Its Real Talk

Bio: 

Ms. B.J. Martin Terrell is married, and a mother of five biological children, five stepchildren, and a host of grandchildren. She was born as a little southern girl in the heart of Mississippi and lived there until nine and a half years of age, then moved to Omaha, Nebraska, with her family. She stayed in Nebraska until her late twenties. B.J. moved to Denver, Colorado, to pursue a degree in Business Management to one day work for herself.

While trying to pay for business school and raising her children became a struggle for her to maintain, so her only option was to drop out of business college. B.J. thought her dream of becoming a business owner was only possible with a business degree. So, she decided to pursue a career in Cosmetology because she had a natural talent for doing hair and making people look and feel their best. While working in the hair industry, she discovered that she could become an entrepreneur as a hair consultant working for herself, and her dedication to the hair industry and hard work led to her becoming a salon business owner of Visions of Beauty. Operating as a hair consultant became a passion for B.J., which led her to return to college and get her bachelor’s degree in psychology to go after a career in the counseling field to help people struggling with substance addiction. She serves in the metro area of Colorado at the Aurora Mental Health and Recovery as a Certified Addiction Technician and AllHealth Network in the behavioral healthcare field as a Recovery Coach. B.J. is a lifelong learner pursuing her education to obtain a master’s degree in clinical Mental Health, minor focus on substance addiction. 

B.J.'s journey encountered many tribulations, challenges, and obstacles that kept her in a spirit of low self-worth and feelings of restraint that led to unfavorable circumstances, which became a hindrance. Still, as she struggled to endure those life restraints, she relied on the Creator God's assistance. With his encouragement, she transformed her life into a Clergywoman, Transformational Life Coach, Counselor, and Community builder. B.J. is the CEO/Owner of UFlourish Empowerment Center, LLC, a coaching business. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge, skills, and experience to help transform the lives of others struggling with spiritual, mental, physical, social, and financial distress. Those years of afflictions and obstructions have allowed my heart to be empowered and equipped with a tenacious and resilient spirit that developed a warrior mentality. And becoming a warrior through the power of the Creator God has shaped her into a skillful Advisor who can motivate and build rapport with people. She is committed to using those skills to inspire, empower, and elevate as many people as possible to move forward and beyond life's adversities and become overcomers of their life challenges. 

Contact info:

www.bjmartinterrell.com

coach@bjmartinterrell.com

uflourishempowerment@gmail.com 

Bio: 

LaShawn was born in Denver Colorado and later moved to Gelhausen Germany at the age of 2 because her father was in the Army. LaShawn came back to the United States 6 years later moved to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri where her and her younger brother sold candy and Kool-Aid to make money. 

LaShawn Marshall started her career as a Tax Preparer for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service in 2009. She worked for Jackson Hewitt for 4 years. After that her Entrepreneurship journey started in 2010 opening Faith Tax Service and becoming a Tax Accountant, and Charity’s House for Women, a nonprofit helping women coming out of the prison system. LaShawn also worked Corporate America as an Administrative Assistant then being promoted Payroll Administrator for one the Largest Traffic Control Companies in the World, RoadSafe Traffic Systems, for 6 years.

While working for RoadSafe LaShawn knew her heart was still in making a difference in the community, volunteering at Agape Christian Food Bank with her grandmother, and mother who served the community over 45 years. LaShawn continued her journey in the Nonprofit world, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Shots for Tots, and numerous other nonprofits all while running her own Nonprofit with a business partner. LaShawn worked as a Peer Specialist Supervisor for Aurora Mental Health Center, being the model and writing the program called (P.A.I.R.) Peer Alliance in Recovery.

LaShawn has been a Certified Paralegal through Blackstone Career Institute since 2006, LaShawn later went on to obtain her Certified Addiction Counselor License in 2019 from Colorado School of Family Therapy. LaShawn then went on to open Loving You Transformation Center helping young girls who suffer from trauma, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking through mentorship, pageantry, entrepreneurship, and self-care.

LaShawn with her Entrepreneur spirit also own a New and Used store by the name of S&L New & Used Accessories in the Five Points Community in Denver employing at risk youth who need a job keeping them out of trouble.

LaShawn has received Making a Difference in the Community Award from Urban Spectrum in 2015.

LaShawn is the former Ms. Colorado Plus (2022), Lady DI Essay Award Winner (2022), from All World Beauties and Man of Distinction Pageant System. She is the current reigning Ms. Columbine State Elite (2023). She will be headed to Dallas Texas on June 27th to compete for her national title. LaShawn uses her pageant platform to empower young girls, women, and men.

LaShawn also works for a Nonprofit called Community Outreach Service Center as the Housing Program Manager and Case Manager to house the underserved, invisible, homeless, and incarcerated individuals to re-enter back into society to become self-sufficient creating generational wealth through Entrepreneurship.