Member Spotlight: Rodneisha McMillan – 1st Choice Emergency & Safety Training – OE Flowood, MS

The Spotlight’s on Rodneisha McMillan, owner of

1st Choice Emergency & Safety Training

Are you a dreamer, risk-taker, or a doer?

YES to all three, since as a thirty-three-year-old single mom with four children, I went full-time with my CPR Training business. Everybody thought I was silly and irresponsible because I had just recently obtained my degree—I thought it was silly and irresponsible that I had racked up 100k in student loan debt for a degree that was only attracting $10-$12 an hour job positions.

As fellow entrepreneurs, we would love to hear about your business.

I am a CPR and first aid instructor who provides training for the community and essential healthcare workers nationwide. On June 2, 2011—my 30th birthday—I had a hemorrhagic stroke. I experienced a terrible headache, took some medicine, then laid down. I woke up three days later in the ICU fully intubated. After my recovery in 2012, I started 1st Choice EST LLC not only to educate the community, but also to have control over my health and time.

On July 10, 2019, the American Heart Association published an article stating, “African American children who live in poor neighborhoods are significantly less likely to receive bystander CPR during a cardiac arrest than white children.” To address this concern, I have recently founded the African American CPR Foundation. My mission is to increase the likelihood of bystander CPR for African American children in poor neighborhoods throughout the US.

Who is your ideal customer?

Corporations, community members, and churches. Really anyone who is able bodied should know how and when to properly perform CPR.

What are your top tips for entrepreneurial success?

JUST. DO. YOU! Everybody has opinions, but only you truly know your restrictions, capabilities and excuses. Don’t let noise from others block out the sounds of what only you can tell yourself! It’s YOUR risk to take! Dream BIG but do MORE!

For more information on Rodneisha’s business in OE Flowood, MS please visit www.1stchoiceest.org.