Homegrown Headlines: Tiffany Tarpley’s Mission to Inform, Inspire, and Uplift Cleveland
Witten by: Tyisha Blade Tiffany Tarpley is a seasoned journalist with more than 20 years of broadcast experience, currently anchoring Good Morning Cleveland on News 5. A proud Lorain native, Tarpley returned to the Cleveland area in 2024 after several years in Toledo, driven by her desire to be closer to family and continue growing her career in the city she always hoped to thrive in. “Cleveland has always been where I wanted to really thrive in my career,” she says. “I am grateful to have the opportunity
Rickell Howard Smith | A Voice for Justice
By: Kristopher Jackson Photo by Game Day Communications Rickell Howard Smith has spent her career standing at the intersection of justice, dignity and opportunity. As president and chief executive officer of YWCA Greater Cincinnati, she leads one of the region’s most respected organizations with a steady focus on eliminating racism, empowering women and building systems that allow families to thrive. Her path to leadership was shaped by both purpose and preparation. A Cincinnati native and graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Howard Smith left home to study international business
Redefining Power, Purpose, and Possibility in the Practice of Law
By: Kristopher Jackson Photo by Paul Williams III In a profession long defined by tradition, Kobi Kennedy Brinson has become a force of transformation. A partner at Winston & Strawn LLP and one of the nation’s most respected corporate litigators, Brinson has spent more than 30 years proving that excellence and equity are not opposing forces—they are essential partners in progress. When Brinson was elected to Winston & Strawn’s Executive Committee nine years ago, she made history as the first African American woman to serve in the firm’s 170-year
Sabrina Brathwaite Wilson | Redefining Wealth, Leadership, and Legacy
By: Kristopher Jackson For Sabrina Brathwaite Wilson, Senior Financial Advisor, Senior Vice President, and Resident Director at Merrill’s Uptown Charlotte office, finance has never been just about numbers — it’s about people. Her journey into the financial services industry wasn’tplanned; it was, as she describes, “a calling that found me.” “I knew I loved helping people,” she reflects. “Someone saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I started out as an assistant, and I realized I could have an impact on people’s financial education and help
Serving Black Excellence in the Pulpit and Beyond
By Loán C. Lake Photo by P. A. Greene Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is an example of innovative leadership and Black excellence. She commands the stage and the pulpit, drawing all eyes and ears to her presence because she has something profound to say. Some may say it is luck, but these traits are rooted in McKenzie’s DNA. She is the granddaughter of Baltimore Afro-American newspaper publisher Carl J. Murphy and Vashti Turley Murphy, one of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated’s twenty-two founders. Most notably, however, McKenzie made history for
Redefining Success Through Wealth and Well-Being
Photo by Ira Graham By Kristopher Jackson In a world where success is too often measured by profit margins and accolades, Dr. Elizabeth Joy is proving there is another way. A visionary leader, researcher and advocate, she has built a career that blends the compassion of social work with the precision of business strategy — showing that wealth and well-being are not opposites, but powerful partners. Dr. Joy’s journey began not in a corner office but in child welfare, where she worked as a caseworker. Those early years exposed her
Leading with Purpose, Philanthropy, and Resilience
BY Jacqueline Killen PHOTO BY Ross Van Pelt Growing up in the rust belt town of Massillon, Ohio, Melissa Blount-Garner learned early the power of resilience, faith and community. Raised by parents who instilled confidence and a commitment to excellence, Melissa has carried those values throughout her more than two-decade career in financial services—emerging as a transformative leader in community development, corporate responsibility and philanthropy. Today, Blount-Garner serves as Senior Vice President and Head of Philanthropy at Fifth Third Bank, where she plays a pivotal role on the leadership
Who’s Who In Black Columbus Announces the Inaugural Women of Excellence Celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Trudie Cloyd, Director of Operations, Who’s Who In Black Email: tcloyd@realtimesmedia.com Date: February 25, 2026 COLUMBUS, OH — Who’s Who In Black Columbus is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever Women of Excellence celebration, a premier platform honoring black women whose leadership, vision, and service transform and elevate Central Ohio. Set to debut this spring, Women of Excellence Columbus will spotlight 50 remarkable women who are shaping industries, uplifting communities, and paving pathways for future generations. For the first time, Metro-Columbus will gather hundreds of community
Leslie Bauknight Nixon: A Legacy of Leadership, Service, and Impact
By Leslie Nixon Photo by Ira Graham Community involvement has always been at the heart of Leslie Bauknight Nixon’s journey. Raised in New Jersey, Nixon’s early years were shaped by her active participation in Girl Scouts, an experience that ignited a lifelong passion for personal achievement and service to others. That same spirit continues today through her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where service to all mankind remains a guiding principle. With more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, volunteer program development, and philanthropic initiatives,
The Women of Excellence Awards – Columbus Nominations
The Women of Excellence Awards – Columbus proudly celebrates local African American women who inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and commitment to community service. These are women who exemplify extraordinary stature, poise, and grace — balancing the many roles they carry as leaders, professionals, mentors, mothers, and pillars of their communities. As we launch this distinguished celebration in 2026 for the first time in Columbus, we will induct our inaugural class of honorees — women who are champions of economic empowerment and diversity, the