We are pleased to introduce the members of the 2024 NABFEME Advisory Council. We are honored to have them aboard as this esteemed group has demonstrated unwavering dedication and support to our mission, organization, and programs. We are truly grateful for their commitment, which will undoubtedly help us reach more women. Each member of this exceptional group brings a unique perspective, a wealth of expertise, and a shared passion for the NABFEME mission.
Wendy Moten
Wendy Moten is a highly skilled singer-songwriter who has captivated audiences across the globe with her exceptional talent. She earned the nickname “The Voice” because of her powerful vocals and remarkable performance abilities. However, when she auditioned for Season 21 of NBC’s “The Voice,” she faced a unique challenge. Unlike younger contestants, Wendy had already established a reputation and was apprehensive that the reality TV show might tarnish her hard-earned status. Wendy had to undergo self-therapy and inner reflection to conquer her fears and decide to audition. In hindsight, it was a brilliant move as “The Voice” was the perfect platform for Wendy. The show showcased her as a dynamic lead singer, attracted millions of new fans, and allowed her to demonstrate her versatility in different genres, ranging from R&B and pop to country and jazz.
IIn the late 1990s, Wendy signed a contract with EMI Records. She recorded three solo albums and released several singles, including the Billboard hit “Come In Out Of The Rain.” She toured as Michael Bolton’s opening act during his North American tour and gained popularity throughout Japan. Her vocal abilities are highly regarded by many, as she possesses one of the most versatile and natural instruments of our time. Wendy’s latest release, “Don’t Give Up,” marks her return as a solo artist. She has worked hard to create music that reflects her soul, without being bound by genre, age, or region. Having traveled the world and learned different languages, cultures, histories, and music, Wendy is recognized as a bridge-builder who brings people of all backgrounds and races together. Her latest release, “Don’t Give Up,” is available on all music platforms. For More Info… Meet WENDY MOTEN
Vanessa Abron
Vanessa Abron is the founder of Agency Abron... a boutique creative & artistic direction firm. Vanessa is an expert in public relations and has a track record of developing successful brand visibility campaigns. Her skills also include securing positive media coverage in national and local media outlets. Some of the notable media outlets that she has secured coverage in are NBC’s TODAY, Now This, Chicago Tribune, The Source, the Associated Press, and ABC News.
Throughout her career, Vanessa led multicultural and global communications initiatives, public relations strategy development, event management, account management, content development, promotional visibility, and media outreach for clients in varying industry verticals.
Before Agency Abron, Vanessa served as the director of communications for the Community Alliance and Consumer Engagement group at Nielsen, the media and communications manager for Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony magazine, Jet magazine and Fashion Fair Cosmetics) and account management positions at agencies such as Hill + Knowlton Strategies (H+K) and Ch’rewd Marketing and Promotions. Some of Vanessa’s past client work include Jazz Institute of Chicago, the Walgreen’s Expressions campaign, Classic Hip-Hop Lives, Praize Productions Inc., ComEd, FX Network, Aflac, Illinois Lottery, Pringles, Adidas, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Virgin Records, and the Indie Soul Journeys TV series to name a few. For More Info… Meet VANESSA ABRON
Robert N. Johnson
Known to many as “ACommoner”… Robert N. Johnson is a retired Vice President of Kraft Foods Customer Sales. He has had an impressive career in general management and leadership through strategic planning, innovative consulting, cultivating individual and group decision-making, integrative client development, motivational speaking, private mentoring, and focused efforts to reduce “red-tape” inhibitors and paradigms. For over twenty years, Robert has led teams of retail managers, national account managers, and trade planners. In addition, he has spent a lifetime connecting with people across the country and around the world through his philanthropic work, striving to make a positive impact on the world.
Robert is an Advisory Board member for the Smithsonian Institution Asian Pacific Center. He is also a member of the Founder’s Circle of the Beyond Bollywood Exhibit on Indian American Heritage. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Managers for Indiana University Alumni Association, the Board of Directors for Adelante Foundation, and the Board of Directors for the Vietnam Committee of San Francisco Sister City – Ho Chi Minh City. For More Info… Meet: ROBERT N. JOHNSON
Lauren Hudson
Lauren Hudson is an accomplished television news reporter and celebrity interviewer. She has received an Emmy Award and five nominations for her work. In addition to her career in media, Lauren is a two-time cancer survivor, speaker, trainer, and author. She is known worldwide as “The Happiness Princess” due to her inspiring message. Lauren is a formidable public speaker, bringing a unique blend of talent, experience, and determination to her presentations. Her journey of overcoming bankruptcy, breast cancer, and colon cancer has inspired many. Lauren combines her personal and professional experiences to deliver engaging, informative, and inspirational presentations. An experienced television news reporter, anchor, host, and producer with many years of experience, Lauren has worked with major broadcast networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, UPN, and E! Entertainment TV. Throughout her career, she has conducted thousands of interviews with people from all walks of life, including U.S. presidents, Olympians, and celebrities. Lauren was also one of the earliest African-American TV news directors in the United States. She is known for producing award-winning corporate leadership training videos, including “Leadership and the One Minute Manager” with Dr. Ken Blanchard, “A Passion for Excellence” with Tom Peters, and “Team Excellence” with Walter Cronkite.
