Linda Lockman-Brooks is Post Foundation’s 2024 Luminary

ELLISON CLARY | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Former corporate executive and entrepreneur Linda Lockman-Brooks is the Charlotte Post Foundation Luminary honoree.

Successful businesswoman, high-powered civic leader and trusted advisor Linda Lockman-Brooks is The Charlotte Post Foundation Luminary award winner for 2024.

Lockman-Brooks has been a corporate executive at American Express, a Bank of America predecessor and Duke Energy. For 20 years she’s owned Lockman-Brooks Marketing Services LLC, advising entities such as Novant Health and corporate executive leaders. She’ll be honored at the foundation’s banquet Oct. 5.

“Staying curious, being very intentional and authentic,” is how Lockman-Brooks describes her evolution into consulting for both businesses and civic organizations. “I like to connect with people,” she says of bringing individuals together in complementary roles.

“Linda Lockman-Brooks speaks truth to power in a way that makes it easy to accept,” said Gerald Johnson, president of The Charlotte Post Foundation and publisher of The Charlotte Post newspaper. “This city’s leadership is more diverse and inclusive as a result.”

Cathy Bessant, CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas, knows when to listen to Lockman-Brooks’ advice.

“When Linda turns to me and says, “’Now girlfriend…’, you know you’re going to hear something you need to hear whether you want to hear it or not,” Bessant said. “Linda is brave. She simply refuses to compromise her integrity by leaving something unsaid.”

Bessant worked with Lockman-Brooks when the two were NationsBank executives as well as when Bessant was Charlotte Chamber of Commerce chair and Lockman-Brooks raised what was the most money ever in that year’s membership drive.

In civic leadership roles, Lockman-Brooks recognizes the importance of speaking up. “It’s having my voice in the room,” she said, “the voice of a woman, a woman who’s spent time in corporate structure as well as a small business owner. I’m an African American woman. I give that perspective.”

While with Bank of America predecessor NationsBank, Lockman-Brooks mentored Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders, then a recent graduate of North Carolina A&T State University. Three decades later, Eubanks-Saunders is a managing director and head of diverse segments of Bank of America’s private bank.

“Her leadership was transformational for my perspective in terms of what my future could be,” Eubanks-Saunders said. From the early 1990s to today, Eubanks-Saunders said, “I’ve leveraged her as a trusted advisor, as a big sister, and as a confidant.”

Retired BofA and Novant Health executive Jesse Cureton marvels at Lockman-Brooks’ “ability to connect people and align them with like-minded individuals that may be complementary for their needs.” It’s her “super power,” he adds.

Lockman-Brooks has served on the board of Central Piedmont Community College and was its first woman and Black chairperson. She also co-chaired a Central Piedmont fund drive that raised a record $66.3 million. She’s enjoyed a trusted relationship with President Kandi Deitemeyer since Deitemeyer took on that role in 2017.

“As a leader and community impact player, you have to be willing to share your social capital,” Deitemeyer said. “Linda has been more than gracious and willing to do that.”
Central Piedmont named a classroom for Lockman-Brooks to acknowledge her contributions to the school.

“That was intentional on my part,” Deitemeyer said. “It’s a choice classroom. It overlooks the quad of student life.”

Other involvements Lockman-Brooks is proud of include chairing the Central Carolinas YWCA and Arts & Science Council boards. She chaired the Children’s Theater of Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library boards and was instrumental in the creation of ImaginOn. She helped identify minority contractors for what became Spectrum Center and worked in the $83 million drive that financed the Levine Center For the Arts. Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont is a former client.

Growing up in St. Louis, Lockman-Brooks’ parents Otis and Jennie Lockman emphasized civic work. Her dad was among the first Black sales representatives at Anheuser Busch and involved with an organization of African Americans in the beverage industry. Her mother supported the YWCA and started a nursery school foundation.

After graduation from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Lockman-Brooks landed a job with Trans World Airlines in New York City. Briefly, she was at the J. Walter Thompson ad agency before signing on with American Express, which eventually brought her to Charlotte. Lockman-Brooks’ role with Bank of America predecessors and Duke Power/Duke Energy followed.

Cureton shared a recent conversation with Lockman-Brooks in which spoke about giving in a sacrificial way.

“That speaks of who she is,” Cureton said, “and the essence of Linda Lockman-Brooks.”

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