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Young, Gifted &
Black
2007
Entrepreneurial Awards
Recipients |
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Dr. Catrise Austin, DDS
VIP Smiles
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Dentistry / Medicine
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Dedicated to changing lives with a
smile, Dr. Catrise Austin is a cosmetic and general dentist that is
"Creating Hollywood Smiles in the Heart of Manhattan"!
Consistently dubbed one of the most influential women in business,
this award winning dentist is becoming one of the most well-known
and highly regarded dentists not only in the New York/Tri-State
region, but nationwide.
In a field traditionally
dominated by men, this young female dentist is breaking all gender
and racial boundaries by establishing her own ground with innovative
operations and a unique business strategy. The savvy
entrepreneur is the architect of VIP Smiles, a modern dental
practice that boasts an impressive loyal following, including some
of the warmest smiles in the entertainment industry: America’s Next
Top Model Eva Pigford, The Apprentice’s diva Omarosa, R & B singer
Toni Braxton, South Park's "Chef" and music legend Isaac Hayes,
Broadway's "Bridge and Tunnel" sensation play write Sara Jones, and
Grammy Award winning rappers Missy Elliot and Common have all placed
their teeth in her capable hands. In addition, "The Discovery Health
Channel", “The Queen Latifah Show” and “The Ricki Lake Show” have
all called on her services. She's been a guest expert on radio
programs across the nation speaking about the importance of dental
health, and frequently makes public speaking appearances to spread
her message. Throughout the entertainment industry as well as
communities across the nation, Dr. Austin is cultivating a
reputation as a designer of great smiles.
Dr. Austin
discovered her passion for dentistry after being transformed by her
dental experience in high school. Often the victim of jokes
about her front teeth in both grade and middle school, Catrise went
to get braces at the age of 15. By the time she graduated high
school she was voted prettiest smile; completing a tremendous boost
to her self-esteem. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in
psychology from the
University of
Michigan, Catrise went on
to receive her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the
University of
Maryland.
After getting her start tempting as a dental hygienist
Catrise’s entrepreneurial spirit grew very strong and led her to
quickly build a highly successful private practice through shrewd
networking and employing guerrilla-marketing tactics in lieu of
conventional methods. Dr. Austin never misses a good marketing
opportunity and her bold endeavors - her chutzpah as one reporter
termed it - has paid off handsomely. VIP Smiles' success can be
attributed to her smart business skills and commitment to quality
service. The office is equipped with the latest advancements in
technology and customer care, and installed with a complete
entertainment center that allows patients their choice of watching
their favorite DVDs during treatment, listening to their favorite
music or enjoying the soothing benefits of aromatherapy. Licensed to
practice dentistry in the States of New York as well as
California, with her
mobile dental unit, Dr. Austin is equipped to deliver her Hollywood
Smiles in an intimate setting for special “VIP” clients.
Marketing aside, Dr. Austin is serious about oral hygiene and
actively promotes preventive maintenance techniques among her
patients. "In today's image-conscious society, a person's smile is
very important," said Dr. Austin, D.D.S. "A smile is one of the
first things people notice about you, and a beautiful smile can have
a long-lasting positive impact on your life - socially, economically
and psychologically."
www.vipsmiles.com
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Karen Parish-Groves
Assistant
Vice-President
Branch Manager
North Fork Bank |
Finance/Banking
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Karen Parish-Groves is a Branch
Manager with The North Fork Bank. She is responsible for developing
a growth strategy in Residential Real Estate and the Small Business
Market.
Mrs. Parish-Groves facilitates branch workflow and
training to maximize Operational effectiveness. Her implementation
of a client friendly business interaction has been tailored
specifically to the needs of her clients.
Mrs. Parish-Groves
also oversees the review of policies and procedures to ensure that
her branch is in accordance with corporate guidelines.
The North Fork Bank
provides services to millions of clients in the
New York metropolitan area and the
Soho branch managed by Mrs.
Parish-Groves has seen a significant increase in the diversified
financial growth of her clients.
Mrs.
