Progressive Greek » Business

McDonald’s promotes Alpha Frater Don Thompson to CEO as Jim Skinner retires

kevin1914 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:29:01 +0000

McDonald’s Corp. CEO Jim Skinner is retiring and will be succeeded by the company’s No. 2 executive, President and Chief Operating Officer Don Thompson.

The Oak Brook-based fast-food company said this evening that Mr. Skinner, 67, will leave the company and the board on June 30 after 41 years. Mr. Thompson, 48, will take the helm on July 1.

“Jim’s stellar leadership has driven unprecedented momentum at McDonald’s,” McDonald’s Chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement. “Jim has brought to the table exceptional knowledge of McDonald’s restaurant operations and a keen sense of business know-how. As we look to the future, the board has every confidence that Don’s strategic leadership and global business insight make him the ideal CEO.”

Mr. McKenna added that Mr. Thompson’s track record in his current post and when he was earlier president of McDonald’s USA “speak to his qualifications to further drive the company’s momentum.”

Credited as one of the players in the company’s 2003 “Plan to Win” turnaround strategy, Mr. Skinner, who also was vice chairman, touted “being better, not just bigger” through remodeled restaurants, longer hours, a broader menu and a global marketing message that highlighted balanced and active lifestyles.

“Doing what’s right for our customers and our business has driven my passion as CEO of McDonald’s,” said Mr. Skinner in a statement. “I’m honored to have served and earned the trust of the board, our shareholders, franchisees, suppliers and the men and women of this great company.”

He added that under Mr. Thompson’s leadership, “I am extremely confident in the future of McDonald’s.”

Mr. Thompson is a 22-year McDonald’s veteran who hired on in 1990 as an electrical engineer. Born in Chicago and raised in Indiana, he moved into operations and management and was president of McDonald’s USA from 2006 to 2010 before moving into his current post. He was widely considered the frontrunner for CEO and has been credited with the success of the company’s McCafe beverage expansion.

“I’m humbled to take the baton as CEO of McDonald’s,” Mr. Thompson said in a statement. “Our management team is strong and will remain focused on the Plan to Win and on our three global priorities—optimizing the menu, modernizing the customer experience and broadening our accessibility to even more customers.”

Mr. Thompson is the first African-American to head McDonald’s, the world’s biggest restaurant company measured by revenue. He also is the only African-American CEO of a public company in Chicago and a new addition to the half dozen in the entire Fortune 500.

Mr. Thompson joined McDonald’s board in January 2011. He also is on the boards of Chicago-based Exelon Corp. and Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is a trustee of his alma mater, Purdue University.

McDonald’s has been roll for almost a decade. Its share price jumped 31 percent in 2011, the most of any of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Index. The stock closed at $96.72 Wednesday, after topping $100 in late December and as recently as March 7.

By market capitalization, McDonald’s is the biggest company in Illinois. By revenue, which rose to $27 billion last year, it is in the Top 10.

The announcement came just weeks before McDonald’s hosts its biannual worldwide franchisee convention.

Earlier this month, McDonald’s said its February sales missed analysts’ targets due to economic woes and Europe’s brutal winter. The company also surprised analysts by warning that the economy could hurt profits. Up till now, the company has been prospered and stolen market share from rivals.

Kappa Frater Winston Myers II, named South DeKalb YMCA Executive Director

kevin1914 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:58:15 +0000

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Winston Myers II, currently director of the South DeKalb YMCA, has been named executive director of the new 57,000 square foot Wade Walker YMCA under construction and slated to open in late summer 2012.

Myers starts his new job April 1.

In a press release announcing his new position, Myers said: “This new Y is an exciting, healthy living collaboration with DeKalb County and will provide many options for families and individuals to get more active and connect with their community. The Wade Walker Park Y will positively impact local residents in many ways.”

“The Y is committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We want to be sure everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has an opportunity to join, play, volunteer, and enrich their lives. Children, teens and adults can get involved in so many ways, like school break camps, teen leadership programs, family nights, events for active older adults, and community volunteer activities,” said Myers, who lives in Conyers with his wife and three children.

