N.C. A&T Alumni Times

Donna Ford ’86 wears many hats. She's being a corporate executive, entrepreneur, wife, mother and now the chief executive officer of LOAT (Ladies of A&T), LLC. The business initially started off as a private Facebook group for women who attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and lived in Atlanta, Georgia. However, on Jan. 8, 2018, everything changed when the group opened up to all women who attended North Carolina A&T.

“I was sitting in my home office drinking coffee when I started reflecting about our Facebook community, and I felt the need to change the name by removing Atlanta and to open it up to all A&T women. So I posted a challenge that morning in the group to the members that whoever invited the most women would receive a $50 gift card. Within 48 hours, 8,800 women joined the group,” said Ford.

The Ladies of A&T Facebook group now has a membership base of nearly 12,000 members who share updates about the university, women making moves in their careers, impacting their communities, and voicing their opinions about key issues.

“With this organic explosion of thousands of women joining the group, I took the initiative upon myself to do a five-city tour where the majority of the community resides, to meet with women to learn more about how our community could impact their lives,” said Ford. “Within our first year, we kicked off the ‘Golden Pride Campaign’ that allowed ladies to purchase a golden LOAT sweater that incorporated a giving component back to the university.”

LOAT, LLC has integrated four strategic pillars of purpose that promotes a golden lifestyle for women of A&T by giving back, building community, economic and women’s empowerment and living well.

“Since starting LOAT, I’ve had the pleasure of designing a Golden Lifestyle strategy that empowers women and increases their ability to live life on purpose. Being a part of the LOAT community also affords women to have an enhanced Aggie Pride experience. It has been an amazing journey connecting women who love A&T,” said Ford.

In 2018, LOAT donated $10,000 to N.C. A&T cheerleading and volleyball, and this year donated $5,000 to bowling and women's basketball. The organization currently has a strategic team of 12 A&T alumnae based in Atlanta and 58 ambassadors that reside in key cities who are responsible for promoting the national programs locally.

“It’s important for me that we meet women where they are and help strengthen their philanthropic muscle, provide them with the education to become good stewards of their money, assist them enjoy healthy personal relationships, serve their communities and establish and sustain a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

In addition to being the CEO of LOAT, LLC, Ford is also the vice president of strategic accounts at Sodexo, where she leads a team that is responsible for retention and strategic growth. She is also the co-founder with her daughter, Loren Lyles ’08, of Pail and Seed, a floral and experience design company based in Atlanta.

In 2019, LOAT, LLC will host a Girlfriends Weekend June 28-30 in Atlanta, a homecoming meet and greet on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, and a virtual national day of service on Nov. 16. In the future, the organization plans to host a financial empowerment summit for women.

To learn more about LOAT, LLC please visit www.loat.life.