User:Huntn658/sandbox

Cheryl McCants, is an award-winning business strategist, marketing expert and entrepreneur with 25+ years of creative and strategic business-development, public relations and integrated-communication experience. Recently honored by PR News as one of the nation’s Top Women in Public Relations for 2017, and by Leading Women Entrepreneurs as one of New Jersey’s Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs for 2016 , Cheryl is also a 2012 National Urban Fellows Leader of Change for America, and has been honored by Time Warner and Essence (magazine) as a Power Leader in the African-American community.

Early Career
Cheryl McCants completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University and later received a Master of Science degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a Master of Arts degree in Project Management from George Washington University. Throughout her career as both strategist and spokesperson, she has successfully worked in the urban development, pharmaceutical, real estate, retail, footwear, telecommunications, nonprofit, and media industries.

In the corporate arena, Cheryl spent several years with telecommunications giant AT&T, where she served as a bilingual marketing and communication strategist. Later she joined Nike, Inc. where she served as Global Corporate Responsibility Manager and Director of Communications for the Jordan Brand. In these roles, Cheryl developed and implemented international media and brand management strategies, as well as campaigns designed to promote Nike’s corporate responsibility programs in the U.S. and abroad. She successfully launched more than 20 new products within a 12-month period, generating approximately $320 million in revenue.

In 1989, Cheryl founded Impact Consulting Enterprises, a strategic business development, communication, marketing and public relations firm with national and international reach. Over the years, Cheryl and her team have strategized, branded and told the untold stories for iconic companies, government agencies and nonprofits such as such as Girl Scouts of the USA, the city of Newark, NJ’s department of housing and economic development, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Suven and iFoster, among others.

Impact Consulting Enterprises
Impact Consulting Enterprises (Impact) is a minority-woman owned strategic development, marketing and public relations firm. Founded in 1989, Impact tells the untold stories that make people feel good about where they are and better about where they are going. Foundations, corporations and individuals partner with Impact to elevate their public profiles, increase brand awareness and achieve revenue objectives. Impact connects with target audiences via traditional media channels both off and online. Whether designing websites, developing social media campaigns, implementing non-traditional or grassroots and guerilla marketing programs, Impact is the ideal strategic and innovative communication firm because they help businesses, bottom lines and brands grow.

Charity work and advocacy
As a professional with a penchant for service, Cheryl has created and led several conscious-capitalism initiatives, including the Great Football Sunday™ (GFS) social-media campaign to raise awareness about the changing face of homelessness in the New York Metro region. This project aims to execute GFS campaigns in every U.S. Super Bowl City to end homelessness for working poor women with families.

Alongside her career and professional accolades, Cheryl serves as an executive member of the United Way of West Essex and Hudson County's Women's Leadership Council, a board member for both the Rutgers Business School’s Entrepreneurs Pioneer Initiative and the Newark Regional Business Partnership. She is actively involved with the NY/NJ Chapter of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, St. Paul Baptist Church of Montclair, NJ’s Operation Just Hope and advocates for social entrepreneurship, women-owned businesses, and civic participation.