According to the release, Myers began his career with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. He went on to work at four different Ys in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as a program director in child care, summer camp, youth sports, and wellness.

Myers has been with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta for 15 years, since 1997, first working at the Covington Family YMCA as the senior program director. He came to the South DeKalb Y in 2000, according to the release.

He was the associate executive director there before moving up to executive director in 2008. Myers is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a graduate of Leadership Newton County, the release said.

According to the release, an on-site, membership office will open in May; more than 200 local residents will be hired for various positions this summer; and through the partnership with DeKalb County, residents in the 30058, 30083, 30087, and 30088 zip codes will be exempt from paying joining fees.

Omega Frater Jeff Tate Named To Savoy Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America

kevin1914 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:47:11 +0000

Jeff Tate, Vice President, Finance, Dow Performance Plastics has been named to Savoy Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America 2012 issue.

Savoy is geared toward African-American business professionals and profiles prominent African-American business leaders. With 100,000 readers per issue, the magazine serves as a premier forum for issues of workplace diversity and lifestyle features. Savoy notes the 2012 Top 100 issue is “one of the most definitive lists of African American achievers in Corporate America produced to date.” The magazine will be available on newsstands March 13, 2012.

In his role at Dow, Tate has responsibility for short- and long-term financial planning as well as accountability for developing and evaluating value-creating business strategies for Dow Performance Plastics, a $16 billion corporate Division of The Dow Chemical Company.

“We could not be more proud of Jeff for being recognized by this prestigious ranking,” said Bill Weideman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Dow Chemical Company. “He is an exemplary team member who consistently drives financial discipline and pushes the team to strive for higher performance. His unique talents and passion for excellence are well-known, and this honor is further proof of his leadership both at Dow as well as in the community.”

In addition to this honor, Tate is also the recipient of the 2010 National Achievement in Industry Award from the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). He serves as the National Co-Chair of the African American Network for Dow, an internal organization that unites and creates a community for the company’s African American employees. Tate earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has held various Finance positions since joining Dow in 1992, including most recently as Finance Director of the Company’s Investor Relations group.

Tate was chosen for this honor from a pool of more than 500 candidates. Each candidate was selected based on criteria such as community influence and past achievements. The selection committee included Savoy’s editorial board, community leaders and representatives from the business and academic sectors.

Pride of Bed-Stuy: Omega Frater Earl G. Graves, Sr.

kevin1914 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:29:29 +0000

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Earl G. Graves is a philanthropist, author, publisher and founder ofBlack Enterprise Magazine.

Earl G. Graves was born on January 9, 1935, in Brooklyn and raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, where he learned hard work and perseverance from his parents, Earl Goodwin and Winnaford Colette Sealy Graves.

Graves attended Morgan State University, where he became a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1958. After writing a letter to the Democratic National Committee, he became a volunteer for the 1964 presidential campaign of Lyndon B. Johnson.

His work with the party gave Graves the opportunity to serve as administrative assistant to newly elected Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1965. Following the assassination of the senator, Graves landed a seat on the advisory board of the Small Business Administration in 1968.

In 1970, he founded Black Enterprise Magazine–a business-service publication targeted to black professionals, executives, entrepreneurs and policy makers in the public and private sector.

It has been profitable since its tenth issue and yearly sales (currently over $53 million) are steadily increasing. BLACK ENTERPRISE has a paid circulation of 475,000 with a readership of more than 4.1 million. It is carried on board most major airlines, and can be found on newsstands nationwide.

In 1972, he was named one of the ten most outstanding minority businessmen in the country by the President of the United States, and received the National Award of Excellence in recognition of his achievements in minority business enterprise.

He is also listed in Who’s Who in America, and in 1974, was named one of Time Magazine’s “200 Future Leaders” of the country.

Graves served as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1980. He attended Airborne and Ranger School and finished his Army Career (in the rank of Captain) as a member to the 19th Special Forces Group, the Green Berets. He is also the recipient of the U.S. Army Commendation Award.

Earl G. Graves also served as Chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola of Washington, D.C., L.P., the largest minority-controlled Pepsi-Cola franchise in the United States. He acquired the $60 million franchise in July of 1990.

