Iota Phi Lambda Sorority’s Business Month Honorees

DR. LINDA AMERSON

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Doctor, educator, columnist, radio host, television personality, international lecturer, singer/songwriter all these things describe Dr. Linda Amerson, board certified doctor of Trichology-world-renowned expert on hair and scalp disorders, and board-certified Holistic Health Practitioner. In addition, she is the manufacturer of award-winning Dr. Amerson’s ™ Hair, Scalp and Skin Therapeutic Essentials, LLC. To continue growing she has partnerships with other Health and Wellness Practitioner and is the Master Hair Loss and Scalp Scientist Ambassador to Genius is Common.

As a trailblazer, in 1999, Dr. Amerson opened the 1st Trichology Training Center in the USA. Continuing to expand, Dr. Amersons’s Hair & Scalp University teaches advanced Seminars.

DR. SHANEKA D. BAYLOR

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Dr. Shaneka D. Baylor is an integrative and functional nutrition pharmacist, entrepreneur, and consultant. She holds Board-Certification in both Geriatric and Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy, and she is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.

She received her BS in Biology from Dillard University and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Texas Southern University. She also completed her post graduate Pharmacy Practice Residency in Public Health at the University of Missouri – Kansas City in conjunction with the Kansas City Free Health Clinic and received her MS Degree in Nutrition and Wellness at Benedictine University.

“Healthy eating can be tasty” is the motto that Dr. Baylor believes in. This belief led her to create Baylor Health and Wellness. She is also the franchise owner of Chefs for Seniors DFW Mid-Cities South.

TANDY CARAWAY

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Tandy Caraway, founder of CollegeMode Academy, is a leading educational consulting expert, speaker, and author that helps communities reduce the wealth gap by empowering families and organizations to send students to college debt-free. She collaborates with community organizations to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that uniquely meet the needs of the people that they serve.

Through her business, she has helped students secure over $30 million dollars in scholarships, grants, and fellowships. Her programs develop #FullRideScholars who are the next generation of changemakers. Her students have been selected for prestigious scholarship programs such as GUCCI Changemakers, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc. National Scholarship, CodeHouse Scholars, Questbridge, the National Football League HBCUWeek Scholar, Chick-Fil-A, Target Scholars, and Burger King Scholars.

SHAUNA T. FREEMAN

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Shauna T is a plus-size influencer and entrepreneur born and raised in Dallas Texas. Shauna’s journey began on social media in 2017, where she started sharing coupon deals and building a community who she proudly refers to as her “cousins.” In 2020, Shauna transitioned from couponing to fashion, using her platform to empower curvy women to feel confident in their skin. Recognizing that there was a lack of representation in the fashion industry for plus-size women, Shauna decided to take matters into her own hands by creating her own brand, Expressions Inc.

Her mission is to provide a way to lighten your load and save you time, by providing simple and easy styles you can easily accessorize. She firmly believes that just because you’re a curvy girl doesn’t mean you can’t be fly.

CHRISTINA HENDERSON

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Christina Henderson, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA has over 15 years of experience in the field of education in various roles in state and abroad. She started out as a Life Skills Paraprofessional and quickly rose in the profession to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.

Christina obtained her bachelor’s degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Later she obtained her Special Education teacher certification at the University of North Texas and a Master of Education from Texas A & M Commerce specializing in Special Education with an Educational Diagnostician certification.

She is the founder of Coloring Life My Way, a nonprofit organization that is highly involved with giving back to the community and partnering with organizations that support those affected by autism and the special needs community.

ALMA LOVE LANGRUM

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Alma Love Langrum is the Chief Executive Officer of Aisha’s Learning Centers and AJL’s Wings of Hope. Aisha’s Learning Centers operates two high quality childcare facilities serving over 200 children daily. Aisha’s is a 4-star rated facility with the Texas Workforce Commission and former Accredited Center with the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Aisha’s has been serving children and families in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for over 39 years. They provide resources that collaborate and partner with local and national organizations.

Alma Love Langrum has traveled the globe serving as an ambassador for Early Care and Education for People to People and personally. As an ambassador to South Africa and Germany, she shared ideas and suggestions for the important years of development in young children.

