Sallie Elliott
Sallie Elliott built her company, Images of Excellence Corporation, into an entrepreneurial success in the areas of Publications, Public Relations, Grassroots Marketing/Promotions, and Special Events. She was founder/publisher of the award winning Applause! Magazine. She created The Imagemaker Awards, to honor those exceptional leaders who had attained the highest pinnacles in their professions. Some of the region's most esteemed and stellar citizens were the proud recipients of this prestigious award.
"The Reaching for the Stars Program" is another of her annual productions. This multi-faceted day-long event is highlighted by "The Leaders for the Future" award luncheon, where ten emerging young leaders 30 years of age and under are showcased, awarded, and addressed by a nationally recognized speaker. Another feature is the "African American Professional Development Symposium," with sessions led by local and national speakers who are navigators in their professions. The motivational "Pep Rally for Success" for inner city students is also held. The overwhelming success of the 2008 "Reaching for the Stars Program" spawned a National Forum on "The Challenge of Emerging Leadership in the African American Community," which she produced to air nationally on C-Span. She also produced the first prime-time special targeting an African American audience on a major TV network in Cincinnati.
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, her BA and MCP degrees are from Furman University and the University of Cincinnati. The array of honors and awards that she has received include the Woman of Great Vision Award – Women in Communications; Woman of the Year – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc; and The YWCA Career Woman of Achievement Award. She has served on Advisory Committees for the Junior League, the Art Museum; and the American Red Cross. She was Secretary of the Executive Board of the United Way/Community Chest; Vice-President of the National Association of Black Journalists and a member of the Queen City Chapter of the Links, Inc.