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Summer Academy 2010
"GMF Star Power"
Dates TBA
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{History} {Mission & Vision} {Executive Summary}
{Founder} {SOE New York}

GMF FOUNDER - BRENDA J. JOHNSON

Brenda is the founder and CEO of The Gold Medallion Foundation, a non-profit community based organization based in Columbus Ohio. In addition, Mrs. Johnson is the founder of Training by Design, LLC, a training and development enterprise whose focus is to bring customized leadership workshops and image development training to the marketplace. Her "Living With Class," training modules have popularity with adult audiences who want to train to excel and succeed. Brenda is a Communications and Fashion Merchandising graduate of West Virginia State College. She was ordained to the Christian ministry in January of 2000.

Mrs. Johnson is a Protocol and Image Specialist who has been an educator and trainer for over 15 years. She is known for her captivating and congenial style as well as her passion and dedication to community outreach. She has enjoyed radio & TV appearances including a TBN interview in March of 2009 focusing on Teens At Risk/sexual exploitation and health issues. Mrs. Johnson was honored by Purpose Magazine in 2001 with the "Fashion Excellence Award" for her accomplishments as a fashion editor.

The Gold Medallion Foundation is the parent organization of "The S.O.E. Academy" (an acronym for The School of Esther), a social and life-skills development academy for boys and girls ages 13-17. Youth programs are designed to build strong character and encourage the mastery of vital social skills for purposeful living. Key topics include Public Speaking, Job Readiness, Street Smarts, Telephone and Dining Etiquette, Financial Literacy, Building Positive Male/Female Relationships, and Social Dance.

As a former Executive Board member of the Miss North Carolina Pageant Association and a former pageant coach and judge for the Miss North Carolina preliminaries, Miss America Pageant, Brenda has worked exclusively with young women as they pursued dreams of excellence. In 1992, she founded Women Empowered, a North Carolina Christian women's conference.

Mrs. Johnson continues to impact diversified audiences as she seeks to inspire and encourage personal growth and positive change. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. Brenda resides in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, The Rev. Dr. Lonnell E. Johnson. The Johnsons are the parents of two daughters, Melissa and Angela.