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. 

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Program - Moving Forward With  the Dream 

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.

Authoring Three Books - Memoir, Personal Growth, Success

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!
 

Graduating College - Oldest Child of A Single Parent

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.

Launching a Training and Consulting Business

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. 

Commissioned as An Army Officer

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!

Cancer Survivor - 7 Years

ASTD (Metro DC Chapter)

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Loudoun County Alumnae Chapter)

Mt Pleasant Baptist Church

Military Officers Association of America

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How do we best maneuver life’s roads, paths or journeys; so often paved with the travails and triumphs of a barrage of daily evolving circumstances? Do we always know the directions or map to our true north? Is there an IPS (Internal Positioning System) to guide us?  In Navigating Life’s Roadways, Deborah L. Parker takes you on a very personal voyage while engaging you with creatively written metaphors of her life’s map of twisting roads, paths, and journeys. Ride along as Parker insightfully and inspirationally navigates the elements of family, relationships, career, faith, health or fun. Learn, cry and laugh with her, as you find yourself exploring the lessons of your own destinations while identifying with her heartfelt narratives.  Meet the core people who’ve journeyed with Parker or put up roadblocks. Transit her phases of humbly growing up in a Civil Rights era rural Virginia town, then launching out on pursuits as an army officer, corporate manager and entrepreneur in the story Belief Boulevard, while you experience her setbacks and eventual arrival back to her true north spirit in Valley View.  Sharing the warmth and variety of stories found in the renowned Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Parker’s artful accounts of her treks through mountains and pits feeds the reader’s spirit (even throwing in the chicken). This book will guide and encourage you on your smooth or rough roadways ahead.  Parker's chronicles begin when she was born to a teenage unwed mother (who later married and was then abandoned with her three other children, going on to raise them in an extended family environment), sharing their push through adversity on Determination Drive. Gracefully she stays true to the old school direction of African American traditions, gleaned from her grandparents, uncles and aunts—also pivotal role models for her. Framed with other memories from her childhood that she finds in scenes from Homer’s Odyssey, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland or the Lion King, Parker wonderfully connects these to take-a-ways for the reader.  Candidly expressing the flaws but focus of herself and those who ordered or halted her steps, Parker beautifully covers the heart and healing nature of family or friendships in Love Loop.  Infusing the wisdom of scripture, spiritual quotes and cultural proverbs into her IPS (Internal Positioning System), Parker grounds her stories. You read the sage advice from her Baptist upbringing along with her respect for the spiritual lessons of Buddha as well as the growth language of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Sprinkling humor and the rhythms of R&B throughout this anthology, she uses this inspirational blend as rest stops from life’s turmoils.   Facing the unsettling of her health’s foundation, Parker has wandered on Pity Party Path. Breaking down on the road from her exposed faults, Parker heeds this mayday message and gets back on track as she relates in Vision Venue. From the wooded back-road home of her youth, which had no indoor plumbing, Parker cements life survival tips from the disciplined chores she performed there in Commitment Court.  Writing the primary parts of this work during the year of grieving the loss of her mother, Parker gathers strength from their joint sojourns and the guiding spirit of this bond of life in Farewell and Forward Foothills. The devastating emotions so many go through from this type of loss are warmly and vividly portrayed in her stories.  In Parker’s ‘helluva travels’ from America to Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Africa, she invites you on an educational route of self-discovery in search of more rooting along with meaning for her odyssey’s realities. Parker explores the importance of pausing to reflect at Pondering Pond then going full throttle at Goal Gateway.   The varied metaphors found in the relatable stories of this book will center and inspire you for your sojourns ahead, in finding your true north.

Navigating Life's Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey

Can the struggles and victories of the African American story be used as a guide to achieve success? Are you ready to start a personal reconstruction of your life and career goals?  Then read this book! For People of Strength, Soul, and Spirit— part history lesson, part motivational speech and part results-driven, wonderfully blends these elements along with the tapestry of the Black in America experience, to create practical messages and current-day realities for a more fulfilling life and career. Deborah L. Parker has robustly compiled Seven Guidelines in this book, warmly woven together as a trifecta of strength, soul, and spirit. Cemented in the use of the word ‘know’, these guidelines represent timeless advice based on knowledge, well-being, and faith narratives as a ‘way station’ for courageously launching forward. Warping time with the rhythmic voices and virtues of the ‘old folks’ to present day, Parker lays out these achievement principles in a simple, yet riveting way. By acknowledging the painful parts of what’s behind us, she movingly shapes those chronicles as foundational memories, using them as leverage to push through today’s adversities. What do you get here? Formatted in sections like a workbook, Parker virtually coaches you with her writing. You’ll identify your unique DNA (delivered natural ability), strengths, motivators and resources, along with essential tools that support practical life and career solutions. In this book, Parker, a cultural buff,  Army veteran, and Chief Inspirer of The DPJ Training Group, brings over twenty years of work in career, leadership and personal development programs to skillfully make the case for balanced success action in a very real and encouraging way.

