Black Genius Network

Success and achievement are the hallmarks of George Kilpatrick’s media career, but not in the way you might expect. Throughout his work as a producer, host, creator and writer in the fields of radio, television, and documentary film-making, his mission has remained consistent – to uplift his listeners/viewers and inspire them to achieve their own measure of success. Kilpatrick’s intent is to boost those who are looking to mirror their own lives but rarely see the media reflect back images of success in the African American community and other communities of color. And his actions play out that intent as he continues to expand his influence through ongoing television, radio, and film projects.

Kilpatrick’s own reach is extensive, not only in his own community but also the world beyond. As producer/host of the daily live midday television talk show, “Hour CNY” on PBS affiliate WCNY-TV in Syracuse, NY, he interviews the movers and shakers of the Central New York region covering a 19-county area. He is also producer/host of the award-winning series, “Access with George Kilpatrick,” which provides a forum for voices underrepresented in the media; a special seven-part spin-off of the series, “Facing Racism: A Special Access with George Kilpatrick” earned Kilpatrick the 2005 Award for Outstanding Contribution from the Human Rights Commission. Kilpatrick also produces WCNY’s weekly public affairs program, “Central Issues,” and serves as the station’s Director of Community Affairs.

Kilpatrick is equally well-represented on the airwaves of commercial radio in Central New York through his work on Clear Channel affiliate stations. As producer and host of “The George Kilpatrick Show” and host of “Dr. On Call”  on WSYR-AM, he shares perspectives on a variety of local, regional and national issues, and provides health information and wellness education.  His latest endeavor, “New Inspiration for the Nation” on WPHR-FM brings Kilpatrick’s mission front and center as he talks with nationally-recognized guests such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about success, motivation, and positive role models within the African American community. Kilpatrick serves as host, producer and creator of “New Inspiration” which celebrated its first anniversary last fall.

George’s interview inspired me to try things and be prepared for future opportunities. An example of George being prepared is his rols as a produce on a documentary film called Freedom’s Call. Which is the story of journalist that covered the civil rights movement during the 50’s and 60’s.

Enjoy this interview with George Kilpatrick and enjoy the trailer from the documentary Freedoms Call. Checkout George’s website at http://georgekilpatrick.com

Black Business, Black History Black Men, Black Men Success Stories

Colette Releford is all about sales and marketing and after getting laid off from her job she created Strive Business Solutions based in Gaitherburg, MD.

Colette’s business is designed to help small and medium business(es) improve sales and marketing (along with),business process management. The company also provides consulting services to small and medium business(es).

Colette has over 20 years professional experience in a variety of industries including, professional services, multi-family real estate, industrial and technology. In these fields the focus of Ms. Releford’s work has been Sales, Marketing, Account Management and Business Process.

Colette has earned both an MBA and Masters of Science (M.S.), Colette has work her way to success everyday. Her attitude is amazing and her story inspiring.

Enjoy this interview with Colette Releford .[display_podcast]

Black Business, Black History, holiday Black Women Entrepreneurs

I’d like to introduce to you, one of the finest women I know. She is a very talented and determined young lady. She is all about helping people achieve their goals and get to the next level. Her name is Brenda Eason!

Brenda is a loving, and caring mother and great friend to many. She grew up in Washington, D.C., although she is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and has lived there several times throughout her life. She is the oldest of three girls who grew up with a single mother. Unfortunately her mother has passed away, however Ms. Eason is still striving to make her mom proud. She knows that her mom is looking down smiling.

Brenda has overcome so many obstacles throughout her life and career. She is a living testimony having been homeless at one point. She has seen a lot of things that has made her very savvy to most of the things that life has to throw at you. Her motivation and determination kept her from giving up. She kept striving and reaching for more until she made her way to the top. God took her to a place where she never expected to go, but he also brought her out and now she’s better than she was before she went there.

Ms. Eason was born to be a leader. She became an entrepreneur at an early age by owning several businesses by the age of 30. Having done all of that, Brenda’s determination still wouldn’t let her stop there. She believed she still had more to learn about business. Brenda began to search for other entrepreneurs that she could network with and learn from.

