportunities to be featured in a variety of national print ads and commercials including Meijers, Walgreens, and Euro-Pro Vacuum.

More than just a pretty face, Mrs. Foster is also an accomplished business guru who, with the help of fellow actress Mashari Laila Bain, co-owns her own production company, Flower Goddess Productions, a company that provides empowering roles for actors and actresses of color. Through her production company, Foster has successfully produced and released I Heart Hollywood, a hot new documentary that reveals the real life struggles of 14 actresses in Hollywood.

In addition to the film, Foster also helped create a special I Heart Hollywood 2010 charity calendar, in which all of the proceeds benefit Hollywood Hearts, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational, recreational and creative programming for at-risk children and teens. Dubbed the female Eric Jerome Dickey by her adoring fans, Foster’s interest in writing began in 2004 when she started writing short stories.

Her new literary masterpiece, Sunny Rain, is a real-life fiction tale that is gaining media attention and rave reviews. Regarded as one of the most creative forces in the industry, Foster is on her way to claim her crown and position herself among the industry’s greatest achievers. Recognized as a Phenomenal Woman by 50 in 52 Journey, an organization who honors ordinary people who do extraordinary things, Foster is a true business and entertainment icon who is here to stay. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters and is currently working on her new novel, Hollywoodn’t. For more details, visit www.cicifoster.com.

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Mrs. Ci Ci Foster as our Person of the Week!

Atlanta’s Queen of Texting:

Marie Antionette

_____________________________

Hometown
Atlanta, Georgia

How long have you been in Atlanta?
I consider Atlanta my hometown. I was born in Athens, Georgia, and moved to Atlanta at age eleven. I went to Bob Mathis Elementary School and graduated in 1989 from Cedar Grove High School.

Business
Marketing Director at GoTextTalk.com

Certifications
I am a certified Mobile Marketer through the Mobile Marketing Association.

What do you love the most about Atlanta?
Atlanta is a city of beautiful people and mixed cultures. The food variety ranges from delicate cuisines to southern country food. I love driving through the city at night; the skyline is magical.

What has been your greatest accomplishment so far? (work related)
Completing a graduate certificate in Social Media Integration from Drury University in July 2010, also recently passing the Certified Mobile Marketing exam.

Best book you’ve ever read, other than the Bible …
The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm. Mr. Fromm wrote, “Love is an art. If we want to learn to love, we have to proceed in the same way we have to proceed when mastering any art, say music, painting, carpentry, or the art of medicine or engineering. The process of learning an art is the mastery of the theory and the mastery of the practice.”

Favorite quote
My favorite quote is one I heard from Oprah Winfrey: “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.”

What has been the lowest point in your life and how did you get over it?
I have had some trying years. My parents were unwed and both teenagers. My paternal great-grandparents along with a host of aunts and uncles raised me. I was raised in what I would call an unstable and often volatile environment. I remember in the 2nd grade getting off the school bus and discovering my mother and I had been put out, once again.

Do you do any charity work and if so, how do you contribute?
I am the founder of the Texting Organization Against Distracted Driving, (TOADD).  TOADD provides teens, young adults and adults enlightenment, education, exposure, and understanding of the need for texting tastefully and proper social site conduct. T.O.A.D.D. was formed to bring awareness and provide education about the dangers of driving distracted, cell phone risk and social site dangers. In 2009, six thousand teens died in car accidents because of texting while driving. It has become the #1 killer of teen drivers, surpassing drinking and driving, in a very short amount of time. The TOADD organization’s mission is to save lives.

Hobbies
I have a few hobbies; one is traveling to new places. I have a goal to travel to every continent on this beautiful planet. I also love to read.

Where did you go to college?
I attended more than one university. I joined the US Air Force right after high school. I finished college at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

What was your major in college?
My initial major in college was Nursing at Hampton University. After the first round of patient care clinical, I swiftly recognized this was not for me. I then changed schools to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and majored in Healthcare Administration. I just recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Social Media Planning from Drury University.

Family
I have two beautiful and intelligent children. I have an 18-year-old son who attends Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. He is majoring in Aerospace Engineering; he wants to become an Astronaut. I also have a 13-year-old daughter who is a cheerleader at Sutton Middle School. She wants to study Broadcast Journalism at Clemson University and become the next Monica Pearson.

