Love's celebrates influential African American leaders in honor of Black History Month

• How long have you been with Love's? I have been with Love’s for six-and-a-half years. I started in May of 2013.

• What is your role? I am the manager of Back Office Accounting. I am responsible for back office accounting functions in order to have the cleanest financials possible.

• How did your Love's career begin? I started my career at Love’s as a staff accountant reporting to Jonathan Jordan. I was one of the first hires when some of the Musket accounting functions were moved to Houston from Oklahoma City.

• Are there any personal facts or hobbies you would like to share? I enjoy spending time with family. We are also very competitive and enjoy playing games.

• What does Black History Month mean to you? When I think of Black History month, there are many things I reflect on. One of the major things that is a constant thought is how the world has changed so much over the years. I think about the many people who have sacrificed their lives and freedom in order to make this world a better place for all races to come together. Black History Month to me means the celebration of achievements of African Americans.

• How long have you been with Love's? I have been with Love’s for 11 years.

• What is your role?  I am the Southeast regional manager. I recruit, train and provide guidance over the Southeast region. My objective is to ensure the success of Gemini Motor Transport by demonstrating strategic leadership, collaborating and communicating with logistics. I also monitor and ensure compliance with Transportation and enforce the company’s safety policy.

• How did your Love's career begin? I began my career as a driver. Shortly after, I was given the opportunity to become a regional manager.

• Are there any personal facts or hobbies you would like to share? I served in the US Army and I am a Gulf War Veteran. I enjoy playing, coaching and officiating sports. I also oversee the Good Health and Wellness ministry at my church.

• What does Black History Month mean to you? Black History Month is when we can take the time to reflect on what African Americans who came before us fought for. It is a time to rejoice, celebrate and give thanks for those who fought to give us hope and life lessons we can use today. It is a time when we can be reminded what it means to be black. It’s not just about all the bad times we’ve been through, but about integrity, leadership and determination. It’s about showing our true character and the great diversity within the black community. Black History Month reminds us of  how far we have traveled and how far we still have to go as a country.

• How long have you been with Love's? I have been with Love’s for 23 years.

• What is your role? I am the Payroll manager. I ensure all employees are paid accurately and timely and help train the Payroll team to handle all issues and answer all customer and employee questions/requests in a timely manner. Our mission is to maintain employee confidence and protect Payroll operations by keeping information confidential.

• How did your Love's career begin? My husband was transferred to Tinker Air Force Base in 1997 and I started with Love's through a temp agency in the Auditing department. I later transferred to the Field Payroll department. I was soon promoted to the supervisor of the department and then the Payroll manager shortly after. In 2015, I had the honor of receiving Tom Love's Top Banana award.

• Are there any personal facts or hobbies you would like to share? I love to cook and bake, my specialty is cheesecake. I love arts, crafts and sewing. I am also a black belt in Taekwondo.

• What does Black History Month mean to you? It reminds me of how far we have come and how much more work still needs to be done with regards to race relations and realizing Dr. King's dream of judging people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Until the nation as a whole fully integrates, and all the contributions that people of color have made to the growth of our country become a part of our educational curriculum, black history will continue to be relegated to a month. We should all make the effort to celebrate and embrace our differences every day. That’s what makes America Great!

• How long have you been with Love's? I have been with Love’s for 13-and-a-half years.

• What is your role? I am the restaurant general manager at Love's 435 in Ruther Glen, Virginia. I coach and develop fellow members of management and shift leaders and to promote a daily upbeat atmosphere.

• How did your Love's career begin? I applied for numerous reasons. I was working and only making money from commissions for an insurance company, I was a struggling single mother of three, I was not satisfied with the conditions that were placed before me and my kids were getting older and needed stability. When I got the job at Love's, I started as a shift leader. Over the years, I became an assistant manager. Today, I am the restaurant general manager.

• Are there any personal facts or hobbies you would like to share? I am a hair stylist. I am creative and I love reading poetry.

• What does Black History Month mean to you? Black History Month reminds me of the proud heritage and contributions that African Americans made in this country. For example, Benjamin Banneker’s service helped design the blueprints for Washington, D.C. Lewis Latimer invented the light bulb with a carbon filament in 1881 along with Joseph Nichols. Madam C.J Walker was known for her hair care products and invented the hair straightening comb and became a self-made millionaire. These are just a few of the African Americans who have made valuable contributions, and it makes Black History Month very near and dear to me.