Alumnus Journeys from Adversity to the Boardroom

hile growing up across from the Dixie Homes Housing Development in Memphis, Reginald Mebane was taught not to become a product of the negative aspects of his surroundings. As one of the highest-ranking African American executives at Federal Express, Mebane is the Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for TowerGroup International, a FedEx Trade Networks Company, located in Buffalo, NY. Mebane has worked for Federal Express for over twenty years. His road to success has been paved with adversity, hard work, and opportunities. Mebane is a Northside High School Class of 1977 graduate. He is well known as a corporate executive, motivational speaker, psychotherapist, noted author and college professor. He started developing his leadership skills as a teenager during his years at Northside.

Early Recognition For Leadership Skills and Academics

Teachers at Humes Junior High and Northside High helped him develop his values and work ethics. His favorite teacher was Ms. Parker. "Ms. Parker was a disciplinarian. She wasn't just trying to teach us Mathematics or Algebra; she tried to teach us life lessons. 'Get a good education, be good at what you do, and be honest' were the things that she tried to teach us. These words are ones that I have to live by to this day."

Mebane was a very active student at Northside. He was Co-Captain of the Karate Team, Student Council President, participated in ROTC and was in charge of the Thanksgiving Drive. He excelled in academics and graduated third in his class. While at Northside, he was voted teenager of the week by the Commercial Appeal newspaper and was in a featured article. The article highlighted his academic achievement, student council presidency, and community activities.

In his senior year, Congressman Harold Ford Sr. nominated Mebane for the Air Force Academy Scholarship. As a backup plan, Mebane signed up for the Air Force through the delayed entry program in December of 1976, which was the last time to qualify for the GI Bill education fund that paid for all college expenses, as long as military time was served. The new GI Bill would only match military personnels educational savings.

On graduation night, a surprise announcement at the Mid-South Coliseum was made to Mebane and the entire audience. He was the recipient of a $60,000 scholarship. In 1977, it was the highest awarded scholarship in the history of Northside. After graduation, he entered the Air Force Academy.

Time At The Academy Brings Forth A Career Change

Mebane hoped to one day to become an Air Force pilot, but soon realized that learning aviation was not what he expected. "I wanted to fly planes. After I got into the academy, I thought to myself 'this is boring me, I hate this'. I have traveled all around the world but to this day I hate sitting on an airplane for a long period of time." After two years at the Air Force Academy, Mebane did not sign the military service commitment agreement. The Air Force allowed him to use his time at the academy as active duty and paid for his undergraduate studies at Memphis State (the University of Memphis). Mebane decided to turn his career toward Psychology because of his love for helping people.

Therapist Career Leads to Civic and Community Involvement

He received his Master's Degree from the University of Memphis and his Ph.D. in Health and Human Services from Columbia Pacific University. In 1988, Mebane started working as an adjunct college professor and psychotherapist. His certification as a Clinical Hypnotherapist allowed him to work with women who had been sexually abused. Mebane has worked with minority youth and gang members, and the homeless for the severe mentally ill. He served as past Vice President of the Memphis Mental Health Association, and was the former chairman of the Health, Education and Housing Finance Board (HEHFB) for the city of Memphis. HEHFB specializes in affordable housing solutions for Memphis and the surrounding areas.

Working nights at FedEx afforded Mebane the opportunity to get involved with other things during the day. "I would off at FedEx at night and teach a class at the University of Memphis. I would home and get some sleep, then awake in order to work at the Mental Health Center from noon to 7:00 PM. On weekends, I would see patients in my private practice." In 1997, Mebane was promoted to Director of International Operations for FedEx in Memphis. He had to give up his private practices because of the demanding schedule of his new position. "Since I was traveling around the world, I could not maintain a private practice having someone in therapy when I am traveling to places like South America," says Mebane.

From The FedEx Hub To Chief Operating Officer

In 1981, Mebane started at FedEx working as a part-time package handler in the Memphis Hub. The job allowed him to support himself while attending the University of Memphis as a full-time student. However, he found a little bit more than opportunity; he found love. "I met my wife to be LaRhonda at FedEx while we sorted packages together," says Mebane. LaRhonda eventually left FedEx to pursue other opportunities. Mebane viewed his position as a way to get into the doors of opportunity at FedEx. After the first three years at FedEx, he moved into a management position and graduated from Leadership Memphis (1992) while at FedEx. In 1995, Mebane got a chance to speak professionally by teaching Diversity around the world for FedEx.

Last year, Mebane accepted his current position as Senior Vice-President and COO for the TowerGroup International and moved his family to Buffalo, NY. The TowerGroup International is a FedEx Trade Networks Company located in Buffalo, New York. He oversees the strategic development of the Federal Express Global Networks.

