About Forward Progress Arts & Entertainment Center

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Patsy is the Founder of Another Open Door Production Company and an Award-winning filmmaker. She also founded the InDept Arts & Film Festival of San Antonio. Patsy’s communication and networking skills and her influence in the Entertainment Industry will serve our young adults through her many community and professional partnerships. She is employed full-time by the Texas Workforce Commission. Ms. Whitfield is responsible for the organization's overall management, coordinating activities, networking with other organizations, and establishing collaborating partnerships. Patsy is also the Co-Founder of the SABIFF Awards Banquet, Never Met A Stranger.

Veronica was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but she considers Jacksonville, Florida, to be her home base after spending more than 20 years there. She now lives in San Antonio, Texas. She earned an Associate of Arts in Political Science from Florida State College, a Bachelor of Business Administration, a Dual Master's degree in Business Administration, Management, and Human Resource Management, and a Doctoral in Humanities and Social Science. She was appointed to the Department of Defense in the year 2000. At the Naval Air Facility in Atsugi, Japan, she was the Supervisory Contracting Officer. She also worked as an Acquisition Contracting Specialist for a variety of regions across the United States on the Integrated Product Team. She also worked for the Federal Government's Department of Defense as an Equal Employment Opportunity Representative. 

Her previous assignments included the Fleet Industrial Supply Command (FISC) Naval Regional Contracting Center in Manama, Bahrain, which included contacts critical to meeting Central Command (CENTCOM) requirements throughout the Middle East, Southwest Asia, East Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Department of Defense (DoD) activities in the United States. She also worked as a Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) and Integrated Product Team (IPT) at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, as a Secretary for the Naval Air Depot in Jacksonville, Florida, and as an Office Automation Assistant for the Department of Dependent Schools (DoDDs) in Zama American High Schools in Japan. 

Veronica has achieved Level III certification under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women, the JAX Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce Japan, For Empowering Women Japan (FEW), the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), and the African American Federal Executive Association, as well as other organizations (AAFEA). Veronica is also a Voluntary Leader for non-profit organizations that mentor women and their families. 

Among her personal decorations is her appearance on the 2014 Ona Brown Own Your Dreams Radio Broadcast. She is Les Brown's Platinum Speaker, and Les Brown is one of the world's top motivational speakers. People You Need to Know Magazine 2013 Edition featured me in their prestigious premier 

publication. In 2013, over 40,000 people attended the live event, Circle of Sisters, as a special guest feature. Honored by the National Association of Professional Women in 2013-2014 for Outstanding Excellence and Dedication to Her Profession and Women's Achievement. In 2006, she received the Presidential/Congressional Recognition Award for Businesswoman of the Year. In 2006, she was named

Businesswoman of the Year by the Wall Street Journal. In addition, in November 2006, she was featured in the Wall Street Journal for receiving the Business Advisory Council's Outstanding Leadership Award. Veronica has also received six Special Act Awards for exceptional performance in her job duties. 

Veronica M. Brooks is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, and life coach. She began speaking for non-profit organizations in 1997. Her mission is to uplift and assist people all over the world. She is a published author who has written books such as "Ninety Days to Start Gaining Wealth," "Wealthy Life Skills," "Motivational Therapy," and "THE WARRIOR WITHIN A memoir by Dr. VERONICA M. BROOKS." Veronica is the Founder and CEO of Wealth Palace Magazine, an online publication. Mrs. Brooks provides