Deborah L. Parker
Motivational Speaker, Training Professional, Author, Coach, Army Veteran The DPJ Training Group
- Washington D.C. Metro Area VA
Leadership/Diversity/Career/Inspiration/Action "Never Count Yourself Out" "Be in Charge" "Use Your Gifts and Wits to Succeed"
Social
Biography
Taking adversity as the route to “never count yourself out!” is also a part of Deborah’s inspiring platform and she has been featured in radio and online media to tell her compelling story. She grew up during the Civil Rights era of a rural Virginia town as the oldest child of a very determined single mother in the home of her wise maternal grandparents, which had no indoor plumbing. But her family encouraged her to study, be responsible, get involved and have faith. These situations impacted Deborah’s love of learning, history and culture tremendously. And now she honors the legacies of these anchoring ‘old folks’ in very profound ways, resulting in her poignant speaking and writing.
Through her company, The DPJ Training Group, Deborah's areas of expertise include leadership development, diversity, and career seminars for government, Department of Defense and private sector clients. In her work, she combines an academic background of degrees in Sociology (B.A., College of William and Mary) and Human Resource Development (M.A., George Mason University), with insight into leadership with time in the US Army Reserve, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She graduated the US Army Command and General Staff College as well as attended certification courses with Dale Carnegie on personal growth and inspiring change. And she has authored 3 books on these topics based on her professional and personal experiences.
In the corporate world, Deborah worked in training and operations management for Booz Allen Hamilton, ExxonMobil and Phillip Morris.
In the community Deborah is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, Military Officers Association of America, and the Metro DC Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. She enjoys travel, long walks and reading.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Keynote Speaker - Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Program - Moving Forward With the Dream
2013-01-21
In this banner year of US and African American history, I recognized how the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement are a must-get for all. The Douglass Community Center in Leesburg Virginia as the venue to bring a message of hope before over 200 people was wonderful. On the MLK holiday that happened to fall on Inauguration Day for President Obama, history continued to teach.
Authoring Three Books - Memoir, Personal Growth, Success
2011-07-19
I have penned three books, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey and Life is A Review: Observations and Collection of My Passages Through the Times. Both of these chronicle highlights of her life’s setbacks and successes with the themes of career, family, and choices in a motivating format with relatable takeaways for readers.
Graduating College - Oldest Child of A Single Parent
1973-05-13
My mother was a senior in high school when I was born, but she went back to finish and instilled in me how important education was. We lived with my maternal grandparents in a shotgun style house with no indoor plumbing in a segregated town. But my mother was determined and my grandparents wise, plus they all emphasized how important it was to have some goals. With Dr. King's work and these three elements along with my Baptist upbringing, I pushed onward and dreamed anyway. Finished college!
Launching a Training and Consulting Business
1992-01-01
Through my company, The DPJ Training Group, I've been providing motivational speaking, leadership, diversity and personal development learning programs for private and public sector clients for over 15 years. Using the tools of 360 feedback and other developmental assessments, I've also coached all levels of employees through periods of significant change in their career and personal lives. Named to honor her grandparents wisdom, DPJ stands for Deborah, Pearl and Joseph.
Commissioned as An Army Officer
1979-07-27
I underwent a 14 week grueling and intensive training program, Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning Georgia. Learning army tactics and doctrine during weeks of hot sun and physical toughness, in that final phase of training, joy and pride engulfed me. Yes, I was wet and worn— but I had done things I never thought possible because I was given the right tools. Success was tangible and tart. Victory shone like the gold bars I was waiting to pin on my uniform.
Cancer Survivor - 7 Years
2005-04-04
I was a month shy of my 50th birthday, when one starts to think about their mortality. The call came at 5:15 p.m. I’d been expecting to hear from my doctor. A suspicious finding had been seen on my mammogram and I’d endured a biopsy the week before. The pathology report was in —I carefully listened to my doctor’s words. “I hate to tell you this, but you have breast cancer” she said. Wondering, could fight this battle —in the realm of where I was in that moment? I'm still here!
Education
The College of William and Mary
BA
Sociology
1977
US Army Command and General Staff College
Completion of Modules -
Leadership, Strategy, Tactics, Operations
1992
George Mason University
MA
Human Resource Development
1993
US Institute of Peace
Conflict Analysis Course Certificate
Strictly Business: The Dale Carnegie Immersion Seminar
Certificate of Completion
Professional and Personal Growth for Success
2008
US Office of Personnel Management
Certification
360 Leadership Effectiveness Inventory Assessment
1998
Center for Creative Leadership
Certification
Workplace Harassment Course
1998
U S Army
Facilitation Certification
Equal Opportunity and Diversity
1978
PriceWaterhouse Coopers
Instructor Certification
Facilitation and Presentation Skills
2004
Conwal, Inc.
Certification
Coach - Military Transition Assistance Program
1993
Personnel Decisions, Inc.
Certification
Profilor 360 Assessment
1998
Affiliations
- ASTD (Metro DC Chapter)
- Mt Pleasant Baptist Church
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Loudoun County Alumnae Chapter)
- Military Officers Association of America
Event Appearances
Leadership 101: The Boot Camp Basics
Supervisors Academy National Park Service, Washington, DC
2011-03-08
Prime Your Pump: Staying Motivated During Tough Times
Dinner Meeting Falls Church VA Rotary Club
2012-11-15
Drive On: Navigating Change and Challenge in the Workplace
Meetings - Dulles Chapter Society for Human Resource Management and Mitre Human Capital Management - Community of Practice Session Mitre Corporation: McLean, VA and Dulles SHRM Reston, VA
2013-01-08
Sample Talks
Your Professional Brand: Focused for Leading and Succeeding
Are you branded in the best possible way? It's essential to create awareness of the image you project and its impact on your career. Three main ways to do that are: By developing a leadership style that gets things done and noticed. Examining ways to develop workplace savvy and move forward. And communicating effectively to build critical relationships. This packaging will support you in achieving your goals!
Five Ways to Engage Your GPS: Goals, Positions, and Strategies
How do you stay on course? Just like a car’s navigation system tracks the journey to various destinations, a GPS can do that when there seem to be delays in getting to your destination. Roadblocks and emergencies happen, so finding alternate routes is important. Scenarios just like this happen everyday. Preparation is key along with being equipped and ready to handle challenges. How to keep moving, these five points will steer you back on the route to success.
Diversity: A Dynamic Force for the Future
The success of any organization’s efforts to create an inclusive work environment rests primarily with those charged to manage people, processes, and procedures. Yes, managers reign as the champions of any diversity initatiatives, to get the “people plus” benefit in achieving maximum performance of all. By creating a climate that addresses career goals, cultural issues, and motivational needs, the power of diversity can be win-win!
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Author Appearance
- Corporate Training
