Desire’e Anthony: Member Spotlight (June 2017)
May 31, 2017
Stephanie Hudson: Member Spotlight (August 2017)
August 1, 2017
“Without my faith, none of this other stuff would even matter.”
-Rodney L. Fields, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Cylindrical Group, LLC
What do the words Christian, father, veteran, leader, business owner, mentor, Kappa (as in Kappa Alpha Psi), and author all have in common? They are all words that can be used to define the subject of this month’s Member Spotlight. Members and friends, meet Dr. Rodney L. Fields. Rodney has been living in Atlanta (by way of Wisconsin and several other stops along the way) for almost 15 years. For 10 of those years, he worked with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention before founding his company, Cylindrical Group, LLC, a professional development and training company that also offers services in the areas of Diversity & Inclusion and Team Building where he is the principal consultant and CEO. Having retired from the military, then serving the public with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and now going into training and education, Rodney jokes that he is on his third career.
While Rodney brings a well-rounded resume of education and experience both domestic and abroad to his work, he credits his accomplishments and opportunities to his faith.
My faith is the most important thing to me. Without my faith, none of this other stuff would even matter. My faith is how I constructed my life in the direction that I’m moving in. I left a 6-figure role to work in my company full-time on faith because I knew it was time and God had prepared me to do the things I needed to do for myself professionally.
Rodney’s faith also inspired him to publish a book, ‘Rodney’s GOD – A Personal Testimony of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ The book is meant to encourage, build confidence, inspire, and help people overcome challenge, which leads us to another of Rodney’s passions…
…my passion for mentoring– giving back and reaching out to young people to make their road easier. When I’m mentoring, often times I’m sharing my story so that young people can avoid some of the stumbling blocks that I’ve faced on my journey.
Rodney is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and has worked in the fraternity’s Guide Right Mentoring Program. Rodney is also a member of the 100 Black Men of South Metro Inc. and serves as the Chairman of M.I.R.R.O.R. 100 (Male Initiative for Recruitment, Reward, and Overall Retention 100), as well as the Co-Chairman of the organization’s Education Committee
Have you met Rodney in person yet? Maybe you can ask him about the genius behind the name Cylindrical Group, or the role of The Winans (yes, THOSE Winans) in all of this. If you missed our last event before our summer break for the month of July, do come out and say hello to Rodney and get to know other professionals on Wednesday, August 9th, at NAAAHR Atlanta’s August Chapter Meeting! Click here for more information on this and future events.
