Author's Expo Participants

Michael
Rice (Host)
Michael Rice is an author, TV producer, media executive, speaker,leadership coach, relationship strategist known for turning ordinary people into extraordinary connectors.
He is the author of Be Magnificent - Exceed Your Expectations and Urban Networking - The Essential Guide for the Urban Professional, two primary works focused on mindset mastery, resilience, execution, and the strategic power of relationships.
His earlier titles, 12 Secrets of a Master Networker: From Ordinary to Extraordinary and Cracking the Code: From Rejection to Selection, established him as a trusted voice on access, opportunity, and influence—particularly for individuals navigating competitive professional and social environments.
Michael Rice is also the founder of the Philadelphia Youth Leadership Council, a City of Philadelphia leadership development program he led for over 15 years.
The council was created to cultivate confidence, accountability, and leadership capacity among young people, and it is grounded in the principles outlined in Be Magnificent, which Michael uses as the program’s foundational framework.
Through this work, he has helped shape generations of emerging leaders by teaching mindset discipline, goal setting, and personal responsibility.
In media, Michael is the creator and executive producer of The Connector Live TV Show - The Influencers, platform dedicated to spotlighting leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers shaping culture, business, and community.
His programs air on cable networks including FiOS, Xfinity, and Comcast, and stream on Apple TV, Roku TV, and YouTube, with new episodes premiering every Tuesday at 1:00 PM.
Michael also serves as the National Media Director for the Miss Black America Pageant, where he leads national media strategy, storytelling, and brand visibility.
His relationship with the organization began as a teenager, an experience that helped shape his lifelong commitment to empowerment, excellence, and representation.
Through books, television, leadership development, and curriculum-based programs, Michael Rice operates at the intersection of mindset, media, and meaningful connection—helping individuals and institutions move from potential to performance, and from intention to impact.
Contact info:
Michael Rice
215-339-8208
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Patricia
McDougall
Dr. Patricia McDougall: The African Women’s Voice and Tears H.E., Dr. Patricia McDougall, Secured the Title Senior Miss Black America of New York and the
Coveted National Title “Miss Positivity of the National Senior Miss Black America Pageant in 2023.
Now, Miss Black America of All Time, New York City, Senior Division, circa 2023 and she presently
serves as the National Pageant Coordinator for the Senior Miss Black America Pageant.
Suffice to say she is a “Pageant Girl”. Dr. Patricia McDougall is Ms. Senior Universe 1st Runner up,
Ms. Senior Universe Belize 2022 and Miss Senior Earth Global 2023.
Dr. Patricia McDougall is a Co-Author of a Poetic Anthology on Legacy of Beijing@30, “The African Women’s Voice and Tears”.
Dr. McDougall is Chief Executive Officer of Patricia’s Professional Photos, LLC. She frequently
covers events throughout the Washington, D.C. area, New York and Atlanta. Internationally her media coverage includes London, Paris, Venice Italy, Lagos Nigeria, Vienna Austria, Geneva, Switzerland, Belize and more.
She is renowned for providing services at iconic places and history-making events. These include
the White House, the US Congress, the State Department, International Organizations, Embassies,
Academic institutions, BEYA STEM Conference, Faith-Based organizations and more. Dr. McDougall, also provides photography services to private, social business, cultural celebrations, anniversaries, and weddings.
Her photo of President Obama is highlighted on the book cover “Mr. President” Interfaith Perspectives on the Historic Presidency of Barak H. Obama.
Dr. Patricia McDougall is a two-time recipient of the prestigious “U.S. President Lifetime Achievement Award” for her Volunteer Service, completing 4000 hours of community service.
She was appointed Peace Ambassador to the United Nations in May 2022, appointed to represent one of
Mac/Ban affiliates in the Vienna Austria, United Nations HQ office in December 2022, working with Women in Africa and appointed an NGO with the United Nations HQ in New York from 2023 to December 2026.
She is an ambassador with Open My Heart Foundation and a member of the Lions Club International. She is a journalist with the National Press Club in Washington DC, and a contributing Photographer for the Afro American Newsletter.
She has also Hosted and Produced Patricia McDougall On the Scene Celebrity Photographer.
Dr. McDougall’s accomplishments are so vast, well, “She could write a Series of Books on them”.
She can be reached at the: pmcdougall6@gmail.com or cell (571) 309-7857.
Her work can be found on her website at www.patriciamcdougallphotos.com and www.patriciamcdougallphotos.net
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Dr. Marsha
Diane Worell
Dr. Marsha Diane Worrell is a Visionary CFO, Adjunct Professor, Business Consultant and Author. With a B.A. in Economics, M.B.A. in Finance, Ph.D. in Philosophy, and Executive Education Certification in International Finance.
She brings extensive experience as a financial strategist with expertise in overseeing international multimillion-dollar budget initiatives, forecasting, government contracts, and FP&A financial models exceeding
$2 Billion.
Drawing upon an extensive career in corporate finance she empower others through financial literacy workshops and seminars conducted to global audiences in South Africa, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Canada, and across the United States.
As an adjunct professor of mathematics, economics, and finance, she integrates real-world experiences into her classroom.
Expanding her legacy as a visionary leader, Dr. Worrell’s new release, Broke is Temporary: Own Your Financial Freedom is poised to transform lives – starting with yours!