What do you do that most people would be surprised to learn?
People are typically surprised to learn that I am an excellent down-home southern cook. My favorite meal to cook is grilled baby back ribs, collard greens, yams and macaroni and cheese.

Favorite Georgia get-away
My favorite Georgia get-away is Tybee Island, near Savannah, Georgia. I love the beach, especially beaches with white sand. Tybee Island is tranquil, beautiful and rainbows are plentiful.

Best advice you’ve ever been given
End relationships peacefully, it works out better than ending in war.

What inspires you?
My family and my faith inspires me. My parents are faithful, kind, happy and successful entrepreneurs. My children constantly inspire me by their words of encouragement and belief in my dreams.

Books you’ve written
I am an unpublished author. I’ve written a couple of children’s books.

Organizations you belong to
Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Business League, Concerned Black Clergy, Powercore, Toastmasters

What do you do to relax and unwind?
Listen to John Legend and curl up with a good book.

Military service
US Air Force 1989-1998
Places Stationed: Robbins AFB, Warner Robins, GA; Bitburg AFB, Germany, Langley AFB, Hampton, VA. While in the Germany, I had the opportunity to travel around Europe. I fell in love with Paris!! I took pictures of the Mona Lisa while touring the Louvre and climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

What is your hope for 2011?
In 2011, I hope to build strong alliances with several major corporations, advertising agencies and large organizations to expand my mobile marketing company and also gain exposure for my global non-profit organization TOADD.

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Marie Antionette as our Person of the Week! Look for her in the upcoming issue of People You Need to Know Magazine ~ Business Superstars Edition.

Paula Renee’s corporate and entrepreneur experiences span over twenty years. Her consultant company, Face2Face Solutions, Inc. provides professional development and consulting, training, and life coaching.

As a Vision Strategist, Paula Renee designs customized productivity systems that align with the corporate vision. Ms. Renee delivers seminars and workshops to corporations, educational institutions, and community-related organizations.

As a speaker, author, entrepreneur, and now Radio Talk Show Host, she often keynotes and conducts seminars at national international conferences and corporate meetings. Paula is also the founder of Wise Women Speak Foundation, Inc., which builds wealth for women, girls and families.

Educational pursuits include: MBA International Business, Strayer University, Atlanta, Georgia; Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing-Mercy College, White Plains, NY; Certificate-JW Fanning School of Leadership at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Certification in Entrepreneurship-Yale University School of Management, New Haven, Connecticut.

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Ms. Paula Renee Washington as our Person of the Week.

Melissa Dawn Johnson is a Global Branding and Personal Transformation Strategist with a proven track record of elevating and reinventing the world’s greatest brands. As an internationally recognized author and authority on authentic branding ™, she currently sits on the board of advisors for the World Brand Summit, a think-tank of global brand masters, hosted annually in Mumbai, India.

Johnson is CEO and President of Atlanta-based Velvet Suite Marketing Consulting Group, Inc., a premiere brand consulting, training and strategic alliance company offering the luxury of leadership to established companies and high-profile individuals. She is also President of sister company, Brand Me International a software and social media company designed to help anyone turn their passion into profit ™.

Johnson also has created a unique niche through Velvet Suite Sports, a division that manages the brand value and reputation of world-class athletes beyond the game. She has coached and consulted clients, including NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, NFL All-Pro Corner Back, Nate Clements and International World Cup Star, Oguchi Onyewu. Velvet Suite brand leadership training has reached executives at companies including: Time, Pepsi, Citi, Kraft, the NFL, NBA and NCAA.

As a weekly on-air contributor to CNN through Morning Motivation, she inspires the world. Johnson is also a vlogger on Essence.com through the Brand Me Minute segment. Her book, Brand Me. Make Your Mark: Turn Passion into Profit (Ambassador Press) is a blueprint for personal branding where she shares the secrets of what companies pay millions to do and gives that insight to the masses.

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Melissa Dawn Johnson as our Person of the Week!

Meet Keela Starr!

Keela Starr’s passion for the entertainment industry has been the driving force of her career. With more than 15 years in the fashion and entertainment industries, she has worked as a talent scout, agent, manager, and writer. Ms. Starr began her career as a talent where she appeared in television and print. After developing an interest for the business side of the industry, she became a booking agent with Click Models. She later went on to Race Models Management, a partner agency with Karin Models in Paris, France. Ms. Starr scouted, developed, and booked the many new faces of the agency.  To enter the arena of entertainment development, she joined Los Angeles, California based, Gem Entertainment Group.

