BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:

FERLANDA FOX NIXON is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FerlandaTM.  FerlandaTM is a female, minority-owned company dedicated to inspiring women from all walks and aspects of life to effect change in their personal and professional lives, in their families, in their community, and in society. Through an array of customized services, FerlandaTM encourages and empowers women to overcome stagnation and adversity by offering practical, successful solutions and strategies for the fulfillment of their dreams and potential. The company specializes in executive and leadership development, communication skills, presentation skills, and meeting facilitation skills, as well as issues affecting work/life balance, career advancement, faith, and spirituality.

Prior to founding FerlandaTM, Ms. Nixon practiced corporate law for 18 years – five years at Whitman & Ransom, a midsize Manhattan law firm, and 13 years at CIT Group Inc., a leading commercial and consumer finance company.  At CIT, Ms. Nixon held the position of Vice President, Managing Chief Counsel and Assistant Secretary. In that capacity, she managed the legal function for five operating business units and supervised a staff of eight professionals consisting of five senior attorneys, two paralegals and one administrative assistant. She structured sophisticated transactions and advised senior management on issues affecting corporations and financial institutions. For nearly 10 years, Ms. Nixon ranked the highest African-American, female officer at CIT.

Ms. Nixon is a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel and recently accepted an appointment as Co-Chair of the Women of Color Gender Equity Task Force for the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. In 2005, the New Jersey Law Journal recognized Ms. Nixon as a high-achieving, minority female in the New Jersey legal community.

Ms. Nixon is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Morristown, New Jersey, where she is a Sunday school teacher for high school students and awards scholarships to deserving students through her efforts on Calvary’s Educational Funding Ministry. Her other community involvements include active leadership roles as Trustee of the Women’s Association of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Treasurer and Executive Board member of the Morris County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. In her capacity as Trustee of the Women’s Association of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Ms. Nixon serves on the Executive Committee as Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer and served as Co-Chair of the 2006 Spotlight Gala, one of New Jersey’s largest annual fundraising events.  Under Ms. Nixon’s leadership, the 2006 Spotlight Gala raised over $2.4 million.

Ms. Nixon’s past activities include membership on the Board of Directors of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties and membership on the Young Leaders Steering Committee of The Newark Museum. Ms. Nixon also has coached soccer for the Recreation Department of the Town of Randolph, New Jersey, and has planned fundraising endeavors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, New Jersey.  In 2004, the Plainfield area and Metuchen, Edison, and Woodbridge YMCAs presented Ms. Nixon with a New Jersey Minority Achievers Award in recognition of her outstanding professional accomplishments and extensive community involvement.

A graduate of S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Ms. Nixon received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. After 12 years of marriage to her college sweetheart, Ms. Nixon lost her husband to leukemia and became a single parent of two young sons in 2000. She remarried in 2003 and continues to reside in Randolph, New Jersey, with her family. Her remarriage blesses her with a grown daughter who lives in New York.

Telephone: (973) 525-5215

Email: Ferlanda@Ferlanda.com

Website: www.Ferlanda.com