Parish-Groves has extensive experience in the financial services
industry that has spanned over 17 years. Prior to her current
position, she was an Assistant Branch Manager and helped supervise
two of the
Soho branches. She has worked for several other
financial institutions including Fleet Bank where she served as
Customer Service Representative and then as an Assistant Branch
Manager.
Mrs. Parish-Groves was been able to provide various
cross-selling services to her clients while working for Apple Bank
as a Senior Customer Service Representative.
Mrs. Parish-Groves
has received certification in Management and Supervisory from the
American Institute of Banking.
She is also certified for Teller Training from the Urban Bank
Coalition.
She resides
in the
New York City area with
her husband and two wonderful children.
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Dave Cox
Funding Partner
Owner/General Manager
Reign Bar & Lounge
Owner Operator
IHOP |
Business Management
&
Entertainment |
Dave Cox- Funding Partner, Owner/
General Manager.
After success in the Entertainment and
Telecommunications Industry, Mr. Cox invested in several bar and
lounge facilities. As a Music Industry veteran, Mr. Cox has
consulted in the careers of Shyne, Keyshia Cole, and others.
Since that success, Mr. Cox invested in a small bar and lounge in
the Flatbush section of
Brooklyn where he learned the food
and beverage industry by trial, error, and first hand experience..
Within a two year period Mr. Cox had a successful small business.
Always thinking forward, in 2004, Mr. Cox took the success of his
small bar and lounge and invested in a 6000 square foot, duplex
building and established Reign Bar and Lounge. With a diverse
drink and dinner menu, as well as a very popular night club, Reign
Bar and Lounge is now the most successful upscale bar and lounge in
Brooklyn.
Mr. Cox is
officially trained in the area of telecommunications. As an
engineer for Verizon, Mr. Cox continues to use his technical
background to enhance and cultivate the technological environment of
his business ventures.
Mr. Cox new ventures include: Owner/Operator of an IHOP
Restaurant located in Brooklyn, New York.
www.reignlounge.com
IHOP Restaurant
300 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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Stan Dennis
Organizer of Greek fest
Former Owner of
Rio's Restaurant
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Event Management
& Entertainment
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Stanley Dennis is a C.W. Post Hall of
Fame induction
Husband to wife Estella for 14 years. Mr. Dennis is also a proud
father of two children
Rio - 9 years old & Stanley II - 5
years old.
Created the largest
and world renowned
Greek
fest
Beach party at
Jones Beach 22 years and counting.
CEO of Greekfest.com
the #1 Black Fraternal website, CEO of The National Greek Network.
One of New
York City's Best known Event coordinators - Promoters, presenting
events that became respected by
many world wide, From "The Tavern on the Green to Manhattan Center
Ballrooms"
Stan and his company "The National Greek Network" was recognized by
the City Council of New York City and Mayor of New York City "Rudy
Gulianni" with a resolution in 2001.
Owner of one of the most popular minority owned restaurants in
New York City, Rio's Soul Cafe on 8th ave just one block from
Madison Square Garden from 1997 to 2001
Creator of the National "Soul Steppers" Stepshow Tournament which
became a full feature motion picture produced in 2005 by the Academy
award winning Producers of the movie "Crash" (this years best
picture), they produced this movie with Stan, "Soul Steppers" in
which Stan put the whole production together from start to finish.
An accomplished Martial Artist - 3rd
degree Black belt in Soo Bahk Do and instructor.
A teacher at St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City
Inducted in to Immaculate Conception High
School football and school Hall of Fame in 2003
Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, at C.W. Post
campus of Long Island University.
A proud 32nd Degree
member of St. John's Masonic Lodge, and a Member of the Ancient
Egyptian Arabic Order Noble of the Mystic Shrine (A Shriner) of
Golconda Temple # 24 in Newark NJ
Life member of the prestigious Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
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Leonie Neufville Corriette
President
Neufville Mortgage
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Mortgage / Real Estate
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Ms. Leonie Neufville
President of
Neufville Mortgage - Financial Mortgage Brokers Firm.
This Jamaican native
entrepreneur’s list of achievements includes:
Owning a successful Mortgage
Brokers firm located in Baldwin Long Island.
At the age of
30 a successful business with 2005-06 grosses revenue totaling close
to $2,000,000.00.
