Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Dortch.
Hi Nina , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, in a part of town locals know as Southwest Atlanta, the SWATS. It wasn’t an affluent community, but it was home. Growing up, only a handful of my friends came from two parent households, and I was fortunate to be one of them. My father worked in a factory, and my mother worked in fast food. We didn’t have a lot financially, but what my parents gave me was far more valuable. They taught me the importance of family, hard work, integrity, and treating people with respect.
For most of my childhood, I was essentially an only child until my younger brother came along during my teenage years. Because of that, I was always considered an “old soul.” I spent more time around my parents, their friends, and our extended family than I did kids my own age. Looking back, I think that’s where I first learned to appreciate people’s stories.
The highlight of every year was summer. I couldn’t wait to leave Atlanta and spend my summers with my grandmother in Mobile, Alabama. Those summers shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand until I became an adult.
My grandmother lived in the Orange Grove Projects in downtown Mobile, Alabama but she worked as a housekeeper and nanny for a family in Fairhope, AL. She was also a singing, sanctified, Holy Ghost-filled church lady who never missed an opportunity to remind us where our blessings came from. Spending the summer with her meant living in two completely different worlds.
Some mornings I was in Fairhope, swimming at a beautiful resort or country club pool as the only Black child there, playing alongside the children my grandmother cared for. By evening, I was back at her home, walking across the ditch to visit my cousins. After dark, someone usually several family and friends insisted on walking me home because, as they would say, “bullets don’t have names.” Gang activity was simply a part of everyday life.
If I wasn’t working with my grandmother, I was either in the rural community off Young Street in Fairhope staying with my great-grandmother or in Eight Mile (Prichard, AL) with my cousins on Missile Street. Wednesday nights meant Bible Study, and Vacation Bible School was something we genuinely looked forward to every summer.
Those summers exposed me to people from every walk of life. I experienced wealth and poverty, safety and danger, city life and rural life, all within a matter of days. At the time, it simply felt like summer. Today, I realize those experiences gave me something incredibly valuable the ability to relate to people regardless of where they come from or what circumstances they face.
Atlanta shaped me just as much. I loved my school, my friends, and the SWATS. I began high school at D. M. Therrell High School, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t always make the best choices during those years. But when I transferred to Booker T. Washington High School, something changed. It was like I finally found where I belonged.
Washington became the place where I discovered who I was. I gained confidence, began thinking differently about my future, and surrounded myself with people who challenged me to become better. Students came from neighborhoods all across the westside of Atlanta, and despite our different backgrounds, I found I could connect with everyone. That ability to build relationships across different experiences has stayed with me throughout my life.
After graduating, I attended Atlanta Metropolitan College before deciding to enter the workforce. I never imagined that decision would lead me to the career I would eventually fall in love with.
My career has been built on a simple belief: people deserve opportunities to succeed, and organizations thrive when they invest in people.
Recruiting found me, and I immediately knew I had found my purpose. More than twenty years later, I still love what I do. Throughout my career in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition, I’ve led recruiting strategies across manufacturing, automotive, logistics, and industrial organizations. I’ve built teams, developed recruiting processes, led large recruiting organizations, and helped companies connect with exceptional talent. Today, I serve as a Senior Talent Business Partner supporting a chemical manufacturer, helping solve complex hiring challenges and connecting great people with great opportunities.
I’ve also been fortunate to have incredible mentors throughout my life. One was my high school mentor, Mrs. Croslyn, who encouraged me to believe in my potential. Another was my first professional mentor, whom I’ll simply call BJT. On paper, we couldn’t have been more different. We didn’t look alike, didn’t come from similar backgrounds, and I was admittedly stubborn in those early years. But she saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself.
She taught me lessons that have guided my entire career. She would always say, “All you have is your word. Once you give it, deliver on it.” She also taught me that every interaction should create a connection. Remember something about people their children, their hometown, even the name of their dog because people want to feel like they matter, not like they’re simply another number.
That philosophy has shaped every role I’ve held, but my passion extends far beyond recruiting. I believe leadership is about service. That belief has led me to become deeply involved in nonprofit and civic organizations, where I have the opportunity to use my professional skills to strengthen my community. Through my work in public relations, I help organizations tell their stories, engage their communities, build meaningful partnerships, and inspire people to get involved.
Along the way, I also discovered a passion for writing. Whether I’m crafting a grant proposal, writing a sponsorship letter, developing a communications strategy, or telling the story of an organization through a press release or social media campaign, I love finding the words that inspire people to act. To me, writing is more than communication it’s connection. The right story can open doors, build trust, and create opportunities that might never have existed otherwise.
That passion naturally led me into fundraising. I enjoy helping nonprofits identify resources, build relationships with sponsors and donors, and secure funding that allows them to expand their impact. There’s something incredibly rewarding about connecting people who want to make a difference with organizations that are changing lives.
Like many people, my journey hasn’t always been easy. I’ve experienced personal loss, professional challenges, and seasons that required resilience. Those experiences strengthened my faith, deepened my empathy, and reinforced my commitment to serving others. They taught me that some of the greatest opportunities come from life’s most difficult moments.
