Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Jones
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a Florida girl, born and raised, who moved to Atlanta after graduate school. I attended the best HBCU ever, Florida A&M University, where I earned a B.S. in Health Information and Informatics Management, followed by a Master of Science in Health Administration. I must have loved school (lol) because I went back for another graduate degree—an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.
I did a year-long fellowship with Broward Health as an Administrative Fellow because my long-term goal was to become a hospital CEO. Typically, these fellowships lead to permanent positions, but God had other plans for me. After applying for various jobs, I had an interview with Grady Health System for a position at the Poison Control Center. Let’s be honest—most people, including myself, don’t know their state even has a Poison Control Center until they need to call it. I went for the interview, but unfortunately, I wasn’t chosen for the position.
I immediately called my parents and told them about it. We planned to discuss my next steps when I returned from Georgia since my fellowship had ended, and I had no income to cover my rent. But the very next day, before I even made it to my parents home, the director of the Poison Control Center called. He said, “The candidate we chose found something better. You were our runner-up—are you still available to take the position?”
I’ve always believed that to trust God’s wisdom, we need to understand His heart—His actions are always intentional. It was meant for me to take this job, move to Georgia, and become a data analyst for the Georgia Poison Control Center, which serves all 159 counties in the state. Working here has opened so many doors for me that I doubt I would have experienced if I’d stayed in Florida.
In my time with the center, I’ve had four abstract posters accepted to the NACCT (North American Conference for Clinical Toxicology) Conference, delivered my own platform presentation to nurses and doctors about our collaborative work with OSHA, and became a published author because of that presentation in our 2017 Annual Report.
I’ve now been with the Poison Control Center for over 13 years, and I’m incredibly thankful. While I wasn’t the first choice, I was the right choice for the role.
Recently, I’ve ventured into uncharted territory: content creation. I’m truly a newbie, but I’ve always enjoyed photography, building relationships, and public speaking from a young age. It feels like a natural fit to try my hand at creating and building a brand—or more accurately, a community—where I can share relatable content, fashion, and motivation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I originally went to school for Pharmacy, but ended up changing my major (much to my dad’s disbelief—he thought I was crazy lol). I graduated with a degree that was completely different from what I had initially planned. I still remember when I was working on my MSHA (Masters of Science in Health Administration) and taking my Quantitative Analysis class, thinking to myself, “I’m never going to use this stuff, I am going to be a CEO.” Now, 13 years later, I’m using exactly that stuff—Excel, pivot tables, building dashboards, and analyzing productivity data all while looking stylish.
Another challenge currently, is learning how to navigate grief and figure out a new normal without my mother. She was truly my heart’s favorite person, and not having her here has made this chapter of life unpredictable at times. Grief doesn’t care about your plans or what you have going on—it comes when it wants, and I’m doing my best to handle it as gracefully as I can.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a Data Analyst or Data Management Specialist, I coordinate, design, implement, and manage data and databases for our center. I also handle monthly reporting, create dashboards, and ensure my boss has real-time data for interviews with the news and radio. Additionally, I provide productivity reports. And, if needed, I can even record messages for your business—LOL! In fact, I’m the voice you’d hear if you called our BioLab hotline, especially if you were in close proximity to the recent chemical fire in Rockdale County.
But on a more serious note, while my daily tasks are primarily data-focused, I do dabble in other things from time to time like being a content creator.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being with my family, spending time with friends, and continually nurturing my relationship with Christ are what truly make me happy. Family is always there, even when others may drift away. Friends uplift you, adjust your crown, and speak life into you when you can’t find the words yourself. Most importantly, nurturing my relationship with Christ brings me joy because it allows me to see myself the way God sees me. It’s a constant reminder that I am a masterpiece, created in His image, and that I can do all things because I trust in Him.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylegameaj?igsh=aTZqN2Y4em5raDhn&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StyleGameAJ?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: https://x.com/acjones1083?s=21&t=YsekEmwsIcyULTPmCNkkbg
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@aj-experience?si=Jf1KqXpCqRWTrTmo
Image Credits
Derrick Henderson – Exuberant Mind Media
