Leslie has been a friend of my family, and particularly of one of my brothers, for more than 50 years. She has been throughout an example of strength, resilience, and good humor – even in bad times – not only grace under pressure but loving kindness as well. She is in these ways like her mother, whom Leslie dearly loved and who dearly loved her. She is also a successful entrepreneur, who navigates through circumstances where she is a minority in both race and gender.