Mitch Brooks is a marketing professional who specializes in Lifestyle Marketing, Marketing Analysis, and Project Management. His past professional experiences include FINRA (Formerly NYSE & NASD) and Caterpillar, Inc. By day, he now works with DSI in Washington, DC as Director of Business Development. By night, he runs Urbane Lifestyle & Entertainment Group. Mitch obtained his BS and MBA from Florida A&M University.
Q: What is your company and what do you do?
A: Urbane Lifestyle & Entertainment Group. Currently, we host special events and parties, which operates in four major national markets. You can learn more about my business at www.urbaneworldwide.com, and yes we’re on Facebook and Twitter (@urbaneent).
Q: What was your “aha” moment? (When did you first have the idea AND decide to move on it)
A: My Aha moment was in Tallahassee, FL in 2007. I was in the MBA program at FAMU taking summer classes and anyone that has done this before knows what the hell that’s like. Awful! I spoke with a few friends in Tally that summer that shared similar life goals and lifestyles. I wanted to create a cool scene in the city where we could invite friends and turn the summer into something special… 30 days later Thursdays at Cool Grindz was born. It ran during the summer and for 12 months after that. This was really a personal venture. The concept as a business model came after the big FAMU Homecoming event the following Fall semester.
Q: Tell me about that?
A: Well, I wanted to put together an event and team for FAMU Homecoming 2008. One of my previous partners with Cool Grindz graduated and I felt a loyalty to stop the weekly event once he left. It was an idea we conceptualized together. So I moved on to something new and different…. The FAMU Homecoming event went on to be a huge success. I remember speaking with my partners that night and saying “We could have something here!”… We did 3-4 more events together that Spring to test our business model (and make sure FAMU Homecoming wasn’t luck), and that summer we formed an LLC partnership.
Q: Who are some of your influences and why?
A: Marc Barnes. Jay-Z. Seth Godin. Marc is the best at this social scene and nightlife game in the country, and possibly the world. I work with him in DC and he’s been doing parties for over 25 years now. Everything he does says “greatness” and everyone he works with needs to strive for perfection. It’s inspiring. To work with a man that has not had a sip of an alcoholic beverage in over 20 years, but created an empire built around “drinks,” is amazing to me. It’s a testament to his discipline.
Jay inspires you to aspire. Seth is ahead of his time in the marketing field. I read his blog daily and pick up his books during highly competitive or ‘dry’ periods. He encourages you to think creatively and bring innovation to business and marketing.
Q: What makes you different from the others?
A: I desire to work with people that are smarter than me. I think a lot of people get intimidated by those better or smarter than them on their team. I look to work with those people and inspire them to become great(er) than what they know or believe is possible. It’s a thin line between ungrateful ass hole and raising the bar. I try to walk it.
Also, I view success as a journey and not just a destination. There are plenty of folks that won the lottery or were in the entertainment business with riches– and now they’re broke. I view my success as dependent upon my business acumen, my credibility with contacts, and the knowledge I pick up along the way. These things are all transferable and the value of those relationships is priceless. As Jay said, “Put me anywhere on God’s green earth, I’ll triple my worth.”
Q: What keeps you going?
A: The idea of generational wealth and philanthropy. From my perspective most of society’s problems, in particular African-American communities, stem from a lack of resources, opportunities, and finances.
Q: What’s the next big project?
A: Right now, I’m working on launching our fifth US Market in 2Q 2011: Houston, Texas; and I’m looking to build relationships with corporate and branding partners that complement the lifestyle and vision of our organization. If you have something in mind, please contact me at mbrooks@urbaneworldwide.com
Q: How do you help others?
A: I’m an open resource to anyone. I get phone calls from so many different people at so many different age levels. I offer my thoughts and advice, where appropriate, and sometimes contacts. I’m also a Board of Trustee member for a 50-year old charitable organization in DC: The Black Student Fund. So that’s an outlet in which I religiously give back.
