Deedra Walker Penny brings a diverse background as the Executive Director of the Essence of Fitness Charities, Inc.  She began her career as an accountant and financial analyst for various prestigious firms including PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of South Carolina, Bank of America & Sabre Decision Technologies.  Her passion for helping and serving led her to become a Financial Planner – first with Prudential Financial and currently as an independent representative.  She has also owned and operated her family’s portfolio of businesses including a Smoothie Factory franchise where she consulted customers on Sports Nutrition and Natural Products and investment real estate holdings.

Throughout the years, Mrs. Penny has always maintained an active lifestyle.  She has over 40 years of dance experience; exercise and fitness for over 30 years, including being the founder of the VUU Aerobics club and strength training …

Nekima L. Booker is the Program Director for Operation Healthy Reunions, a program of Mental Health America of Greater Dallas. As the director Nekima is responsible for ensuring veterans of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) war receive free counseling in the Dallas and eleven surrounding counties. She is responsible for managing the daily operations of the program as well as grant goals & objectives, budgeting, deliverables, and program evaluation.  She previously served as Project Coordinator managing the Good NEWS Trial, funded by the National Institute of Health, housed out of the University of North Texas Health Science Center; Health Educator/Student Development Specialist for the University of Texas at Arlington; Regional Coordinator on a Statewide Tobacco Cessation Initiative funded by The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living; and Coordinator for Better Health for …

Melody Davis is currently a teacher in the Mesquite Independent School District. Prior to her tenure there, she served the students in Dallas Independent School District for nearly 18 years.  She has dedicated herself to teaching inner-city youth for the past ten years and educates sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in English/language arts and professional communications. She has also co-owned her family’s Smoothie Factory franchise. She is active in her community and serving them as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Melody earned a B.A. in Education from Clark Atlanta University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A & M University. Mrs. Davis is the mother of two and married to Kevin Davis of Dallas, Texas.

Marsha Johnson is a native of Chicago, Illinois and a program manager for The Essence of Fitness Charities, Inc. Previously, she was currently employed by Mohawk Industries as an IS Project Manager; Mannatech Corporation as an IT Program and Production Support Manager; CellStar Corporation as a Director of Business Solutions Team; and other finance support positions.

Marsha received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Masters in Business Administration from University of Texas at Austin Graduate School of Business.

Her community service experience includes: Dallas Chapter Volunteer Coordinator and Mass Care Shelter Supervisor for the American Red Cross as well as being a volunteer with the Dallas Life homeless shelter. Johnson is a member of Johnson Chapel Community Church in Desoto, Texas where her activities include choir, Hunger Initiative, Adopt a School, Sports and Wellness Community, …

James Penny, Sr., a native of the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, is a veteran of the U.S. Army. In 2009 he retired from the Dallas Independent School District where he served a Technical Support Manager. Prior to that, he worked in various capacities for the Burlington Northern Railroad and the Drug Enforcement Agency. In each of his professional endeavors, he has been entrusted with fiduciary responsibilities over valuable assets and classified/confidential information.
He has served honorably at Johnson Chapel Community Church in various roles including the Board of Deacons, the Finance Committee, the Male Chorus, and the Food Pantry. In his spare time, he participates in the Par 3 Golf Association, which raises money for scholarships and supports students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). Without a formalized process, James has provided financial support for various students in need over …