LYNETTE ROSS

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Lynette Ross (fondly known as Sha) is a third-generation restaurant owner of Mister James Delicious Foods Restaurant in Cedar Hill, Texas and Magnolia, Arkansas. Her passion for ministering to people inspired her to join forces with her late paternal grandfather, Mr. James Gilbert, and her aunt, Crystal Howell, in not only feeding people but ministering to them over a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. Her charming and witty personality took her from waiting on tables to learning the business inside out.

Mister James Delicious Foods Restaurant is a breakfast brunch eatery where you can enjoy a large selection of traditional, southern style homemade breakfast and brunch items on the spot or take them to go. The specialties of the house are cooked chicken and waffles and fish and grits.

NIKKI SIMON

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Nikki Simon is the owner of Simon Engineering & Consulting, Inc., a civil engineering consulting firm she founded in January 2010. Nikki brings over 29 years of experience in the planning, design and management of site development, civil infrastructure, and multi-modal transportation projects. She has managed the planning, design, and construction of multi-million-dollar transportation corridors as well as for small site development projects. In each capacity, she has successfully collaborated with clients, agencies, and public and private stakeholders for final project delivery. Nikki is a professional engineer licensed in multiple states including Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. She has been recognized by DiversityBusiness.com as a Top Emerging Business and one of the Top Collin County area women-owned businesses.

TASHA DENISE SPEED

Dorethea N. Hornbuckle Business Entrepreneur Award

Tasha Denise Speed, BSED., is recognized as one of the most influential educators of our time. She is an African American History Master-Teacher, a High School English I, Instructor, and Varsity Staff Coach of the Dazzling Dancing Pearls Drill Team, in the
Private District of Village Technological Schools, in Duncanville, Texas.

Ms. Speed is an entrepreneur, and her educational teaching business is called “Learning Tunes”. The Learning Tunes Company provides a fundamental enhancement program dedicated to the reading, writing, and mathematical concepts for school aged children and teens. Learning Tunes also provides alternative learning services to students diagnosed with learning difficulties, (i.e., ADHD/Autism, and Dyslexia), while offering Student Behavioral Management (SBM).

DR. LINDA D. LEE

Joyce M. Jones Community Service Award

Dr. Linda D. Lee in the CEO and Founder of LL Media Group, LLC, Lee Coaching & Consulting, and editor-in-chief of PHENOMENAL OVERCOMER® magazine. She is a holistic personal development consultant, author, and doctorate graduate of pastoral psychology, also known as, biblical counseling. She holds degrees in Christian leadership & community organization. She focuses on providing servant leadership in transforming her client’s mindset using emotional intelligence and sustainability plans. In doing so, her clients are equipped with strategies that restore their voice from traumatic experiences in life, business, or career. Her strategies identify triggers and root causes that are results oriented.

She is a voice for the voiceless and a professional certified life coach (PCLC), certified Christian mentor (CCM), certified Mental Health First Aider (CMHFA), international speaker, 5X best-selling author, 8 published books, licensed and ordained minister, and marketplace Elder.

CALVIN W. STEPHENS

Alvernon K. Tripp Hall of Fame Award

Calvin W. Stephens is Chairman and President of SSP Consulting, L.C. The firm was established on September 1, 1992, for the purpose of providing surety support services and minority business and supplier diversity for local, minority and women owned firms.

Calvin W. Stephens also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Calvin W. Stephens & Associates (CWS&A). Stephens established this firm in November 1981. Immediately after receiving his MBA degree, Stephens was employed by the E. L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University as Assistant Director of Project Concern, a management development program for small and minority owned businesses.

Stephens also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas Minority Business Development Center. As such, he was the direct link between the minority business community and the public and private sector business community of Dallas.

DYMECIA DANIELS

Sharon R. Thomas-Smith Youth Entrepreneur Award

Dymecia Daniels is currently a freshman at the Fashion Institute of Technology with a major in fashion business management. In her freshman year, she was able to attend/work during New York Fashion Week, join the Black Student Union, and become an RA.

She is the owner and creator of Xomecivox, (Mee-see-vox) a brand she started in 2020. Since then, she has managed to gain over 1k followers on Instagram and a loyal customer base.