The company covers a franchise territory of over 400 square miles including Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland. At year-end 1998, he sold the franchise back to the parent company where he continues to be a significant stockholder and is Chairman of Pepsi’s Customer Advisory and Ethnic Marketing Committee.

In 1997, he authored a book entitled, “How to Succeed in Business Without Being White.” It chronicles the success strategies of America’s premier African-American businessman. Published by HarperBusiness Publications, the book made the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal Business Best Sellers lists.

The book was also selected as a finalist for the 1997 Financial Times/Booz-Allen & Hamilton Global Business Book Award.

In 2002, Graves was named by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful and influential African Americans in corporate America. He also serves on the Board of Selectors of the American Institute for Public Service, the Advisory Council of the Character Education Partnership, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the National Advisory Board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

In addition, Graves is a trustee of Howard University, the Committee for Economic Development, the Special Contributions Fund of the NAACP and the New York Economic Club.

During the span of his business and professional careers, Graves has received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding business leadership and community service, including (but not limited to) the Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Dow Jones & Company Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence in 1992.

In 1999, he received the 84th NAACP Spingarn Medal, the highest achievement award for African Americans and was named one of the Top 100 Business News Luminaries of the Century by TJFR, a publication that covers business journalism.

In 1995, he was named New York City Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, and was also inducted into the National Sales Hall of Fame by the Association of Sales and Marketing Executives.

Graves is a member of the National Black College Hall of Fame and has received honorary degrees from 53 colleges and universities, including his alma mater.

Today, he continues to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Earl G. Graves, Ltd., parent company for the Earl G. Graves Publishing Company, publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine

In his 50-year career span, Graves has become one of the most powerful and influential businessmen in the country and clearly a champion of community service and philanthropy.

Currently resides in Westchester County with his wife, Barbara, of 42 years. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have three married sons, all successful professionals who work in the family’s businesses.

Earl G. Graves, we acknolwedge your lifelong service to your community, and we honor your tireless efforts toward developing leadership in black businesses.

Delta Soror Theresa Kennedy, entrepreneur follows her passion

kevin1914 — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:45:55 +0000

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It’s no secret Theresa Kennedy loves shoes, as she walks in a pair of black patent leather platform stiletto heels as if they’re flip-flops.

It’s also no secret Kennedy loves the business of business, which is why last year the 32-year-old Moss Point native opened her own online shoe boutique called Red August.

“A lot of people ask me about the name. Red is one of my sorority colors and August is my birth month,” said Kennedy, a Delta Sigma Theta alumna who now resides in Jackson.

“I’m following my passion, and my passion is shoes.”

Red August is a full-time affair for Kennedy, a graduate of Alcorn State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, then followed up with a master’s degree in agricultural economics in 2006.

She worked briefly in South Carolina before returning to her home state, working as a credit analyst before pursuing Red August full-time.

Kennedy said her first year of entrepreneurship has had its up and downs, but it’s been well worth it. Among the most valuable lessons learned thus far: Taking heed of others’ advice, but always remembering your vision.

“Don’t be quick to turn away from advice others have,” Kennedy said. “Be open to change.”

She added: “I believe there are a lot of women that want to do what I do, but there’s fear or lack of confidence,” she said. “When you put time, positivity and faith into something you’re passionate about, you get back more than you ever expected.”

Kennedy’s passion also applies to her knack for community involvement. She sits on the board of the YP Alliance, a young professionals’ group that is part of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.

Most recently, Kennedy helped coordinate Parlor Market’s latest pop-up restaurant event, PMSoul at Peaches, in the historic Farish Street District downtown.

The event held last week raised $7,000 for Peaches Restaurant, a half-century-old soul food institution in need of repairs and renovations.

Kennedy credits her giving spirit to her parents, who’ve always encouraged her to be a blessing to others in need.

“My parents are givers as a whole. My mother was always involved in the community through different organizations,” she said.

“My father always told me no one owes me anything. “If I want or expect certain things, I have to work to acheive them.”

Do you know any professional women whose stories are inspiring? Contact Cassandra Mickens at (601) 961-7280 orcmickens@clarionledger.com.

