SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 19, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sharon Martin Blacknall has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Blacknall has distinguished herself through a multifaceted career marked by leadership, advocacy, and innovation across several industries. Since 2012, Ms. Blacknall has served as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Military Veterans Against Child Abuse, a nonprofit organization inspired by her upbringing as the daughter of a United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant and her own experiences within military communities. Through this nonprofit, she teaches children the knowledge they need to stay safe, their rights, and available support systems, empowering them to recognize and report abuse. She developed the All-Star Safety Patrol Kids program to teach children about safety and continues to create new content for the initiative.

As Owner and General Manager of The Alamo City All-Stars since 2018, Ms. Blacknall and her partners have guided the team to consistent success, never experiencing a losing season. The team also won the 2019 San Antonio NBA Pro-Am Championship. She takes particular pride in mentoring athletes who have gone on to become certified public accountants, project managers, information technology managers, real estate investors, gym facility owners, authors, ministers, teachers, environmental air technicians, military officers, and business owners. Her latest book, "From Hooper to Pro: Understanding the Business of Basketball," provides young athletes with a blueprint and practical guidance on pursuing professional opportunities beyond basketball.

In her capacity as Vice President of Administration for the American Basketball Association since 2024, she oversees league administrative management, ensures adherence to policies, and collaborates with staff on game-day operations. Her tenure with the American Basketball Association began in 2018, and in 2019, she was appointed as the South Central Division Chair, where she managed teams across four states and was instrumental in standardizing operations. Her leadership was recognized in 2025 when she was named one of four Executives of the Year by the ABA's executive committee. Ms. Blacknall authored the American Basketball Association's first comprehensive Operations Manual, establishing standard operating procedures that replaced decades of informal practices.

Ms. Blacknall's commitment to child safety began in earnest in 2011 when she became a children's book author and advocate for child safety programs. Her book "The ABC's and 123's of Child Safety" was taught to over 8,000 children in child care centers and the City of San Antonio Head Start Division in 2013. She later produced a bilingual edition at the request of local educators and expanded her outreach through seminars for parents and grandparents, and authored the book "Child Safety Tips for Parents and Grandparents".

Her expertise extends into real estate appraisal as Owner and Certified Residential Appraiser at Sterling Appraisals Inc. from 2004 to 2011. During this period, she broke barriers as the first Black female appraiser in Clark County, Las Vegas. Despite initial discouragement from industry professionals about her prospects in the field, Ms. Blacknall persevered with mentorship from an established appraiser, Tammy Desmarais. After completing a two-year internship under Tammy's guidance, she secured a contract with a new home builder from 2006 to January 2011 before relocating to San Antonio in March 2011 to care for her mother.

From 2018 to 2024, Ms. Blacknall also served as Vice President of Administration at Bertram Village, further demonstrating her versatility in business management. She developed the $19 billion budget that was used as the basis for the township development.

Her earlier career includes significant roles in hospitality management at Bellagio Hotel and Casino from 1998 to 2004 and Mirage Hotel and Casino from 1993 to 1998. At Bellagio, she managed six operational areas with a team of twenty employees, achieving substantial cost savings and exceeding performance expectations—a record that earned her the "Supervisor in the Spotlight" award in 2002. Her process improvements were implemented across other MGM/Mirage properties. She was also part of the management team that opened Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Beau Rivage Casinos.

Ms. Blacknall's technical background is rooted in her service as a field services engineer at Anacomp Inc. from 1988 to 1993 following her groundbreaking tenure as the first Black woman field engineer for a new West Coast defense network while serving as an electronic computer and switching specialist with the United States Air Force from 1985 to 1988 and later as a sergeant in the United States Air Force Reserve until 1992. Her military service was recognized with the United States Air Force Good Conduct Medal in 1988.

Ms. Blacknall's academic journey began with a diploma from Oliver Wendell Holmes High School in San Antonio in 1981. She attended the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1982 and Grambling State University in 1983, where she completed additional coursework that broadened her knowledge base across disciplines. She also attended several technical school trainings related to the upkeep and maintenance of equipment housed at city, county, and military installations. She holds certifications as a Life Coach from Transformation Academy (2020) and as a Certified Residential and Federal Housing Administration Appraiser.

Her faith has been a guiding force throughout her life; Ms. Blacknall attributes her resilience and achievements to Divine Grace after surviving life-threatening incidents, including a devastating fire, severe illness, and accidents, without lasting harm.

Ms. Blacknall's civic engagement is extensive. She coordinated child safety programs such as A-B-C Learn Safety With Me! for day care centers and elementary schools beginning in 2011—a program that continues to impact thousands of children annually—and taught personal safety seminars for pre-kindergarten students since that time. As Executive Director of Military Veterans Against Child Abuse since its founding in 2012, she has advocated tirelessly for vulnerable children within communities nationwide.

She has served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board since 2023, the board for All-Stars Cares Nonprofit since 2018, and joined the Executive Board of the American Basketball Association in 2021. Earlier civic involvement includes work with Inner City Games (now After School All-Stars) from 1996 to 1998.

Ms. Blacknall's creative pursuits include releasing two albums under her digital alter ego, Balue Skye—"Balue Skye Volume One" and "Balue Skye Band," both available on major streaming platforms since 2025.

Her published works include "Growing Up Safe And Unafraid: Child Safety Tips For Parents And Grandparents" (2021), "A-B-C Learn Safety with Me! A-B-C Aprender Seguridad Conmigo!: A Pre-K Bilingual Book about Safety" (2014), and "The ABC's and 123's of Child Safety" (2012). Her books have received critical acclaim, including the Midwest Book Review Reviewer's Choice Award (2013) and the Family Review Center Editor's Choice Award (2014).

Professional memberships include longstanding involvement with the National Association for the Education of Young Children since 2014 and membership in the National Association of Professional Women.

Among numerous honors, Ms. Blacknall was named NAPW VIP Woman of the Year (2014-2015), received recognition as one of four Executives of the Year by the American Basketball Association (2024), the 2025 ABA Outstanding Leadership Award, and the 2026 ABA Pinnacle Award.

Born in Opelousas, Ms. Blacknall is part of a family deeply rooted in Military service—she is one of 39 family members who have served or are currently serving—and is married to James Blacknall, a United States Air Force Veteran. They have two children: Chantel, who serves as Director of Clinical Risk, and a son, Jamaal, who works at Aria Casino's Alibi lounge in Las Vegas.

In addition to helping others achieve their goals—a passion reflected throughout her career—Ms. Blacknall enjoys drawing, acquiring new skills, such as proficiency in Spanish and French, and exploring advancements in artificial intelligence for business applications.

Looking ahead, Ms. Blacknall intends to expand Military Veterans Against Child Abuse by modernizing its outreach through interactive digital programs designed for children's independent learning at home, ensuring that her legacy continues to protect future generations long after her direct involvement concludes.

Ms. Blacknall's career exemplifies expertise across business management, consulting, engineering, and real estate appraisal, while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to advocating for children's safety education both within military communities and beyond. She lives by the motto, "We are supposed to leave this world better than in which we came into it."

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

# # #