A woman of many talents and interests, BerNadette is an author, entrepenuer, innovator, educator, and a consultant. She is also the Founder & CEO of her own growing sport company - Blossom Sports & Consulting, LLC. BerNadette possesses over 15 years of experience working in various physical activity and health-related settings. In 1995, she graduated Cum Laude from South Carolina State University (SCSU) with a B.S. degree in Physical Education. In 1997, she received a M.S. degree in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Sport Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L). In 2002, she graduated with Honors from the United States Sports Academy with a Doctor of Sport Management degree. Additionally, in an effort to expand her knowledge of legal issues in the sport industry, BerNadette enrolled in North Carolina Central University's presitigous law program.
BerNadette's professional accomplishments have been featured in various media outlets including her inclusion in the 2008 Inaugural Edition of Who's Who in Black Charlotte publication and a televised interview on Time Warner Cable's Sportstime show, which aired in Orangeburg, SC in 1997. She has been featured in numerous articles in the Times and Democrats newspaper (Orangeburg, SC) and most recently was featured in the Charlotte Post (Charlotte, NC). She has also appeared in printed and electronic alumni publications for two of her alma maters: SCSU and UW-L. Additionally, BerNadette has been a guest interviewee on SCSU's WSSB 90.3 FM radio station on several occasions.
BerNadette is affiliated with numerous professional organizations including: the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (HPERD), SDAAHPERD, and AAHPERD. She is also a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa, the American Association of University Women, the Sport and Law Recreation Association, and the United States Golf Association.
As a physical educator certified in both North and South Carolina, she aims to motivate youth to live healthy and physically active lifestyles. She has utilized her expertise and experiences to implement a number of physical activity-related programs, including a collaborative dance program for elementary school students, family wellness program, and an afterschool physical activity and mentoring program for adolescent females called Project Blossom.
As a result of her professional excellence in the sport and education fields, BerNadette was named the 2008 recipient of the UW-L Multicultural Alumni Award by her alma UW-L and also served as a guest speaker for the graduate school commencement exercises. She is also a 2008 inductee into the Physical Education Hall of Fame at SCSU. In 2006, she was named a recipient of the Who's Who Among America's Teachers Award and was named the recipient of the Health and Fitness Association's Young Professional Award in 2002. She is also the former two-time recipient of SCSU's Department of Health and Physical Education "Teacher of the Year" Award.
BerNadette's passion for writing emerged when at the mere age of 13, she submitted a letter to the editor of Ebony magazine that was published in the July 1987 issue. In July of 2007, she co-authored a personal wellness book titled "I Don't Mean to Smash Your Tomatoes, Honey!" This book features a compilation of essays and poems composed by 18 professional women. The essays and poems are based upon a myriad of life topics relevant to men and women of all races, ages, religions, genders, and backgrounds.
In addition to writing, BerNadette immensely enjoys traveling. Her fondness of traveling began when she traveled to Russia as a Student Ambassador while enrolled in high school. Her passion for traveling has provided her with the opportunity to visit 37 out of the 50 states, as well as numerous countries. In her spare time, BerNadette enjoys participating in a variety of adventurous activities. She and her husband Don reside in Charlotte, NC.