Gwinnett County AKA Chapter Accepts Applications for $1,000 Biz Grants

kevin1914 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:30:09 +0000

$1,000 Economic Success = Partnership Grants Available

Lawrenceville, GA – November 30, 2011, the Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter, along with its non-profit affiliate, The Gwinnett Pearls of Service Foundation, Incorporated, will end the application phase in their second Economic Success = Partnership business grant program.

First awarded at the beginning of 2011, these $1,000 grants were designed to aid newly established businesses owned by African-American women. To stress the importance of building a business within the community, the grants include a membership to the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.

The ESP grants are awarded to two non-traditional entrepreneurs in an effort to help them increase their area of influence and reach their full potential. “In today’s economic climate, women are finding opportunities to cultivate their niche and focus on gaining a piece of the market share,” said Sarah Lewis, Upsilon Alpha Omega Vice President/Program Chairman. “While starting and sustaining a business is no small task, many women are choosing entrepreneurship as a means to securing their future.” Kathy Jackson, president of Upsilon Alpha Omega, added, “We are honored to support these dreams by providing a stipend that could push these new and rising businesses to the next level. We care, and we want them to succeed.”

Applicants must have a business that is three years old or younger, must have a valid business license and must have a business account (awards will not be written to individuals). For-profit and not-for-profit businesses are welcome to apply. Applications for the ESP grant can be downloaded from http://upsilonalphaomega.com/upsilonalphaomega/?page_id=34. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download a description of the award and the application.

The Upsilon Alpha Omega chapter and Gwinnett Pearls of Service Foundation strive to not only empower the nontraditional entrepreneur, but to also make an investment in the economic betterment of Gwinnett .

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Upsilon Alpha Omega, the Gwinnett County Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, has served the County and beyond since 1994 and is nearly 200 members strong. For more information about the chapter, visit www.upsilonalphaomega.com.

The Gwinnett Pearls of Service Foundation, Incorporated is the non-profit 501(c)(3) affiliate of the Upsilon Alpha Omega Chapter. Gwinnett Pearls of Service Foundation was established on October 13, 2005, in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The purpose of the foundation is to focus on education, health, youth development and mentoring. Visit www.gwinnettpearlsofservice.com for more information on the foundation.

Kappa Frater Ryan Gibbs, USC Senior Publishes First Book

kevin1914 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:01:19 +0000

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Most college students are trying to endure the daily challenges and tribulations of higher learning, but Ryan Gibbs is a man with a plan — and his own book.

Gibbs, a senior at USC Aiken double majoring in psychology and communications, wrote a self-help book entitled, “Idle Time.”

Requiring almost a year’s worth of writing and brainstorming and another year to save money for the publication, Gibbs successfully accomplished his dream amid two majors and his membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Inc.

Those who knew Gibbs were rather questionable of him writing and publishing a book as an undergraduate.

After much hard work and perseverance, Gibbs’ book is available on websites such as Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and E-Books.com.

Gibbs has more books lined up, however, the titles and concept will remain a secret until readers catch of glimpse of what he has to offer.

The evolution of Alpha Frater Eddie Maisonet’s Ed The Sports Fan, a new online sports publication to launch 11.11.11

kevin1914 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:57:13 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2011

CONTACT: 213.537.3873 or ed@edthesportsfan.com

The Sports Fan Journal – the evolution of Eddie Maisonet’s Ed The Sports Fan, a new online sports publication to launch 11.11.11

CINCINNATI – Eddie Maisonet and Kenny Masenda of Ed The Sports Fan, have announced their launch date and roster of contributors for the highly anticipated online editorial The Sports Fan Journal. The Sports Fan Journal will focus on generating original, thought-provoking and innovative content to sports fans all across the globe. Maisonet will now serve as the Editor-In-Chief and Masenda as the Senior Editor. Both will contribute to the site as well. The Sports Fan Journal is scheduled to launch on November 11, 2011 that will feature original commentary, exclusive interviews, podcasts and more.