This is why she founded the Black Business Owners Network (BBON) located on the web at www.BBON.biz. Brenda had no idea that her personal exploration would turn out to be a powerhouse. Through her hard work and God given talent, she promoted the BBON with everything she had to make it a success.

Ms. Eason’s top three passions in life are empowering African Americans to go for their dreams, business and entertainment. On her newest radio program called Black Empowered, she gets to incorporate all three of these passions. Black Empowered is the Podcast about Business … Entertainment and everything else in between. This is the official weekly podcast of the BBON’s over 47,000 members! It can be found on the web at www.BlackEmpowered.com

In addition to Black Empowered, Ms. Eason is the “Business News You Can Use Reporter” on Careers From The Kitchen Table. A weekly radio program for home-based businesses, which currently has over half a million listeners. Each week she gives out helpful business tips and resources for home based businesses. She has also co-hosted Urban After Dark and now produces the portion of the show dedicated to the BBON.

Her latest project is being the co-founder of Elite Design Art, a family owned art company located on the web at www.EliteDesignArt.com and www.myspace.com/Elite_Design. Art is another big passion of Ms. Eason’s. Elite Design Art has created hundreds of abstract pieces of art. They consist of many celebrity drawings and abstract pieces of art. The portrait art division is the largest of the company. There are many holidays and special occasions in which people come to Elite Design Art to have a portrait drawn.

In recognition of Ms. Eason’s many accomplishments, BIG The Magazine featured her on the cover of their November issue. She has also received many awards in recognition of her success including the Small Business Networking Award. Ms. Eason is currently focusing her energy on being a motivational speaker and believes that her story of going from the bottom to the top will be very inspiring for all. Dreams really do come true!

Black Business, Black History Black Women Entrepreneurs

No interview this week, instead I decided to write about a topic that has been brewing in my head for a while.  The topic is controversial and mostly ignored but “Is it Finally Time to Stop Whining and Complaining and Start to Create a Duplicateable Success Strategy in the Black Community”

For me in many ways, creating a successful life  has been the focus of my life but really started to come to a head about two years ago when Barack Obama decided to run for president. Like many, I watched President Obama give the keynote speech at the Democratic convention in 2004 and was very impressed. So impressed that I read his book “Dreams from my Father” and then his book “The Audacity of Hope”

I watched as this man during the campaign seemed to have overwhelming certainty about who he was and with every moment gained confidence in his ability to become the first African American President of the United States. I followed his success and was determined to see if there where duplicable strategies and tactics I could use in my life.

After the election of President Obama and his enormous success, I  become increasingly aware of how little black folks talk about success.  We talk a lot about victi hood, a lot about aggrandizement but we talk little about the science of creating success.
If you remember, President Obama was a looooooong shot, nobody expected him to become the Democratic nominee all bets where on Hilary Clinton, but not only did he win the nomination but in a history making event, he actually won the presidency and the question has to be asked how did he do it and a better question is “Are their strategies, tactics and skills, that President Obama used to be successful.

So, I wanted to start the conversation. Here are some things to consider.

• What is success mean to you? Is it great wealth, financial security, control or security?
• How is success created? Is it only get an education and work hard?
• Is success duplicatable? Are there strategies adn tactics that can be learned and more importantly taught?
• How do we create a success ethic in our community. Can we teach success to our families and children?

For me, these are the issues that face Black America, is it time to focus internally and define and create success for ourselves. That’s the question and I welcome your input and opinion.

Black History Black Success

Ron Hudson is an author, award winning blogger, Shorty Award’s nominee, radio show host, CM. NLP, Business Growth Strategist and Strategic Influence Trainer and Coach. He has had the privilege of training sales people at companies such as Coldwell Banker, Dean Witter, Goldmine Software Corporation, New York Life, Cellular One, Lexus, Pitney Bowes, and others.

He has also taught and used his marketing, copywriting, selling, or negotiating skills on behalf of Jay Abraham, Tony Robbins, Jay Conrad Levison, Les Brown, Dr. John Gray and many small to medium companies.

