Former CNN anchor to open conference

By Jaine Treadwell (Contact) | Troy Messenger

Published Thursday, February 4, 2010

The 2010 Leadership Conference at Troy University will open tonight with Lyn Vaughn, former CNN Headline News anchor, as the keynote speaker and continue Saturday with R&B singer Kandi Burruss speaking at the Special Session and Emmy-nominated actor Tim Reid delivering the keynote address at the Closing Session.

The Opening General Session will get under way at 6:30 tonight at the Trojan Center Theater.

Catherine Jordan, chair of Leadership Conference, said she is proud to have someone of Vaughn’s reputation open the 9th Annual Leadership Conference.

“Lyn Vaughn is one of the first African American television news anchors and to have her open our leadership conference is an honor. As a female journalist she will offer insight into a career that was once dominated. Now, women are finding their places in all aspects of journalism and she is among the leaders. We are fortunate to have her.”

Jordan said Vaughn’s commanding presence and distinctive delivery made her a favorite among anchors at Headline News -- CNN’s all news network for 13-plus years.

“During the 1980s and 1990s, Vaughn was one of the most popular anchors at the Headline News channel,” Jordan said. “She quickly became a much sought-after speaker, moderator and mistress of ceremonies.

“These days, Lyn Vaughn delivers ‘just the good news’ to a much smaller audience, cable subscribers to Fulton Government Television.”

For four years, Vaughn hosted “Inside Dekalb,” which won a number of local, state, regional and national awards, most notably a 2007 Southeastern Regional Emmy Award in the special events coverage category.

Vaughn also freelances, lending her writing, production and voice-over skills to a number of independent projects.

Kandi Burruss will speak at the Special Session at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the Trojan Center Ballroom.

“Kandi Burruss is best known as one of the lead vocalists in Xscape, a successful 1990s R&B vocal group,” Jordan said. “She realized that she was destined to sing, so she moved on with a solo career. She has also written hits for Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child. Boyz II Men, Alicia Keys and Faith Evans. For magnificent works, she won the ASCAP Rhythm and Soul award. She was the first woman in history to receive the honor.”

In January 2006, Burruss recorded her second album, “I Need.” In March 2009, Burruss became a new member of the reality TV show, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Burruss has written and contributed to soundtracks.

Reid will close the 2010 Leadership Conference at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the keynote address in the Trojan Center Ballroom.

Reid came from a troubled, impoverished childhood. He straightened out his life enough to attend Norfolk State College and graduate with a business administration degree. He worked for Du Pont in Chicago for a period of time before television and commercial work started coming to him.

“Tim Reid was a regular on several variety series that starred Frankie Avalon, Fifth Dimensions singers, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. and Richard Pryor,” Jordan said. “But his biggest break came with the role of “Venus Flytrap” on television’s “WKRP in Cincinnati. He is best known for the radio disc jockey character.”

More recently, Reid released his film “For Real.” The film took an updated African American spin on the “Pygmalion” story. The film opened the fifth anniversary of the Hollywood Black Film Festival.

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