News — black excellence

Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu is a robotics engineer at NASA, where he has served as the chief engineer and technical group leader for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which he joined in 1999. In addition to being a vital part of the JPL, Dr. Trebi-Ollennu was the lead engineer on the InSight Mission, the first deep interior mission on Mars, launched on May 5th, 2018.

Dr. Trebi-Ollennu was born in Accra, Ghana, and traveled to the United Kingdom, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Avionic Engineering in 1991 from Queen Mary University of London. His lingering childhood fascination with planes encouraged him to continue his education at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University in 1996, where he received a Ph.D. in Control Systems Engineering. Dr. Trebi-Ollennu was most fascinated by the science behind replacing human pilots with robots, thus inspiring the 2018 InSight mission in which the robotic arm his team built would go where no human has ever gone before, exploring the frozen water of Mars and deducing how planets form. His past projects on Mars include the Phoenix Mars Exploration Rover in 2003, which resulted in the discovery of water on Mars. In 2007, he worked on the Mars Lander, earning the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal in 2008 for his contributions, the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory, and the InSight Mars Lander project in 2016.

Dr. Trebi-Ollennu is a fellow at the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research at these institutes and at NASA focuses on planetary rovers and their operations, mechatronics, reconfigurable robots, and man-machine interactions.

In 2011, Dr. Trebi-Ollennu founded a non-profit organization called the Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation with the vision of inspiring young Ghanaians in STEM. The organization works to motivate the next generation by facilitating robotics and science clubs in public and private schools, organizing yearly workshops and competitions, and advocating for robotics programs to be a regular part of the school curricula. With over ninety-five publications, Dr. Trebi-Ollennu is a highly accomplished engineer who has changed the field of STEM on an astronomical level, which has earned him several awards such as the IEEE Region 6 Outstanding Engineer Award in 2007, the 2010 Specialist Silver Award from the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the 21st Century Trailblazer Award in Systems Engineering from the U.S.A. National Society of Black Engineers.

Following the passage of the 13th Amendment on January 31, 1865, slavery was officially ended throughout the United States, including in the eleven former Confederate States. Almost immediately governments in these states began a process to reestablish white supremacy in the law. The result was the propagation of so-called “Black Codes” in 1865-1866.

The first Black Codes were enacted in Mississippi following the election of a new state legislature in 1865. Mississippi’s Codes, passed by the state legislature, recognized certain rights for former slaves. However, accompanying restrictions led to severe limitations on the rights of freedmen, while also ensuring that former slaves would continue to be exploited for cheap labor in the state. The primary issues addressed in the codes were civil rights, apprenticeships, vagrancy, and criminal law.

Concerning civil rights, the Mississippi Black Codes allowed freedmen to access the legal system, marry, own property, and contract employment. However, in the courts, Blacks were limited from serving as witnesses in civil cases solely between white litigants. Further, marriage between different races was punishable for both whites and non-whites by life imprisonment. Finally, limits were placed on former slaves’ ability to own property outside of the cities, and therefore, to move from the cities and engage in their own farming or land ownership.

Additionally, freedmen were severely limited in their ability to leave employment and seek out new, better paying employment opportunities. The Mississippi legislature also set criminal and financial penalties against any person who enticed or tried to entice a freedman away from an employment contract. Such limitations made it extremely difficult to seek out better paying jobs or change employment, thereby effectively eliminating true social mobility or autonomy.

Further, under new apprenticeship laws, county law enforcement and civil officials were required to report all free minors of Black or mixed race, who were orphans, or whose parents were unable to provide financial care for them, to the courts. The courts could then order the minors to work as apprentices for individuals whom the courts deemed suitable and competent; however, a minor’s former master had preference. In effect, this provision guaranteed that former owners had preference to ensure that the children of their former slaves would continue to labor for the master.

Similarly, in the vagrancy provisions of the Black Codes, the Mississippi legislature stated that any freedman who was unemployed within two weeks of the new year in 1866, was a vagrant. A vagrant needed to pay a fine, and if the vagrant was unable to pay the fine within five days, then the vagrant would be forced into jail and ultimately into unpaid labor.

Finally, criminal provisions restricted the types of property Blacks could own, as well as the types of property that could be purchased by or sold to Blacks. Again, criminal penalties and jail time would often result in a freedman being hired out.