Today, I see my career as much more than recruiting or public relations. Whether I’m helping someone discover a new career, writing a grant that brings resources to a nonprofit, promoting a community initiative, mentoring future leaders, or building partnerships that create lasting impact, my goal remains the same: to leave every organization and every person better than I found them.
Looking back, I realize every chapter of my life from the SWATS to Mobile, from church pews to project neighborhoods, from recruiting boardrooms to nonprofit board meetings prepared me for the work I do today. My life’s work has become connecting people: connecting people to careers, to resources, to organizations, to opportunities, and most importantly, to one another. I believe success isn’t measured simply by what we accomplish ourselves, but by how many others we help along the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. In fact, I don’t think my journey has been smooth at all.
I’ve experienced more loss than I ever imagined I would. I’ve lost friends far too young. I’ve lived through a broken home, witnessed gun violence, survived domestic abuse, and been the victim of a violent crime. I’ve lost jobs, experienced financial setbacks that made me question how I was going to move forward, and I’ve endured losing a fiancé and my husband, learning how to navigate life as a single parent.
One of the deepest losses I’ve experienced was losing my grandmother. She was my safe place and one of the greatest influences in my life. Even today, it’s difficult to talk about her without feeling that loss. She helped shape the woman I became, and I still carry her lessons with me every day.
Growing up, I also witnessed things that no child should have to see. Violence wasn’t something you only saw on television, it was real, and it happened around people I knew. Those experiences could have made me bitter, but instead they made me more compassionate. They taught me not to judge people by where they come from because I understand that everyone’s story is different.
Even relocating to Mobile wasn’t an easy decision. At one point, I honestly felt like I was giving up on my future. Leaving Atlanta felt like defeat at times. I questioned whether I had somehow fallen behind in life. Looking back now, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Moving to Alabama turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of my life. It gave me the opportunity to reconnect with family, build meaningful relationships, grow as a leader, and become deeply involved in organizations that allow me to serve my community. Mobile has become home. FOREVEVER, I love Atlanta, it will always be where I grew up but Alabama has become where I’ve planted my roots and where I’ve discovered an incredible sense of purpose.
I’ve learned that setbacks don’t define you. They prepare you. Every hardship taught me resilience, empathy, and gratitude. They gave me the ability to connect with people from all walks of life because I’ve experienced both struggle and success.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life will knock you down. The question is whether you’ll stay there. I’ve chosen to keep getting back up, and every challenge has strengthened my commitment to helping others do the same.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a connector. Whether it’s connecting someone to a career, leadership development, community resources, funding, or simply creating a space where people can come together, I’m passionate about helping people access opportunities that can change their lives.
Professionally, I’ve spent more than 20 years in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition, specializing in workforce development and helping organizations build strong teams while connecting individuals with meaningful careers. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to be gainfully employed or thrive as a business owner because economic opportunity strengthens families and communities.
I have always had a passion for bringing people together. Earlier in my journey, I even spent time as an event promoter, organizing events, working with artists, and creating experiences that connected people through entertainment and community. Events have always been a natural gift for me. Whether it is a concert, family gathering, job fair, meet and greet, community rally, or civic engagement event encouraging people to get involved and exercise their right to vote, I enjoy taking an idea and turning it into an experience that brings people together.
My community involvement is my way of giving back and continuing to be a responsible, engaged citizen. I previously served as the Public Relations Director for Opportunity 4 Entertainers & Performing Arts, where I helped promote programs centered on education, workforce development, and community outreach. Today, I serve as the Public Relations Committee Chair for the Port City Chapter of Blacks In Government, where I help tell our chapter’s story and connect people with opportunities for leadership, professional development, civic engagement, and public service.
I also enjoy serving as an anchor at my church Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on Cody Road. It’s a privilege to welcome people, encourage them to join us in worship and fellowship, and help create an atmosphere where everyone feels they belong.
In addition to recruiting, I have a passion for writing, public relations, fundraising, and storytelling. I enjoy helping organizations communicate their mission, build meaningful partnerships, and secure the resources needed to expand their impact.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just help people find jobs I help connect them to opportunities. Whether through my career, my volunteer service, my faith, or my ability to bring people together, my goal is always the same: to create access, build relationships, and help people grow, succeed, and realize their full potential.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I believe the future of Human Resources and workforce development will be shaped by technology, automation, and our ability to adapt. The reality is that automation and artificial intelligence are not coming someday—they are already here, and they are advancing faster than many people realize.
Over the next 5-10 years, organizations and individuals will have to embrace change. Those who are willing to learn new skills, understand technology, and find ways to work alongside these tools will have tremendous opportunities. Those who resist change risk being left behind.
However, I don’t believe technology replaces the value of people. The human connection will become even more important. The ability to communicate, build relationships, think critically, solve problems, lead, and adapt will be the skills that continue to set people apart.
My biggest encouragement is for people to start preparing now. Invest in yourself, continue learning, and don’t wait until change forces you to adapt. Whether you’re entering the workforce, advancing your career, or building a business, staying curious and developing new skills will be essential.
The future belongs to those who are willing to evolve. We have to be intentional about preparing our workforce for the digital world while ensuring people still have access to the resources, training, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninadortch
