High Profile: TIA BREWER-FOOTMAN

Curiosity about the next step is practically a part of Tia Brewer-Footman's DNA. Her propensity for asking "What else?" propels her forward.

It's always been that way.

As a girl growing up outside Greenville, Ga., a town that had 1,200 residents and one two-story building, she would stare out the window and wonder how high the sky was.

"I always want to see what's next," says Brewer-Footman, chief operating officer and the public relations and marketing force for Footman-Brewer Enterprises, a consulting firm that she and husband Gerald Footman formed.

"Both my husband and I are dreamers," she says. "Who says the sky has to be the limit?"

Networking

Brewer-Footman, who joined the WCSC Channel 5 news team in 2001, was an education reporter and weekend anchor for the station until she left to work with Footman-Brewer full time in 2005. Her name recognition, media savvy, understanding of health and beauty issues and knowledge of Christian ministries have enabled her to serve prominent people and organizations.

Dr. Juanita Bynum, internationally known minister, will introduce her new cosmetics and bath and body lines at Footman-Brewer's fifth annual "hair etc.," expo and trade show set for July 19-20 at the Charleston Area Convention Center. The annual event, which has a companion biannual magazine, provides consumers with health and beauty products and information and professionals with opportunities for education and training.

Brewer-Footman says Bynum also plans to launch a new empowerment magazine for women of color called Ethne, and Footman-Brewer will publish it. The firm also publishes Grace, a multicultural Christian living magazine, and produces the companion Grace Concert and Icon Awards each year.

The marketing consultant and her husband, chief executive officer of Footman-Brewer, also have developed Shop Talk, a program module to train barbers and hair stylists about health issues affecting blacks. It's based on the premise that barbershops and beauty shops are cornerstones in black communities, and clients can be more likely to discuss their health issues with a barber or stylist than a physician.

When Brewer-Footman was an ambassador for the American Heart Association in 2006, she suggested a similar program to support its "Power to End Stroke" campaign, and it was a success. When the South Carolina Cancer Alliance needed a local partner to help fight colon cancer, it asked the firm to help. Brewer-Footman and her husband developed Shop Talk to enable them to quickly enlist the aid of the barber and beauty network in colon cancer awareness and future campaigns.

'My girls'

Brewer-Footman, who has been in many beauty pageants and was runner-up to Miss Georgia USA, also is involved in a program that is very close to her heart. It's one designed to help girls improve and advance.

"I do have a nonprofit for girls, T-Time for Girls," she says.

It is an etiquette and leadership program based on a curriculum she developed for schools, churches and community centers. It covers hygiene, proper dress, public speaking, stage presence and body language.

"If I could do that all day long and still pay the bills, I would. I love my girls. I've always wanted to see girls move to the next level."

She also helps to improve the lives of women and their children as a member of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey's advisory board for the planned Sustainable Opportunities for Life and Dreams, a transitional home and emergency shelter.

The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment selected Footman-Brewer to provide pampering suites and beauty products for high-profile women at its national conferences.

Brewer-Footman says since working with the firm full time, she has developed a new perspective.

"I used to think that my strengths afforded me these opportunities. Now, I know that I'm an instrument of God. He's orchestrating all of this."

About Tia

Born: 1975 in Greenville, Ga.

Occupation: Chief operating officer and public relations and marketing director of Footman-Brewer Enterprises.

Education: Bachelor's degree in mass communications, Savannah State University.

Family: Husband, Gerald Footman.

Reads: Inspirational books. "Doing Business by the Good Book: Fifty-Two Lessons on Success Straight From the Bible" by David Steward and Robert L. Shook and "How Did I Get So Busy" by Dr. Valerie Burton.

Would like to travel to: Anywhere. What I want more than anything is a real vacation. I have not taken a vacation since I moved to Charleston in 2001.

beauty Pageant Experience: Miss Georgia USA, state finalist, 2000; Miss Savannah State University, 1998; Miss National Collegiate Hall of Fame (participant), 1998; and Miss Greenville High, 1994.

A Great place you've VISITED: Barbados. I went with a group of people to talk about the similarities between Charleston and Barbados. I was on the television show "Good Morning Barbados."

it would surprise people to know: That I teach Bible study at Trinity Holiness Church in Moncks Corner. My husband is the minister of music. It is the church of my husband's dad. He's Bishop George Footman. That my real name is Tiajuana. Channel 5 changed it. They gave me a choice of Tia, Ty or Teresa. They thought Tia would be more Carolina-like. It took me a while to realize that people were calling my name.

Passions: I love jazz music. I had the Tiajuana Jazz Show on the radio in college.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705 or wminis@postandcourier.com.