What do you get when you mix hard work, preparation, and strong faith together? The result is Keshia Walker, a Florida A&M University alum with a BS and Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. This SBI Super Star completed her internship experiences at Procter & Gamble and Amoco Oil Company. Keshia had a wealth of “insights” to share when she sat down to speak to the readers of F.A.M.E.

What is your company and what do you do?

Insights is a marketing and promotions company. We specialize in sports, corporate, and promotions or programs that target women. Those are our three main areas of focus. We do everything from special events to product launches, foundation management, and corporate partnerships with our over 40+ athletes and clients. We work with organizations like Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Football League (NFL). We also create and leverage opportunities for women through national organizations, grants, and opportunities or synergies that may exist and make sense.

When did you have the idea to start your company AND what made you decide to move on it?

I’ve run my own business since I worked at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio. The opportunity presented itself and I prayed over it. I asked God to continue to bless and lead me and decided to move forward with owning Insights full-time while I was at Coca-Cola. I kept seeing and working on opportunities in the ethnic marketing segments and I’ve always had a love for sports. So when the opportunity presented itself, where I could walk away from Corporate America and start doing some of the same projects and responsibilities for myself, I jumped at it! I knew I would be able to work with clients and help them create ideas and programs that would allow them to reach their consumer segments.

What makes you different from others (from a business and personal perspective)?

From a company perspective I’m one of the few African American, women-owned businesses in this particular industry/area of expertise; where both sports and corporate meet and exist. Secondly, the brand background and leadership experience I possess from spending nine years in brand management, before I started Insights, has continued to be invaluable. The third and most important thing is I’ve got an excellent team of market managers in 27 markets around the United States. These talented individuals help to continue to make our brand and our clients successful in the markets where they’re trying to reach consumers, boost sales, and increase awareness of their brands. Whether it’s brands for a single party/celebrity or product brands for a corporation.

What keeps you going?

The constant change. This business, especially as an entrepreneur, is ever changing. There are always both good and bad challenges in this industry/ competitive set. I enjoy and thrive on competition and the opportunities to prove, meet, and exceed our client’s expectations.

Some people believe one must have a lot of investors, capital, and resources to start and maintain a successful business. What would you recommend entrepreneurs start off with?

I would definitely recommend to anyone who’s thinking about or starting his or her own business to set aside a minimum of six months of capital/ salary. A lot of companies take anywhere from 90 to 120 days or longer to pay their vendors and suppliers. So you definitely need some invested capital. The checks and money might not come in as quickly as you hope they would, which might pose a problem when you don’t have that guaranteed bi-weekly or monthly compensation you might’ve been making when you were working full-time in a different industry or segment.

You know you’re successful when…

you wake up in the morning and you go to bed each night with a smile on your face. You feel like you’ve accomplished something. That you’ve made a difference in the people and the lives you’ve come into contact with.

How do you help others?

I’ve been and continue to be a mentor both from a youth perspective as well as for other entrepreneurs that are coming into the business/in the business. I’ve provided guidance and direction to a lot of people who’ve had the opportunity to work with me. I’ve always recommended and pushed that they go out, start their own businesses, and find their own niche and opportunities in the world. So I still talk to dozens of former employees as well as individuals who contact me about information or advice about what they should or should not be doing. I’ve been happy to be able to provide that resource over the years.

What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made?

Deciding to do both sports and corporate instead of just staying in the Corporate arena. After 9/11, when Corporate became really slow, I was able to keep the company afloat and survive through my sports clients. The sports industry tends to be recession proof (for the most part) with the exception of this NFL lockout and the pending NBA lockout. However, outside of those situations the sports industry seems to continue to always be lucrative, maintain the financial ability to be successful, and provide income and refuge for the company.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve ever had to learn?

No one is going to give you anything. You’ve got to work hard for it. You won’t always get or win a bid or opportunity based on having the best presentation. So it’s definitely an industry that’s based on relationships! It’s all about who you know and leveraging those relationships to continue to be successful.

Name a person (or two) who’s a model of success and why?

Mrs. Johnson (Bob Johnson’s former wife) and Magic Johnson are true models of success. They’ve defeated the odds despite the roles people tried to put them in. They also continue to give back to their communities while simultaneously building business empires.