In response, Congress passed the 14th and 15th Amendments, in 1868 and 1870 respectively. These amendments guaranteed freedmen equal protection under the law and the right to vote. In light of these new guarantees, the Black Codes were no longer operable. However, many of the same restrictions and limitations were again put in place through the propagation of Jim Crow laws throughout the South.

Joshua Nelson is not the everyday scholarship recipient. He is the type of person who truly wants the growth of everyone in his circle while making great strides. Upon receiving a full-ride scholarship to his top college choice, Nelson decided to donate his savings towards college to another student in need.

The St Charles West High School student received the President’s Scholarship of $43,000 that will cover his entire stay in Southeast Missouri State. He will enter their pre-optometry program and major in biomedical sciences.

Nelson is a varsity basketball player and president of the school’s Multi-Cultural Achievement Committee. The 18-year-old has always been on top of his game and lives by the mission of the Multi-Cultural Achievement Committee which “is to encourage students of color to maximize their potential and to become college and career ready.”

He led different empowering workshops such as resume writing, interviewing skills, and strategies to ace college admissions tests.

A school counselor, Yoanda Curry, said everyone is proud of Nelson especially because “he just has a heart for people.”

Cultivating the habit of saving while in high school, Nelson saved more than $1,000 for college. Upon receiving the scholarship, he decided to set up a fund to help a student in need. The Joshua Nelson Leaders In Action Scholarship aims”to help multicultural students who are showing leadership, community service and just have great qualities in and out of the classroom.” Nelson hopes that others would donate to multiply his thousand dollars and make another student’s dream come true. 

Nelson admits he takes pride in helping others because he got help from the community and this is his way to give back. “I really thought it was important to give back to my community that poured in so much to me…Honestly, it makes me feel on top of the world. The fact that I can just help somebody a little bit makes me feel great, and I really want to see other people succeed,” said Nelson.

He has since earned the admiration of his peers. “I think he’s an inspiration to some of the other people at the school, especially students of color. I don’t even think he realizes that he’s doing that much for everyone else as well,” classmate Harmony Hudson said.

“We’re extremely proud of him,” Curry added.

Tiffany Cartwright was an assistant attorney general and administrative law judge for the State of Michigan but she was laid off due to budget cuts in 2012. Cartwright returned to the bench in 2015 but released again in 2016. “I went from University of Michigan Law School, Assistant Attorney General and Administrative Law Judge to unemployed, no health insurance, no money, and a bridge card. I lost everything!,” Cartwright told The Bobby Pen.

For the next weeks and months, she went job-hunting but was unsuccessful. Many jobs felt uncomfortable hiring a former judge while others felt she was overqualified for the job she was applying for. As a result of her unemployment status, Cartwright decided to venture into entrepreneurship. She often created her own body scrubs to clear her daughter’s eczema and even gifted some to her neighbors and other family members. She turned her homemade remedy into her own line of body scrubs.

She founded Amarra Beauty Products and launched her G.L.A.M. body scrubs. The former judge took her product to Shark Tank, made it past auditions, and moved to the next round to pitch Amarra products to the Sharks. After pitching her product on Shark Tank, her business started recording success. She also took advantage of an initiative targeting Black businesses in the U.S. and successfully pitched her products at a 2018 Walmart Open Call.

She got a deal to get her product tested and that was how she landed a move to have her product on the shelves of Walmart. Her G.L.A.M. body scrubs sold out in stores. “When my buyer said yes, I literally cried. They had no idea what I went through just to get there,” Cartwright shared.

Aside from starting a business, Cartwright is also a certified minority and woman-owned small business. She is an author with three books to her credit. She is also a proud mother of two children.

Asked by the website Women Owned what she loved about being a business owner, she responded: “I love the freedom and flexibility afforded and the opportunity to work harder for yourself than any employer, as well as being in a position to bring real change.”

She also advised aspiring entrepreneurs to “never give up on your business, your dreams, your purpose or your vision.”

Tanitoluwa Adewumi, the young New Yorker of Nigerian descent who came into national and international prominence about two years ago after he was discovered as a homeless chess genius, is now reportedly a United States National Chess Master.

The prodigy is still only 10-years-old and a fifth-grader. Adewumi’s new status was reported by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, one of Adewumi’s earliest media hype men. He also reiterated that the former Nigerian refugee still has a roof over his head as well.