He has been featured in the Tulsa Business Journal, Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce publication Small Business Hotline, Tulsa World, Oklahoma Eagle, and in many online publications.

He is the group leader of the international Tony Robbins graduate group, Mastering Influence and a member of The National Federation of Neuro Linguistic Programming.

In this interview Ron, explores his history and how you can gain “Immediate Influence”

Enjoy this interview with Ron Hudson [display_podcast]

Black Business, Black History Black Men Success Stories

Multi-media personality, Women’s advocate and entrepreneur

As a media professional for 15 years, Monique Caradine has worked in every aspect of the business–including television, advertising, public relations and radio.  In 2004, she embarked on a new endeavor by launching Momentum Media Group, a media development and consulting company.

Momentum specializes in media training and publicity consulting for female executives and entrepreneurs.  Momentum also produces radio and TV programs in Chicago and Atlanta.

Throughout her career Monique has proven herself to be media visionary.  For two years (2004-2006), her company independently produced and funded a weekly television program.  Currently, Monique is the host of a new community affairs TV program called “Perspective,” which airs Sundays on FOX affiliate WPWR My50 in Chicago.

In 2003, Mo ended her tenure as host of a daily, award-winning talk show on Chicago’s only black-owned radio station, WVON 1450 AM.  Known as Mo in the Midday, she discussed a wide range of issues.  She also interviewed such notables as Tavis Smiley, Patti LaBelle, Maya Angelou, Magic Johnson, Queen Latifah, Les Brown and many more.  Mo in the Midday was twice named Best Midday Talk Show in Chicago and Monique was also recognized three consecutive times by TALKERS Magazine as one of the top 100 radio talk show hosts in the nation.

Monique has appeared as a frequent guest on the nation’s largest television and radio networks, including CNN, FOX News and National Public Radio.  She has also been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Defender, N’DIGO and a variety of other local and national media outlets.  Monique is known as a gifted speaker and workshop presenter and has delivered keynote addresses to local and national organizations.

Throughout her entire career, Monique Caradine’s mission has been to use the media as a platform to empower, enlighten and inform audiences.   She is a respected media professional, and women’s empowerment advocate.  As she puts it, “my goal is to enrich lives, open minds and push boundaries.”

Black Business, Black History, Personal Development, Success Strategies, holiday Black Women Entrepreneurs

2008 was full of life changing events already for Jennifer. Laid off from her corporate job right before the holidays, Jennifer recently made the decision to stop interviewing for another corporate gig and follow her dream to become an entrepreneur. Initially, she found success with a network marketing company, Isagenix. Her work as a Nutritional Cleansing Coach was much more rewarding and working closely with people across the globe in a team environment was much more fulfilling than working as a corporate employee.

As an entrepreneur, Jennifer realized there are many ways to generate income so she decided to indulge in her favorite past time, event planning. Her first event, Would You Marry You? quickly sold out and she realized that she may be on to something. Thus JenniferDent Events was created. JenniferDent Events focuses on bridging the gap in people’s live by briging from where they are now to where they want to be. JenniferDent Events motivate, uplift, educate and encourage.

Over the years, Jennifer learned the importance of generating multiple streams of income. In addition to her Isagenix business, and her event planning company, she also owns investment properties in the Philadelphia area.

Her professional success and accomplishments has not hindered this entrepreneur from serving. She lives by the biblical quote, “to whom much is given, much is required.” She is extremely active in her community and church, First African Baptist Church in Sharon Hill, PA. In church, she sings on the choir and serves as a ministry leader of a group for high school girls entitled G.U.E.S.S. (Girls Understanding Education Success and Society).

In the community, she is the founder of the Philadelphia Minority Professionals GIVE BACK Meetup organization. This group was established in April 2008 with the purpose of bringing together professionals in the Philadelphia area who are committed to empowering the community by giving back to charitable causes. The group membership continues to grow daily and is close to 300 members strong.