A leader in the minority community to the
fullest. Donations to local churches, non-profit organizations, a
gold member of the Saint Jude’s Hospital, the NYAMB, and the BBB;
Leonie has proven herself to be a true pillar to her friends,
family, employees & community.
Most Memorable moment:
Helping her church in putting together a Thanksgiving feast for the
homeless.
Most
Challenging Moment: Being a teenage mother and living up
to the expectations of myself & all the people that depend on me to
constantly do better or be better then what I am. Everyday is a new
Challenge for Leonie Neufville.
Hobbies Include:
Tennis, Traveling,
Reading and interior decorating.
www.neufvillemortgage.com
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James 'Jazz' Goring
Senior Project Director
VP Records Inc.
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Marketing, Music & Entertainment
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My name is James ‘Jazz’ Goring.
I was born to Livingstone & Rise Goring, a diplomat’s son on January
1, 1972. My father was the 1st Counsel General for
Barbados to the
United States.
I
majored in Political Science & minored in Psychology at
Pace
University and
graduated in May 1994. I served as Vice President of the
Political Science honor society, ‘Pi Gamma Mu’ which I was a part of
in my junior & senior years of college.
I’ve worked
for VP Records the largest distributor of Reggae music for 15 years
now.
My greatest achievements include (but are not limited
to):
• Developing
VP Record’s Promotions Department
• Mapped out
marketing, promotions, & artist development strategies for Sean
Paul’s ‘Stage One’ & ‘Dutty Rock’ albums, Beenie Man’s, ‘Many Moods
of Moses’ album, Bounty Killer’s, ‘My Experience’ album, Wayne
Wonder’s, ‘No Holding Back’ album, T.O.K.’s, ‘Unknown Language’
album, and Elephant Man’s, ‘Over Di Wall’ album.
• Assumed Creative/Art Director duties
on all of VP Record’s major product releases (i.e. Reggae Gold
Series).
• I’ve designed & produced many full
length concert DVD’s on very limited budgets.
I’ve produced the
following events:
• Produced & organized all artist’s
album release parties, In-Store appearances, special events and
corporate outings.
• Co-Produced VP Records 20th Anniversary
Concert, MSG 1999 (6,000 attendees)
• Co-Produced Sashi
concert event & week long activities in
Jamaica,
WI 2001/2002 (30,000 attendees).
• Co-Produced Irie
Jamboree Concert 2003/2004 (20,000 attendees)
• Co-Produced VP
Records 25th Anniversary Concert, Radio City Music Hall, NYC 2004
(8,000 attendees)
• Co-Produced VP Records 25th Anniversary Concert, Bay Front
Park, Miami 2004 (30,000 attendees)
I am a very
personable, determined, meticulous, & creative individual. I
am a loner at times because I feel you have to be your best friend
before you can be a friend to anyone else. I’ve been married
to a beautiful young woman named Maggie for 3 years now.
Finally, the words that I live by are ‘Carpe Diem’ and more
recently ‘Carpe Momentum’, (seize the day/seize the moment) because
life is to short & you need to get out there and make things happen!
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Ouigi Q. Theodore
President & Owner
The
Brooklyn Circus Boutique
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Retail / Merchandising
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Quincy Emmanuel Theodore Better known
as Ouigi Q. Theodore to the many
work and share in on his
vision to change inner city kids and how they
are perceived globally.
Haitian descent:
RR2,LLC founded in
1999
President and Owner of RR2,LLC Parent company to:
The Brooklyn Circus Boutique
(www.thebrooklyncircus.blogspot.com)
A men's lifestyle
Boutique
Carrying
local brands and brands from as far as Sweden, Japan, LA, The UK and
Singapore.
The BKC (Men's Clothing, Furnishing, Accessories)
(www.thebkc.com)
The stores private label:
currently sold at some of the finest boutiques in the world.
Thanks
Japan (Men's
clothing)
Initial
distribution:
Tokyo: Shibuya, Dikayama, Harajuku,
Osaka &
Kyoto
Japan
Partner:
Rich Yung,LLC (men's Clothing)
with Platinum artist Fabolous, his
Managers Cheo Green and Kevin Bristol.
