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 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Wellesley College (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
Desirée Glapion Rogers (born June 16, 1959) is an American business leader. She was the White House Social Secretary for President Barack Obama. She also served as the chief executive officer 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, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents were Roy and Joyce Glapion. She is a descendant of a famous Creole voodoo priestess named Marie Laveau.
Rogers finished high school at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans in 1977. She went on to get a Bachelor's degree in political science from Wellesley College in 1981. Later, she earned her MBA from Harvard Business School in 1985.
Career Journey
Before the White House
Rogers started her career at AT&T. After that, she worked as an executive for a company that developed restaurants and real estate. In 1990, Governor Jim Edgar appointed Rogers to lead the Illinois State Lottery. This was a big state agency that managed $2 billion. She managed the agency until 1997. During her time, she helped increase the sales of instant lottery tickets. Rogers also attended the 1992 Republican National Convention.
In 1997, Rogers became a vice-president for Peoples Energy (PE). This company provided natural gas. In 2004, Rogers became the president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. She was the first African-American woman to hold these important jobs. As president, she made customer service better and updated old paper records to a new electronic system.
In 2006, there was an issue with some safety reports about gas pipes. Rogers worked to find out what happened. She put new training and checking systems in place. She also hired people to make sure the work was done correctly. No gas leaks were found.
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.
At the White House
As the White House Social Secretary, Rogers was in charge of planning events. She helped President Obama and the First Lady open the White House to more people. Her goal was to make it feel like "the people's house." She organized 365 events during her time there. 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.
Security Incident in 2009
In November 2009, an uninvited couple entered a special dinner at the White House. This dinner was for the Prime Minister of India. The Secret Service later took responsibility for this security mistake.
After the White House
In February 2010, Rogers left her job at the White House. Julianna Smoot took over her role. 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 was the chair 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 continues to serve on the boards of several 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, where she started her career. They have one daughter together. The couple divorced in 2000.
Rogers is a former queen of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. This is a famous group that takes part in Mardi Gras. Rogers is a friend of the Obama family. Her former husband was also a teammate of Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, on the Princeton University basketball team. Rogers is a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed in 2003.
