Licensed Professional Engineer(Texas), Inaugural ZOL Team Member; ZOL Co-Chair (2008-09)

I have known Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker since 2003 when we served as members of the inaugural ZOL team under Past-Grand Basileus Barbara C. Moore.  Valerie and I worked together on one group in which Valerie was team lead.  I found her to be warm and personable yet professional, a person of vision, and willing to go the extra mile for whatever the team needed in order to successfully meet its objectives.  We quickly became close associates.  I was a staunch supporter of hers when she ran for Grand in 2008.  I am an engineer and psychologist, both by education and training.  I found Valerie’s platform to be sound, its tenets designed to address and meet Zeta’s needs, and knew its architect to possess the traits necessary to succeed.

It was following the 2008 elections that our views regarding the state of Zeta and Valerie’s vision for Zeta’s future truly coalesced into a close and enduring relationship.  We began communicating by phone and email, oftentimes several times a week. We began by applying our experiences in the corporate world to Zeta Phi Beta – the corporation.  A corporate model emerged, including each aspect of Zeta operations.  Paramount to our thought process was Valerie’s vision of Zeta, not just as a Black female sorority who performs services in the community, but Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, internationally recognized leader in service.

Valerie learned that I was awake into the early morning hours watching westerns, and over the years has taken full advantage of that information.  As a full-time corporate employee, Valerie has carried out many of her duties at late hours and into the early morning.  As National 1^st Anti-Basileus she is usually up late hours processing membership packets and receiving calls from our overseas members.  Her work with me has evolved into midnight calls that stretch into 3:00 A. M. conversations.  In New York that means she is working past 4:00 A.M. on Zeta tasks. Needless to say, Valerie is very dedicated and committed.  It is also very difficult to say NO to her because she draws you in to her vision.  As an aerospace engineering specialist, my dealings with others has always been project-driven.  My working with Valerie on various teams has shown me that there is a different way of leading others through encouragement, respect, motivation, and appreciation.  I guess you can “teach an old horse new tricks”.

Most importantly, Valerie did not wake up this morning and decide she would run for Grand.  Valerie has traveled down this path for what seems like a lifetime.  She has maintained a vision for Zeta and worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition.  This is Zeta’s time.  It’s our destiny.  Valerie has set a very high standard of customer service as National 1^st Anti-Basileus.  Now with the full support of the membership, as International Grand Basileus she will truly lead Zeta into a future of global recognition.  As a Life Member, Soror Hollingsworth-Baker is the only candidate capable of measuring up to my very high standards for the office of International Grand Basileus.  For the sake of Zeta’s future as we enter the next 100 years, let us all come together to elect Valerie as our next Grand.

Upsilon Iota Zeta, Basileus

Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker shows all the prize characteristics of a leader, including honesty, integrity, and humility. During the time I have known Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker, I have found her to be an exemplarily soror. Every day, she lives out our core values of scholarship, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood. In addition, I believe she has the experience and leadership skills to take on the important role of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. International Grand Basileus.

She has served at the executive level of our sorority for several years. In her current role as First Anti-Basileus, she has established and streamlined membership processes ensuring our sorority is welcoming and safe from liability. In addition, she has ensured our materials are correct and up to date. She has led teams, established goals with those team and achieved those goals. And though these are all important achievements, they are not the most important role as First Anti-Basileus. At every level (chapter, state, regional and national), Soror Hollingsworth-Baker impressed on our sorority’s leadership that we should be a customer service centric organization. I like to call this being a servant leader–being a resource and a champion for the people you serve. Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker biggest passion is her love for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She shows endless determination and is a natural born leader suitable for the position of the International Grand Basileus. To steal a sentiment from President John F. Kennedy, it will be essential that the woman who fills this role cares more about what they can do for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated than about what our sorority can do for her. In addition, Valerie has extensive administrative skills with a proven record of success. It is important that the leader of our sorority is not only a woman with presence and dignity–who can represent us in many venues (big and small) with pride–but is also a woman who, behind the scenes, can lead people and run our organization with skill and efficiency.

With my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude, I highly recommend Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker, International Grand Basileus. Soror Martha Tomlin-McCrary Upsilon Iota Zeta, Basileus

Detroit, Michigan

This is my personal testimony for our very own Soror, Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker, who I have known for many years. Our International First Anti-Basileus is worthy to be our International Grand Basileus. She is a person who not only believes in the Principles of our Sorority through letting her light shine for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated but, she is a person who is extremely entrenched in the Oath, that we each took.  The promise of living her life as an exemplary woman which is fundamental each time we recite our Sorority Prayer and sing our National Song.

Soror Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker, not only talks and walks in the footsteps of our five founders, with leadership abilities, she exhibits the highest qualities and standards that they too exhibited every day of their lives through exemplifying, Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love, and Finer Womanhood.

Soror Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker means it when she says “I promise to be kind and honest and to do those things which are pleasing in “God sight”, when it comes to this great sorority.  It is with passion and love for this organization that she has lead us over the past four years as our International First Anti-Basileus with Zeta Zest and greatness; when it comes to every member of this great Sorority.

Soror Hollingsworth-Baker has been a person of her word and will continue to be a Great Leader for our Sisterhood given the opportunity to be your next 25^th International Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.