Speakers
Kebrina F. Carter
Kebrina F. Carter is currently a Director of Operations at the New York City Department of Education’s (DOE) Division of School Support and Instruction, where she oversees 125 million dollars in federal, state, city and private funding.
Prior to her career at the DOE, Kebrina was a full-time student at Fordham University Graduate School of Business where she received her MBA in Marketing and Finance in 2005. Kebrina was committed to the Fordham community and dedicated her spare time to school clubs and activities. While at Fordham, she was the Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Relations for the Black & Hispanic MBA Association (BHMBAA), Chief Fundraiser for the Women in Business Society and an active member of the Marketing Society. Kebrina, along with seven other African American students made history at Fordham Graduate School of Business as they were the first to host a banquet that provided a platform to address issues effecting African Americans and other minorities in the business world. After graduating, Kebrina continued her support of BHMBAA, acting as the alumni liaison for the 2007-08 school year.
Prior to her matriculation at Fordham, Kebrina completed her undergraduate degree at Brooklyn College where she graduated cum laude. She earned a Bachelor of Science with a dual concentration in Business Management and Finance. Upon earning her undergraduate degree, the Brooklyn native worked for several years in management for Macys’ Federated Department Stores. Subsequently, Kebrina became a licensed New York City Public School Teacher. Always dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others, Ms. Carter served her community by working as an educator at P.S. 150 in Brooklyn, NY.
Although her teaching years are behind her, Kebrina is still committed to helping our youth. She often volunteers to speak at local high schools and has recently joined College Awareness Symbolizes Hope (CASH) to mentor high school students as they prepare for college. Kebrina also sits on the board of director for World of Money.org, a non-profit that provides financial literacy workshops for undeserved urban youth. Apart from helping the youth in her community, Kebrina enjoys raising her son, Devon, who attends Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn.
Kebrina F. Carter is currently a Director of Operations at the New York City Department of Education’s (DOE) Division of School Support and Instruction, where she oversees 125 million dollars in federal, state, city and private funding.
Prior to her career at the DOE, Kebrina was a full-time student at Fordham University Graduate School of Business where she received her MBA in Marketing and Finance in 2005. Kebrina was committed to the Fordham community and dedicated her spare time to school clubs and activities. While at Fordham, she was the Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Relations for the Black & Hispanic MBA Association (BHMBAA), Chief Fundraiser for the Women in Business Society and an active member of the Marketing Society. Kebrina, along with seven other African American students made history at Fordham Graduate School of Business as they were the first to host a banquet that provided a platform to address issues effecting African Americans and other minorities in the business world. After graduating, Kebrina continued her support of BHMBAA, acting as the alumni liaison for the 2007-08 school year.
Prior to her matriculation at Fordham, Kebrina completed her undergraduate degree at Brooklyn College where she graduated cum laude. She earned a Bachelor of Science with a dual concentration in Business Management and Finance. Upon earning her undergraduate degree, the Brooklyn native worked for several years in management for Macys’ Federated Department Stores. Subsequently, Kebrina became a licensed New York City Public School Teacher. Always dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others, Ms. Carter served her community by working as an educator at P.S. 150 in Brooklyn, NY.
Although her teaching years are behind her, Kebrina is still committed to helping our youth. She often volunteers to speak at local high schools and has recently joined College Awareness Symbolizes Hope (CASH) to mentor high school students as they prepare for college. Kebrina also sits on the board of director for World of Money.org, a non-profit that provides financial literacy workshops for undeserved urban youth. Apart from helping the youth in her community, Kebrina enjoys raising her son, Devon, who attends Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn.
KESHA FRANKLIN
THE BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE- Events, Design, Lifestyle
Kesha Franklin has worked in the Special Events Industry for more than ten years producing and executing national and local events in the corporate, nonprofit, and social arenas. Kesha wields exceptional organizational skills, and a key eye to detail, giving production projects the intricate management attention it deserves while providing client satisfaction. She has long been connected to the entertainment industry and brings her extensive celebrity contacts to enhance the talent procurement services for her clients and her company. She has had the pleasure to work with some of the top names in the film and music industry.