(www.richyungsociety.com)
Ramseyracing events/promotions (1995-2003)
The Brooklyn Circus
founded in 2006
Future objective:
Currently working on The Brooklyn Circus
Chicago (April 2007)
The Brooklyn Circus SF (May 2007)
The Brooklyn Circus LA.(June 2007)
The Brooklyn Circus Design Gallery and Library (NYC, LA, JAPAN)
The Brooklyn Circus Franchise
The Brooklyn Circus/ Bergen ST. Skate Team (Aggressive inline
Skate team)
The Brooklyn Circus Street
Cleaning Program (After School Art program)
Education:
Brooklyn Tech HS (93')
Major: Graphic Arts
Stony Brook University (98')
African History & Marketing
Fashion Institute of Technology
Advertising Design-Graphic
design
Activities: Reading,
Snowboarding, Family, People Watching
Ouigi Q. Theodore
The Brooklyn Circus
258 Bergen Street
Brooklyn, New York 11217
Tel: 718.222.9772
Fax: 212.866.6157
Hours: Daily From 1PM-7PM
www.thebrooklyncircus.blogspot.com
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Heather A. Kollar
President & CEO
BlueKnight Greetings
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Retail / Merchandising
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Heather Antoinette Kollar
July 9, 1975 - Born in St. Louis,
Missouri, Heather A. Kollar was raised in New York City, first in
Manhattan and then the South Bronx.
At the tender age of
twelve she was accepted into Prep for Prep, a rigorous preparatory
program that prepares bright underprivileged children in
New York City for the
nation’s finest private schools.
In 1989 Heather entered the
prestigious
Phillips
Exeter
Academy in
New Hampshire where she
spent the next four years of her life.
At Exeter Heather studied under her most
influential professors ~ professors who helped sculpt her
understanding of possibilities and taught the science of learning
and independent thinking. She also participated in several
prestigious internships, including an assignment in the Office of
US Senator Frank Lautenberg in
Washington,
DC and a summer posting
at New York Magazine.
Ms. Kollar attended several colleges and universities, including
Emory, Fordham,
Guilford and the University of Cape
Coast in
Ghana,
West Africa.
Her formal studies were focused in
English and African American History, yet her most useful teachings
were always found in the practical and dynamic relationships between
people.
Upon return
to the United States Heather Kollar’s awareness of the abundance of
American opportunity lead her to explore independent business. Over
the next few years she gained invaluable experience which helped her
build strong sales, marketing, and planning expertise.
In 2002 BlueKnight Greetings was
born. As her first original and wholly owned brainchild, BlueKnight
Greetings (“BKG”) continues to fortify Ms. Kollar as a savvy, solid
and skillful business woman. Started simply to fill an obvious void
for hip, modern and urban greeting cards, BKG has already grown into
the number one source for greetings in New York City and is
progressively establishing relationships to brand itself the world
over.
Ms. Kollar’s future plans for
BlueKnight Greetings include expanding into animation, increasing
the variety of lines the company offers and growing the list of
distributors.
Heather is also committed to reinvesting in youth
education and plans to establish her own non profit organization in
the coming years.
http://www.blueknightgreetings.com
http://www.myspace.com/blueknightgreetings
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Jamillah & David Lamb
President /
Vice-President
Between The Lines Productions
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Theater Productions
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Jamillah Lamb
President
Since founding Between The
Lines Productions, Lamb has steered the company to constant growth
and increasing prominence. Jamillah graduated from
Wesleyan
University with a BA in
Economics and from
Harvard
University with
a Masters in Public Policy, where her Masters Thesis was nominated
for an Outstanding Award.
Jamillah left an
accomplished 10-year career as a Commercial Real Estate Banker to
found her own company. While a Vice President at Citigroup,
she managed a loan portfolio of well over $300MM that was built by
forging strong relationships with premier real estate developers in
New York City. Prior to Citigroup,
Jamillah was a Senior Loan Officer responsible for managing similar
portfolios for lending institutions in
California and
Philadelphia.
Jamillah was widely known not just as a lender but as a problem
solver. She often found a way to structure financing for
difficult projects that involved multiple relationships and layers
of financing.