Dr. Worrell’s greatest accomplishments include receiving the prestigious U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award; serving twenty-one years as a mentor and president of a girls’ mentoring program for ages 12 to 18; being inducted into the distinguished sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; and the groundbreaking collaboration with Yale University’s former president and leadership
team (2023), to launch a two-day, Yale sponsored, college readiness program for 120 high school students from New York City and New Jersey.
Crowning it all, she is an alumna of Morgan State University, a National Treasure – the only university in the nation whose entire campus is designated this honor by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (2016).
As the nation’s third-largest HBCU (2025), it proudly embodies visionary leadership, resilience, excellence, and extraordinary contributions to America’s educational and cultural heritage.
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Carolyn
Wilson
Carolyn Wilson is an award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author, empowerment educator, and Master Resiliency Trainer whose work transforms personal adversity into collective strength.
A survivor of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence, Carolyn has dedicated her career to helping others reclaim their voices and magnify their essence.
Her projects—including The Good Life documentary, her inspirational book Magnified Thoughts and the H.E.R.Story Anthology series demonstrate how storytelling can bridge pain to purpose and foster healing communities.
She has been featured on ABC, CBS, Dr. Oz, Huffington Post, and Woman’s World Magazine, and her film work has been recognized at festivals worldwide including becoming a finalist at the renowned Essence Film Festival.
Carolyn is also a Les Brown Certified Legendary Speaker, Certified Life & Business Coach, and has shared stages with leaders such as Lisa Nichols, Forbes Riley, Brooke Burke and Willie Jolley.
With over 11 bestselling books to her name, she is a respected voice in resilience, wellness, and women's empowerment education.
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Kathleen Bradley
Backstage at The Price Is Right is a jaw-dropping, firsthand account of the often salacious and always fascinating behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the #1 Emmy Award winning game show in television history.
A true Trailblazer and as the groundbreaking first black model to join ranks with the legendary Barker's Beauties, Kathleen Bradley has written a humorous, entertaining, yet gritty revelation of what really happened backstage.
At last, after 17 years on the air, the black/minority television audience had a role model, someone to relate to as they sat and watched their favorite game show. And America's male population had a more exotic Beauty on which to feast their eyes and feed their fantasies.
Every weekday for 10 years, over 16 million viewers watched the glamorous model/hostess Kathleen Bradley on The Price Is Right. Women envied her, girls aspired to be her, and Bradley was living her dream, but it all came at a Price. Ms. Bradley presents an expose of the hypocrisy, sexism, and racism behind the scenes.
This is Kathleen's story, leading from the excitement and jubilation of embarking upon "The Golden Road," to a rude awakening-an unjustifiable dismissal from her dream job after a decade of devoted service.
This is not a Bob Barker-bashing book, but rather an enlightening journey of a woman's introduction to Hollywood, her groundbreaking induction into an exclusive and highly coveted club: the Barker's Beauties, and her bright-eyed awe at meeting a television icon.
Kathleen’s website www.KathleenBradley.tv has more info on the book and where to purchase as well as more photos you have permission to use for any type of promotion for the pageant.
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Fatima
Abdul Johnson
"A Boy Named Morris" was written by the author at the age of ten. The story was inspired by a boy in
the author's fourth grade class. Every afternoon on the way home from school, Morris sees a
homeless man in the park with torn clothes and a sad dirty face. He feels bad for the homeless man
and asks his parents what he can do to help the man. His parents inform him there was nothing he
can do because the homeless man is an adult and has to help himself. This saddens him. He wishes
for a way to help the man. Then one day, he has the chance to help the man.
Later that day, Morris is rushed to the hospital. He had been sick for a long time. While at the hospital, he has a visit from the homeless man, who he takes him to his heavenly reward.
This story relates to all religions and
cultures, A true story of pure love and human kindness.
"Maggie's Carnival of Dreams" is inspired by the author's experiences as a child. The story tells of
children with various disabilities sitting in a dirty old park, imagining and dreaming of going to a
carnival to ride upon the amusement rides.
The children are told by their caregiver that they are "not
normal children" and will never be able to ride upon amusement rides. This hurts and saddens the
children, so they create a carnival of their minds where they can ride upon the rides and where their
disabilities can't stop them.
As years go by and the children grow into their adult years, Maggie remembers the hurt of being called "not normal" and makes their dreams come true. Maggie makes the dream carnival reality. The carnival is designed for children with disabilities--because all children are normal.

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Jo-Ann
Jefferson
Famous in the Montclair, NJ area for...
Dr. Jo-Ann Jefferson is a Godly, married family Woman. She is a serial entrepreneur who has been inspired in many directions, successfully.
We are fortunate to have her as a Miss Black America of All Time of Newark, NJ.
As a key part of the Sisterhood of Miss Black America, Dr. Jefferson, produces the Miss Black America Pageant of Montclair, NJ, on behalf of her Foundation; the Jefferson Foundation.
Additionally, she sends a representative of the Jefferson Foundation to Represent during the Senior Miss Black America Pageant.
Famous in the Montclair, NJ for her Jefferson Cafe Restaurants, Dr. Jefferson also has spared time to Author Numerous Books like, "How to Start A Business In A Godly Way", by Ambassador Jo-Ann Jefferson, PHD
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