The Becoming of Utsey T. Shelton: Empowering Women to Rise
- RoShawn Winburn
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In every community, there are quiet catalysts. These are the people who show up, pour in, and push others toward growth, often without asking for credit. In Dayton, Ohio, one of those catalysts is Utsey T. Shelton.
Known for her warmth, her words, and her unwavering commitment to helping others thrive, Shelton’s journey has taken her from radio waves to boardrooms, from pulpits to planning conferences, from community organizing to one-on-one coaching sessions with small business owners trying to find their footing. And through it all, she has remained anchored in a purpose that is both personal and collective: empowering women to become.
Rooted in Purpose
A proud graduate of Central State University, Shelton began her career in communications, serving as an on-air producer at WCSU-FM. Her voice is measured, thoughtful, and inviting. It was not just meant for broadcasting. It was prophetic.
Today, she serves as a Certified Business Advisor and Convening Manager with IBROC (Innovative Business Resource Opportunity Center), located at The Hub in downtown Dayton. There, she helps minority- and women-owned businesses access capital, grow their capacity, and navigate the often-intimidating terrain of entrepreneurship. In her own words, “I don’t just want people to start businesses. I want them to thrive on purpose.”
Shelton has helped administer micro-grants, coach entrepreneurs through crisis, and uplift Dayton’s economic landscape one relationship at a time. And yet, despite the many hats she wears—advisor, event planner, producer, minister—Shelton’s greatest work may be her most personal.
As a licensed and ordained Associate Pastor under the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW INC.), Shelton also serves as the 1st Vice President of the International Singles Network. Her ministry spans over a decade of leadership and mentorship, especially among women and singles seeking identity, healing, and spiritual clarity.
She is the founder of God’s Girls Events, LLC, which organizes conferences and workshops known for their warmth, authenticity, and faith-filled empowerment. The next event, Phenomenally Becoming Her, takes place October 17–18 at BackHouse Your Hospitality Event Center, 4077 Salem Ave., Dayton.
For 13 years, Shelton has served as a conference coordinator, successfully bringing together men and women from across the country for transformational encounters through faith and fellowship.
A Journey Inward: Authorship and Audacity
Shelton is a three-time author, and each of her books reflects a different dimension of her calling:
Success Powered by Relationships explores how networks, intentionality, and authenticity drive growth.
Secret Moments, a 31-day devotional, invites readers to connect with God in quiet spaces.
The Audacity to Phenomenally Become Her is a bold, spiritually rooted guide for women navigating identity and transformation.
“In a world that tries to define us by roles, trauma, or timelines,” Shelton writes, “it takes audacity to become who you truly are.”
Blending affirmations, prompts, and real-life insight, the book is not a how-to—it’s a permission slip. A mirror held up to remind women that they are enough, even as they evolve.
Her message resonates in every aspect of her work—from ministry and coaching to God’s Girls events and mentorship. In 2024, Shelton was named one of WiBN’s “Women to Watch,” a recognition for someone who’s spent much of her life shining the spotlight on others.
But Shelton’s legacy is deeper than accolades. Her life and work are branches of the same tree: rooted in faith, watered by purpose, and grown through service.
Becoming Her, Becoming Us
In The Audacity to Phenomenally Become Her, Shelton reminds readers that becoming isn’t reserved for the lucky or the loud. It’s for every woman brave enough to face herself and still choose joy, healing, and power.
For those on that journey, Utsey Shelton doesn’t just offer a roadmap.
She offers her hand.
Empowering Women:
Follow @uniqueutsey on social media for inspiration and event updates.
Books are available on Amazon, including:
Secret Moments.