Her tenacity and ability to adapt to change
earned her both respect and admiration. She was often called
upon to lecture at industry conferences and to conduct training
sessions.
In her rare spare time, she enjoys traveling, the
beach, exercising, and time with her family.
David Lamb
Vice-President
An attorney, David has a unique perspective on performing arts
management. David graduated from
Hunter
College with a
BA in Economics, from NYU with his JD, and from Princeton University
Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs with a
Masters in Public Policy.
After graduating from law
school, David began working as a public finance attorney at a Wall
Street firm. While practicing law, David’s unique
entrepreneurial spirit drove him to form a publishing company
through which he published his first novel, “Do Platanos Go Wit
Collard Greens?”. This novel was widely hailed first for
achieving critical and commercial success as a self-published work,
and second for exploring the oft-ignored subject of relations
between African-Americans and Latinos. In fact, the novel became the
linchpin in a study-guide used by NYC's
Alternative
High School
system.
David has been invited to speak to and has enchanted
crowds at more than 100 colleges and universities across the
country.
David has built on his publishing success by
scripting and producing two plays, both of which have achieved
critical and financial success in the
New York City theater
market and nationally in the college market.
Most of
David’s free time is spent writing, listening to jazz, and enjoying
a good game of chess.
www.platanosandcollardgreens.com
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Deja Mills
President & CEO
One
World Protection Inc |
Security & Enforcement
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Senator John L. Sampson
19th Senate
District
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Politics & Law
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Senator John Sampson (Democrat,
Brooklyn) was elected to the New York State Senate in
1996. He represents the 19th Senatorial District which encompasses
Canarsie, East Flatbush, Parts of Brownsville, Crown Heights, East
New York, portions of Old Mill Basin, Spring Creek Towers, and parts
of Midwood and Kensington.
John Llewllyn Sampson was born on
June 17, 1965, in Bedford Stuyvesant,
Brooklyn, to American and Guyanese parents. At the age
of two, he moved to the Brownsville/East Flatbush section of
Brooklyn with his family, where he grew up. Senator
Sampson was educated in
New York City's Public School System,
and in 1983 he graduated from
Tilden
High School in
Brooklyn. Senator Sampson received
his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1987. While in college,
he was employed as a paralegal for the Corporation Counsel of the
City of
New York.
Following his graduation from
Brooklyn
College,
Senator Sampson worked for Proskauer, Rose, Goetz & Mendelsohn as a
litigation assistant. In 1988, he enrolled at
Albany
Law
School. During
his studies there, he worked with the Department of Environmental
Conservation until his graduation in 1991.
In April 1992,
John was admitted to the New York Bar, at which time he became a
staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of New York, representing
clients in administrative and housing court proceedings. In 1993, he
joined the firm of Alter and Barbaro, Esqs., where he currently
represents clients in Real Estate, Criminal and Election matters.
As an active participant in community affairs, the Senator
has conducted free legal clinics and represented candidates in
election matters before the New York Supreme Court. Senator Sampson
is a member of several political organizations, including the New
Era Community Democratic Club and the New Era PAC.
In
acknowledgment of his many achievements, the Senator has been the
recipient of numerous awards, including: the Humanitarian Award from
the Mid-Bedford Lions; the Outstanding Young American Award; the New
Yorkers Vision Award from the Greater New York Business League; and
the Congressional Legal Service Award from Congressman Edolphus
Towns. The Senator is also a member of the Board of Trustees of
Albany Law School. He is a former member of the Kingsbrook Jewish
Medical Center Board of Trustees, and is currently a member of the
Brooklyn Bar Association and other distinguished legal
organizations.
In addition to his committee assignments,
Senator Sampson is also a member of the Administrative Regulations
Review Commission.
Standing Committee Assignments 2003-04:
Health (Ranking Minority); Administrative Regulatory Review
Commission; Codes; Energy and Telecommunications; Judiciary; Labor;
Racing, Gaming and Wagering; Veterans, Homeland Security and
Military Affairs.
