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Spectacular Magazine 2018 Man Of The Year Finalists & Semi-finalists Named

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

Durham, NC – Spectacular Magazine will recognize and honor the achievements and contributions African American men who have made a difference in the African American community with the Spectacular Magazine 2018 Man of the Year Award. Awards will be presented at the black-tie Spectacular Magazine 2018 Man of the Year Awards Gala on August 20th with a Red Carpet Reception at 2:00 pm and Gala/Awards Ceremony beginning at 3:00 pm.

Spectacular MagazineThe Man of the Year Selection Committee (Committee) for the second time, named four men to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Twenty-one African American men in seven other categories were named Semi-finalists. Nominations were accepted in those seven categories and narrowed down by the Committee, based on criteria, to three (3) semi-finalists in each category. Based on the results of an on-line voting process July 8 – July 28, seven of those will receive the title of Spectacular Magazine 2018 Man of the Year.

The Spectacular Magazine 2018 Men of the Year – Lifetime Achievement are:

  • Dr. Dudley Flood – Associate State Superintendent, NC Dept. of Public Instruction (retired); Exec. Dir., NC Assn. of School AdministAssorators (retired)
  • Mr. Joseph Sansom – NC Deputy State Treasurer (retired), NC Dept. State Treasurer; Director, M&F Bank
  • Judge A. Leon Stanback, Jr. – Superior Court Judge (retired); Durham Co. District Attorney (retired)
  • Dr. Phail Wynn – Vice President – Durham and Regional Affairs, Duke University

The Spectacular Magazine 2018 Men of the Year Semi-finalists in the remaining seven categories are:

ACTIVISM:

  • Dr. T. Anthony Spearman – President, NC NAACP (Raleigh)
  • Dante Strobino – Field Organizer, NC Public Service Workers Union (Durham)
  • CJ Suitt – Community Organizer, Social Justice Performance Poet (Chapel Hill)

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

  • Simon Akhamie – IT Database Administrator, NC SECU, Board Member, All Things New Inc. (Raleigh)
  • Derrick Beasley – College Success Coordinator, Student U; Creative Director, Black August in the Park (Durham)
  • Sidney Brodie – Supervisor, NC Detective Agency; Creator – Durham Homicide and Victims of Violent Death Memorial Quilt (Durham)

EDUCATION:

  • LeVon Barnes – Healthy Living Teacher, The School for Creative Studies, Durham
  • William Chavis – Principal, William G. Enloe Magnet High School (Raleigh)
  • Michael Myrick – Asst. Superintendent – Curriculum & Instruction, Granville County Schools (Oxford)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP:

  • Keijuane Hester – Owner/Baker, Favor Desserts (Durham)
  • Joseph Gatewood – CEO, Gatewood Financial Insurance & Real Estate (Charlotte)
  • Bernard Bugg – Owner/CPA, BFB & Associates (Cary)

MENTOR:

  • Daniel Jordan – Social Worker, West Care Girls Program (Henderson)
  • Overseer Harvey Spencer Sr. – Pastor/ Founder, THINK Youth Mentoring Program, Greater Love Church (Raleigh)
  • Larry Thomas – Founder/President, Thomas Mentoring Leadership Academy (Durham)

NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT:

  • Steven Hairston – Chief Operating Officer/VP Institutional Advancement, St. Augustine’s University (Raleigh)
  • David Reese – President/CEO, East Durham Children’sInitiative (Durham)
  • Eric O. Smith – Founder/Exec Director, TRP Global Inc. (Durham)

HEALTH & FITNESS:

  • Anthony McClenny – Medical Student, UNC School of Medicine; Co-Founder, White Coats Black Doctors Foundation, Inc. (Chapel Hill)
  • Desmond Scott – Owner/Operator, Prime Athletic Training & Fitness Institute (Durham)
  • DeWayne Thomas – Owner/Operator, NC Fitness Club (Raleigh)

On-line voting period is July 8 – July 28. Check back for link to vote and to purchase Gala tickets.