Meet Jamesa Hogges | Public Health Professional | Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamesa Hogges and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamesa, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is perseverance. I started my businesses with one mission in mind: help add value to others’ journey.

Whether it be with my non-profit organization, You Hold the Key, Inc., awarding scholarships to well-deserving high school seniors in financial need seeking educational advancement, or my small growing business ‘by J. Creates, LLC’, where we strive to create custom items for all, as well as partner with other businesses to add value to their brand through expansion of merchandising.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Public Health professional who has worked in the field since graduating with my Master’s in Public Health, Epidemiology in 2015 from the real GSU- Georgia Southern University. Working in each sector over the last 5 years, from local to federal, has not been an easy feat. Even though there were various setbacks along the way, I am most proud of the knowledge I have gained which has allowed the opportunity to mentor rising MPH graduates.

The broad scope of Public Health excites me due to the endless opportunities for growth, but it can also be a challenge based on the skillsets required. Even though I have worked my way up the ladder through hard-work and determination, I had to learn what it meant to advocate for my professional growth and realize when it was time to move onwards and upwards.

If I had to leave one word of wisdom that has helped me, it would be that: You can’t expect others to take a chance on you/support you, if you haven’t even bet on yourself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friends came to visit for a week (pre-COVID), they know to come hydrated with a variety of outfits!

Let’s say everyone arrives on Friday night, we’ll keep it chill with game night. I would cook and make a specialty drink that would be sure to get the vibe started. The weekend isn’t complete without hitting up one or two of ATL’s Brunch spots on Saturday AND Sunday. Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar jerk lamb chops never disappoint! and if they are down for a drive, Gocha’s Breakfast Bar has been on the list!

The rest of the week is free game and up to the guests to choose from massages, mani/pedis, nice dinner out, go kart racing, museums, bowling, gun range, hiking, and the list goes on. Good vibes = good times. Memories will be made and that’s what matters the most.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to the women who push(ed) me to be greater than my failures and strive higher than my greatest successes: my mother (Dr. Sheryl Hogges), grandmother (Sylvia Williams), and aunt (Sylvia L. Epps). While my grandmother and aunt are no longer with us, all three strong women have left a lasting mark of encouragement on my life. Making them happy is what keeps me going each day.

Website: www.byjcreates.com

Instagram: @withgratitude_j

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesahogges/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/withgratitude_j

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jhogges/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=-MLsVjybtAYckDgT2CPLhg

Image Credits
Personal photo: Cason Ogletree of Sean Cason Photography Instagram: @iamseancason