Director Spotlight - Rachel Blankenship

The Little Black Dress Club could not be what it is without a long list of terrific directors. Challenged with the task of planning events, marketing sponsorships, organizing raffles and charity work as well as networking, LBDC directors take on these huge responsibilities, with a smile.

Our current Director Spotlight shines on 34 year old Rachel Blankenship from our Columbus, OH chapter. Leading up her chapter since January of 2012, Rachel is a “Jill of all trades” currently working as a corporate sales manager, mobile marketing area director, event planner and coordinator, business owner and entrepreneur. Her plate certainly stays full!

Along with running a successful chapter for the LBDC, Rachel also serves as a blog host for our national blog and has participated in several roundtable meetings with other LBDC directors as well as the Leadership team to help develop training and marketing tools for the club.

In her spare time Rachel enjoys a long list of hobbies, interests and fun activities. While she is certainly at the top of her class when it comes to fashion, beauty and modeling, she also loves to practice kickboxing, water sports or just check in on her favorite Atlanta Braves. While Rachel is a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, coffee, wine, shopping, mushroom hunting and scrapbooking, she also loves to throw on a pair of naughty monkey heels and head out on the town for some girl time or to shop for a new little black dress!

Rachel’s most challenging accomplishment has been earning her PHD. After more than five years of tedious studying and hard work, she says she owes her success to her  ambition and discipline as well as endless support from her family and friends.

Humble and full of encouragement, strength and hefty goals for herself and life in general, Rachel never wants to stop learning, having fun and living with no regrets. She loves the diversity of the Little Black Dress Club and the friendships and memories they have made together. She is looking forward to a fun and adventurous summer with her chapter. 

Quoting Aristotle, Rachel says: “we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Well said, Rachel. Thanks so much for being in our director spotlight and for being a part of the LBDC family! 

~Shay Ashcraft
National Director, LBDC

Director Spotlight - Janae King

It's that time again! A new month means a new Director Spotlight. This month the light shines on our Phoenix, Arizona director, Janae King. 

31 year old Janae and her husband enjoy leisure time on sandy beaches with their six and eight year old boys, Austin and Sky. Janae loves wine, pretty cocktails, yummy food, football and fashion. She’ll chill on the couch to romantic comedies, scary movies, and Dexter and get glammed up for charities and dinner parties.

Janae is on her second fabulous year being a LBDC director. She says “I love the genuine camaraderie. There have been many, many strong friendships formed within the

chapter. There’s no drama, everyone has a sense of belonging, which is important to me. We always have a great time at our events!” 

Janae lives her life trying to be an awesome mom and raising her boys to be gentlemen. She lives by two key philosophies; “Work hard and be nice to people” and “May you never be the same again.” How awesome would it be if everyone lived that way?

Janae says she has come to see that everything bad that happens always seems to have an underlying positive agenda that may not always be realized…blessings in disguise, she calls it. Overcoming a life-long struggle with insecurity and negative body image, discovering the confidence to stand up for herself and what she believes in, and the most difficult, finding peace and forgiveness for the unforgivable, has made Janae the strong woman she is today. 

“One of the things I love about Janae, which I also think defines how she runs her chapter, is that she always refers to her members as “The Ladies.” She’s very creative and some of her fabulous creations include the photo booth - which premiered at Fabulous Fiesta - and the chapter birthday party which included riding around in a stretch Hummer limousine, bubbly included! Janae is a great friend - I love sharing Dexter and Homeland gossip with her, as well as, LBDC stories and ideas! I’m so honored she’s part of LBDC.” shares Christine.

Janae was honored to be chosen as this month's Director Spotlight. She quoted Ernest Hemingway and said, “When you stop doing things for fun, you might as well be dead.” 

Congrats to you, Janae. Thanks for leading the Phoenix chapter right into the spotlight!

~Christine and Jen

Founders, LBDC 

Director Spotlight ~ Candace Stevens-Hall

The Little Black Dress Club has many outstanding directors, co-directors, assistant directors and staff members. Make sure you check out the “Director Spotlight” label to read all about them!

 

Our first monthly Director Spotlight is Candace Stevens Hall. This 28 year old director of our Louisville, KY chapter, Candace is married with 2 fur babies! An 8 year old Yorkie named Jax and a 6 year old Chihuahua named Patron!

During the week Candace works as a Human Resources Recruiting Manager for a Global Dutch Importing Company. During her off time, she loves to read, sew and sing! Candace is also a huge fan of DIY projects, shopping and traveling. One of her hobbies is to try and find the “Diners, Drive ins and Dives” in the area.
 
Candace has been the director of her Louisville chapter for the last year. She says what she loves most about her members is that they are the most diverse group of ladies from all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and walks of life. Regardless of those things, they always find a way to have a great time with one another, and are able to form lasting friendships outside of the club! Candace said “I wouldn’t trade my group of ladies for anything! They pretty much ROCK!”

When we asked Candace about her goals or her philosophies on life, she quoted Erma Bombeck - “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me!” Candace lives every day as a challenge full of adventure. She prides herself on going to bed every night knowing she has done her best and may have possibly made a change in someone else life. That’s enough satisfaction for her.

Candace often says that LBDC has changed her life in more ways than one. It has allowed her to bring out her creative side, and the social interaction is always a plus for her. She is looking forward to continuing the growth plan for the Louisville chapter and is hosting many more exciting events in the future. She encourages all ladies in the Louisville, KY chapter to join the club now and get in on their next exciting event!

When we first “met” Candace on the phone, we knew she would make a great Director. She evokes class and a genuine all-embracing spirit. It’s no wonder the Louisville chapter is one of our fastest growing chapters, with Candace at the helm! We appreciate all you do to support the Little Black Dress Club, Candace. You are truly deserving of this month’s spotlight!

 

Christine and Jen

Founders, LBDC