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Jewel Shannon
Owner
Jewel
Shannon Designs Inc
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Fashion |
Born in the Caribbean Island of
Barbados, Jewel Shannon is a designer of distinction whose work is
adding a unique flair to the fashion world. Jewel draws constant
inspiration from growing up in
Barbados;
this is seen in her playfully casual line and her mind provoking
swimwear collection and elegant body sculpting evening gowns. Her
detailed attention to form and function allows her to bring out the
best features in each individual client.
Jewel Shannon's
Designs have been featured in several news periodicals in the
United States
such as the New York Daily News, the New York Times, and Fox 5, as
well as on several television and cable programs. A sponsor of
several pageants and college-affiliated fundraisers, Jewel Shannon
received recognition for her designs at the Harlem Fashion Week
"Tribute to Luther Vandross" Fashion Expo and the Ebony Magazine
"Tribute to African Americans in the Navy" Red carpet affair at the
Apollo Theater hosted by Tommy Hillfiger and Fall 2005
Olympus fashion Week in NYC.
Her unique and exotic couture swimsuit collection has dominated
eight cover of Black Men's Swim Suit Magazine which has tripled in
circulation since she joined their team. Through Black Men Magazine
and Today's Black Woman Magazine, her unique styling ability has
been incorporated into photo shoots with the cast of 106 and Park
and radio personality
Egypt for Power 105. Wendy
Williams of WBLS,
Ashanti,
Allison Hinds, Melyssa Ford are also some of the celebrities styled
by Jewel Shannon. Her designs have also caught the eye of
celebrities and politicians alike; among them, Queen Latifah red
carpet cocktail dresses and Phylicia Rashaad 2003 Oscar gown.
Additionally, Jewel was invited to
showcase her designs at the Annual Benefit Dinner for the
Congressional Black Caucus in
Washington
DC and was also featured at the NBA
All-Stars "Behind the Bench" Fashion Show and benefit dinner
honoring Janet Jackson. Jewel's professional background has also
been incorporated into her design company.
She spent several
years as a Program Manager for a Nonprofit Charitable Organization
where she developed Interfaith and Multicultural programs for
implementation in public and private schools, nationally. Her
management and organizational skills has been an asset to her career
in fashion. As the current Fashion Editor of IB Concepts Magazine,
she understands the need to expose the undiscovered talent in the
industry and the
Caribbean. Her goal is to find the
next top model, talent, fashion designer or fashion industry
beginners and give them the exposure the deserve.;It was not easy
for me as a beginner in the industry 15 years ago, but with my
current position, I can make it a little easier for beginners to get
to the next level.
The moods of Jewel's collections are
feminine, exotic and mysterious. Her Caribbean Jewels Resort wear
collection is uniquely designed for women of privilege who is going
on vacation, on a cruise or world tour. Dangerous after Dark is
created for women who want to be the center of attention, bold,
daring, sexy and mysterious. The ZYNC PLUS Collection is a bold
combination of rich silver fabrics, denim, rhinestones and sequence
closures.
The Jewel Shannon Couture Collection features
Couture evening wear and bridal gowns for the sophisticated woman
with class and style. It is designed to fit the specific taste of
the exclusive client. With unique detail, this collection is created
with a difference using a variety of beautiful and rare fabrics. "My
collection is for the woman who is sophisticated, unique, sexy,
smart, confident yet mysterious." As Jewel Shannon continues to
create couture garments for individuals with exceptional fashion
taste, she can be described as 'A Gem in the fashion world and a
designer to be followed in the future
Jewel Shannon Designs
Can Be Seen:
E! Oscar Coverage Joan River -Phylicia Rashaad's
Gown, Fox 5 Good Day New York - Kwanza Special, Hype Hair Magazine,
Heart and Soul Magazine, Jamaican Gleaner, Today's Black Woman
Magazine, Fashion Ledge New York Daily News Caribbeat -Profile of an
Emerging Caribbean Designer, New York Times Fashion Feature, Oxygen
Fitness Magazine Swimsuit Layout, Runway News.com, Savoy- Feature on
the Chairperson DC Chamber of Commerce, Smooth Magazine , Weekend
Vibe TV, Video Music Box, WNBC's Today's Show, Good Day, NY, Daily
News - Carib Beat Fashion Feature, EBET 106 and Park- 2003 Spring
Bling Daytona Beach FL, BET 106 and Park Fashion Layout, BET Big
Tigger Rims 2006 Calendar , Big Tigger Kittens 2006 Calendar, Ebony
Rider Calendar 2004-2005-2006, Exposure Image Group, Focus on Hair
Magazine, For You Bridal Magazine, Floss Magazine, Shacbeau
Magazine- Cover Allison Hinds, CBS - Vintage to Advantage, WBLS
Circle of Sisters Expo, WBLS Bridal Expo, African Sunshine,
Amsterdam News, Barbados Advocate, Black Diaspora, Black Elegance,
Black Men Swim Suit Extra Fashion Stylist, Black Men Swimsuit Extra,
(6 Covers) , Black Men Magazine Spring 2003- Free, AJ, Tiffany,
Egypt , Caribbean Life
http://www.myspace.com/jewelshannon
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Fitzgerald Giddings, Jr.