Motivating Others Through Public Speaking

Public speaking has always been something that Mebane enjoyed. It was one of the things that drove him toward running for student council president during high school. "In the back of my mind, I have always been kind of a jack-leg preacher; at least that's what my sister has told me", says Mebane. Although he has a hectic schedule, he still finds time to speak at several speaking engagements the year. He conducts both internal and external training seminars on Leadership Dynamics, Diversity and Motivational Speaking.

The Black Capital Network (BCN) sponsored an event this year in which the theme was called Recapturing Our Entrepreneurial History. The Black Capital Network is an informational and interactive web community formed in recognition of the need for more successful minority business and the power of the Black dollar. Mebane gave an unforgettable speech at this event entitled Overcoming Adversity to Achieve Success.

Mebane has been involved with mentoring kids through the Memphis High School Mentoring program. The program allowed him to speak to youths and be the keynote speaker at different high schools around Memphis like Booker T. Washington and Melrose. He believes that if he can talk to a group of young people and reach at least one or two of them, then he has made an impact. Mebane tries to motivate people not only through speech but also through literature.

Reaching Others Through Literature

Mebane is author of the book I Wish Cotton Was A Monkey: Autobiographical Notes from the Ghetto to the Boardroom, currently in reprint. The book is a fictional autobiography of his character's first memories of life to his position as Director of International Operations. The book was released in November 2000 and was published under the pseudonym, Rae-Ree Richards. "When I was in the Leadership Institute in 1995, I just decided to do it since I had some extra time on my hands," says Mebane. Writing a book has always been in the back of Mebane's mind. He grew up with a love for writing. The book includes some memories about his character's time at Northside High School. The book talks about getting past our self-doubts.

A book review on Mebane's book written by Lawrence Selden of the Tri-State Defender states, "Those who have experienced, suffered from, or became part of the 'Black brain drain' that drives so many striving African-American professionals to Atlanta and other places will find themselves here." To read excerpts from the book, visit Mebane's website at www.cottonwasamonkey.com . The book is definitely worth reading and would make a great screenplay. Mebanes family has supported his literary endeavor.

A Time For Family, Leisure And Other Interest

Mebane is a devoted husband to his wife of 15 years LaRhonda. They are the proud parents of 14-year-old twin daughters, Mallory and Lindsey. To relax from the day-to-day grind, Mebane takes time out to read, exercise participate in his daughters' activities. Mallory and Lindsey both hold Black in karate.

Mebane has also gotten a little bit into acting. He made a cameo appearance in the movie "Castaway" featuring Tom Hanks. In the movie, he can be seen at the dinner party that welcomes Tom Hank home. He played Hanks' supervisor's husband. "Most of my dialogue was cut out of the movie except for the part were I am saying 'See you later Chuck'," says Mebane.

Mebane took time to answer our questions concerning his journey through Corporate America.

-Jalia: Did you have any mentors that guided you in your journey through Corporate America?

Mebane:Yes, there have been people in Corporate America that have guided me. My formal mentor is Cynthia Spangler, Vice President of Information Technology at Federal Express. She advised me to always do the right thing and focus on doing the best that you can, until everyone else's opinion is irrelevant. She said that you have to make people believe that you are so good that they cannot do without you.

-Jalia: What drives you toward all of your accomplishments?

Mebane: I cannot think of a time in my life when I did not think the way that I do now. There are different theories about people that are successful. If you look at the research, it indicates that minorities, or people who have a history of oppression like Jews during the Holocaust and slaves, are more adapted to dealing with stress. There is something about us that gives us the ability to survive in adverse conditions. I came up in the ghetto. During the early part of my life, we were so poor that we couldn't afford to live in the projects.

-Jalia: What do you hope to accomplish in the next two to five years?

Mebane: I hope that I continue to be loved by my wife, respected by my children, and to make my mother proud. I am very thankful for the opportunity that I have been given at FedEx. There is always an opportunity for me to move up one more level. However, that is not what drives me. What's important are the relationships that you impact in your life.

-Jalia: How do you find time for family?

Mebane: Like with anything else, you find time for the things that you want to do. It's a matter of managing your priorities. Most of us are not good managers of time. I pride myself on being able to work smart, as well as working hard.

Reginald Mebane has accomplished many of his goals since graduating from Northside in 1977. Although he has been blessed with numerous opportunities, his dedication to always prepare himself for the next opportunity is something that all of us can learn from, as we journey through life. With everything he has achieved, he still remains humble and grounded to his Memphis roots.