According to the website of the body that oversees chess competitions in the US, the United States Chess Federation, the national master title is given “to any player who reaches a rating of 2200. Less than one percent of rated players hold the title. An Original Life Master is a National Master who has played 300 games with a rating [of] over 2200” points accrued from games.

The average age of a US National Chess Master has actually decreased over the decades even though Adewumi is thought to be one of a kind. For those born after 1990, the average US National Chess Master is around 19 years old. Adewumi was born in 2010.

There are growing expectations among those in the chess-playing community that Adewumi could be a Grandmaster (player with 2500 points) before he turns 21. Such has been the meteoric rise of the young boy since 2019.

In late 2019, it was reported that Paramount Pictures have secured the rights to the project around the boy whose family relocated from Nigeria to the States as refugees. Daily Show host, Trevor Noah, is set to produce the biopic.

A film project is not the only thing Adewumi and his family will have about their life. A three-part book is set to be released by W Publishing in 2020 about the travails of the family that had to escape the violence of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The film will be sourced from the books. However, on his part, Noah has yet to comment on his role as a producer through his company, Day Zero Productions.

A photo of a Nigerian-American family has gone viral on LinkedIn after it was posted by one of them earlier this month. It was in commemoration of World Siblings day and Dr. Chinyere Okpaleke decided to share the picture of her siblings who all practice medicine.

The picture is the epitome of Black Excellence; that explains why it earned the admiration of almost 170,000 people on the professional networking platform, with about 6000 comments.

The Okpaleke is a family of nine — six girls, their brother, and parents. They are: Lillian Okpaleke, M.D., Okway Okpaleke, M.D., Chinelo Okpaleke, P.A., Nkiru Osefo, M.D., Ifeoma Okpaleke, N.P., Queenate Okpaleke, N.P. and Chinyere Okpaleke.

Their father, Andrew Okpaleke, M.D., is a retired physician of internal medicine who was in the practice for more than 30 years and their mother, Celina Okpaleke, P.A., has been in the field for over 20 years.

Their parents’ profession had an influence on them and their choice of career which they do not regret. Being immigrants from Nigeria, they made a lot of sacrifices for their families to succeed and have the right foundation to thrive. “We are Nigerian, so we have that cultural background of my parents being immigrants and basically sacrificing coming here for a better life,” Chinyere Okpaleke told Good Morning America. “Their idea of wanting us to succeed came across in how they raised us.”

Chinyere, called Dr. Chi by her patients, is a family medicine hospitalist living in Houston. She said if she had the choice of choosing between her family and that of the Kardashians, she will choose hers a million times over because she is proud of what they do; saving lives.

“If I had to choose between The Okpaleke’s Vs The Kardashian’s… I would choose US every single time.”

“I know our parents and ancestors are beyond proud! We are exactly what their sacrifices were meant for! All glory to God,” she added.

The siblings believe the photo they posted on National Siblings Day will give hope to little ones that have big dreams to pursue them. “I’ve had someone say they printed it out and they have it on their refrigerator so their children can see it as motivation,” Dr. Chi said. “It’s very touching. I’m happy that we’re able to shed some light in today’s world.”

Dr. Charis Chambers idolizes her big brother, Dr. Wesley C. Chambers. Recently, the pair finally got to perform surgery together at their family practice headed by their father, Dr. Crandall Chambers. The brother-sister duo took sibling goals to the next level as they performed a laparoscopic hysterectomy on a patient together.

An ecstatic Dr. Charis shared the moment on Instagram, saying, “Getting to do surgery on any day is an amazing experience. Getting to do surgery with my brother- even more amazing!”

The family practice, Chambers OBGYN in Columbus, GA., is where the three work. Their mother, Charlette Chambers, who passed away in 2017 from cancer, managed the office for 15 years before her passing. The family practically share the same passion and are there to support one another at work and at home.

“This week I got to perform a complex laparoscopic procedure with my brother, Dr. Wesley C. Chambers,” Dr. Charis wrote after the surgery with her brother. “His presence, partnership, and support throughout the case were literally the best gift that he has ever given me as his sister.

“I thank God for the opportunity to surgically treat my patients in need, and especially for the opportunity to do so with family by my side,”  she added.

According to BOTWC, Dr. Charis, Dr. Wesley and Dr. Crandall are all Board certified OBGYNs. Dr. Charis gives all the credit to her father for inspiring her and her brother to follow in his footsteps.