Insights’ next big project is a new brand product called Gold Peak Tea.  The firm will be launching the brewed iced tea in select markets around the country. The bottled tea is in the ready to drink category. To learn more about Keshia Walker and her team of change agents, visit http://www.insights-mpc.com/ or Insights Marketing on Facebook.

Bat Phone Freestyle is the 1st in a series from A Fly Guy’s called Video Verses where he does short freestyles of whatever known or unknown tracks pops into his mind.

A Fly Guy™ – Bat Phone Freestlye from anthony anderson on Vimeo.

[This article was originally posted on The FAMUAN Online on April 8th, 2011. For the entire article, click here.]

Update: Watch “Wonderland” on the Sprite Refreshing Films site here, and vote each day until April 22nd, 2011 by texting “ATL” to 777483. If the movie wins, it gets entered into a major film festival.

“Wonderland” is one project on a quickly growing list for Montrel Miller, a business economics graduate of Florida A&M. Other works include the Adult Swim commercial for the movie “Takers” and a supporting role in “Unconditional,” starring Michael Ealy, which will be in theaters this summer.

“Wonderland” will be a featured film in The Sprite Refreshing Films contest. The contest features films made by young talent that Sprite selected from around the country. The contestants then make a movie in six different U.S. cities: Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami. For each group, Sprite arranged for a celebrity actor to star in the movies. Natasha Bedingfield will be starring in “Wonderland.”

To read the entire article, click here.

Montrel is also featured in the latest Georgia Lottery TV and radio commercials.

Tallahassee’s 1st Fashion Week will occur during the week of April 18-22, with fashion based events and week closing runway at the Leon County Civic Center beginning at 7:30pm, hosted by The Good News Show anchor and Ms. Capital City USA, Kristen Ledlow.

Tallahassee Fashion Week (TFW) is a partnership of fashion professionals utilizing the influence of fashion, entertainment and culture to promote global diversity, increase economic development in Tallahassee, providing a platform for designer merchandising and modeling opportunities.

The week begins with a Fashion Industry Panel featuring Marsha Doll (model agent), Randi Buchanan (makeup artist), Kelly Currier (nutrition), LaShunda White (fashion stylist) and other local aesthetic professionals to discuss the current trends, tips and staples in all things fashion. “We want to add to the fashion scene and growing metropolitan feel of Tallahassee,” states MeShun Vann, creator of TFW. “I want to extend opportunities for experience to the upcoming creative innovators.”

The runway will be only one night this year, but it will be spectacular – Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), BCBG Max Azria, Route 66, Bella Donna and more will be featured at the inaugural show. The models are students from Florida A&M University, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College. “We aim for TFW to be the F.A.C.E. of Tallahassee – fashion, arts, cultural diversity and entertainment. We are overjoyed to make this presentation to the city” states Vann.

Monetary contributions will be made to The Council of Culture and Arts (COCA) and The Makeva Harold Foundation.

MeTeVa Inc is a licensed FL based event production company that has specialized in event co-production, planning, hair/makeup services and creative consultation since 2005. They have worked with ABC27 WTXL, Ashley Stewart, HauteLanta Fashion Week, Atlanta International Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Fashion Tallahassee, Black Enterprise Business Report, Macys, Elcee Productions, Essence Magazine, FAMU Cheerleaders, FSU Girls Basketball Team, Inhouse Fotografie & Design, KAS Collection, NYC Wicked Fashion, WPB LeChic Couture, NABFEME Celebrity Mother’s Suite, and Zulema of Project Runway .

[This article was originally written by Chantell Black for Journey Magazine. It can be read in its entirety here.]

Cheers. Screams. Flashing lights. It was August 2010, and The Strikers All Stars were minutes away from performing on NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent” . The show averages over 15 million viewers per week and receives more widespread attention in comparison to MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew,” on which the Strikers All Stars debuted as a group in early 2009. On the way to the dressing room, the contestants passed the VIP waiting area where friends and family were seated. When the Strikers All Stars saw the handmade signs designed for them by their friends and significant others, expressions of appreciation and encouragement shone on their faces. They were ready to perform and show the world what they had been building since the Strikers All Stars were created from the original Strikers dance organization at Florida A&M University almost two years before. When it was their time to shine, The Strikers All Stars hit the competition stage and brought their energy and best dance moves to impress the judges Howie Mandel, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne. But it wasn’t enough to advance to the next round. Despite the harsh criticism from the judges, member Brandon Mitchell had an optimistic outlook on their elimination.

