Dr. Stephanie Ricks
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Atlanta Black Business Week
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Dr. Stephanie Ricks conceived the idea of Atlanta Black Business Week on September 1, 2021. Without delay, she promptly completed the necessary paperwork to establish an LLC and harbored grand ambitions for bringing her vision to life. Despite staying updated with the LLC registration, other pressing matters took precedence, causing ABBW to remain dormant for approximately two and a half years. However, during a prophetic brunch in January 2024, it was foretold that significant changes were on the horizon for her life. It wasn't until February 2024 that ABBW resurfaced in her thoughts. Determined to ascertain if the name had been trademarked, Dr. Ricks initiated the trademarking process, assembled her team, and the rest, as they say, is history in the making.
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About Dr. Stephanie
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Transitioning from a distinguished career as a Higher Education Professor to a dynamic Real Estate Professional, Dr. Stephanie brings over sixteen years of invaluable experience in academia to her new venture. Her journey has seen her lead pivotal functions in enrollment management, graduate admissions, financial aid, and serving in pivotal roles such as university registrar and esteemed faculty member, specializing in mass communications. Driven by a deep-seated commitment to empowering individuals, Dr. Stephanie has played a pivotal role in guiding thousands of students across five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at various academic levels. Her tireless efforts have been focused on aiding students in defining their academic paths, ensuring fulfillment of requirements, and championing the attainment of educational aspirations.
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Transitioning her expertise seamlessly into the realm of real estate, Dr. Stephanie is singularly dedicated to equipping her clients with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in buying, selling, investing, or developing properties. Drawing upon her rich skill set cultivated in education, she places paramount importance on fostering robust community relationships, exhibiting strong leadership, facilitating clear communication, and meticulously attending to details, all to provide her clients with optimal solutions tailored to their real estate objectives. Specializing in commercial real estate, particularly within retail, mixed-use, and multi-family sectors, Dr. Stephanie is passionately committed to illuminating the potential for wealth accumulation through diverse real estate portfolios and the establishment of thriving wealth-building enterprises.
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On a personal note, Dr. Stephanie Ricks holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University, a Master of Arts in Communication Arts from Austin Peay State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication and Theater from THE Tennessee State University. She is the co-owner (with her son, Delton White) of White Ricks Realty, founder of WR Real Estate Academy (approved by the Georgia Real Estate Association), and the visionary behind the Ricks Shaw Promise. Additionally, Dr. Stephanie is a published author of two books.
Actively engaged in her community, she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter. Lastly, Dr. Stephanie is the devoted mother of her beloved son, Delton, who illuminates her life with boundless joy and pride.
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Obinna "Obi" Oraefo
President & CFO
Obinna “Obi” Oraefo is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in accounting, sales, marketing, and data analysis. He graduated from Shaw University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management, laying the foundation for his successful career. With over a decade of experience in accounting, Obi has honed his skills and developed a keen understanding of financial management.
Currently serving as the Sales and Marketing Director of Spirit Chasers LLC, Obi demonstrates his strategic prowess and leadership abilities by driving growth and innovation within the company. His dynamic approach to sales and marketing has contributed significantly to Spirit Chasers LLC's success in the competitive market.
In addition to his role in sales and marketing, Obi excels as a data analyst, leveraging his analytical mindset to derive actionable insights and inform business decisions. His proficiency in interpreting complex datasets and identifying trends has proven invaluable in optimizing operational efficiency and driving profitability.
Throughout his career, Obi Oraefo has exemplified a commitment to excellence and a passion for driving results. With his multifaceted skill set and unwavering dedication, he continues to make significant contributions to the organizations he serves, earning him recognition as a trusted leader and expert in his field.
Dr. Shanita Brown
EVP & Chief Learning Officer
Dr. Shanita Brown has over 20 years of experience leading teams that far surpass expectations while serving the community in both higher education and healthcare. As Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services at Southwest Tennessee Community College from 2017 to 2022 she served the largest population of minority and disadvantaged students in the state of Tennessee. In this role she oversaw Recruitment, Admissions, Records and Financial Aid. As a result of her efforts to streamline processes surrounding the enrollment, financial aid, and graduation processes, the College experienced an increase in enrollment and graduation rates.
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Previously, she led the outreach efforts of Meharry Medical College’s IMPACT4Health program, working to develop partnerships with industry and the K-12 community to increase the number of minorities and economically disadvantaged populations in health science careers. Her work there garnered both local and national awards for the College. Prior to her work with the IMPACT program, she served in various positions in higher education which included Registrar, Associate Registrar and Executive Director of Admissions. Her tireless work there resulted in the enhancement of technology services for constituents, greater workflow efficiency for staff, and significant increases in customer service ratings.
After almost two decades in higher education, Dr. Brown moved on to healthcare, where she now owns and operates True Alliance Healthcare, LLC, a home care agency committed to providing quality care for individuals in the West Memphis, Arkansas community. She has committed her professional life to leading organizations that serve disadvantaged populations.
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Because of her interest in improving the communities in which she serves through education and empowerment, Dr. Brown has also performed research that focused on postsecondary education attainment among disadvantaged student populations, and factors that contributed to the college-going decisions of rural high school students. She has also hosted countless training opportunities within her community, providing leadership training to women seeking career advancement.
Dr. Brown holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Tennessee State University.
She resides in Memphis, Tennessee with her husband and three children. She also has a daughter who resides in New Jersey.