STANDING OVATION 

DALLAS — For the second consecutive year, three individuals have become the recipients of Making Headline News’ most prestigious award.

Businesswomen Kenyatta Bell and Nodella Jordan have been dubbed The Necia Jones Memorial Making Headline News Women of The Year for 2019.

Texas businessman Andrew Landry was named MHN Man of The Year for 2019.

The Woman of The Year award was named in honor of Jones, an accomplished Houston-area entrepreneur who was arguably one of the publication’s most devoted contributors.

Named MHN Woman of The Year for 2018, Jones passed away on July 27, 2019 after a brief illness.

KENYATTA BELL

Bell was unanimously named MHN Woman of The Year, edging out four other women across the country who were considered for this honor by the publication’s editorial staff.

A native of Gay, Georgia, Bell is the catalyst for the Epic Management Group, an Atlanta-area ministry that was spearheaded on IHeart Radio B96.3 and is aired by way of a slew of airwaves.

Widely regarded as Epic Life Ministry, this company has also launched a social media teaching — a segment that’s collectively conducted by Epic Life staffers Gina Beverly, Danielle Sunderhouse and Corey Watts — whereby it has garnered a global audience.

Interestingly, Epic Management Group has partnered with The Lighthouse Radio Station to host an array of what company officials describe as “epic life experiences,” most notably for middle and high school students.

“The uniqueness of my childhood, coupled with life experiences of my own children, want to ignite identities and empower purpose in the millennial generation,” Bell, during an August 2019 interview with Making Headline News, said, when asked how her competitive drive in life propel her for her latest business venture. “(My personal mission is to) ignite the identity and empower the purpose in others.”

While being named Woman of The Year came as a surprise to Bell, a graduate of Greenville (Georgia) High School, she paid homage mostly to her solid relationship with God, coupled with the notion that she’s been blessed to walk in her purpose as arguably the biggest reasons she’s garnered such an honor.

“This year (2019) was my year of my greatest year of EPIC growth,” Bell said. “My relationship with God has grown into a beautiful love story. My faith in God is indescribable. I fluently speak faith and my faith always trumps my reality.”

Now with yet another notable milestone about which she’s been afforded to savor, Bell doesn’t shy away from the notion that greater things are in store for her in 2020 and beyond.

“In 2020, I aspire to continue walking boldly in my EPIC life assignment and carry out God’s purpose for my life,” said Bell, adding that plans are in the works to launch Epic Life Atlanta and Epic Life Television. “Educationally, I will finish my second undergraduate degree in Operation Management and continue working on my MBA in Operation Management.”

NODELLA JORDAN 

Like Bell, Jordan has made immeasurable strides as an accomplished businesswoman and licensed evangelist.

The CEO of NSJ Ministries, Jordan’s Baltimore-based endeavor is comprised largely of her assortment of awe-inspiring achievements and slew of responsibilities she’s enjoyed, particularly since God had strategically called her to ministry some two decades ago.

A native of the Bronx, New York who has resided a considerable amount of time in nearby New Haven, Connecticut, Jordan credits the fervent guidance of her father as amongst those who headlines a list of her most notable supporters.

“It was my father who always told me to be the best at whatever I did,” Jordan told MHN during an August 2019 interview. “Being athletic as a youth into high school also created a competitive mindset that carried over in many areas of my life. As early as age eight years old, I braided people’s hair as a way of making money.”

Interestingly, Jordan added to her entrepreneurship repertoire the startup of Sassy & Swag Collections, her Baltimore-based online clothing and accessories brand.

A venture that went into full operations in August 2019, Jordan’s Sassy & Swag Collections is centered largely on offering consumers a wide selection of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, ball caps, tote bags, notebooks, mugs, and much more. In addition, Sassy & Swag Collections offer custom-designed products for its customers and they also have the option of mixing or matching any product in its online store.

When asked how she would sum up 2019, Jordan was swift to label it as “challenging, yet rewarding.”

“(I thank God) for enduring and not giving up,” Jordan, a crafty author, said. “Each year, I create a motto of what my goal would be for the year. Here’s my motto for 2019: I’m prepared for destiny; I’m positioned for destiny; I’m propelled to my destiny.

“I believe in destiny, God-ordained or simply by living this life. We can either choose our destiny or life will choose it for you. I chose to choose it.”

As Jordan explained, her array of success in recent emerged in large part because she had made it a point to stay conscious of her divine destiny.

“Although (it was) not always clear, I work diligently to make sure I’m doing all the things it will take to get me there,” Jordan said. My second published book, (Sassy: The Perfect Life) captures the essence of my belief in destiny. Though I’ve endured some horrible things in my 51 years of life, I still had a choice to either stop pursuing destiny or pursue it with even more fervor, and that I did. Because of my pursuit for destiny, I’m able to leave a legacy for my children, grandchildren and one day great grandchildren, and hopefully to be an inspiration to others.”

ANDREW LANDRY 

For Landry, 2019 undoubtedly was a banner year for the Humble, Texas businessman.

The founder and chief executive officer of the Where Men Hurt organization, Landry was responsible for hosting his inaugural Where Men Hurt Conference, a one-day, spiritual empowerment assembly was centered largely on equipping the total man to become all that God has predestined him to be.

A power-packed, informative men’s conference that is powered by Mr. Landry Enterprises, the Where Men Hurt event was highlighted by all-star lineup of a half dozen speakers. The conference also offered panel discussions and included food trucks and vendor booths.

“Exceptionally amazing,” Landry said after learning of being named MHN Man of The Year. “In complete awe of the vision that God has for me to carry out. Other than God, my wife Katrina Landry, has been by my side for each speaking engagements, book tour events, and countless late nights waiting for me to finish the task that come with this calling.”

A devout man a faith and minister, Landry witnessed the release of his second book in 2019.

His latest written work, “After the Violation: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing After Being Sexually Mishandled,” is a spiritually-empowering project that was officially released during Landry’s conference.

A book that is comprised of 77 pages in length, Landry’s “After the Violation: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing After Being Sexually Mishandled” is widely regarded as a guide for healing, particularly for those who have been sexually mishandled, according to a detailed synopsis of this Humble, Texas-based author’s book at Amazon.com.

Landry’s latest written work was released approximately 17 months after having witnessed his authorship debut come full circle with the release of “Overcoming The Addiction That No One Has.”

“I have far exceeded any idea of where I thought my life would be,” said Landry, trying his best to assess his achievements in 2019. “There are so many moving pieces when one is trying to build great foundational groundwork to something bigger than themselves. I have been blessed to have the right people in the right places at the right time to move forward with anticipation of the wonderful things God will allow to happen with this vision He has given me.”

CONNECT WITH THIS AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST FOR MEDIA EXPOSURE

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.