Vera Jones
Vera Jones is an American Motivational Speaker and Author, television and radio broadcaster, and Syracuse University Hall-of-Fame athlete. Her primary background is in broadcasting, serving as a Women’s Basketball Analyst and Reporter for various networks including the Big Ten Network, ESPN, Fox Sports, Madison Square Garden Network, and NBA-TV.[1].
Jones began her motivational speaking career in 2008, when she launched Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC, a motivational speaking and professional development company where she engages and empowers audiences across the country in various public speaking, communication, and leadership forums[2].
Vera Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones at AHA Go Red Keynote 2017 | |
| Born | Vera Jones July 24, 1966 San Bernardino, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Motivational Speaker, Author, Broadcaster |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University (BS '88',MS '91') |
| Notable works | Play Through the Foul, Now I See |
| Years active | (1991–present) |
| Website | |
| verasvoiceworks | |
Download books of Vera Jones or buy them on amazon
Early life[edit]
Vera Roberta Jones was born July 24, 1966 in San Bernardino, California[3], to Mary K. and William T. Jones[4]. She has one older brother, James D. Jones, who she credits with pushing her to become a competitive athlete[5]. Jones began playing basketball at the age of 5[6], and continued her passion for the game on to become recognized as a standout player at Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD. There, she earned a 4-year scholarship to Syracuse University[7].
College[edit]
As a player at Syracuse university from 1984-1988, Jones was known for the nickname "Sweet V from the Top of the Key" due to her 3-point shooting[8][9]. Jones helped the Syracuse Orangewomen basketball program to their historic, first Big East basketball title and NCAA appearance in the 1984-85 season[10]. She was a tri-captain in her senior year, leading her team to its second NCAA appearance as an at-large bid in 1988[11]. Her 1,113 career points ranked her as the 7th all-time leading scorer, and top 3-point field goal percentage scorer (35.3%)[12] upon graduation in 1988. Jones is also credited with being the first woman in Syracuse University history to score a 3-point basket[13]. In her senior year she became the first Syracuse University student ever to be named the Big East Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year[14]. She was also named to the Big East All-Academic Team[15].
In 1985, Jones began her broadcasting career as a news and sports anchor at the college radio station, WJPZ[16]. Jones earned two degrees from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1988, and a Master of Science degree in Television, Radio, and Film in 1991[17].
Broadcasting career[edit]
Vera Jones first professional broadcasting job came after college, working weekends at WBUX Radio in Doylestown, PA in 1989[18]. The following year, she returned to Syracuse and worked as general assignment writer and news reporter for WAER Radio in Syracuse, NY while pursuing her graduate degree. Jones also returned to Syracuse University Women's Basketball from 1989-1991 as Graduate Assistant for Academic Advising. In November of 1990, Jones worked at WOLF radio in Syracuse. She served as both a Morning Show Co-Host and Sales and Promotion Manager until 1993[19]. Jones also acted with the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company and performed stand-up comedy during this time[20].
In 1994, Vera Jones moved to Myrtle Beach, SC and her on-air name became “Bobbi Jones” working for WNMB, then WGTR in 1994. She was awarded the South Carolina Broadcaster's Association "Personality of the Year" as a country radio morning show co-host at WGTR, Gator 107.9.[21][22] WGTR was also named the large market station of the year[23]. Other radio stops in her broadcasting career included WWSK, Myrtle Beach in 1995 and WXCD, Syracuse, NY in 1995-1996, and WFLM, Port St. Lucie, FL 1996-1998[24].
Vera Jones became widely known as a Women's Basketball Analyst on ESPN's NCAA and WNBA broadcasts from 1997-2003[25]. Her assignments included three seasons as a studio analyst for ESPN’s NCAA Tournament during the 2000, 2001, and 2002 seasons[26]. She freelanced as an analyst with Fox Sports and was a WNBA Commentator, broadcasting New York Liberty games and features with Madison Square Garden Network (MSG) and NBA-TV[27].
Jones was named as one of the first three women’s basketball analysts for the newly formed Big Ten Network in Chicago in 2007[28]. She continued calling games for the network as a remote and studio analyst through the 2020 season[29].