President / Owner
JRG Fashion Café
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Fashion
Events &
Restaurant
Management |
Young entertainment entrepreneur, J.R.
Giddings has always loved the entertainment industry. Fusing
his love of fashion, a natural skill for staging runway shows that
are the talk of Brooklyn and his affection for cuisine, he has
recently opened the JRG Restaurant, Bar and Fashion Café in the new
downtown Brooklyn.
Guyanese-born,
American-raised Giddings was introduced to the entertainment arena
at an early age. Son of Nina Giddings, educator and Fitzgerald
Giddings, Sr. (Mr. ‘G’ as he was affectionately known), one of the
pioneers of entertainment in
Brooklyn,
NY owned and operated the then popular
Inn on the Park nightclub on
Eastern Parkway. It was in this
arena that J.R. Giddings learned the ropes of operating an
entertainment business.
In 1998 he formed JRG
Entertainment, a company that produces high-energy runway fashion
shows, summer party river cruises and anniversary parties.
Acquiring prime real estate in the very fashionable and eclectic
downtown
Brooklyn area, he began working on his dream of
extending his company to include a dining establishment – a
fashionable place that reflected what he stands for as well as one
that combined two of his passions – fashion and food. Thus, in
2002, the JRG Restaurant, Bar & Fashion Café was born.
The Fashion Café as
it is popularly known is located on
Flatbush Avenue, just over the
Manhattan
Bridge in the diverse
neighborhood of the new Downtown Brooklyn
New York. The café is housed on two
floors with the only Hampton-style rooftop open-air deck in the
area.
The mouth-watering
culinary cuisine at the café is South American and Caribbean and
reflects Giddings Guyanese heritage as well as his passion for
creating new and diverse creations.
Now that the Fashion
Café is closing, Giddings is about to raise the bar as well as
become a part of history! He will be opening a restaurant in
Atlantic Yards, the new home of the Nets Basketball team.
Other future projects
include his summer fashion show ‘Bikini Under the Bridge’ and his
runway fashion show in November entitled “Glance”.
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Ricardo Bentham
President & CEO
Phoenix Business Services
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Financial Planning
Accounting
Taxation |
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Dahved Levy
WBLS 107.5FM Radio Host
MTV Tempo VJ
Owner of Red Bamboo Restaurant & Lounge
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Media
Music Entertainment
Event
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With his trademark catch phrase, "Dahved
Levy, rockin' you! Rockin' you!" a benchmark in
Caribbean radio, Dahved is a trailblazer and innovator
in the field of broadcast media. He was the first person to host a
Caribbean focused show on mainstream radio in
New York. In just four
months, his show skyrocketed to the No. 1 program in its time slot.
The show's success led to numerous other radio gigs and he soon
became the first announcer/DJ to be on three separate radio stations
simultaneously in the competitive
New York market.
Possessing an
easy charm, quick wit, distinctive voice, and an unabashed
preference for the controversial, Dahved skillfully combines talk,
humor, newsworthy events, celebrity interviews and music without
missing a beat. Risqu? yet informative, he effortlessly captures a
wide audience because of his strong knowledge of reggae, soca and
the music scene in general. Born in
Barbados and raised in
London,
England, this
"Original Rude Bwoy" keeps
New York City rockin'
with his untamed bravado and passion for music and culture.