The initial launch of The Sports Fan Journal will also feature the following contributors:

• Phillip Barnett – The California writer is a contributor to ESPN’s Truehoop Network and Ed The Sports Fan.
• Joe Boland – Editor of The House That Glanville Built, a popular Philadelphia-based sports blog and contributor to Ed The Sports Fan
• Bryan Crawford – The Chicago scribe is a contributor to SLAM Magazine and the accompanying website, SLAMonline.com
• Syreeta Hubbard – Editor of The NFL Chick, a popular football blog from a knowledgeable female’s perspective. She’s also the co-founder of Gridiron Gals.
• Joslin Lofton – Founder and editor of Pigskin Loving Lady, which delivers “Hot off the Wire” daily content about the National Football League
• Joe Simmons – Founder and editor of Bull City State Of Mind and works as a color analyst for North Carolina Central University Sports Network. Simmons is a member of the NCCU Hall-of-Fame.
• Justin Tinsley – Tinsley is the Associate Editor at The Smoking Section, with a focus on hard-hitting sports insight and music commentary
• Mark Trible – Trible works as the Sports Editor at FauquierNow.com, an analyst at Inside Hockey, and a co-host at Flyers Corner Radio

“What’s deemed popular in the sports blog genre rely on salacious news, rumors and conjecture. Those things just aren’t important to us and our movement,” said Maisonet. “I care about sports and the culture that surrounds it. There’s nothing more unique than the perspective of the sports fan. It’s irrational, nonsensical, biased and that’s what makes it beautiful. I love sports because it’s the ultimate reality television show. It’s got comedy, horror, action, sci-fi, history. It’s got it all.”

“The Sports Fan Journal will be much more philosophical, as we’ll talk about the lifestyle and the perspective of being a fan and telling stories from that viewpoint. We don’t try to be experts. We’re just fans, and that’s the only perspective we know,” Maisonet said.

About Eddie Maisonet, Kenny Masenda and Ed The Sports Fan

Maisonet is the founder and co-editor of Ed The Sports Fan, a blog that was created in 2008 which focused on Maisonet’s personal musings and rants about any and everything revolving around sports. Maisonet is also a contributor to SLAM Magazine, where in 2010 his self-named basketball blog along with his pieces in print have become a staple for hardcore basketball fans to follow. In 2011, SB Nation brought Maisonet on-board as their South Region News Editor to cover breaking news and updates from the Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Kansas City regions.

Masenda is the co-editor and senior contributor of Ed The Sports Fan. Masenda’s “Soul on Ice” persona was exemplified on ETSF, as his cool demeanor and personable writing style has been an integral part of the success on the site. Masenda has also contributed for other great online publications like SLAM, The Fresh Xpress and Chan-Lo.

Ed The Sports Fan is a two-time winner of the Best Black Sports Blog award and has been cited in numerous online publications including ESPN, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports. In 2009, Maisonet, Kenny Masenda and Brandon Lewis created The Unsportsmanlike Conduct Show, a one-hour weekly podcast with exciting commentary and colorful debates between the three co-hosts now averages 1,000 listens/downloads per show.

Omega Frater George Gamble Launches CoolJuice, All-Natural Juice Alternative

kevin1914 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 07:16:16 +0000

The largest and fastest-growing, employee-owned supermarket chain in the country is now selling CoolJuice in its Atlanta division, marking a milestone for the chilled juice beverage. Atlanta is also the home of co-founder George Gamble, a veteran of the beverage business and is the original home of CoolJuice.

First introduced into Atlanta school systems in 2007, CoolJuice has expanded to include supermarkets across the country and is now available in the chilled beverage section in over 297 Publix stores in the Atlanta division, which includes areas ofGeorgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

Currently, 1,200 schools offer CoolJuice as a healthy beverage selection with school lunches in the greater Atlanta area. CoolJuice is a line of all-natural, 100% juice blends that contain no high-fructose corn syrup, no preservatives or artificial colors or flavors, and no added sugars.

Co-founder and Atlanta resident, George Gamble, is a former PepsiCo executive. He co-founded CoolJuice, with Robert Paladino in 2006 in an effort to help tackle childhood obesity. As a diabetic, Gamble was searching for a healthy alternative to juice drinks that include high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) preservatives and artificial flavors and dyes. As an African American, Gamble was well aware of the associated health risks to his community and wanted to create a solution that would satisfy a personal desire while creating a brand for today’s consumer.

