HBCU Times Spring 2024

“I BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED RESOURCES TO BE SUPPORTIVE. I CREATED DOVERSTAFFING AND DOVER TRAINING INSTITUTE AS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HOLISTIC. WE DON’T JUST PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND YOU ON A JOB. WE LINK PEOPLE TO A POSSIBLE TRANSFORMATIONAL LIFE CHANGE. IT’S MORE THAN JUST A JOB.”

taking care of your family and living life, people may not be aware of these opportunities to make current changes that will allow a person to leave a legacy for their family,” said Dover of the federal legislation. “I am using my platform as workforce solutions expert to encourage people to take advantage of the economic transformation that is arising from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is an opportunity to level set, and take a look at how you are positioning yourself for success whether you’re a business owner or person in the workplace. For us as Black people, we don’t want to be on the platform and see that the train has left the station and we’re not on the train. We can’t miss this transformational opportunity to redirect one’s life,” she added. In line with the policy’s growing opportunities, the Dover Training Institute focuses on post-secondary education, providing opportunities to gain skills

intelligence and machine leading with a certificate. While Dover is team HBCU as the daughter of educators, and has a sister who also graduated from Spelman College, she said people don’t have to go to a four-year university to be gainfully employed. Her institute pushes the benefits of attending a community college and earning a certificate in an effort to keep up with the evolving workforce. While there are several secrets to Dover’s success, she speaks highly of her college’s impact on her success–past, present and future. “I love my alma mater. Going to Spelman, an all-girls school, was very empowering,” said Dover who applied only to Spelman College. “As a Black business woman, I draw back on that experience often because women are so often silenced, not heard or seen. In Spelman’s environment, you’re always heard and seen. That’s an expectation that grew out of being a Spelman woman.”

Guiding Leaders for Today, Tomorrow The work of inspiring and motivating is a big part of Dover’s work. As the owner of a multi-million dollar company, she sees how others, too, can create their own golden parachute, and passes on information to her team, those training in her programs, and during speaking engagements. Recently, Dover has been talking up the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, calling it a “game changer” for small businesses and people looking to earn higher incomes. The 2021 legislation is aimed at investing in communities too often left behind, and aims to add 1.5 million jobs each year through 2031. “I want people to understand that this is one of the greatest things that has happened since the New Deal to our economy. I am passionate about sharing this information because when you’re

got acquainted with one another and we blossomed. We’re Spelman sisters, church sisters, and golf members.” Dunlap said the mentee- mentor relationship turned into a friendship, and they now schedule dates for brunches, church visits, and spa days to keep in touch. Dover offers career tips and tools, but Dunlap provides something in exchange. “I’m trying to get her to do more of that self care. We’re very busy individuals, so we have to make free time on our calendars,” said Dunlap, an Atlanta-based life insurance producer. “I also take a lot of business direction from Ms. Dover. I’m one of the only Black women at my firm. Dealing with the microcosm of racism, she helped guide me. She said you just need to start your own agency. I would be very lost business wise if it wasn’t for Ms. Dover. I don’t know many Black women that own their own company at that level. That inspires me.”

that provide a gateway to a career in artificial

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