Biltmore Who's Who News and Events

Cathleen J. Blair

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Cathleen J. Blair as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Cathleen J. Blair, Executive Director of Children’s Services for Okeechobee County, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Cathleen Blair’s commitment to excellence in Children’s Services.

Blair, who holds a BS in Special Education from Florida State University, followed by an MEd in Specific Learning Disabilities from the University of Georgia, and is certified in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, has spent the last thirty-six years working in the local community of Okeechobee.

As executive director of children’s services, Blair is responsible for the day to day operations of the agency, which include mental health counseling, summer camps, foster care, healthcare, and other needed programs. She develops an annual budget by working with the county commissioners and also partakes in public hearings to discuss the budgets and programs, since they are a taxing authority. She also approves purchases of agencies, develops grant packets and arranges for the council members to understand how the programs are helping the children within the county. “Having had my entire professional life in the community of Okeechobee, many people know what I do and why I do it. They respect my belief that all children can learn and all children should achieve excellence,” Blair explained. “I am extremely organized and passionate about working for the betterment of children.”

Blair’s entire career history has been in education and program development for children. Starting out as a teacher of mentally disabled elementary children, she then moved to a mid-management position and worked with parents of children with disabilities. She then became the director of exceptional student education in 1982 where she continues today. Since 1990, she served as governor appointee for nine years and was appointed by the council to her current position in 2001.

Blair plans to retire soon, but will remain active in numerous programs, including acting as president of the United Way of Okeechobee County. She also plans to continue volunteering within her local community. Currently, she’s a member of the Council of American Special Educators, the Council for Exceptional Students, the National Professional Women’s Association and is the chairperson for the Finance and Building Fund Committee. In her spare time, Cathleen enjoys travelling and reading.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Cathleen J. Blair
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, June 25, 2010

Karen Deadwyler

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Karen Deadwyler as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Karen Deadwyler, Author and CEO of Godly Pleasures, Inc., has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Karen Deadwyler’s commitment to excellence in the field of religious studies.

The self-published author, CEO of her online Christian store, and ministry founder, began her successful career in 2002, after facing a near death experience. Upon being healed and restored, she was inspired by God to start her ministry and pay it forward. “This ministry was started because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people who had faced similar situations or unfortunate circumstances just as I had,” Deadwyler explained. From there, a women’s ministry (Willing Women of Worship Fellowship), a prayer group (Word in Action Intercessory Prayer Group), her business (Godly Pleasures, Inc.), and a church (Glory Temple Ministry), were all formed. She credits her husband, Apostle Ronnie Deadwyler of twenty-three years, “He gave me all the love, support and strength to accomplish these God given goals. As visionary, co-pastor and prophetess of Glory Temple Ministries, Deadwyler’s main goal is to spread the gospel by mentoring, teaching and preaching. As a previous a nurse of twenty-eight years, she has also been inspired to write two books, by combining her two worlds of work and religion into one, comparing natural healing versus the supernatural.

Deadwyler is hosting a book signing at Barnes & Noble’s Bookstores at 240 Route 22 West in Springfield on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 12:00pm for her second book. Five Rights Medication for the Soul, was released in January and published through Godly Pleasures, Inc.. The self-published book is an informative reference that speaks of human rights. “I call them the five rights. And when done according to God’s will and his ways, it will and shall become medication to your soul,” Deadwyler explained. “As a nurse, when we talk about medication and learning how to administer it correctly, we are taught these five rights.”

Deadwyler earned her bachelor’s degree from the International Theological Seminary of California in 2009 and is a licensed practical nurse since 1982. She’s acted as a weekly columnist for The Community Journal, a weekly newspaper in Long Island, New York. She also spent some time as an associate editor for The Gospel News Journal. She’s a citation recipient winner from Nassau County Legislature. Mrs. Deadwyler hopes to open an abused shelter for women and children and a clinic for teenage mothers and women just out of prison in the near future, and currently volunteers and donates to Pastor Yolanda.

For more information on Karen or her two books, His Miraculous Way and Five Rights Medication for Your Soul, visit http://www.godlypleasures.org.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Karen Deadwyler
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Monday, June 21, 2010

Quinn B. Dodds, Sr.

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Quinn B. Dodds, Sr. as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Quinn B. Dodds, Sr., founder and president of Operation Helping Other People Especially-Yourself (HOPE-Y), has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Quinn B. Dodds, Sr.’s commitment to excellence in the Non-Profit industry.

Dodds, who holds an associate’s degree from Savannah Technical College in criminal justice, opened his not-for-profit organization and became incorporated in December, 2009. They are a leading provider for economic tools and services for all humanity that become displaced or homeless.

The charity, which works to implement programs in an effort to help all walks of life become more mainstream in society, advocates on individual’s behalves and promotes their self-esteem, optimism and opportunity.

As founder and president, Dodds is in charge of day to day operations, procurement of grants, employment operations, employment of personnel, fiscal matters, and representing the organization at meetings and events that are beneficial for the success of the organization.

Dodds, a retired federal corrections lieutenant of Gilmer, West Virginia, and US Army disabled war veteran, credits his time served as an infantry soldier in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm to his current success. “The trials and tribulations I encountered since February of 2004,” he said, led to the path he took in founding the non-profit organization.

Hoping to establish a transitional shelter service to assist individuals and families move from crisis into independent living is Dodds’s next mission. He hopes to be able to address social, economic, cognitive and physical needs of those that participate and address their barriers to independent living through group and one-on-one counseling services, case management and legal advocacy services to help them become self-sufficient. “I’d like to provide workshops related to basic life skills building, consumer education, instruction on budgeting and finance, effective decision making, goal setting, and relationship building for the purpose of assisting them in increasing life skills development,” he explained. He also would like to provide referral services for educational information, vocational and post-secondary preparation and opportunities.

Dodds has written a book based on a true story, titled Against All Odds with Jesus Christ. All proceeds are donated directly to Operation HOPE-Y for the development of the shelter. He is the recipient of numerous accommodation awards and achievement metals from the US Army. He is a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge #132 in several houses, including the Knights Templar, 32nd Degree, Eastern Star and a shrine while stationed in Kirch-goens, Germany. He is also an active member at St. Mark Baptist Church where he participates in the Men’s Ministry, Feast of Hope, and Raven by the Brook programs. He volunteered at the Warming Center, which was a temporary shelter for the homeless during the extreme cold weather and also sponsors a child from Uganda.

For more information, visit http://www.operationhope-y.org.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Quinn B. Dodds, Sr.
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, June 4, 2010