Jennifer is looking forward to the future where she has plans to empower and encourage people worldwide through JenniferDent Events.

www.jenniferdent.com

jennifer@jenniferdent.com

Office: (856) 346-8172

She is a true entrepreneur and a Black Genius. Enjoy this interview with Jennifer Dent [display_podcast]

Every Monday, the Black Genius Network tells the story of black success in the words of the entrepreneur. Look for another black Genius Network interview next Monday, Feb 23,2008

Black Business, Black History, Personal Development, Success Strategies Black Women Entrepreneurs

If you are an entrepreneur one of the most effective ways to establish yourself as an expert in your market is to write a book, The only problem is “What do you do with the Book after it has been written”?

Tynisha Thompson know exactly what to do.

Tynisha Thompson helps entrepreneurial authors, experts, speakers, coaches and consultants build profitable publishing empires. As an online book marketing and publicity coach and consultant, Tynisha has worked with a variety of authors, writers and professionals on how to get their message out there. Her passion for figuring out new and creative ways for authors to reach their target markets while helping them create multiple streams of revenue from their books is well known. Her authors have appeared in The New York Times, Essence Magazine, and Entrepreneur.com

Tynisha reveals the challenges she’s faced becoming an entreprenur and how she has handled and overcome these challenges. She is an inspiration to other entrepreneurs, like the other women we’ve interviewed. It is with great pride I intorduce Tynisha Thompsonto the Black genius Network audience. [display_podcast]

Checkout BookSavvyMedia.com and follow Tynisha on Twitter

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-2948f0c9b2cff6bf80b542e58a2ad5cf}

Black Business, Black History, Success Strategies Black Women Entrepreneurs

During February the Black Genius Network is featuring black women entrepreneurs and we are honored that Delores Pressley agreed to do the first interview on the month.

DeLores Pressley, Motivational Speaker and Personal Power Expert, is one of the most respected and sought-after experts on success, motivation, confidence and personal power. She is an international keynote speaker, author, life coach and the Founder of the Born Successful Institute and DeLores Pressley Worldwide. Her story has been touted in Glamour, Washington Post, Black Enterprise, First for Women, Essence, New York Daily News, Ebony and Marie Claire. She is a frequent media guest and has been interviewed on every major network: (ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX) including America’s top rated shows; OPRAH and Entertainment Tonight

DeLores’ client list range from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies, including Procter and Gamble, Roche Pharmaceutical, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Caribbean Association of Administrative Professionals (CAAP) and the FirstEnergy Corporation. She has authored Clean Out the Closet of Your Life, Believe in the Power of You and Renovate Yourself. She has received many awards and recognitions for her work. Her newest project is producing,Speak for Hire, an educational and promotional program for speakers around the world.

During our conversation Delores tells us her story, how she created success in her life, how she started her business and what she had to do to get on the Phrah Winfrey Show. Enjoy our interview with Delores Pressley, Success Coach and Personal Power Expert.

Black History, Personal Development, Success Strategies, Women Entrepreneurs Black Women Entrepreneurs, Coaches

This is a personal story about a friend of mine. I have known Jonathan Lewis since high school. We where friends and hang buddies, chasing girls and  trying to be cool. We went to parties, high school basketball and football games and all types of social events. It was a special time, we where young and having fun.

During high school, my friend Jonathan (Foots) decided to start using drugs and those drugs ripped his life apart. For more that 20 years Foots battled drug demons, jail and during the process I lost my friend, I thought forever.

But slowly Foots overcame, he learned how to stay clean from drugs and alcohol. He found his faith, he found a beautiful wife (Penny), he is a father, grand pop and mentor and he became an un-qualified success. He has become a role model to many other people that are caught in addiction and incarceration.

Frankly, during our friendship I believed Foots would never get straight but I was wrong. Jonathan is living proof that any obstacle can be overcome, his list of formers (felon, drug addict etc) is formidable but if Foots can overcome all of this surely you can raise above all of your obstacles.

It gives me great pleasure in having a true Black Genius, that has overcome all odds.

The Story of Jonathan (Foots) Lewis, my friend.

Black Business, Black History, Success Strategies Black Men, Black Men Success Stories, Overcome Obstacles