Business Spotlight!

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Spotlight!! Will Packer

Have you ever wondered about the business side of movies? You ever wondered who was behind the hits: Stomp The Yard, This Christmas, Takers, The Gospel, Obsessed? What about the less known DVD/TV movies many of us love: Motives, Trois, Lockdown? Well let me introduce you to Producer Will Packer.

As Co-Founder and Chairman of the Atlanta based production company, Rainforest Films, Packer is responsible for producing and overseeing the company’s studio financed and self-financed films and distribution projects. He co-founded Rainforest Films with his partner Rob Hardy in the summer of 1994 while both were engineering students at Florida A & M University. After graduating magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1996, Packer decided to forego lucrative job offers in the field of engineering to capitalize on his entrepreneurial instincts and his passion for filmmaking. His tenacious and visionary leadership fueled the production and led to the successful independent distribution of the company’s first theatrically released motion picture Trois. Trois grossed $1.2 million dollars and became the fastest million dollar grossing film distributed by African Americans. Based on the company’s success as an independent distributor, Packer brokered a profitable partnership between Rainforest Films and Sony’s Screen Gems to produce and distribute urban films. This partnership also resulted in Packer overseeing production and distribution budgets of numerous urban-themed releases that included titles: Trois: The Escort, Motives and the independent breakout hit film, The Gospel. Source

Packer with his company Rainforest films is currently producing the film Act like a lady and think like a man based on the bestseller relationship book by Steve Harvey. The film is currently being filmed in Los Angeles and is starring Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrance J, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union, Lala Vazquez, and Arielle Kebbel.

I hope He Has Inspired You As Much As He Has Inspired Me!

Spot Light!! Kenneth Chenault

CEO and chairman of American Express, Kenneth Chenault always knew he wanted to be a leader but working in “business was the farthest thing on my mind,” he says. Instead, the Long Island native wanted to pursue a career in politics through law. Attending Bowdoin College during the Civil Rights movement, Chenault acted as a liaison between his school’s African-American student body and the school administration.

“The Civil Rights Movement was in full flourish. There was no way you could stay apart from the issues. I felt that I had to be involved. I felt you could make a major difference in the mainstream without compromising your values.”


After graduating from Harvard, Chenault took the expected path and joined New York corporate law firm, Rogers & Wells. Not long after working there, he decided to take a job at a Boston-based firm where he worked on business contractual deals and consulting. During that time, he was responsible for the research and design of business strategies for Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. His experience at Rogers & Wells taught him all aspects of the business world while acquiring valuable contacts with important business executives. It was during this time that Chenault decided he was more interested in running a corporation than practicing law. In 1981, he was offered a position in the merchandise service division of American Express. Within less than three years, he was the vice president of marketing for that division.


Chenault credits his tremendous work ethnic to his father. “The one quote from my father that stands out is to focus on the things that you can control and the only thing that you can control is your performance.” Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Chenault made a quick climb to upper management at American Express. As the general manager of merchandise services and senior vice-president of American Express Travel-Related Services Company, he increased sales 20 to 25 percent. Since then, he’s held many executive officer positions at Amex including vice chairman, president and COO. By 2001, when then CEO Harvey Golub, who had a close trusting relationship with Chenault, stepped down, it was no surprise when the announcement was made of Chenault as the new CEO for the company.

Chenault has received numerous awards and recognition including the Third Lantern Award for public service in November 2010 as well as being listed by Ebony as one of 50 "living pioneers" in the African-American community. 


“To be successful in any endeavor, you’ve got to have a combination of humanity and a level of confidence; there’s no substitution for confidence,” he says
Source

Spot light! Marvet Britto

I love Marvet Britto and if you are in Business, Brand Management, Marketing or PR she is someone you need to know about.

Marvet Britto is a publicist and brand strategist, she is the president and CEO of the The Britto Agency, a PR and brand strategy firm.

Ms Britto has helped the careers of Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox, Kim Cattrall, Hill Harper and comedian Mike Epps. She was behind Mariah Carey's comeback, as well as aid the careers of female rap icons Salt n Pepa, Eve, and Foxy Brown. She also has a sports division at the Britto Agency that represents basketball players Stephon Marbury and Jermaine O'Neal, AllStar outfielder Gary Sheffield and retired All Pro running back Curtis Martin. I mentioned just some of her many clients that are represented by The Britto Agency.

She also makes appearances on various media outlets including CNN, ABC, NBC and the list goes on.

Last but certainly not least, she is one of my favorite tweeters. She constantly tweets PR jewels and marketing wisdom. Follow her on twitter