Feeling Thankful: A Reflection on Gratitude This Thanksgiving

As I took a moment to reflect on my personal and professional journey this Thanksgiving, I can’t help but feel incredibly grateful for the people who have shaped, supported, and inspired me along the way. Each of you has left a lasting impact on my life, and I want to take the time to acknowledge and thank the incredible individuals and teams who have contributed to my journey.

To my parents, thank you for always pushing me to be better and putting me in the best possible positions to succeed.

To my brother, Vance, thank you for challenging me and always offering a different perspective that helped me grow.

To Mrs. Cain, my third-grade teacher, you made me feel like I could excel in life.

To Mr. David Pleacher, thank you for introducing me to technology and challenging me with problem-solving, sparking my interest in the field.

College Years:

Christopher Newport University laid the foundation for me to expand my horizons, meet incredible people, and build the network and skills that shaped my journey.

To Xavier Rernard Cunningham , thank you for seeing my potential early in my college career, pushing me to be better, and helping me realize that I had the capability to achieve so much.

To Louis Johnson , your leadership, positivity, and commitment to helping others pushed me to unlock my physical potential and succeed both on and off the track.

To Stacy Poe , your positivity and timely conversations taught me so much about myself and kept my drive going.

To the Upsilon Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., especially, Gregory Jones, MSIS, CRISC, CISSP, CISM, CCSP, PMP , Dominik Taylor , Agyeman Bonsu , Kenneth Reid , thank you for seeing my potential, challenging me to focus on weaknesses to make them closer to strengths, and being some of the closest people in my life.

To Valdimir D. Handy, LMHP-R, CSAC (He/Him) , you taught me how to interact with people on a deeper level, understand the “why” behind situations, and make better decisions for myself.

Transitional Period:

These formative years were marked by invaluable support from family, mentors, colleagues, and friends who believed in my potential and pushed me forward.

To my Uncle Burleigh Savage, thank you for believing in me and helping me start my career with that first internship at Hampton University.

To Yamika Brown and Tesha, your friendship, dedication, and passion for helping others inspired me daily.

To Debbie McPherson, your support at Fort Eustis during college and beyond meant so much, allowing me to balance school, work, and growth.

Hampton University:

To Johnathon Williams , thank you for mentoring me during my first internship at Hampton, challenging me, and helping me secure my first role.

To Christopher Vernon , your mentorship, advocacy, and guidance showed me how to thrive in a professional environment.

To James Saunders , sharing an office with you taught me the skills to troubleshoot systems, navigate corporate life, and grow as a professional.

To Chande Campbell and Ki'Endra Mitchell , your help and support throughout our time working together and eventually allowing me to be a voice for our team and department was invaluable.

Genworth:

To Gregory Jones, MSIS, CRISC, CISSP, CISM, CCSP, PMP , thank you for being a friend and mentor who showed me how to build relationships, stay connected with teams, and navigate the corporate world.

To David Lantz , your leadership inspired me, and I’m grateful for the time we worked together.

To Kevin Alston , you inspired me to never settle and to go after more professionally.

Sweetgreen:

To Jerlisa Bowser , you helped me find a position that truly shaped my career, and for that, I’m so thankful. Anytime I needed help, you were always there.

To the Sweetgreen Founders, Nicolas Jammet , Jonathan Neman , Nathaniel Ru , thank you for building an amazing brand and an unmatched culture, allowing me to grow with the company.

To Nick Morgan , thank you for being instrumental in my technical and professional growth. You generously shared your knowledge, helped me build my skills, created opportunities for me to improve, and always stood up for me when it mattered most.

To Molly Appelbaum , thank you for guiding me during my time at Sweetgreen. Your ability to keep me informed and teach me how to have the right conversations with the right people was invaluable. Your support and dedication to our team left a lasting impact, and I truly value the time we worked together.

To Joel Chrisman , thank you for your leadership and for creating an environment at Sweetgreen that fostered both personal and professional growth. Your vision for building a great company and culture was inspiring, and I’m grateful for the opportunities to grow and learn under your guidance.

To Kevin Quandt , Dorian Crenshaw , Devin Ross , and Kareem S. , thank you for being such an incredible support system during my time in LA. You all helped me feel at home in a new place, and I truly valued the opportunity to learn from each of you and build lasting friendships. Your camaraderie, support in the workplace, and collaboration on so many projects made a big difference in my life and career. #SweetkicksForever

To Sadiq Abdulai , thank you for teaching me so much as my first direct report. You helped me understand how to be a good manager, recognize the needs of a young employee finding their way, and support and build someone up in a way that enables them to learn and succeed. Your role was pivotal in shaping my approach to leadership, and I’m grateful for the time we worked together.