To read the entire article, log onto the Journey Magazine site here.

The cover of Pass the Blessing describes the author as “the faith warrior.” And after hearing about Delleon McGlone’s (Public Relations ’03) triumphant victory over his personal demons, I understand why.

The story begins about 2 years ago.  McGlone, a loving husband and father, was working as a teacher in Tampa, Florida, when a new principal came in and eliminated McGlone’s job.  He had some money saved, so he was still able to help support his family.  But after months of job searching with no luck, and a dwindling bank account, he sank into a deep depression.

“I felt like less than a man,” he said.  “I started to think my wife would be better off starting without me.”

So when he was home alone, he pulled out his pistol and plotted ways to take his own life.

“I was in such a deep depression, I knew [my family] would be sad.  But I told myself they would get over it.”

One day, as McGlone sat, contemplating when and where to end it all, his wife came home early.  When he saw her, the facade of happiness he’d been wearing fell off, and he broke down, bawling. Through his tears, he told her everything.  And when he was done talking, she offered one solution; a solution he admits he didn’t want to hear. Prayer.

“I wasn’t even in the right space to pray.  I didn’t want to pray,” said McGlone.  “But how do you turn your back on God?”

So they started to pray.  And although his situation remained the same, over time, McGlone’s perspective started to change.

“It was either stay depressed or look for the opposite.”

To encourage himself, McGlone started writing down every positive thought that came into his head. “Start your day with renewed faith and a renewed vision.”  ”Limits…have none.”  ”Never give up on your dreams unless you would rather live a nightmare.”

The writings “were therapeutic.”  With each word, he started to come out of his depression.  100 affirmations later, he felt compelled to compile his thoughts into a book to inspire others:  Pass the Blessing: Inspirational Quotes of Service and Encouragement.

He says the book is for “anybody who’s going through something, or anyone who just wants to smile.”

I believe God is smiling on McGlone right now.  God took McGlone’s suicidal thoughts and used them to give birth to a new man, a “faith warrior,” who is proof that while the battle may be difficult, with faith, you will win the war.

If you want to contact McGlone, send an email to Dbmcglone@gmail.com.  You can also click here, or here, to reach him on Twitter.

Pass the Blessing: Inspirational Quotes of Service and Encouragement is available on Amazon.com.

If you or someone you know is depressed or having thoughts about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

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.

Note: This is an excerpt from a previous BlackAmericaWeb.com Black History Month article. To read the entire article, use the link provided at the bottom.]

Will Packer and Rob Hardy can claim FAMU as the reason why they’re successful today. The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is not just where they got an education; it’s where the two met as undergraduates.

Although neither planned a career in the film business, Hardy had film aspirations and decided to make a move independently while studying engineering. Packer helped him out, and that was the genesis of Rainforest Films, where the duo combined their respective creative and business skills to form a strong company.

Rainforest has now produced several box office hits – “Stomp the Yard,” “Obsession,” “This Christmas” and “Takers.” (And we’re grateful to them for making three of those movies with the fine and talented Idris Elba.) In the pipeline is a black “Big Chill”-type movie, as well as a biopic on pardoned drug offender Kemba Smith, but up next is their adaptation of the Steve Harvey book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.”

We caught up with Hardy and Packer recently to find out what’s made them so successful.

BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM: You both were engineering majors at FAMU. What led you to become filmmakers?

WILL PACKER: Neither of us wanted to be engineers. Rob had a desire to be a filmmaker since he was in high school. He saw the Spike Lee film, “She’s Gotta Have It;” he saw the Hughes Brothers’ film, “Menace to Society,” and they both affected him and made him want to be a storyteller. My journey was a little bit different. I got to FAMU and majored in engineering because I was always really strong in math and science, and I got a scholarship – and it seemed like a stable way to go, but it was never something that I wanted to do. I’ve always been a risk-taker, and what I really wanted to be was an entrepreneur.

