Terri Gardner, MSW
Terri Gardner, MSW
Board of Directors - Black University
Executive Producer - The Darkness
Terri “Buffalo Star” Gardner, MSW grew up in the family business, Black-owned-business legend Soft Sheen Products. She put herself through university and was promoted to increasing responsible positions in Advertising and administration with Soft Sheen. Terri’s background is a blend of operational business experience and community involvement – which represents the family commitment to the connection between institutional/individual racism and lagging economic opportunity in the Black community.
In 1982, legendary Founder of Soft Sheen Products, Edward Gardner funded the development of a targeted advertising campaign. Brainstorm’s talented creatives drove voter’s registration in Chicago to historic levels. “Come Alive Oct 5” was a grass roots voter registration drive in coordination with Chicago community organizers. That drive convinced Harold Washington to run for Mayor in 1983. President Barack Obama credits Harold Washington’s victory in that election as motivation for his move to Chicago. In 1992, again with Soft Sheen’s funding Terri and Brainstorm’s team created another historic voter registration ad campaign, “It’s a power thing”. Barack Obama was lead community organizer for this registration drive.
Founder of Brainstorm Communications, Terri Gardner developed a specialized ad team, to provide strategic campaigns, printed promotional and educational materials for Soft Sheen. The agency pioneered special photo techniques, relevant music and cultural cues. Brainstorm was the first Black haircare advertising in London Tubes; first to place a Black father and son in baby shampoo TV ad, first to use rap in national radio commercials.
In 1996 Terri was appointed president of Soft Sheen Products. In 1998 she co-lead the transition the sale of Soft Sheen’s brands to L’Oréal USA. Terri remained on as President of the Soft Sheen division of L’Oréal USA, eventually becoming President of Soft Sheen/Carson division of L’Oréal USA, overseeing 500 world-wide employees and revenues exceeding $150 million.
In 1996 Terri began her spiritual apprentice training as nature-based cleric, eventually receiving the name Buffalo Star. After retiring from L’Oreal in 2002, Buffalo Star developed a spiritual center in Chicagoland area, providing ongoing ceremony and workshops. Buffalo Star has been invited to take part in the Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago for several years. Provided opening prayer for Cook County Board Meeting in 2009. Through the years, Gardner lead numerous workshops on racial healing, spirituality and women’s healing.
Terri trained as a social worker in keeping with her roots of community action. In 2003 Terri was a MSW student intern for Family Rescue, a domestic violence prevention organization, when the center was arbitrarily shut down by CPD (Chicago Police). Terri co-headed a community action with Elizabeth King of the Black Women’s Leadership Roundtable and together Gardner and King worked with Alderman, CPD and administrators to reopen the office. She received her MSW from Loyola University in 2007.
Terri lives in Chicago, her daughter is a college student. Gardner does spiritual counseling, mentoring and community projects. She remains a student of the Universe.