Woman To Watch :: Derrica Wilson

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Derrica Wilson is the founder of RLD Limited Group and runs the non-profit Black and Missing Foundation with her sister-in-law, Natalie. Her background is in law enforcement and her experience is a driving force behind RLD and Black and Missing Foundation.

Derrica is an entrepreneur who makes it her duty to empower and uplift others in every aspect of her life. From her family, to her coworkers, to her employees, Derrica encourages those around her to share in their life endeavors and successes. She’s gained some serious wisdom through her long list of exploits–read on to learn about Derrica’s journey in her own words.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m originally from South Carolina and moved up here in 1999. I have a 17-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter who’s a golfer. I’m a busy mom and a busy wife.

I was very close with my grandmother. She passed from cancer in my arms. She was my rock and my inspiration. I was the first and only grandchild for 8 years. Always loved being around my grandparents. I had this spiritual connection with my grandmother. I’ve never had a connection with anyone to that level. She was my role model. In everything that I do, I hope that she’s smiling down from Heaven.

How did your new background-checking company, RLD Limited Group, come to be?

My grandmother was always about giving back to the community, wanting people to thrive and do well. I wanted to honor her by starting a company this year, R L D Limited Group. To have her name live on and to be able to help companies like small businesses, landlords/tenants, or like my husband’s home improvement company. I want to be able to make sure that they’re well protected.

So often, people hire and they don’t realize they need to get a background check on those individuals. We’ve created a platform for them to be able to do it, they can do it themselves, and it’s web-based. We want to give them that sense of security, because a lot of companies fail when you hire the wrong people. And that’s what I actually do. I served 10 years in Virginia as a police officer, and I was the background investigator for the agency. Even now, working for the DC government, I work in the field. So I have the expertise to make sure I am guiding these businesses and making sure they do proper vetting. This is my area of background. Also, it incorporates my grandmother’s love for giving back and making sure that it’s economically affordable for regular businesses.

What inspired your non-profit, Black and Missing Foundation?

When you’re trying to figure out your niche, sometimes you just have to be still and figure out: “What is it that I’m supposed to be doing?” “How is my area of expertise going to enhance this even more?” All the years of training, my position in the public sector, all led to this moment. Being a police officer. Finding missing people. Having a company that helps.

You want people to know that you are the expert. How do you make what you’re passionate about evolve? How do you bring people along the way?

I started Black and Missing Foundation in 2008, with my sister-in-law, Natalie. The inspiration behind the organization was a young lady by the name of Tamika Huston who went missing from my hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was painful watching her family struggle to garner local coverage, much less national. Then, Natalie and I started researching and found that 30% of missing persons in the United States were people of color.

Natalie and I possess the two critical professions in finding missing people. What we wanted to do is even the playing field. Let folks know that every life matters. We want people to understand that our people are falling off the face of the Earth. We need to look for them. Black and Missing Foundation is a national organization that has helped 300 families.

What has helped you the most with that success?

Faith and family. I am big on faith. My family is also very supportive.

I always make sure that I’m setting that example for my children. It’s important that I’m always teaching them. Even at such a young age, they’re very involved with what it is that I do. Our 17 year old, when he’s out of school, helps my husband with the business. When my daughter’s not on the golf course, she’s her mom’s and auntie’s assistant. My husband is absolutely supportive. So I think that really helps out a whole lot, because we’re all on the same path.

One of the benefits that COVID-19 has allowed me to be able to see and be able to do is really spend a lot of precious time at home with my family. These are the times that are just so important for us.

What are three pieces of advice you would give to women about following their dreams and passions?

Believe in yourself. Never let anyone take that away from you.

Follow your goals. Write it down. Execute it.

Take time for yourself. I think we, as women in general, are so giving of ourselves to everybody else that sometimes we neglect our own well-being. If we’re not happy nobody’s happy. So if you can set aside, have a date with yourself at least for 15 to 30 min a day. Positive affirmation, disconnecting from social media, working out. That mental clarity.

What inspires you?

I’m very faithful, so there are certain things that really get me going. I love music, I’m huge on gospel music because I feel that it ministers to my soul.

What also inspires me is to just – release everything. I’m not a person that holds things in. I have to get things out and then move on. So I let go, I let God.