Coupled with her great sense of style, Kesha is a major factor in managing high fashion related events and decor design on projects, which has led her to fulfill her new passion of Interior Design. She has been successfully transforming interior spaces for the past 3 years. The Beautiful Experience was formed to combine her love for events, interior design and fashion. Her motto is to always “Experience Something Beautiful”, when you meet her or attend one of her events beauty is definitely experienced.
Kesha attended Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania. She has received certification in Strategic Event Planning from Baruch College in New York and Floral Design Certification from the Flower School of New York. Kesha is also a proud mother of two and has been happily married for 10 years. She resides in Brooklyn, NY.
THE BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE- Events, Design, Lifestyle
Kesha Franklin has worked in the Special Events Industry for more than ten years producing and executing national and local events in the corporate, nonprofit, and social arenas. Kesha wields exceptional organizational skills, and a key eye to detail, giving production projects the intricate management attention it deserves while providing client satisfaction. She has long been connected to the entertainment industry and brings her extensive celebrity contacts to enhance the talent procurement services for her clients and her company. She has had the pleasure to work with some of the top names in the film and music industry.
Coupled with her great sense of style, Kesha is a major factor in managing high fashion related events and decor design on projects, which has led her to fulfill her new passion of Interior Design. She has been successfully transforming interior spaces for the past 3 years. The Beautiful Experience was formed to combine her love for events, interior design and fashion. Her motto is to always “Experience Something Beautiful”, when you meet her or attend one of her events beauty is definitely experienced.
Kesha attended Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania. She has received certification in Strategic Event Planning from Baruch College in New York and Floral Design Certification from the Flower School of New York. Kesha is also a proud mother of two and has been happily married for 10 years. She resides in Brooklyn, NY.
Heather Hughes
STYLE... UNLEASHED! “MANIFEST what you REPRESENT”
Heather Hughes is an Image Stylist who received her professional training at the world renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Her innate gift of style coupled with her God given mandate to facilitate individuals to “manifest what they represent”, led her to found her image styling company Style...Unleashed! The company’s name articulates Heather’s collaboration with her clients to help them build confidence and esteem by “unleashing” their personal style.
For more than five years, Heather’s styling and wardrobing services have been sought after by premier national and international fashion houses, runway fashion show producers, Broadway Theatre productions, television productions, entertainers and various people from all walks of life. Her clients are consistently ecstatic with Heather’s use of her talents to transform not just their outward appearance but inward self perception. On the corporate level, she effectively assists her clients with the deliberate work of persuasively relaying their brand to the public.
Heather is grateful for the impressive roster of clients she has serviced, but her greatest desire is to empower young people. She seeks to use her “passion for fashion” to be a catalyst for young people to creatively define themselves lest they allow others to define them.
Heather is the proud mother of a sixteen year old entertainer who puts what her mom has taught her into practice. Witnessing her daughter live freely, expressing who she is through her clearly defined style and character, is what brings Heather her greatest joy.
STYLE... UNLEASHED! “MANIFEST what you REPRESENT”
Heather Hughes is an Image Stylist who received her professional training at the world renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Her innate gift of style coupled with her God given mandate to facilitate individuals to “manifest what they represent”, led her to found her image styling company Style...Unleashed! The company’s name articulates Heather’s collaboration with her clients to help them build confidence and esteem by “unleashing” their personal style.
For more than five years, Heather’s styling and wardrobing services have been sought after by premier national and international fashion houses, runway fashion show producers, Broadway Theatre productions, television productions, entertainers and various people from all walks of life. Her clients are consistently ecstatic with Heather’s use of her talents to transform not just their outward appearance but inward self perception. On the corporate level, she effectively assists her clients with the deliberate work of persuasively relaying their brand to the public.
Heather is grateful for the impressive roster of clients she has serviced, but her greatest desire is to empower young people. She seeks to use her “passion for fashion” to be a catalyst for young people to creatively define themselves lest they allow others to define them.
Heather is the proud mother of a sixteen year old entertainer who puts what her mom has taught her into practice. Witnessing her daughter live freely, expressing who she is through her clearly defined style and character, is what brings Heather her greatest joy.