To Pete Carvajal , you taught me the power of my decisions and their impact, inspiring me to refine my leadership style.

To Christian Ferreira , working with you made restaurant technology exciting and deepened my passion for this space.

To Melissa Bennett , your leadership and entrepreneurial spirit inspired me, and I’m grateful for the lessons I learned from you.

Beatnic:

To Catey Mark Meyers , thank you for all the direct work we did together. Your collaboration and support made a meaningful impact on my time at Beatnic.

To Phil Crawford , thank you for your mentorship and for always being available when I needed support or expertise. Your confidence and extensive background showed me that I could excel in different positions and embrace the challenges and opportunities in technology.

To Brian Fredlund , thank you for your partnership and dedication to improving our operations. Your attention to detail and commitment to excellence were critical to building such an amazing culture. You have truly impacted my ability to lead effectively and with care.

To Kenny Silvester , Annamária Ferencz , Caitlin Brisson , Tristan S. , and Lucy Duvnjak , thank you for your insight and support. I learned so much from each of you, and can not thank you each enough.

To Lilia Levine , thank you for being someone I instantly connected with at Beatnic. Your support, collaboration, and dedication to our team helped me feel comfortable in the workplace, especially during my transition to New York.

To Rob and Todd Bergman , thank you for your incredible feedback and help in building processes. Your collaboration and support made a huge difference in the work we accomplished together.

To Ana Valencia , thank you for being the first person I met at Beatnic and for bringing such infectious energy to the workplace. Your presence in the store and the environment you created made every visit feel like home, and I truly valued our work together.

Correlation One Data Science 4 All:

The course material, mentorship, and collaboration deepened my skills and passion for data and technology. I have used these data engineering skills extensively in my work and will continue to build on this foundation, finding new ways to utilize data effectively.

DIG:

To Makina Celestine , thank you for your incredible attention to detail and organization. Your dedication during the transition period was truly inspiring, and I deeply appreciate the effort you put into making everything run smoothly.

To Jeff Johnson , thank you for helping me see the bigger picture, both in work and in life. Your support, encouragement, and ability to balance effectiveness with perspective were invaluable.

To Melina Hsiao , thank you for being such an intentional and thoughtful leader. You helped me gain a deeper understanding of myself, my work, and how to make a greater impact on the organization.

To Daniel Kim , thank you for being such a knowledgeable and helpful teammate when I joined DIG. Your expertise in infrastructure and support needs made my transition smoother. You made leading the support team effectively and making an impact possible. I truly valued our conversations and was happy to share all I could with you about networking technology.

To Emma MacPhail , thank you for embodying DIG’s values in everything you do. You joined my team with so much going on, and you were so important to our success. Your hunger to learn and help others has been inspiring, and it’s been a joy to work with you and see your growth throughout your time at DIG.

To Cameron Bersh , thank you for making me feel comfortable as I joined the DIG team. Your early conversations helped me understand the company’s landscape, and our continued work to optimize systems and information has been a key part of the successes we’ve achieved together.

To gwenahees Hayward , thank you for connecting with me through prior relationships and helping me understand the operational side of the business. Your insights were invaluable and helped me pick up on everything quickly.

To Tracy Kim , thank you for showing me what it takes to be a leader in this space. Through our various conversations and collaborative work, I’ve learned so much from you, and your guidance has had a lasting impact.

To Audrey Huntington Pomerantz , thank you for making the experience of working together so rewarding. I’m excited about what we’ll accomplish moving forward and for the opportunity to continue driving success at DIG together.

To Christopher Ables-Sinclair , thank you for always being there and challenging me professionally. Our conversations are always inspiring and helpful, and you have truly made a positive impact on my life in countless ways.

And finally, to Tamara Gillard, MBA , your support, encouragement, and inspiration mean the world to me. You’ve always pushed me to be better while helping me navigate the challenges of balancing life and career. Dealing with the long nights and early mornings to be successful in my career.

Each of you has played a role in my story, and there are so many others who deserve to be a part of this as well. I’m deeply thankful for your impact. Hoping everyone is enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with love, gratitude, and reflection!