Speaking career[edit]
Vera Jones is noted as a single mom who deeply understands life’s trials[30]. Her son, Andrew, was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 12 years old and became visually impaired[31]. Vera featured her son’s story in a Bold Talk at the Inbound 2016 conference. A little over a year later, on October 27, 2017, Goalcast posted an edited version of the speech on Facebook that instantly went viral and has been viewed over 46 million times on the original Goalcast Facebook posting[32][33][34].
Jones was featured as the keynote for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Annual Luncheon in May of 2014. The event that draws 1000 attendees was held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY[35]. This keynote was particularly personal for Jones as her mother died suddenly from a heart attack in 2007[36]
Books[edit]
- Jones, Vera (2019). "Now I See: A Journey of Prophecy, Pain, and Purpose". Outskirts Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-9772-1773-8 Search this book on
. - Jones, Vera (2011). "New Best Friend (A Little Book of Faith)". New Jersey: Karen Hunter Media, LLC. ISBN 978-0-9845060-8-8 Search this book on .
- Jones, Vera (2011). "The Only Sun". Florida: Vera'sVoiceWorks Media. ISBN 978-0-9840929-3-2 Search this book on .. Digital ISBN 978-0-9840929-4-9 Search this book on ..
- Soleyn, Vera Jones (2009). "Play Through the Foul". Florida: VoiceWorks Media. ISBN 978-0-9840929-0-1 Search this book on .
- Ali, A.J. and Jones, Vera (2009). "The True Champion's 30-Day Challenge". California: Marathon of Miracles.
Awards[edit]
- Syracuse Basketball Hall Of Fame
- South Carolina Radio Broadcaster's Association Personality of the Year 1994
References[edit]
- ↑ "500 speakers". 500 speakers.
- ↑ "Vera Jones". Big Speak.
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. pp. 82–83. Search this book on
- ↑ "Flagler County Families". Flagler County Families.
- ↑ Jones, Vera (2009). Play Through the Foul. Voiceworks Media. pp. 9, 37, 107, 108, 109. Search this book on
- ↑ Jones, Vera (2009). Play Through the Foul. Voiceworks Media. p. 9. Search this book on
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. pp. 82–83. Search this book on
- ↑ "Women's Basketball". Dayton Flyers.
- ↑ "Spotlight on Vera Jones". WSEN network.
- ↑ "Sportscaster U". Sportscaster U.
- ↑ "JONES INDUCTED INTO ORANGE PLUS HALL OF FAME". cuse.com.
- ↑ "2010-11 Syracuse Women's Basketball" (PDF). Cuse.com.
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. p. 83. Search this book on
- ↑ "Sportscaster U". Sportscaster U.
- ↑ "Syracuse women's basketball" (PDF).
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. p. 82. Search this book on
- ↑ "54TH ANNUAL LETTERWINNER OF DISTINCTION". cuse.com.
- ↑ "Syracuse Post". Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. p. 82. Search this book on
- ↑ "54TH ANNUAL LETTERWINNER OF DISTINCTION". cuse.com.
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. pp. 82–83. Search this book on
- ↑ "Syracuse Post". Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "SCBA STAR AWARDS" (PDF). South Carolina Broadcasters Association.
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. p. 83. Search this book on
- ↑ "SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY HALL OF FAMER BECOMES AN AUTHOR". cuse.com.
- ↑ "JONES INDUCTED INTO ORANGE PLUS HALL OF FAME". cuse.com.
- ↑ 1999-2000 MSG Network Guide. p. 83. Search this book on
- ↑ "Big Ten Network Announces Women's Basketball Analysts". Big Ten.
- ↑ "BTN ANNOUNCES MEN'S AND WOMEN'S HOOPS TALENT FOR 2019-20 SEASON". BTN.com.
- ↑ "Vera Jones". Big Speak.
- ↑ Jones, Vera (2019). , Now I See – A Journey of Prophecy, Pain, and Purpose. Outskirts Press. pp. ii. Search this book on
- ↑ "Vera Jones". Goalcast.
- ↑ "This is What a Blind Son Taught his Mother about Vision". Goalcast.
- ↑ "Vera Jones - Trust Your Vision". Facebook.
- ↑ "'Go Red' event to champion women's heart health". courier journal.
- ↑ Jones, Vera (2019). , Now I See – A Journey of Prophecy, Pain, and Purpose. Outskirts Press. pp. ii. Search this book on
External links[edit]
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