CAROLEE ELAINE RAMSAY (MA, MSc, BSc, Cert.)
Ms Ramsay hails from a land with small geographical space but bold cultural characteristics. These often paradoxical elements aptly describe her personal and professional life. As a higher education administrator, teacher, writer, public manager, and education and communication consultant, these ubiquitous roles have been her underlying life’s philosophy.
Her experience in higher education started at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica as a Lecturer in the Department of Government, and naturally when she migrated to the United States in 2001, she embraced the call to continue molding and shaping young lives. She has taught multiple liberal arts courses at Katharine Gibbs, New York and ASA Institute, New York. Later, she was appointed Chair of the General Education Department at Gibbs until 2009. She is currently an Adjunct Faculty and Writing Consultant at The City College of New York (CUNY) and CEO of Lee Ramsay Education and Communication Consultants (www.leeramsayconsultants.com). Through strategic partnerships with GIHolder Initiatives, she is equipped with an extensive portfolio of world- class workshops and training seminars – backed by more than 10 years of experience.
Ms Ramsay hails from a land with small geographical space but bold cultural characteristics. These often paradoxical elements aptly describe her personal and professional life. As a higher education administrator, teacher, writer, public manager, and education and communication consultant, these ubiquitous roles have been her underlying life’s philosophy.
Her experience in higher education started at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica as a Lecturer in the Department of Government, and naturally when she migrated to the United States in 2001, she embraced the call to continue molding and shaping young lives. She has taught multiple liberal arts courses at Katharine Gibbs, New York and ASA Institute, New York. Later, she was appointed Chair of the General Education Department at Gibbs until 2009. She is currently an Adjunct Faculty and Writing Consultant at The City College of New York (CUNY) and CEO of Lee Ramsay Education and Communication Consultants (www.leeramsayconsultants.com). Through strategic partnerships with GIHolder Initiatives, she is equipped with an extensive portfolio of world- class workshops and training seminars – backed by more than 10 years of experience.
NIKKI B. WEST
PRESIDENT & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, The D.U.C.K Group, Inc.
CO-FOUNDER, RealTeamMomsUSA
AUTHOR, “Shake Up the Planet!” & “COLOR-GIRL”
Nikki B. West is the youngest of 3, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to parents of South American descent. Nikki started her first business at the ripe age of 6 years old. After attending the University of Buffalo, Nikki spent 9 years working in the Advertising and Strategic Marketing field for 2 Fortune 500 companies. During weekends & holidays she studied under the wing of great event designers such as Preston Bailey.
In 2004 she founded Shyy Girl USA, a program geared towards developing and strengthening Self-Expression and Confidence in young women ages 9-17. As the President and Creative Director of "The D.U.C.KGroup, Inc.”, (An organization founded to uplift and enrich the lives of people globally by focusing on the production of film, events, and workshops that encourage, inspire and enlighten others), Nikki's role includes developing and overseeing the creative content and vision of all projects, building client relationships, and adding an ounce of joy to the world each and everyday.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her brilliant son David.
PRESIDENT & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, The D.U.C.K Group, Inc.
CO-FOUNDER, RealTeamMomsUSA
AUTHOR, “Shake Up the Planet!” & “COLOR-GIRL”
Nikki B. West is the youngest of 3, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to parents of South American descent. Nikki started her first business at the ripe age of 6 years old. After attending the University of Buffalo, Nikki spent 9 years working in the Advertising and Strategic Marketing field for 2 Fortune 500 companies. During weekends & holidays she studied under the wing of great event designers such as Preston Bailey.
In 2004 she founded Shyy Girl USA, a program geared towards developing and strengthening Self-Expression and Confidence in young women ages 9-17. As the President and Creative Director of "The D.U.C.KGroup, Inc.”, (An organization founded to uplift and enrich the lives of people globally by focusing on the production of film, events, and workshops that encourage, inspire and enlighten others), Nikki's role includes developing and overseeing the creative content and vision of all projects, building client relationships, and adding an ounce of joy to the world each and everyday.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her brilliant son David.