An award-winning author with an impressive collection of books and CDs, including A Whole New Happy, The WOW Factor, Superpower Success, In It to Win It, Surviving and Soaring, The Power of Happiness, and On The Road to Happiness… Lauren is also a top presentation trainer who coaches executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, actors, and other high achievers. Lauren is well-known for her WOW Academy training program and is the founding director of The Les Brown Speakers’ Training network. For More Info… Meet LAUREN HUDSON
Jaunita Stephens
Juanita Stephens is an accomplished professional in publicity, media relations, and artist consulting. She has years of experience in shaping and managing the careers of some of the most recognized clients in music, sports, television, documentary films, and entrepreneurship. During her career, she was named one of Ebony Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Women”. Her strong relationships with the media have led to widespread recognition and success for many of her clients.
Juanita excels in creating compelling narratives and story ideas for comprehensive publicity campaigns that help secure impactful press coverage and promote client branding across various national and mainstream media platforms. These platforms include local and syndicated radio and television shows, entertainment morning and evening talk shows, news platforms, industry influencers, blog sites, press releases, media advisories, photo shoots, national and international concert coverage, audio and visual content placement, press kits, professional industry presentations, talking points, media coaching, social media content, imaging, bios, and podcast interviews.
Stephens represents some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Her clientele includes Charlie Wilson, who is a seven-time Grammy Award nominee, two-time NAACP Image Award nominee, and recipient of the Trumpet Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. She also represents Jody Watley, a pop/R&B dance music pioneer, reality TV star Dice Dixon, and in addition, Juanita has worked with Sean ‘P’ Diddy Combs, Faith Evans, Bobby Brown, the BET Network Series Reed Between the Lines, The Game, The Original Jill Scott: from the vault vol 1, Stephanie Mills, R. Kelly, Lalah Hathaway, and many more celebrities. Juanita has been associated with The Annual BMI Urban Unsigned Artist Showcases, BET’s Sunday Best Competition, and her network bookings include Biography: Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown: Every Little Step, Johnny Gill, New Edition, BabyFace, Usher, Sway, Dapper Dan among others.
Berneta Miles
Berneta Miles is a renowned studio session singer hailing from the Memphis creative community. Her exceptional vocal abilities have graced many of the biggest songs from the South. With a background in singing, songwriting, and paralegal work… Berneta brings a wealth of structural and creative knowledge to NABFEME.
Vivian C. Dean
Vivian C. Dean is the founder of Success Leadership Stephon House, a non-profit organization offering services to homeless veterans. Its mission is to provide affordable, safe, and secure living space for homeless veterans from Clayton County, Georgia. Ms Vivian has over seven years of experience in overseeing the foundation’s operations, including providing temporary housing and resources to help veterans and the homeless find jobs. The foundation offers case management, education, crisis intervention, counseling, employability skills training, and job placement services. In June 2021, Ms Vivian was honored with the Women Veterans Day Community Impact Award by Kaiser Permanente. She also received a Proclamation from the mayor of Forest Park, Georgia for dedicating her life to helping others in need. Dean earned her A.S. in Criminal Justice from Camden County Community College. She tied the knot with her partner, Louis, in August 2022 after being in a relationship with him for 17 years. In her free time, Dean enjoys participating in activities with her family, listening to music, and running Atlanta’s hottest sports bar – The Magnolia Lounge.
Monique Arceneaux
Monique Arceneaux is the principal of The ARCH Group, Inc., which is an international consulting firm that focuses on creating and implementing sustainable social responsibility programs. Her work at Arch Group includes initiatives for education in developing countries, empowering women-led businesses, securing funding for minority-owned start-ups, and establishing social responsibility programs/platforms for corporate clients. A founding board member of The Houston Foundation for Hope, Inc. (a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that focuses on education, prevention, and recovery of those afflicted with substance-use disorders)., Monique played a vital role in launching the foundation in May 2022. A native of Louisiana, Monique moved to New York in the 90s to head travel and hospitality planning for singer Whitney Houston’s 60-person global touring team. She has two adult children and currently resides in Hoboken, NJ.
Kurt ‘KC’ Clayton
Kurt “KC” Clayton is a two-time Grammy-nominated Producer, Songwriter, Arranger, and Artist. He discovered his passion for music when he was fourteen years old. Today, he is a professor at the University of Memphis, President of the Memphis Chapter of NARAS (The Grammys), and a board member of The Rock and Soul Museum. He has also served as a Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission commissioner. He has worked with renowned artists such as David Foster, Boney James, Howard Hewett, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, Chaka Khan, and the 2006 Academy Award-winning rap artist Three-6-Mafia.
Kurt is a multi-talented artist with expertise in various areas, such as producing, songwriting, programming, music direction, arranging, and playing music. He has diverse skills and wears many hats in the music industry, spanning genres from rap, jazz, pop, rock, gospel, and R&B to country. Kurt has contributed to soundtracks for movies and DVD projects and has worked with various artists, including television mogul Oprah Winfrey and the controversial Larry Flint. He established “KC” Productions, a music and film company that allows him to work with the various artists he has signed for music and motion picture projects. For Mor Info… Follow KURT KC CLAYTON