Before the Historic Victory, We Gathered to Celebrate Excellence

By Dr. Jacqueline Mohair

Jacqueline’s Magazine | The History Issue

Dr. Jacqueline Mohair reflects on the 100 Women of Excellence celebration, Georgia Secretary of State elect Penny Brown Reynolds and the power of recognizing women who serve.

Some photographs become more meaningful with time. They preserve a celebration, a conversation or a gathering of people whose paths crossed for a purpose. Later, we look at those same images and recognize that the occasion was part of a much larger story.

That is how I now view the photographs from the September 18, 2026, 100 Women of Excellence celebration in Washington, D.C.

I attended as a 2026 honoree, grateful to be recognized alongside accomplished women whose lives reflect leadership, service and community impact. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds was a featured speaker at the brunch. Just weeks later, Georgia voters elected her as the state’s next Secretary of State, making her the first Black woman elected to that office.

Her historic achievement gives that September memory added significance. We gathered to celebrate women’s contributions, and one of the voices featured during that celebration was preparing to enter a consequential new chapter of public service.

Penny Brown Reynolds: The Experience Behind the Achievement

A historic victory deserves celebration. It also deserves a thoughtful look at the years of work that preceded it.

Before becoming Georgia’s Secretary of State elect, Penny Brown Reynolds served for nearly a decade as a Fulton County judge. Her career also included service as executive counsel to former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, giving her experience within both the judicial and executive branches of state government.

Her public service extended to the federal level. At the United States Department of Agriculture, Reynolds held senior civil rights leadership positions, including Acting Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. Those roles involved the responsibilities of government administration, civil rights and equal opportunity.

As an educator, I believe this part of her story matters. When we introduce young women to accomplished leaders, we should help them see the preparation behind the position. Education, professional experience, difficult decisions and years of responsibility all help shape a person’s capacity to lead.

Reynolds’ journey offers an opportunity to discuss those foundations. Her election is a milestone, and her record provides context for understanding how she arrived at it.

A New Chapter of Responsibility for Georgia

The Secretary of State’s office touches the lives of Georgians in ways that extend beyond Election Day. Its responsibilities include overseeing elections, business filings, professional licensing and securities regulation.

Those functions have practical meaning for many of the people I serve. Entrepreneurs need to understand business registration. Professionals depend on licensing systems. Community leaders help people navigate public institutions. Voters need access to reliable information about participating in elections.

During her election night remarks, Reynolds said that “a vote should be a right and not a fight,” reflecting her campaign’s emphasis on voting access.

Her election brings the promise of a new administration and the responsibility of serving people across Georgia. As she prepares to take office, there is reason to celebrate her achievement while remaining engaged with the work ahead.

Remembering the 100 Women of Excellence Celebration

Our September celebration began with a recognition ceremony at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. The occasion continued with brunch at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Washington DC, where honorees and guests gathered for fellowship, networking, inspiration and celebration.

I was honored to be included among the women recognized.

Much of my life has been devoted to building organizations, teaching, encouraging others and helping people move from an idea to a practical next step. That work is meaningful to me, but it does not always leave much time to pause.

The 100 Women of Excellence recognition gave me that opportunity.

It allowed me to reflect on the students, families, entrepreneurs and community leaders connected to my journey. I thought about the women who have trusted me with their goals, the young people who need encouragement and the individuals working to create a better future for their families.

Although my name appeared on the recognition, its meaning reached beyond me. The work has always involved people, relationships and a shared belief that opportunity can change lives.

Being in a room with other women who understood the demands of leadership made the experience especially meaningful. Each woman brought her own story and contributions. Together, we had an opportunity to acknowledge work that can sometimes go unseen.

Thank You to Former Representative Erica Thomas-Adeyemi

I extend my heartfelt thanks to former Representative Erica Thomas-Adeyemi for helping make the 100 Women of Excellence awards and celebration possible.

Creating an occasion like this requires people willing to organize, connect and bring others together. Recognizing women’s contributions gives them a moment to receive encouragement and allows others to learn about the impact they are making.

Thank you, Erica, for helping create that space.

I am grateful for the recognition, the fellowship and the opportunity to stand among women committed to serving their communities. I also appreciate the 100 Women of Excellence Committee and everyone whose efforts helped bring the celebration together.

It is a privilege to preserve this experience through the pages of Jacqueline’s Magazine.

Why This Story Belongs in Jacqueline’s Magazine

As founder and editor in chief, I want Jacqueline’s Magazine to make room for stories of faith, leadership, resilience and meaningful achievement. I want readers to encounter people whose experiences encourage them to consider their own possibilities.

Penny Brown Reynolds’ story belongs in these pages because it connects preparation with achievement and public service with public responsibility.

The September celebration belongs here, too. It reminds us of the value of recognizing people while they are doing the work. Encouragement matters along the way. So does the opportunity to meet others, exchange ideas and build relationships.

For a woman wondering whether her years of service still matter, recognition can renew her sense of purpose. For a young woman considering her future, seeing accomplished women together can introduce possibilities she has not yet explored.

Through my work with Trinity International University of Ambassadors, Trinity Girls Network and Influence Authority, I remain committed to helping people gain knowledge, develop their leadership and move their visions forward.

“Bridging Gaps and Changing Lives” expresses that commitment. “Build the Table” reminds me to create room for others to contribute and lead.

The women we celebrate should also become women whose journeys we learn from.

Celebrating the Milestone and the Work Ahead

Secretary of State elect Penny Brown Reynolds is scheduled to take office on January 11, 2027. Her election has secured a place in Georgia’s history, and her next chapter will carry significant responsibilities.

Through Jacqueline’s Magazine, I congratulate her on this achievement and acknowledge the public service that preceded it.

I also celebrate the women who gathered in Washington that September and the people who made our recognition possible. Being among the honorees is an experience I will continue to treasure.

When I look at those photographs now, I remember the joy of the occasion. I remember women standing together, acknowledging one another and taking a moment to celebrate how far they had come.

Now, those images also hold the memory of a gathering before another historic chapter began.

Congratulations, Secretary of State elect Penny Brown Reynolds. May your service be guided by wisdom, integrity and a deep commitment to the people of Georgia.

Dr. Jacqueline Mohair is the founder and editor in chief of Jacqueline’s Magazine, an educational consultant, humanitarian, minister, author and technology entrepreneur. Known as “The Bridge Builder,” her work centers on education, leadership development and creating opportunities for individuals and communities.

Learn more at jacquelinemohair.com.

Sources: WSB-TV 2, WJCL 22, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ballotpedia.