“My father was the first physician that I ever knew and he spoke to us often about his work. I loved how passionate he was about serving his patients and improving their lives with medical or surgical treatment”, she said.

Dr. Charis said this family legacy was made possible by their alma matters.

“We literally wouldn’t be here without our HBCUs. After graduating from Morehouse College, my Dad went on to attend Meharry College of Medicine. It was there that he decided to pursue a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology,” she wrote on Instagram.

As the home is the first place of socialization for every child and the formative years most often determine the outcome of the child, it is a delight to see Black families making waves for all the right reasons. Black parents ought to be the best role models for their children.  

Almost everyone knows what the Global Positioning System (GPS) is and how it has changed the way people navigate the world.

Incorporated into several devices such as cars and cell phones, as well as, social media, this technological system allows accurate determination of geographical locations which makes navigation easier as compared to the past.

Yet, not everyone knows about Gladys West and the pivotal role she played in birthing the GPS. Not a household name, interest in the 87-year-old mathematician increased when she wrote a biography for a sorority function in which she outlined her invaluable contribution – one of the few women who worked towards the development of the GPS in the 1950s and 1960s.

For 42 years, West worked with a team of engineers that developed the GPS before retiring in 1998.

When she was hired in 1956 as a mathematician at the U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory, she did not know that her subsequent work at the Navy base in Virginia would change the world.

Before becoming one of a small group of women who did computing for the U.S. military in the absence of electronic systems, West worked as a math teacher for two years in Sussex County.

This was after she had earned a scholarship to Virginia State College (now University), where she graduated at the top of her class.

After obtaining her master’s degree, she joined the Dahlgren, Virginia naval base in 1956, where she became one of only four black employees, according to a report by the Associated Press.

One was a mathematician named Ira West, and the two dated for 18 months before they married in 1957, the report added.

West’s work at Dahlgren involved collecting data from orbiting satellites that would help to determine their exact location as they transmitted from around the world.

She would then input the data into giant computers that could fill entire rooms while working on computer software that ensured that calculations for surface elevations and geoid heights were accurate.

West worked long days and nights doing such complex calculations and recording data, yet she was “ecstatic” about her role, she told the AP, as she was able to “work with some of the greatest scientists working on these projects.”

“When you’re working every day, you’re not thinking, ‘What impact is this going to have on the world?’ You’re thinking, ‘I’ve got to get this right,’” the Richmond native and daughter of field workers added.

Her hard work earned her recognition by her supervisor,
Ralph Neiman, who recommended her for a commendation in 1979 – project manager for the Seasat radar altimetry project.

Seasat was launched in 1978 and was the first satellite designed for remote sensing of oceans with synthetic aperture radar.

“This involved planning and executing several highly complex computer algorithms which have to analyze an enormous amount of data,” Neiman wrote. “You have used your knowledge of computer applications to accomplish this in an efficient and timely manner.”

Captain Godfrey Weekes, a then-commanding officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, recently summed up the fundamental role played by West.

“She rose through the ranks, worked on the satellite geodesy and contributed to the accuracy of GPS and the measurement of satellite data,” he said.

After a life of complex calculations and data analysis, West retired in 1998 and although it was reported that she suffered a stroke, she soon recovered and was able to further her education to earn a doctorate.

Twenty years after her retirement, the mathematics genius has now been officially honoured for her hard work. On December 6, she was presented with the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers award for her decades of contributions to the Air Force’s space program.

The award is one of Air Force’s Space Commands highest honours. “It pays tribute to the leaders of the early years of the Air Force space program, as well as the subsequent innovators whose vision and perseverance overcame the obstacles of the unknown, those who transformed the cutting edge of technology into operational systems, and those who dedicated their lives to exploring space in support of our national security concerns,” said Black Press USA.

West’s recognition has been received with much excitement but what should interest many people is the fact that she is still doing her calculations.

Even though she uses the GPS when travelling, she still prefers to refer to a paper map since “the data points could be wrong or outdated.”

Clark Atlanta University’s first-year student, Emory Pruitt, continues soaring up high the academic ladder despite the obstacles that have come her way, and she is a testament to the fact that age is just a number when it comes to setting your sights on achieving success.

Though this year has been very challenging particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous setbacks that it has come with, that hasn’t deterred Pruitt from reaching yet another incredible milestone in her life.

