STEMedia Podcast

Episode 21 - Building a Business in the Construction Industry (Interview w/ James Sampson)

James Sampson is the Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of One Day Came Inc., a Black-owned construction company in Florida. He has over ten years of construction industry experience managing projects ranging from $500,000 to $50 million. He has been in business at One Day Came, Inc since 2007. Holding an Electrical Engineering degree, James has been able to master his craft and make the transition to successful businessman. Take a moment to enjoy this episode!

Episode 20 - Helping Relationships with Dessert & Discussion (Interview w/ Alex Merritt)

Alex Merritt is the creator and host of Dessert & Discussion who is affectionately known as The LOVE Engineer --- Dessert and Discussion is an engaging unscripted discussion between men and women about love, sex, and relationships. Ms. Merritt earned her bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). In 2010, Missouri S&T and the Sacramento Observer named her one of “30 Future Leaders under 30.” As an author and speaker, Ms. Merritt has been featured in several leading publications such as the NSBE magazine, Sparkman, and St. Louis American.

Episode 19 - Removing Innovation Deserts from Our Communities (Interview w/ Felecia Hatcher)

Felecia Hatcher is on a mission to rid our communities of innovation deserts by working with community leaders and government officials to create inclusive and diverse startup ecosystems as the Co-Founder of Code Fever and Black Tech Week. Code Fever work is at the intersection of economic development and inclusive innovation. As an Author, Social Entrepreneur and the Chief Popsicle of Feverish Ice Cream, Hatcher was named one of the Empact 100 Top 100 Entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by the White House and Kauffman Foundation in 2011, a 2014 White House Champion of Change for STEM Access and Diversity, a Black Enterprise Innovator of the Week, Essence Magazine Tech Master, and featured on the NBC Today Show, The Cooking Channel, & Grio’s 100 African American’s Making History.

Listen to some of her creative and insightful experiences in entrepreneurship in this episode!

Episode 18 – Social Media Mastery with LiveWire Collaborative (Angela Pitter Interview)

A technologist at heart, Angela connects people with technology in a humorous and non-intimidating manner. Angela is Founder and CEO of LiveWire Collaborative, a social media consultancy. Their services includes Social Media Training for corporations or organizations, one-on-one Executive Coaching, Social Media Analysis, as well as Strategy Development and Implementation for mid-size businesses. Additionally, Angela has trained several hundred professionals on hot topics such as “How to” Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and There’s an App for That! Prior to LiveWire Collaborative, Angela spent the past 20 years in high-tech and brings extensive experience leading global teams and products to market. Angela has spoken at the Massachusetts Conference for Women and was featured on the TV series, Our World.

Listen in on some of the value she has to share from her experience; here on the podcast!

Episode 17 – Living "The Kinetic Life" in order to Drive Influence (Interview w/Mel Mitchell)

Melerick “Mel” Mitchell believes we all have the power and obligation to influence the world for the better. In 2009, Mel founded Drive Influence to serve current executives as well as their rising talent, teams, and organizations in a wide range of industries including start-us, NGOs governments, and corporations to accelerate performance through his Kinetic philosophies. He also has a wide range of volunteer and leadership experience including serving as the 2014-2015 National Professionals Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Listen to him share his story about how he began to Drive Influence of his own!

Episode 16 – How Intellifunda created a motivational tutoring app that helps students succeed in Math (w/ Dr. Maria T Earle)

Dr. Maria T. Earle is CEO and Founder of IntelliFunda.  Intellifunda designs motivational practice tutoring apps.  IntelliFunda’s vision is to become known as a world-class Tech-Ed company offering superb customer-facing products at an affordable price. The first offering is called MathFunda; a math practice app that helps middle school students with math proficiency.

Listen to this episode and find out how her previous experiences in entrepreneurship led her to this exciting new venture!

Episode 15 – Helping Girls have a Foundation “INTech” with User-Centered Design Professional, Khalia Braswell

Khalia Braswell has been a User Experience professional for several years creating responsive web user interfaces for enterprise solutions and startups. She applies User Centered Design concepts to technology solutions, which she has learned through experience as a User Experience Engineer at Apple, as well as, in the classroom while obtaining her Masters in Information Technology with a Concentration in Human Computer Interaction at UNC Charlotte. Khalia also founded the INTech Foundation, an organization that targets girls of color ages 10-13 to inform and inspire them to innovation in the technology industry.

Check out her story!

Episode 14 - How this Solopreneur Became a SAP Consultant for some of the Biggest Brands in the Game! (Interview w/Richard Z. White)

Richard Z. White has over 20 years as SAP certified Basis Consultant,  and  over 25 years designing, delivering and developing integrated solutions.  His development expertise includes delivering database, Internet, and imaging solutions to a variety of industries. He has served as technical lead on numerous Large scale implementations, partnering with  the likes of Black & Decker ,  Discovery Channel, Grainger, PepsiCo, Coca Cola Bottling, and many more.
In addition, Richard is national board member for the National Society of Black Engineers and has worked with major educational institutions and to develop technologies and programs to increase the representation of minorities in engineering.

You gotta listen to this Interview!

Episode 13 – A Business housing the Brilliance of Musical Artist, Speaker, Forest Scientist, Professor, and Pastor Dr. Thomas Easley

Dr. Thomas R. Easley is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He has held positions with the US Forest Service and other non-profits. Easley serves as CEO of his business The Easley Branch, LLC and the Director of Community for Diversity in the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University from 2004 to now. Easley earned his undergraduate degree in forest science from Alabama A&M University and his master’s degree in Forest Genetics from Iowa State University, and his doctorate in Adult Education from NC State University, where his research focus was STEM Faculty Perceptions of Matters of Diversity. In his role as the Diversity Director he teaches courses, counsels students, consults with faculty and staff on programming ensuring they are inclusive to all populations. With his background in forestry and diversity he has co-taught courses in Sweden on forest practices, and Landscapes in Ecotourism in Ghana, West Africa. Lastly, Dr. Easley is also a musician and is known by RaShad in the world of music.

Listen and Enjoy!

Episode 12 – Software as a Service (SaaS) Platform Built to Solve a Pain Point with Mentoring (Interview with Brit Fitzpatrick)

Brit Fitzpatrick is founder & CEO of MentorMe - a SaaS mentoring platform. 

Brit is a 2014 FOCUS100 Fellow and a member of the Fall 2014 Points of Light Civic Accelerator. She's been named one of the top 50 under 40 emerging leaders in social enterprise by American Express, and Inc. Magazine recognized her one of "8 Awesome Black Women Tech Founders to Watch." In 2015, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named Brit a "Woman Entrepreneur to Watch." 

Brit serves on the Advisory Board for 100 Girls of Code and as an ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities.