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BARBARA (JEANIE) NEAL MADDOX
CLASS OF 1965
POLITICAL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ENTREPRENEUR
Barbara (Jeanie) Neal Maddox attended Covert Public Schools from first through twelfth grade. She is one of seven children born to Sterling (Tony) and Endia Neal. She graduate with honors in 1965. Jeanie attended Lake Michigan Community College and Western Michigan University earning an Associate, Bachelors and Masters degree with double majors in General Business and Organizational Communications.
Jeanie worked, attended college and raised two daughters Toni and Ten with the support and encouragement of her husband Cubie Maddox. Upon graduation from Western she served as the Director of Special Projects, Legislative Liaison and Assistant to the Secretary of the Board reporting to President John Bernhard at Western Michigan University. Demonstrating a commitment of hard work and service to the community, she won statewide election for six years to the Michigan State Democratic Party Executive Board as the Recording Secretary. She served for 10 years as a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Department of Commerce working with Governors Blanchard and Engler. She has honored service as a political appointee under a Democratic and Republican Administration. Jeannie was selected as a Presidential Appointee at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. for six years. She worked for Ron Brown the first African American Secretary of Commerce. She earned three- 6 month assignments to Presidential Personnel at the White House.
Taking on a new challenge, Jeanie has opened a Management Consult Business — BJ Maddox & Associates, LTC. She has offered her talents and knowledge to assist Covert citizens in future economic development opportunities. Barbara Jeanie Maddox attributes the success in her life to the support and encouragement received from parents, relatives, friends, teachers/coaches, ministers and the community of Covert.