Erica Thomas
Lead Instructor
Erica Thomas is the owner and CEO of Ad Pros Promotion and Advertising Agency Inc. Ad Pros is an award winning, full service advertising agency located in Shreveport, Louisiana. Ms. Thomas opened Ad Pros Promotion & Advertising Agency in 2001, initially just selling promotional products. Since that time Ad Pros has grown to offer professional development training.
Erica Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southern University A&M College, and a MBA from LSUS. She is certified through The Protocol School of Washington, which is the one of the nation’s only accredited etiquette certifying programs, as well as the Etiquette and Leadership Institute. Ms. Thomas also has National Professional Certification in Customer Service from the National Retail Federation and is certified as an Ethics Trainer through the Louisiana State Ethics Board. Additional Ms. Thomas was a certified speaker with Monster.com “Making it Count” program. She is a Graduate of The Best Program sponsored by LSUS-SBD and The City of Shreveport, graduate of Greater Shreveport Leadership Program, graduate of CABL Louisiana Leadership, and a graduate of Community Leaders Program from Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Ms. Thomas also has a monthly column with SB Magazine called “Mind Your P’s and Q’s” where she dishes out etiquette advice.
Over the years Erica Thomas and Ad Pros has been nominated or recognized with various honors. Those honors are as follows:
- Graduate of the Council for a Better Louisiana’s “Leadership Louisiana” Program
- Top Eight Athena Nominee with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
- Status of Woman Award from the Top Ladies of Distinction Shreveport Chapter
- Small Business of the Year with The Business Development Connection Minority Awards Luncheon with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
- Nominee for Woman of the Year from the Shreveport –Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce
- Small Business of the Year from the Forum and The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
- Nominee for Woman of the Year and Small Business of the Year with the Shreveport- Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce
- Recognized as one of the Top 40 under 40 from Young Professional Initiative with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
- Top Ten Athena Nominee with the Women’s Business Council with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
- Emerging Business of the Year from the Minority Business Council
- Emerging Business of the Year from the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Beta Alpha Chapter
Erica Thomas is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Shreveport-Bossier, American Society for Training & Development, and the Junior League of Shreveport –Bossier. She is also on the board of directors for the Youth Justice (VYJ) and a the YWCA of NWLA.
Margaret Thomas
2nd Instructor
Margaret Thomas has thirty- three years of experience working with youth from the Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish where she retired as Manager of Probation Services. She has also worked in pageantry as a pageant coordinator and consultant for the last twenty years. Mrs. Thomas was the coordinator and director for Grambling’s Red River Classic Parade and beauty pageant for two years in Shreveport, LA. She also coordinated various pageants in the Shreveport- Bossier Area such as Fall Festival of Beauties and Miss Harvest pageant. Before, Mrs. Thomas retired from Caddo Juvenile Court as Manager of Probation Services, she was the director of the “The Mid Summer’s Night Dream Cotillion which received a national award from NACO.
Margaret Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work from Grambling State University, and a master’s Degree in Mass Communication from Southern University A&M College. She is certified in Basic Juvenile Justice Management from the University of Nevada in Reno, NV. Mrs. Mrs. Thomas has a Technical Degree in Cosmetology and Accounting. Margaret Thomas was certified as an ethics trainer from the state of Louisiana. She is a member is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Executive Women International, The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Minority Suppliers Institute, Association of Minority Suppliers, Co- Chairperson for Alpha Kappa Alpha Charm Clinic, Director of N’finite, Project 2000 Chairperson, and Board Member and former Secretary for Shreveport Job Corp.
Mrs. Thomas has won several awards over her 33 years’ career of working with youth for Outstanding Services and Community Services Awards.