An Atlanta native, Ms. Starr made the decision to launch her own enterprise, K.Starr Management, an entertainment management company that specializes in the attention, development, placement and publicity of exceptional talent. As a boutique management firm, she focuses on the unique vision and specific goals of each individual’s career in the entertainment industry.

Ms. Starr’s talent is placed with some of the leading agencies in the Los Angeles and New York markets. Over the years, her standout discoveries have been seen worldwide on runways and in campaigns for designers and retailers such as Oscar de la Renta, Dolce and Gabbana, Chloé, Valentino, Chanel, Alberta Ferretti, Dsquared, Naeem Khan, Abercrombie and Fitch, Sean John,  Republic UK, Calvin Klein, Estée Lauder,  Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s. Ms. Starr’s talent has been featured on the covers and inside Vanity Fair, InStyle, Lucky, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and many more.

Ms. Starr represents actors who have been seen in series regular and guest starring roles for networks including, HBO, SHOWTIME, LIFETIME, ABC, FOX and NBC. Most recently, Ms. Starr has been appointed Editor-at-large for the new fashion site, www.modeltest.net.

Dr. Gloria Clarke – High Quality Dentistry is Her Top Priority

Dr. Gloria Clarke prides herself on delivering quality dentistry to her patients and educating them on how good dental health benefits their overall health. She takes continuing education courses to stay informed on the latest developments in dental procedures and technology.  As a result of her commitment to continuing education, she has earned the distinction of Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Clarke acquired Greenbriar Dental Care in 1999. Since that time, staff development and investing in the latest technology to deliver high quality dentistry have been her top priorities.  She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the National Dental Association.

A native of New York, New York, Dr. Clarke graduated from Hofstra University in 1979 and obtained her dental degree from Howard University in 1983.  After dental school, she completed a two-year general practice residency at College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center, served as chief resident and worked as an attending dentist while in private practice in NYC.  She has completed postdoctoral continuums at Boston University, New York University, and the prestigious Misch Institute of Implantology.

Dr. Clarke believes in giving back to the community.  She sponsors an annual event at Greenbriar Dental Care called Dentistry From the Heart and she also volunteers at Ben Massell  Dental Clinic.  Her hobbies are boating, traveling, and skiing.

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Dr. Gloria Clarke as our Person of the Week. Look for her in our 2011 Business Superstars Edition.

Marla Brown is passionate about helping people succeed. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs who have learned many of the hard lessons of owning your own business. She has successfully owned and managed her own company through a recession and wants to help others accomplish the same goals. Marla is a powerhouse achiever who will undoubtedly enhance your vision and ultimate success.

Her 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and business management include 14 years at a fortune 50 company, where she managed a $1 billion sales plan and more than 400 sales people. In addition, she traveled and lived around the world, training and marketing for the company.

Marla has a bachelor of arts degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

She owns Youthtopia Medspa in Alpharetta, a world-class anti-aging facility dedicated to its clients’ internal and external beauty. Youthtopia is a 3-time winner of the Around Town Alpharetta Award for the most admired spa in the area. The spa has also won the prestigious Citysearch most admired award in the spa category and the World Commerce Association Award for the last two consecutive years. Marla has recently started a new company, Sage Medical Spa Leadership Advisors, a consulting firm for small businesses.

Marla is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives with her husband Greg and daughter, Ashlea in Alpharetta. She also has two step sons, Zac and Ben and enjoys most of her free time with her family.

People You Need to Know Magazine is pleased to salute Marla Brown as our Person of the Week.

Lorie N. Johnson, MD, FACOG - Just For You Ob/Gyn ~Medical expertise & a woman’s perspective.

“I’m passionate about educating my patients with the accurate, up-to-date information they need to make good choices for themselves. You will always have the time you need to ask questions and discuss your concerns with me. Listening to you is one of the most important skills I can offer as your doctor. It helps me improve your healthcare and helps you feel comfortable and confident in me. I share my own life experiences as a woman and mother, too, and enjoy connecting with you on a personal level.”

Making advanced care more accessible.

