On Friday, July 19 at the 82nd National Convention of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., the members voted to elect their new National President: Sherelle T. Carper, the President of a local club, the Northern Virginia Business & Professional Women’s Club. Carper expects to step down as the President of the local club as of Aug. 1 to assume her position as the 24th National President. The voting was held at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in Florida. Carper walked away with more than 65 percent of the votes. The installation of new officers was carried out by a local judge of Ft. Lauderdale at the closing banquet that Saturday evening, July 20. In the Association, the tenure of the Presidency is 2 years, with the possibility to be reelected for another 2 years.

Eighty-six years ago, in 1934, a realtor of New York City, and a member of the New York Club of Business and Professional Women, Emma Odessa Young came up with the idea of establishing a national organization throughout the United States. In July 1935, Mrs. Ollie Chinn Porter, President of the New York Club, extended an invitation to local clubs, organized as Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, to join and form a national organization. During that era in history, Black people were referred to as “Negroes,” therefore the word, “Negro” is used in the name of the National organization as opposed to “Black” or “African American.”

Prior to her recent election, Sherelle Carper was the President and Co-Founder of the Northern Virginia Business & Professional Women’s Club; the club was established as one of the Mid-Atlantic regional clubs of the National Club.

Carper obtained her education from the University of Virginia and the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. A resident of Centreville, she worked as an Air Traffic Controller at the Federal Aviation Administration. She also was a Manager at the FAA. Carper has been vigilant in her support of local community groups and organizations. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Fairfax based Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation.

With their mission stated in 4 parts, the Club is committed to promoting and protecting the interest of African American business and professional women, to serving as bridges for young people seeking to enter business and their professions, to improving the quality of life in the local and global communities, and to fostering good fellowship.