Darlene
is an expert in the ever-changing world of and fashion and produces
fashion
shows, seminars and workshops for firms, companies and organizations.
Darlene
is a personal coach for upper and middle management for the refinement
of their
image and etiquette skills. Her training began at University of Alabama
School
of Dentistry in Birmingham where she
earned her dental hygiene,
perceptorship
degree, and was one of the youngest hygienist in the state. She
is a licensed and Registered Dental Hygienist in Alabama,
specializing in the
effects
of the oral cavity on health and appearance, her license and continuing
education
credits are maintained yearly. Mrs. Real-Higginbotham is certified
by
Color I of Newport Beach California as a color and wardrobe
consultant.
She was
a color and wardrobe instructor for the John Casablanca’s Modeling
and Talent
Agency for fifteen years. Darlene has her certification in business
and social
etiquette from the prestigious Dorotha Johnson School of Protocol
and Etiquette
in Washington D.C., where Ms. Johnson is the etiquette
consultant
to the World
Trade Center. Darlene’s
experience in healthcare, retail, and training
management
has given her the business knowledge needed in today's world-market.
Darlene
defines the impact that personal dress, posture and appearance, can have
on
how others see you and how you see yourself.
Darlene
was a founding member of the Alabama Speakers Association in 1982
and the
2005-2006 President. She has been a professional member of the National
Speakers
Association since 1984. During her membership in The International
Speakers
Association, in which eight of our United State Presidents were members,
she introduced
speakers on c-span and spoke to the membership on Professional
Image.
Darlene
was hired by the producer of the WBRC 6 television Morning Show as
fashion
stagiest, working with a team of two stylist and a make-up artist, they
performed
two make-over’s once a week for five years. Volunteers wrote in
from all
over the state to be chosen for a make-over. Mrs. Real-Higginbotham
was selected
to do the Tom York Morning Show from Bermuda as a spokesman
to report
on fashion. The Alabama Japan Leadership Delegation invited Darlene
to travel
to Japan for the benefit of conducting effective business
with the Japanese
for a sixteen
day trip. The trip was sponsored by the University
of Alabama and
included
entrepreneurs, professors and politician’s.
As a published
author and co-author, Darlene has published three small heart
health
cookbooks produced by Nomad Press. They are ‘Quick & Easy Entrees
with
Style”, “Quick & Easy Salads and Breads with Style” and “Quick & Easy
Holiday
Treats with Style”. She was also a contributing writer to the best
selling,
GRITS,
(Girls Raised in the South) Guide to Life.”
Darlene’s goal
is to "motivate, inspire, and education individuals to
their greatest
potential. Her vast experience with corporate executives, government
officials,
and business professionals makes her someone who can provide tremendous
insight
into how we relate to others through appearance. Darlene gives audiences
enthusiasm
for examining their business as well as personal image and then coaches
them in
finding new techniques to get what they want in their careers and personal life
at
any age.