After enrolling at the Clark Atlanta University at the age of fifteen in Fall 2020, Pruitt wrote her name in the history books as she became one of the youngest students in the HBCU’s history, as well as the youngest student in recent memory, the university said in a statement.

A commendable feat, Pruitt, however, did not have it easy. Back in high school, the Tennessee native, who graduated with a commendable 3.7 GPA, became an object of ridicule and was also racially targeted just for having big ambitions. Nevertheless, she was still able to sail through with some encouragement and backing from her family.

“It actually was the dedication and my family that pushed me each day,” Pruitt, now 16, said. “I should thank the people that doubted me; that just made me work even harder.” 

In an effort to ensure she had a hassle-free high school education devoid of any bullying whatsoever, Pruitt’s mother, Karen, ultimately decided to enroll her in online classes at Penn Foster High School. Karen told the university that decision eventually paid off as her daughter stuck to her books.

“I know that this was the best choice to protect her and her feelings; no one should have to defend the color of their skin,” Karen said.

Talking about her daughter’s enrolment at the university, Karen said: “Words would not be able to describe how thrilled and excited she was to have come across a dream come true.”

Though classes for the 2020-21 academic year are currently being held online due to safety and health reasons as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university says the teen is adjusting to college life just fine.

“We are honored that this exceptional young woman chose Clark Atlanta University to continue her studies and we look forward to supporting her through all of her endeavors,” Associate Vice President/Dean of Admissions, Lorri Saddler, said. “Ms. Pruitt has already accomplished so much in just 16 years and we know she’ll continue to build on her successes.”

Pruitt also has some company as her brother, Elijah, also gained admission to the university for the 2020 academic year.

Lockdown unearthed a lot of talents and brought forth innovation at its best as many sought ways to survive time in isolation. Wole Soyinka used his time to break his almost 50 years novel hiatus and has announced the release of a new novel.

The brilliant Nigerian writer and political activist, who has been very critical about happenings within Nigerian politics and Africa in general, was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986.

With over 50 pieces of work, his writings include two novels, The Interpreters, in 1965 and Season of Anomy, in 1973. He has also written poems, memoirs, and essays that capture his cultural traditions and use of rich language.

The lockdown inspired novel, Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth, is the third one by the prolific writer. The 524-page book is set to be released on December 1, 2020.

Soyinka’s publisher, Bookcraft, speaks highly of the novel, according to The Guardian. “This novel has got everything – friendship and betrayal; faith and treachery; hope and cynicism; murder, mayhem and no shortage of drama, all set against the backdrop of contemporary Nigeria,” said the publisher.

“As you would expect from a Soyinka work, it’s got plenty of colourful characters, profound insights, witty commentary, and the most elegant language.”

Soyinka is known to be extra creative when in a confined location. His stint in prison in 1967 made his writing even louder. Soyinka was arrested for illegally visiting the secessionist territory Biafra in 1967. He had met with the secessionist leader, military governor Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Enugu in 1966, and was forced to go into hiding as he was labeled a spy during the civil strife between the Nigerian government and Biafra.

In prison, despite the lack of writing materials, he was able to produce a significant body of poems and notes criticizing the Nigerian government. Some of his works, including The Lion and The Jewel, The Trials of Brother Jero and The Strong Breed were produced in Ghana and New York. 

In an interview with This is Lagos, Soyinka revealed that the lockdown period did not stifle his creativity, rather, it enabled him to write a new novel and do theater work again as he is set to co-direct a revival of his play Death and the King’s Horseman in Lagos this December.

Soyinka’s writings and drama truly reflect the goings-on in the cultural and political life of Africans. His philosophical plays include The Road (1965) and Death and the King’s Horseman (performed 1976, published 1975).

The Nigerian playwright and poet continues to engage in political activism, highlighting the different situations people of Nigeria and other Black people are going through in the world. He recently came to the limelight for tearing up his green card days after American President Donald Trump was elected.

For many Black-owned businesses in the U.S., the coronavirus pandemic led to a scale back in production. This has resulted in the collapse or the near-collapse of many Black-owned businesses. While some struggle to make sales or post profit, some Black businesses have managed to make good sales.

Such is the success story of the entrepreneur behind ‘Black Girl Sunscreen (BSG),’ a lotion that helps protect the skin of people of color from the sun. In founding the company in 2016, Shontay Lundy was initially skeptical about the chances of her business idea as she wanted to target only women of color. Nonetheless, she persisted with the firm belief that she is bringing something unique to the market.

