Jade Richardson credits The University of Pittsburgh for making her the woman she is today, and for continuing to shape the woman she will become. As a first generation, low income student Pitt provided Jade with the tools and resources, both in and outside of the classroom, to succeed not only as an undergrad, but as a successful professional. Jade graduated Magna Cum Laude, and received her Bachelor degrees from the The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in Sociology and Communication, as well as a certificate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. While at Pitt she was a member of Student Support Services, a year round Intramural referee and supervisor for all four years, and studied abroad in Greece and China in the same summer.
Upon graduation, Jade attended Drexel University, and obtained her Masters in Sport Management. After graduating, she worked full-time for a vibrant and progressive sports marketing agency, as their Manager of Marketing and Business Development. In this role, she was responsible for all of the sponsorship activation and implementation, and client services for multiple sport entities that we represented; including Gatorade, adidas, Monster Energy, and more. In 2017, after feeling complacent, and that there was no room to grow within the company, she decided to leave, step out on faith and see what new opportunities came her way.
In 2016, Jade received a spinal to correct scoliosis, which she had been battling since she was twelve years old. The spinal fusion left her with two rods and twenty screws in her spine. After surgery and seeing different voids in the community, she began using social media to connect with and support other who were going through a similar journey. Jade decided that she wanted to bring more awareness to the community of scoliosis and spinal fusions, so she applied to participate in a national pageant. In January 2018, Jade was crowned Miss Black Pennsylvania USA 2018. She used her platform to visit with people before their surgeries, meet with authors and Chiefs of Surgery, and sit for radio and news interviews.
In July 2018, Jade officially started a nonprofit called Totally Screwed Up Incorporated. Totally Screwed Up, is a 501c3 organization that is committed to changing the landscape of the scoliosis and spinal fusion communities. Totally Screwed Up accomplishes this by providing emotional, financial, mental, and experiential support to all of those affected by scoliosis—indiscriminate of treatment options pursued—as well as those with other health issues that result in spinal fusions. Totally Screwed Up strives to be a positive light, a beacon of hope, and a rod of love to all of those that need it. Totally Screwed Up has provided support for over 60 people, hosted their first annual Glam Day experience for six deserve Scoliosis Warriors, and gained a global reach through social media and by shipping branded apparel to Canada, Australia, and Japan.
Jade currently works as a Lead Generation and Marketing Manager for The FlexPro Group. As the Marketing and Lead Generation Manager for FlexPro, she oversees lead generation and market awareness initiatives to attract clients and project manager prospects for FlexPro. Her main goal is to develop campaigns and initiatives designed to interest existing clients and new qualified prospects to convert them into qualified clients that translate into new revenue for FlexPro. Additionally, she is responsible for programs that generate market awareness and recognition for FlexPro including Thought Leadership efforts, our website, online presence, journals, conferences, etc.