I helped Rob make his first movie. I helped find the financing, helped find the actors, helped him ultimately to get the distribution, and later on, I find out that that’s what a producer does.

To read the entire article, click here.

Some people are born knowing their passion. Elton Anderson (SBI ’05) stumbled upon his.

The commercial/editorial photographer won his first camera while working at Pfizer in 2008. He started taking pictures as a hobby and when complete strangers started sending him messages about how his work inspired them, he knew he’d found his calling. “The fact that they would go out of their way to send message of encouragement was beyond humbling,” he said. “I quit my job a few months later and never looked back.” That was the birth of Elton Anderson Photography.

Anderson is influenced by photographers like Mario Testino, Chris Craymer and Ben Watts. But he also finds inspiration in “people who are just true to themselves. Kanye West embodies this. Crazy or not, he brings an insane level of passion and work ethic to everything he does and he makes no apologies for being who he is.”

When you look at Anderson’s work, you won’t see a lot of smoke and mirrors. “I’m not heavy into photoshopping. I capture pure and honest moments as they occur and find the natural beauty in each one of my subjects.”

Anderson says his life is best defined by “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. “This book taught me that there is no perfect time to pursue your passion. Make it happen now.”

Even when he’s volunteering Anderson has a camera in his hands. While on a trip in Swaziland last year with Project Africa Global, Inc., he immortalized their efforts on film. “The experience was life-changing.”

The shutterbug says you know you’re successful when “you get paid for being yourself.” And that’s exactly what Anderson is doing.

To see Anderson’s amazing portfolio and find out his next big projects, check out http://www.eltonanderson.com and http://www.TheL10blog.com (Coming Soon)

You can also email him at elton[at]eltonanderson.com or send him a message on Twitter.

Rae Oglesby (Broadcast Journalism, ’99 – ’03, Wheatley Hall – Freshman Year) is responsible for interviewing FAME members, and writing articles on them. Here, it is her turn to sit on the hot seat. She can be reached here on Twitter, and here on Facebook.

How do you work for full-time, and what do you do?

I am a writer for “In Session.” Most people know us by our old name, “CourtTV.” As a writer, I basically put words in the anchors’ mouths. Just about everything you hear them say I (and the other 2 writers) wrote. I also produce feature packages about the victims from some of the criminal cases we cover.

What was your “aha” moment? (When did you first have the idea AND decide to move on it)

I’ve wanted to be television journalist since high school. But I didn’t know I wanted to be behind the scenes until I got to FAMU. My J-School professors showed me that the decision-making power is with the producers, writers and other people that you don’t get to see. I saw that first-hand with my first job out of college. I was a news producer in Charleston, working with reporter and anchors who had been in the profession longer than I’d been alive. But I was the one who decided what got on the air.

Who are some of your influences?

It’s going to sound cliche, but my mom is my major influence. She’s shown me through her words and actions that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it.

What makes you different from the others?

That’s a hard question, but I would have to say my drive. I know a lot of people say they’re driven, but their actions don’t always match their words. When I set my mind to do something, I don’t stop until I make it happen.

What keeps you going?

Faith that I’m destined to do great things.

What’s the next big project?

I am currently in the progress of applying to grad school. I have decided to get an MBA. I’m also planning a blog about books. It will include book reviews, interviews with authors and possibly a question guide for book clubs.

What advice would you give to the 18-year old version of yourself?

Don’t take yourself so seriously! Remember to have fun!

Define success.

Success is setting a goal and doing all you can to achieve it. Even if you fail, as long as you learn from it, the attempt was still a success.

How do you help others?

I’m a mentor with the Alliance for Women in Media. I also do lots of other community service. And sometimes, I just listen to people. That helps more than you can imagine.

What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made?,

Starting out in a small market.

Name a person (or two) who’s a model of success and why?

My step-father is a model of success for me. He’s one of the hardest-working entrepreneurs I know. And even though he’s at the top of his game, he continues to strive to be better.

Is there a book, movie, mantra or quotation that gives you a boost about success?

It’s not specific to success, but my mantra is: My journey is my own. I think sometimes we see what other people have accomplished and then look at ourselves to see how we stack up. But I’ve come to realize that everyone’s journey is different, and when we try to get onto someone else’s path, we never reach final destination.