Due to the presence of melanin in the skin of Black women, many do not see the need for a lotion to protect them against the sun rays when they are at the beach or outside, unlike whites and albinos. But the risk paid off for Lundy. BSG has recorded high sales since COVID-19 became widespread in the U.S.

In May, she raised $1 million in private investor funding, according to Forbes, after a successful sales and marketing that focused on the complexion needing sunscreen. Her company is now valued at $5 million, Forbes added. In addition, over 200 target stores across the U.S. sell the BGS SPF 30 and BGS Kids SPF 50.

How did it all start for Lundy? It was fueled by her ambition to have a sunscreen that caters to the skin of Black women. She told Business Insider: “I knew that there had to be a solution to the lack of options. The journey began to find a solution for eliminating white residue and making women of color feel great and look great in the sun.”

“Normally, Black people don’t wear sunscreen because we weren’t taught to do so,” she said. “I didn’t know if anyone would purchase Black Girl Sunscreen however, I did know that I couldn’t be the only Black girl that was looking for sunscreen.”

When the pandemic began ravaging Black-owned businesses, she and her team adopted an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to stay afloat. “I told the team we need to change the narrative and be very nimble to survive this,” she told Forbes.

They also capitalized on social media by boosting their presence and adopted new strategies to attract customers in addition to working for long hours to maximize sales and attend to growing demands. The strategy paid off as orders have skyrocketed since the pandemic.

Traditionally, Black women struggle to raise funds to finance or start their business. According to Forbes, they receive only 0.2 percent of venture funding. For Lundy, having $1 million invested in her company was something she worked hard for in the last three years.

“Women helping women flourish vital to me, so it felt natural. This investment is just the start! But it will help Black Girl Sunscreen reach its full potential by bringing our ideas to life!” she said.

Black Girl Sunscreen uses no parabens, or other harmful chemicals while infusing the finest ingredients to shield and moisturize your melanated skin without the dreaded white residue common with most sunscreens.

Few companies will pay taxes if they had their way. For companies with large holdings, filing their tax return is a major headache while others devise means to avoid paying taxes or reduce the amount of tax they pay by filing for bankruptcy or using other financial accounting tactics.

Small and medium scale businesses are often regarded as the backbone of any country’s economy. However, one of the challenges affecting the sustainability of small businesses is taxes. In many cases, SMEs overpay taxes while others do not understand how the system works.

Some tax experts turn to accuse small business owners of using amateur tax preparers, accountants and others who do not provide proper tax-related information for them. To help many businesses overcome this particular challenge, Michel Valbrun, the founder of The Valbrun Group, a black-owned accounting firm, is proving a legal and ethical way to reduce their tax burden.

The company provides services to individuals and businesses to help them in their tax preparation, accounting and tax planning. In 2019, it reportedly saved businesses more than $8 million in accumulated lifetime tax savings in a legal and ethical manner. 

Who is Michel Valbrun?

The certified accountant was born in Miami, Florida to two Haitian parents who migrated to the United States to live the “American Dream.” He became a graduate of the University of Florida with an Accounting degree and went on to become a certified CPA. 

He started his career at Ernst and Young serving Fortune 500 companies through advisory, audit, accounting, and tax. He later worked for other accounting firms. Valbrun has always loved business and entrepreneurship, something he inherited from his parents who owned their own tax practice in Miami, Florida.

Driven by the desire to help individuals achieve financial independence, he began organizing workshops and seminars on how to achieve financial freedom. He then scaled it up by opening his own accounting firm.

“My mission is to bring my experience, knowledge and expertise to clients in a valuable way,” he said. “I’ve teamed up with some of the greatest minds in the legal, financial planning and accounting fields to bring my clients advanced tax strategies and planning. My clients benefit from time-tested, advanced strategies that most accountants have never heard of.”

Some of Valbrun’s biggest role models include Les Brown, Eric Thomas, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Daymond John, Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, Grant Cardone, Gary Vaynerchuck, Oprah Winfrey, and many more people, he told VoyageATL.

“My greatest supporter is my wife, Racquel. She has always supported me, even when we were friends and she continues to support me on this journey. My clients are amazing and continue to help me by providing referrals and testimonials. My mother and aunt played a significant role in my life and are true heroes for raising me and my sisters,” he added.