Dr. Laquita Stribling

Corporate VP | UAPB Track Hall of Fame | AKA

By VeLois Bowers

A native of Marianna, Arkansas, Laquita earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB).  While there, she was a nine-time track All- American sprinter, held the schools record in the 100M, and was inducted into UAPB’s first Sports Hall of Fame class. She continued her education at the University of Memphis, where she obtained her Master of Public Administration Degree with a concentration in human resources.  Laquita went on to earn an EdD in Leadership and Professional Practices from Trevecca Nazerene University.

Over the last 26 years, Dr. Laquita Stribling worked her way up from entry-level associate to vice president at Randstad USA, the world’s largest provider of human resources solutions.  Laquita is now responsible for three districts and fourteen offices, with more than 1,500 employees. Laquita also serves on the Executive Diversity Council with Randstad (who was recognized  number 30 on Diversity Inc’s Top 100 in 2019).  In addition to her impressive career, Laquita has been extremely active in the Nashville community. Her passion to give her time to community service is driven by the scripture: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

Laquita pays it forward every day.  She sees the work she does at Randstad to be a ministry. It’s very rewarding to help people find jobs and advance their careers and help companies find the right employees to run their businesses.

Laquita served as the District Governor for Rotary International District 6760 (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019). The district is comprised of 62 Rotary Clubs and 3,500 Rotarians across Middle and West Tennessee. She was the first African-American to hold this position. She also hosted the district’s inaugural Celebration of Women in Rotary in 2019. As president of the Rotary Club of Nashville (2014-2015), Laquita led the effort to raise a record $300,000 to fund local community projects. She also spearheaded the creation of a strategic plan to intentionally and proactively seek and attract more women, people of color, younger people, and individuals from more varied industries. In a time when most clubs’ memberships were declining, the Rotary Club of Nashville’s membership saw net growth, and became a more diverse and inclusive organization. During her tenure, she also established a Rotaract Club at Fisk University to engage and expose students to leadership, service, and professional mentoring.  Rotaract at Fisk University is one of a very few Rotaract clubs at a Historically Black College and University.

In addition to serving as President and Board Chair for Cable for 2020-2021, Laquita also serves on the advisory council for the Women’s Business Collaborative and on the boards of director for: The Nashville Sports Council, Teach for America Nashville/Chattanooga, Second Harvest Food Bank, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Nashville State Community College Foundation, and Center for Non-Profit Management. She was recently appointed to the corporate board of directors for Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company, where she serves as chair the human resources committee.  In addition, Laquita served as Co-Chair for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce on the Education Report Committee for 2020-2021 and served as Co-Chair for the YWCA’s 2020 Wine Women and Shoes event. In 2017, Laquita was inducted into the YWCA’s Academy for Women of Achievement and was awarded Mt. Zion’s Bridge Builder Award and CABLE’s Civic Outreach Award.  In 2018, Laquita was recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. She was a nominee for the Athena Award and Women Who Rock Awards, and was a Power Moves Award winner.

Laquita is married to Finis Stribling III, and they have three sons: Finis IV, Kylan and Tre’.