For People of Strength, Soul, and Spirit: Seven Guidelines for Life & Career Success

Military service has long been viewed as the steadied model of leadership. Those who’ve answered that call, yesteryear to current times, from ‘old soldier’ to modern-day warrior, have carried on this institution’s ultimate mission to support and defend freedom. Then what can we, as leaders, learn from this model for dealing with today’s mission challenges, uniquely gleaning lessons from the life of an ‘old soldier’? For the late retired Command Sergeant Major, Vietnam Vet, Ranger Hall of Fame inductee and the Honorable Harris L. Parker, his oldest niece and fellow army veteran Deborah L. Parker approves his timeless message of leadership. Ensuring that he has not ‘faded away,’ she honors the achievements of her late uncle, lovingly known as Hardcore to his family, with these eleven powerful lessons for those who find themselves in charge at work, in their community, or at home. Reporting on her uncle’s service to his country and family as well as in leadership positions for their native Virginia county of Sussex, Parker overlays his noted wisdom, courage and vision with practical strategies to start your own leadership campaign.  Weaving in take-aways from her work and personal experiences in leadership development through her company The DPJ Training Group, Parker, also a retired reserve Lieutenant Colonel, has put together a thought-provoking book packed with memorable teaching anecdotes. Inspiring and informative in saluting her uncle’s biographical legacy, she makes the case for us all in Hardcore’s words, to ‘press on.’

Hardcore Leadership: 11 Master Lessons From My Airborne Ranger Uncle's "Final Jump"

Deborah L. Parker is a seasoned facilitator, motivational speaker, army veteran, cancer survivor, trainer, author, and coach with a wealth of experience on a variety of workplace issues. She has encouraged audiences to use their "gifts and wits" in creating winning foundations for their professional and personal goals. 

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.


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Leadership 101: The Boot Camp Basics

Prime Your Pump: Staying Motivated During Tough Times

Drive On:  Navigating Change and Challenge in the Workplace


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!

Your Professional Brand: Focused for Leading and Succeeding 

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. 


Five Ways to Engage Your GPS: Goals, Positions, and Strategies

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!

Diversity: A Dynamic Force for the Future

Motivational Speaker, Training Professional, Author, Coach, Army Veteran

Deborah L. Parker helps leaders lead, employees interact more effectively across cultures and people tap into their well of their experiences to create a vision. As Chief Inspirer of The DPJ Training Group, a motivational speaking, leadership and personal development firm, Deborah ensures that her custom learning programs meet the performance needs of DoD, public and private sector clients. As the author of a motivational memoir, Navigating Life's Roadways, she brings her blended experiences as an army veteran and corporate manager to print; continuing to inspire and support others. Learn more about Deborah at her websites, thedpjtraininggroup.com and navigatinglifesroadways.com. Read reviews of her book on Amazon. Reach her on Twitter @dlp2080. Or contact her directly at (703) 669-6513. Deborah Parker looks forward to connecting with you for Leadership, Inspiration and Action!

Deborah L. Parker of The DPJ Training Group and Author of Navigating Life's Roadways

The DPJ Training Group is a premier firm specializing in motivational speaking, leadership and personal development training services that are tailored to your needs with: your business your challenges your people. Headed by Deborah L. Parker, an army veteran and experienced manager, this firm is about Leadership, Inspiration and Action; tooling for organizations to successfully maneuver today's workplace dynamics. Other adjunct team members work with Deborah on a variety of training and development projects. Our services are geared towards common as well as complex workplace issues such as: Morale, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Interpersonal Relationships Headquartered in Northern Virginia, our company is recognized for its longstanding, excellent work with Federal Government Agencies Department of Defense Other Public and Private sector organizations. Positioned near the Washington Metropolitan area gives us a unique advantage in responding to many types of client needs whether local, national, or international. The reach of our outcomes are widespread!

The DPJ Training Group, Deborah L. Parker, Chief Inspirer

Deborah Parker - Author of Navigating Life's Roadways

Sussex Training School 4th Annual Scholarship dinner with speaker Deborah Parker-middle 3 minutes

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