Desirée Rogers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Desirée Rogers
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| 27th White House Social Secretary | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – February 26, 2010 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Amy Zantzinger |
| Succeeded by | Julianna Smoot |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Desirée Glapion
June 16, 1959 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Wellesley College (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
Desirée Glapion Rogers (born June 16, 1959) is an American business leader. She was once the White House Social Secretary for President Barack Obama. She also served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Johnson Publishing Company (JPC). As of 2019, Rogers is the CEO of Black Opal, a company that makes cosmetics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Desirée Rogers was born on June 16, 1959. Her birthplace was New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents were Roy and Joyce Glapion. She is a descendant of a famous Creole voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau.
Rogers finished high school in New Orleans in 1977. She then went to Wellesley College. In 1981, she earned a bachelor's degree in political science. Later, in 1985, she received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.
Career Journey
Before the White House
Rogers started her career at AT&T. She then worked as an executive for a company that developed restaurants and real estate. In 1990, she was chosen by Governor Jim Edgar to lead the Illinois State Lottery. This was a large state agency that managed $2 billion. She managed the lottery until 1997. During her time there, she helped increase sales of instant lottery tickets.
In 1997, Rogers became a vice-president at Peoples Energy (PE). This company provided natural gas. In 1999, she and three other women left the board of the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. They felt the museum was not doing enough to include different groups of people.
In 2001, she became a senior vice-president at Peoples Energy. She was named president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas in 2004. She was the first African-American woman to hold these important jobs. As president, she made customer service better. She also updated old paper records to a new electronic system.
In 2006, Peoples Energy was bought by another company. Rogers stayed on as president of the gas parts of the new company. In 2008, Rogers joined Allstate Financial. She worked on a new social networking project for the company. Rogers has also served on the boards of many important organizations. These include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and the Lincoln Park Zoo. She also helped raise money for Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.
As White House Social Secretary
As the White House Social Secretary, Rogers had a special job. She was in charge of planning events for President Obama and his family. Her goal was to make the White House feel open to more people. She wanted it to be known as 'the people's house'.
During her time, she organized 365 events. She was known for planning fun gatherings, especially with artists and musicians. Rogers also wanted to add more diverse art to the White House. She was recognized for her great sense of fashion and style.
White House Security Incident
In November 2009, an unexpected event happened. A couple entered a state dinner at the White House without an invitation. This dinner was for the Prime Minister of India. The Secret Service later took responsibility for this security mistake.
After Her White House Role
In February 2010, Rogers left her job at the White House. She was replaced by Julianna Smoot. On August 10, 2010, Rogers became the CEO of the Johnson Publishing Company. This company published Ebony and Jet magazines. She left JPC in June 2017.
From 2013 to 2019, Desirée led the board of Choose Chicago. In June 2019, she and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack bought Black Opal Cosmetics. This company makes makeup and skincare products for women of color. Desirée also serves on the boards of several other companies and organizations. These include World Business Chicago and Northwestern Hospital.
Memberships
- American Gas Association
- Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization - Trustee
- Commercial Club of Chicago
- Loyola University New Orleans - Trustee
- The Chicago Network
- Young Presidents' Organization (YPO)
- WTTW (PBS affiliate) - Trustee
Personal Life
In 1988, Rogers married John W. Rogers Jr.. They moved to Chicago, Illinois. They had one daughter together. The couple divorced in 2000.
Rogers is a former queen of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. This is a group that takes part in Mardi Gras celebrations. Rogers is also a friend of the Obama family. Her former husband was a teammate of Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, in college basketball. Rogers is a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed in 2003.