“Thanks to advancements in women’s health, it’s easier than ever to take care of problems like heavy bleeding and pelvic pain. My background includes extensive training in minimally invasive procedures that are safe and effective. These kinds of surgeries can be so much easier on my patients because there are no long abdominal incisions needed. It feels great to be able to help women in this way and to deliver this level of care, close to home.”

Dr. Lorie is committed to improving the health of all women. She has participated in medical mission trips abroad and is currently working with an Atlanta-area ministry that focuses on health education. In her free time, Dr. Lorie enjoys reading, traveling, creative writing, sports and spending time with her teenage daughter.

Board-Certified: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Fellow: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Allentown, PA
MD: Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
BA: Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Email Dr. Lorie directly at: drlorie@justforyouobgyn.com

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Dr. Lori Johnson as our Person of the Week! Look for Dr. Johnson in our 2011 Business Superstars Edition.

In the fall of 2005, Tami Reed had the opportunity to start her own talk show,”Talking with Tami!” to help viewers learn more about entrepreneurship and business ventures. Tami has always been passionate about people owning their own businesses. She had a very successful business in Cleveland, Ohio, for years, before getting into the entertainment industry. She attended Kent State University and University of Phoenix, earning her Bachelors in Business Management/PR. She is also certified in Television Production.

She has interviewed many notable celebrities – Usher, Sarah Ferguson-The Duchess of York, Jane Fonda, Pamela Anderson, Fergie, Jerry Springer, Dita Von Teese, Sean Puffy Combs, Steve Harvey and many more.

Tami has interviewed on the red carpets at the ASCAP Awards, The Playboy Mansion/Celebrity Poker Tournament, Miss America Pageant, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, NAACP Image Awards, The Grammys, BET Awards, Bravo-A-List Awards, and many others. She has made many television appearances, including the Mike & Juliet Show, HGTV’s Deserving Design, Real Housewives of Atlanta, and CBS Better Mornings. Hosting duties found her involved with events such as, The Pink Party with Fantasia & Eva Pigford, Women on the Move, Miss Africa USA, Real Women of Atlanta Breast Cancer Charity Event, Sephora’s grand opening and many girls events.

Tami has been featured in Skirt Magazine, Six Degrees Magazine, The New York Times bestseller, The Mocha Manual (turning your passion into profit), Family Circle, Essence, Glamour and many others. She has done countless interviews online. She has also been the guest writer for many online magazines and other social websites. You can read her column in Today’s Black Woman magazine on newsstands everywhere. She also has a column in Atlanta’s Kontrol Magazine in the Lifestyle section.

Tami hosts a live web show every Monday at 11:00 a.m. est on Mingle Media TV.

You can also catch Tami hosting blogger event/parties for her biggest sponsors/clients doing direct marketing for them. Tami introduces their products or fabulous places to the world with her blogger buddies!

She has won several awards for her talk show and has been nominated for many others. She sits on many panels giving advice on how to start a TV show to how to start a blog or on how to have longevity in the entertainment business. She has also been recognized in her community for speaking to at-risk teens and women in homeless shelters. She speaks annually at the Gwinnett County Peer Leadership Workshop, where she teaches kids to dream big. Tami resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two children.

Her signature trademark is pink and when you see her out, you can’t miss her Pinktabulous style and bubbly personality!

At People You Need to Know Magazine, we’re proud to salute Tami Reed as our Person of the Week!

Jackie Silver is Aging Backwards and she shares her secrets, tips and shortcuts for looking and feeling young on her web site, in her book, on TV, on radio, in print, online and in person.

She’s the Aging Backwards expert on the syndicated television show, Daytime; one-half of The Ageless Sisters Radio Show along with Cynthia Rowland; weekly columnist for The Tampa Tribune and a sought-after speaker.

If you ever get a chance to meet or talk to Jackie, you’ll find that she’s positive, genuine, energetic and passionate about her career path. From the top of your head to the tips of your toes, Jackie Silver has secrets to share that can help you become more confident and radiant, both inside and out.

Jackie founded Aging Backwards, LLC, in 2006 to educate the public about the latest innovations in the anti-aging industry. She has more than 25 years of experience in broadcasting, and she combines her natural reporter’s curiosity with her desire to help people look and feel younger.

Jackie is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Heart Association Community Board, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. You can contact her at jackie@agingbackwards.com.

People You Need to Know Magazine is proud to salute Jackie Silver as our Person of the Week!