With her social media platforms, she has gained supporters who are eager to see behind the scenes. This has pushed her to create more and put more effort into content. She has always been keen on creating videos for her business but recently has begun posting personal experiences and day to day activities on social media.

DALLAS WISE

Sharon R. Thomas-Smith Youth Entrepreneur Award

Dallas Wise, is following in the footsteps of his mother, Shanay Wise; who is a caterer and owner of Catering Done Wisely. Every year we made sugar cookies for Santa. This really peaked my interest in baking. When he was seven, his mother was vending for a local Farmers Market, and he asked her if he could sell his cookies. She said yes, and he sold out quickly each time.

In the Spring of 2020 COVID-19 hit, and she put him in an online business entrepreneurship class for kids. He asked her for a DBA and a logo; so now he’s running his own business.

CE’ KYA HENDERSON

Psi Chapter’s High School Evelyn D. Wilkey Essay Award Winner

Upon graduation she will attend Texas A&M University-Commerce, majoring in Veterinary Medicine with a Minor in Business. In her free time, she likes to write poems and listen to music. She is a member of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc., Psi Chapter Future Iota Leaders (FIL)and she is currently the Vice-President of Student Council at Wilmer Hutchins High School.

TIARA J. CRUMP

Iota Mother’s Assistance Program (IMAP) Recipient

Tiara J. Crump, a firm believer and full-time college student at Texas Woman’s University, is pursuing a degree in Nutrition with an emphasis in Dietetics. Her hobbies include cooking, reading/learning, nature walks and spending time with loved ones. She is also a single mother to a lovely little girl. Each day she works towards becoming the best possible version of herself.

MYA PEYTON

Mackey-Tillman Scholarship Award

Mya Peyton is a junior at Texas State University where she is pursuing a degree in Business Marketing. Miss Peyton is an Honor Roll student and currently has a 3.6 grade point average (GPA). She has been on the Dean’s List for the past 2 semesters. She continues to volunteer on campus with various organizations, such as Women in Business. She also takes leadership roles as a representative in the Student Employee Advisory Cabinet on campus. Mya plans to pursue a career in Skincare Marketing after she graduates from college. However, her aspirations are to move abroad for more extensive professional opportunities.

PAM G. EUDARIC

The Lola M. Parker Achievement Award

Psi Chapter & Southwestern Region Outstanding Business Woman of the Year

Pam Eudaric is a mother, an attorney, an author, and the founder and CEO of several businesses. This St. Croix native moved to Texas to attend Rice University in Houston, Texas where she earned a B.A. degree in Business Management. She also earned a J.D. degree from The University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. As a fierce litigation attorney, Ms. Eudaric has worked in some of the most prestigious law firms in Texas. She later became the Managing Partner at Eudaric Law Firm. After practicing law for two decades, she created and redeveloped multiple successful businesses including Chocolate Secrets & Wine Garden, Green Earth Metal Recycling, Joe Carter Construction & Property Management and Ma Fille Art Gallery.

As the Chief Executive Officer and Master Chocolatier of Chocolate Secrets & Wine Garden, which she opened in 2002, she offers gourmet chocolate and fine wine.

DANIELLE DANIELS-YOUNG

The Mahala Smith Evans Award

Psi Chapter’s Outstanding Soror of the Year

For the past five years she has worked on various programs and projects that undergo the rich history and legacy of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Psi Chapter. She serves as the Chapter Recording Secretary and Chair of the Education and Scholarship Committee, and as a member of several committees that include Business Month, Membership, Future Iota Leaders, Black History, Career Exploration, Technology, Tutorial/Adopt-A-School, Chapter Website, the 77th Southwestern Regional Host Committee, and Founder’s Day.

From 2019-2020, she served as the Regional FIL Co-Chair for the Southwestern Region. As the Regional Co-Chair, she assisted with creating activities and programs for the FIL during the Southwestern Regional Conference. She served on the National FIL Committee in 2021 and have attended the National Conventions from 2019 to the present. She enjoys being a Legacy member and having a mother, three aunts, and a cousin all share with her the commitment and the pledge of friendship, love, and loyalty to IOTA.