A Fayetteville State University (FSU) alumna will be in thenational spotlight when her business, Southern Elegance Candle Company, isfeatured on Good Morning America’s “Deals and Steals” in television markets inCalifornia on Saturday, September 12. The segment will air around the rest ofthe country on WTVD Channel 11 on September 13 at 1:30 p.m.
D’Shawn Russell is owner and CEO of the Raeford, N.C.-basedcompany. She was informed by the show’s producers that needs to begin theprocess of increasing her inventory, because when the segments air, likelywill be bombarded with orders. She and her staff are busy fulfilling an orderof 10,000 candles for the nationally televised morning show that is known forits support of small and large businesses.
Russell currently operates out of4,000-square-foot warehouse. She plans to move to a 15,000-square-foot facilityin Raeford next year. She has 13 employees, with more hires expected in thecoming months.
Russell earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a Concentrationin Mathematics from FSU in 1994, and then went on to receive her Master’s inEducation from National Louis University and her EdS (educational leadership)credentials from Cambridge College. During her long career, had taught mathon the elementary, middle and high school levels.
AboutFayetteville State University
Fayetteville StateUniversity is a constituent institution of The University of North CarolinaSystem and the second-oldest institution of higher education in the state,having been founded in 1867. FSU is a historically black university offeringdegrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. With more than6,700 students, Fayetteville State University is among the most diverseinstitutions in the nation. To learn more about Fayetteville State University,visit www.uncfsu.edu.
