Chonda Pierce shares a few thoughts on life, business and Trevecca

February 1, 2017

Trevecca alumna Chonda Pierce is set to return to campus on Feb. 15, serving as the keynote speaker for “Celebrating the Work, Wit, and Wisdom of Women.” Presented by the Trevecca Association of Business Professionals, the luncheon event will be held in the Boone Convocation on Trevecca’s campus.

Known as “the Queen of Clean,” Pierce is the top-selling female comedian in history and a five-time Daytime Emmy Award nominee. She spends several weeks of each month on the road, all while managing a small team of employees who help keep her business running. Get a taste of what you’ll experience on Feb. 15 in our Q&A below.

You run a small business, the business of being, well, you. What topics do you think you’ll talk about at luncheon?

It’s so interesting to get the invite! I’m a comedian, but I do happen to run my own business. My business is talking about my business, just talking about my life. The most interesting thing is that a lot of material at Trevecca came from those days at Trevecca and my childhood as a Nazarene. I guess I probably owe Trevecca this since I’ve used Trevecca for material for so long.

I am in business for myself, but I do lead about a dozen employees. It takes a whole crew to get me back out on the road these days. So, there are some things of interest I have to offer, especially as a woman in business and as a comedian. The stand-up comedy world is very much still male-oriented and male-driven, so to make a name for yourself in the comedy world as a woman is always difficult.

You’re well-known as a Christian comedian, even sometimes called “the Queen of Clean.” What’s it like to be in such a high-profile position as a Christian?

I think the witness I have had in business settings is just as important as the witness I have standing on a platform and talking about Jesus. When you’re in business for yourself, people are watching how you live and how you react. I think that’s even more of a caution to hold the banner high in even the most minute business circumstances. 

You were a student at Trevecca from 1978-1980. Do you have any favorite memories of Trevecca?

I went to Trevecca right out of high school. I have a big sister who went to Trevecca, my brother graduated from Trevecca, my cousins graduated from Trevecca. So I think if I didn’t go to Trevecca, I would have gotten kicked out of the family early on!

I think one of my favorite stories in the world is getting caught climbing out of Tennessee Hall. We were headed down to Krispy Kreme, and we really thought we had our escape, climbing down the back of the building by the fence where nobody could see it. So, we got in trouble and fined. I think I also left Trevecca owing a ton of chapel fines, so I probably need to pay those up!

What excites you most about coming back to your alma mater to speak at this event?

I am so appreciative and grateful for the time that I spent there. I also know that [the proceeds from] this luncheon benefits students, that it provides scholarships for students. I left Trevecca because I ran out of money, so I have such a heart for people who want higher education—and a Christian education—and they can’t afford it. So it is a sweet opportunity for me, in a way, to give back. That is important to me.

It’s also an opportunity for me to just see some people I haven’t seen for awhile. I went through probably the toughest years of my life in the last few years. I became widowed. It gives you an opportunity to throw your arms around some people—to give some hugs and receive some hugs—from people who have been so tender to you in some of your life’s toughest days.

Pierce will be the keynote speaker for “Celebrating the Work, Wit and Wisdom of Women,” a luncheon event for business professionals, on Feb. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 for individuals, but businesses can sponsor a table for $300. Each table seats eight. Register online. All proceeds provide scholarships for Trevecca business students.