I am an experienced professional with a background of over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience in magazine publishing, writing, editorial management and content development. Rare among those with a journalism background, I also have experience in marketing, advertising, promotions, public relations special events and fundraising.

I am most notably known in Atlanta as the former editor of the Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, a position I held for 3 ½ years. While there, I was responsible for the overall editorial content and production of the magazine and its Internet edition. Under my direction, the publication successfully made the migration from a bi-weekly, tabloid-style newspaper to a full-color, glossy, monthly magazine. I also reshaped the publication’s editorial focus to concentrate on business, careers, technology and wealth building and established a presence for the magazine on over 600 newsstands throughout the southeast.

From 1996 to 1997 I worked as a features writer and weekly general columnist for the Pensacola News Journal in Pensacola, Florida. During my tenure, I consistently wrote seven to ten features each week covering varied subjects such as restaurants, the local culinary school, health and fitness and local personalities. I continued writing my popular weekly column for two years after leaving the paper.

From 1987 to 1994, I was founder and publisher of Urban Business Magazine in Tampa, Florida. The bimonthly magazine targeted the area’s Black professional and entrepreneur with a business and career focus. During the magazine’s lifetime, I also periodically served as editor, and at one time or another, I served in all departments of the publication including circulation, production and advertising sales. I also founded the 4-1-1 Events and Entertainment News in Tampa, and served as editor and publisher of the biweekly newspaper. Most recently, in 2003, I published The Association Book Resource Guide, a publication highlighting the activities and success of Atlanta’s Black professional, business, community and social organizations.

Included in my entrepreneurial adventures, I’ve also been a freelance business writer whose articles have appeared in Black Enterprise magazine, Upscale magazine, Atlanta Magazine, Climate magazine, The Atlanta Tribune, Pensacola magazine, Creative Loafing, and the Pensacola News Journal. I’ve also been a radio and TV host and producer, public speaker and workshop producer. With each of these endeavors, my focus has been on delivering high-quality, empowering content.

Those years of writing about and reporting on small business, as well as being an entrepreneur myself for all but about 4 years since 1988, has given me great insight to entrepreneurship, micro business ownership and all of the challenges that come with it. I now use my accumulated knowledge and experience to consult, coach and train business owners on micro-business strategies and publishing, print and electronic content development.

Over the years I’ve also developed professional speaking skills in my roles as entrepreneur and magazine editor. In both roles, I served as the spokesperson and public face for my companies, a role I relished. Using those skills and acquired knowledge about the speaking industry, I founded Pro Speakers Bureau in 2003 to represent a nationwide consortium of speakers, trainers, consultants, coaches and facilitators. Since its inception, we have been innovative at providing speaker training and delivery opportunities as the founder of GreatSpeakersClub.com, TakeATeleclass.com and Teleclass-University.com.

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