During the course of his career, Dahved has interviewed numerous
world leaders, business executives, sports figures and entertainers.
Some key international figures include Winnie and Nelson Mandela,
former chairman of Air Jamaica Gordon "Butch" Stewart, and numerous
Caribbean leaders like P. J. Patterson (Jamaica's Prime Minister),
Owen Arthur (Barbados' Prime Minister) and former Haitian President
Jean Bertrand Aristide. He's also had the pleasure of having
dialogues with the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Bill Cosby,
Donald Trump, Johnnie Cochran, O.J. Simpson, Minister Louis
Farrakhan, Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Betty Shabazz, Mike Tyson, Spike
Lee, The Fugees, Sean Paul, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, and Jennifer
Lopez, among many others. Due to his groundbreaking interviews,
Dahved has received numerous awards, including the Radio Award of
Merit from the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ).
A "radio personality without borders," Dahved frequently
leaves the comforts of his
New York studio to
experience the different cultures of which he speaks. His travels
have brought him to
South Africa,
Nigeria,
Ghana,
Senegal,
Egypt,
Brazil, and the
Caribbean. With his new post at
Tempo, Dahved expands his legacy even further and sets the litmus
test for anyone wishing to embark on a career in broadcast media.
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Donnell Rawling
Actor/Comedian
Morning Show Host Power 105.1FM
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Acting, Comedy & Music Entertainment
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Donnell Rawlings is an overnight
success a decade in the making. You’ve seen him on Comedy Central’s
award winning and critically celebrated Chappelle’s Show as ‘Ashy
Larry’, the 70’s jheri curled ‘Beautiful’, and numerous other
characters he’s played. Donnell is the franchise player Dave
Chappelle and Neal Brennan wanted as a writer and prime time player
on their team. Since Dave Chappelle had business to take care of in
Africa, Donnell was asked to step
into the huge shoes Dave left behind, and host the Lost Episodes.
“Hilarious” is what Linda Stasi of The New York Post calls Donnell’s
performance as host.
His unique brand of observational humor
has earned Donnell co-hosting duties On Power 105’s (NY’s #1 Hip Hop
and R&B radio station) morning show “Egypt and Ashy in the Morning”,
each morning from 6-10am. A self-proclaimed work-a-holic, Donnell is
doing this while touring heavily with his stand up dates, guest
hosting various shows on BET, and completing 3 films in the past
year alone.
Donnell has performed his intelligently bold
stand-up throughout the
U.S., Europe, and the
Caribbean. He has appeared on
both award winning Law & Order series Special Victims Unit (SVU) and
Criminal Intent (CI). Donnell has also appeared in Third Watch
on CBS, and the Emmy award winning HBO Special: The Corner.
Last season, he was featured on HBO’s critically acclaimed series
The Wire.
Growing up, this
Washington,
D.C. native used humor
as a means of persuasion with the ladies and whipped out his wicked
wit as a weapon of mass destruction in verbal battle. While in
the Air Force Donnell’s wordplay shot down more military personnel
than any G.I. issued arms as he traveled the world.
When
Donnell returned to the States and settled into civilian life he
decided to check out the local comedy scene in D.C. He quickly
became the “official heckler” as he ate comedians alive from the
audience. One day a local comedian challenged Donnell to bring
his act to the stage. Six months later Donnell was performing
on HBO’s Def Comedy
Jam.
That was the jump off
that has led to other opportunities for Donnell. From his
weekly guest appearance on
New York’s Hot 97
Morning Show, to Donnell’s role in the blockbuster Spider-Man II and
his status as resident “Funny Guy” on the Ricki Lake Show.
Donnell keeps his humor relevant and edgy, and his peers have
noticed his talent and potential. Neal Brennan, co-executive
producer and co-head writer of Chappelle’s Show: “Whenever we put
Donnell in the game he’s going to hit a double or a home run.”
Jamie Foxx says “That guy is a beast!” Wayne Brady commented
that Donnell provides “amazing work on the show” and Dave Chappelle
feels that “Donnell brings so much to the table...this very funny
guy makes it look so natural and easy.
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