“CoolJuice is committed to providing families with a healthy beverage alternative. We can all get behind the idea of establishing better eating and drinking habits early on to help improve the overall health of our children,” adds Gamble. “The distribution deal with Publix marks a monumental breakthrough for CoolJuice and it’s very special to see CoolJuice on the shelf in the supermarkets I shop in or have shopped in while growing up in Atlanta.”

According to the CDC, during the past 40 years, obesity rates for children age 6 to 11 nearly tripled—from 5% to 14%—and more than tripled for adolescents age 12 to 19—from 5% to 17.1%.

An Omega Psi Phi fraternity member, Gamble is involved in the Atlanta community and is a board member of the West End Medical Center and also serves as a board member of the Atlanta Public Schools Health & Wellness committee. Additionally, he serves as a committee member of the Youth Diabetes Awareness program.

About CoolJuice® Beverage Company: CoolJuice® Beverage Company ( ) was founded in 2006 to help tackle the child obesity epidemic in the U.S.A. CoolJuice produces all natural, 100% juiceblends with vitamins A, C, D and Calcium that contain no high fructose corn syrup, no preservatives or artificial flavors, no added sugars or colors, and are gluten-free. CoolJuice® is available in select markets in the following flavors: Tropical Rhythms, Tropical Blue, Fruit Punch, and Mango Groove.

Marcus Graham Project Launches Two New Shows

kevin1914 — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:23:33 +0000

On June 6 the Marcus Graham Project (MGP) began its 3rd annual iCr8 Summer Boot Camp. Eleven young professionals were selected from across the nation to participate in the boot camp program, forming a real-life integrated marketing communication firm – Bippitus – to train them to become mavericks within the advertising, marketing and media industries. In an effort to introduce fresh perspectives to the media industry the students are documenting the 10-week experience, and sharing it via a live Ustream show entitled The Drum and YouTube web series called The Us.

The members of Bippitus were each given cameras to document their personal journey through the program. The students release their footage as a web series entitled, The Us. New episodes are posted every Monday at 3 p.m. on YouTube, www.youtube.com/bippitus.

In addition to The Us, Bippitus hosts a live web series entitled, The Drum. This is a venue for the members of Bippitus to share their experiences and give book reviews on required readings from the MGP curriculum. The show is interactive and viewers are encouraged to call and tweet in to have their questions answered during the show. The Drum is broadcast live on the Bippitus Ustream page at www.ustream.tv/channel/bippitus-agency-live at 2 p.m. every Friday.

Meet the “Us” in Bippitus:

Every Friday throughout the summer Bippitus will host The Lemonade Stand, a social networking event held at the MGP Dallas headquarters on 1409 S. Lamar St., Suite 1021.

This event will provide the media and public an opportunity to meet this year’s boot camp team.

To arrange an interview, or for more information about Bippitus please contact Marcus Graham Project program director, Lincoln Stephens, by calling 972.897.9985 or by e-mail: Lincoln@marcusgrahamproject.org or visit www.marcusgrahamproject.org.

About Bippitus:

Bippitus is an integrated marketing communication agency specializing in advertising, public relations and retail marketing. It’s composed of 11 young professionals ages 22-29 from across the United States. The students were selected through a rigorous portfolio and video submission process. The agency will function for 10-weeks as an extension of the Marcus Graham Project, under its 2011 iCr8 Summer Boot Camp Program

About The Marcus Graham Project:

The Marcus Graham Project is a Dallas-based nonprofit organization, which consists of a national network of diverse professionals that have purposed themselves in developing the next generation of thought leadership within the advertising, media and marketing industry.

Our mission is to identify, expose, mentor, and train ethnically diverse men and women between the ages of 16 and 34 in all aspects of the media industry, including advertising, entertainment and marketing. The vision of The Marcus Graham Project is to provide long-term access to information, technology, financial and people resources that will strategically develop a viable pool of talent and leadership within the industry.

In the News:

The Marcus Graham Project & John Legend’s The Show Me Campaign Partner to Take Action on Education Reform: http://bit.ly/kDf2Jp