Kamau's Business Blog Page - The World's 1st Black and Minority Business Blog!
Thursday, July 22, 2004
HOMEBUYERS HAVE NEW INTERACTIVE SOURCE FOR TOOLS AND INFORMATION THANKS TO BET.COM AND CENTURY 21
Washington, DC - First-time homebuyers can now begin the journey toward purchasing the home of their dreams with some special assistance from BET Interactive and Century 21 Real Estate Corporation. By joining the new Owning a Home (OAH) Club, would-be homeowners will gain exclusive access to a full menu of tools, information and special services pivotal to making a sound home-buying decision."In an economy that's prone to change and uncertainty, individuals looking to buy a home need every possible advantage in the research, planning and execution of this very important decision," said Michael Pickrum, Chief Operating Officer for BET Interactive. "With the new OAH Club, we will position our flagship BET.com platform as the portal to access a reputable set of companies to help members author this new chapter in their lives."
Those interested in buying a home can now log on to www.BET.com and access a special online membership form to initiate access to the features of the OAH Club, an extension of the BET.com Owning a Home Channel which has existed since 2000. For the OAH Club to provide the most benefits to prospective homeowners, applicants should have a recommended minimum annual household income of $30,000 and be at least 21 years old. However, anyone can join the club. In addition, club members will be eligible for a special promotion where BET.com will provide $10,000 for a new home down payment to one lucky winner.
Century 21 Real Estate Corporation is the main sponsor of BET.com's OAH Club. Among other benefits, registered OAH Club members have access to home affordability and true cost calculators, on-line mortgage applications and numerous other home-buying tools via www.century21.com, the Century 21 Real Estate Corporation's consumer website.
"Knowledge of the home-buying and financing processes is crucial for any first-time homebuyer and through the efforts of BET.com, their Owning a Home Club and channel, the CENTURY 21® System is helping African-Americans to make informed real estate decisions on the path to realizing the dream of homeownership," said John Greenleaf, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Century 21 Real Estate Corporation.
Special features of the OAH Club include:
12-week on-line curriculum and instructional courses on homeownership;
Monthly newsletter tailored to members and the home-buying process;
Access to informational message boards;
Access to on-line chats with real estate and financial experts;
Articles on important topics such as credit, down-payment, real estate agents, non-traditional financing options and the closing process;
African-American home-buying success stories and testimonials;
"Taking the Leap" - a step-by-step video profile of an African-American couple going through the home-buying experience;
"Excuse of the Week" analysis that takes the many excuses for not buying a home and refutes them with facts and information;
Access to financial advisors and loan application channels of Century 21® Mortgage and Nationwide Advantage Mortgage;
Educational homeownership quizzes and polls; and
Membership recognition programs and contests with prizes ranging from a room makeover to gift certificates from home remodeling retailers, courtesy of BET.com.
"We hope the club and the access to the available resources diminishes the mystery and lessens the fear around the home-buying process," said BET's Pickrum. "Homeownership can be an important investment and foundation step toward building individual and family wealth. BET.com, and our other affiliates are thrilled to make these resources available to OAH Club members."
ABOUT BET INTERACTIVE AND BET.COM
BET Interactive's signature offering BET.com is the country's leading on-line media platform for African Americans. Averaging over 5.7 million visitors per month, BET.com has received numerous accolades for its content and community applications including awards from the National Association of Black Journalists, Scripps-Howard Media, Interactive Design magazine and Black Enterprise. BET Interactive is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) subsidiary BET, the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience.
ABOUT CENTURY 21 REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
Century 21 Real Estate Corporation (www.century21.com) is the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization, providing comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for the CENTURY 21 System. The System is comprised of more than 6,600 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in more than 40 countries and territories worldwide. Century 21 Real Estate Corporation is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD). For more information on Cendant's Real Estate Services Division as well as expert commentary on emerging trends in the real estate industry, visit the Cendant Media Resource Center at www.cendant.com/media
BEING BLACK IN AMERICA IS AN ASSET
Las Vegas, NV - At a time when African Americans may be looking for new direction, Keith Lane has some solutions for love and economic security. "Black Relationships-The Truth(revised): A Practical Guide to Prosperous Relationships" (Creative Communication Publications) tells the truth about relationships. This book explores how people can have a more prosperous relationship.Blacks have failed to teach young people growing up how to achieve economic security. Black people were put on this earth to prosper. For Black people to reach their potential, they have to find their true self. Black are not taking advantage of the loans and grants available to minorities. Some Blacks are too complacent and scared of success. In America a person can be a high shool drop out, ex convict and make millions of dollars. Being Black in America is an asset.
R. Kelly has difficulties reading and writing. However, Kelly did not let these skills prevent him from succeeding as a recording artist. He is amazingly talented and blessed. Maya Angelou was mute as a child. Today, she is an educator who has inspired millions of people. A Black male educator in Los Angeles relates, "It's easy to make money. I take advantage of the opportunities and resources available to me."
"Lane is challenging the Black community with a vision that could generate some action," said Jim Robinson a real estate investor in Los Angeles. "Lane is a person with initiative a great wealth of ideas," said Robinson.
"Powerful, funny. This book changed my life."
- Kim Brown, Phoenix
"Keith Lane has had large crowds at his lectures around the country. Keith has so much energy. Dynamic, help has arrived."
- Lisa White, Las Vegas
As one of America's leading authorities on male/female relationships, Keith will reveal:
The Key Ingredients For Love;
How Being Black In America Is An Asset;
What Can Break Us Up and What Can Bring Us Close Together; and
Why Black Men Are Leaving Black Women For White Women
CREDENTIALS: A popular media guest and sought after speaker. Keith Lane is a graduate of Washington State University with a B.S in psychology and has done graduate work in counseling education.
AVAILABILITY: Nationwide via telephone
CONTACT: Keith Lane (702) 265-1062 e-mail relationships60@yahoo.com
Available at BORDERS 1445 W. Sunset Rd. Henderson, NV 89014 (702)433-6222, U.S.$13.00, ISBN 0-9641951-8-6, 114 pages, paperback
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH
Nation's premier organization of most senior African American executives in Fortune 500 companies names leader of newly formed Institute for Leadership Development and Research which will equip business and community leaders to address issues affecting global corporations.Washington, DC - Dennis Dowdell, Jr., a longtime member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), has been appointed Executive Director of the newly created ELC Institute for Leadership Development and Research (ILDR) after a national search. For nearly two (2) decades, the Executive Leadership Council has contributed to the pipeline of African American executives gaining entry and upward mobility in corporate America. They have achieved this by studying the experiences of the nation's senior most African American corporate executives in Fortune 500 companies. Through the creation of the ILDR, a new level of leadership development is emerging, based on the foundation set by ELC's previous efforts. It is only fitting that Dowdell, who has spent his career championing inclusion for African Americans, whether during his tenure with the U.S. Department of Labor, mentoring throughout his stint in the private sector, or during his 20 plus year involvement with the National Urban League Black Executive Exchange Program's (BEEP) alignment with historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) would be selected to fill this post. With Mr. Dowdell's appointment, the Institute is now primed to ensure African American corporate executives are prepared for global leadership roles.
This year represents a full circle of sorts for Dowdell. He successfully consulted on a groundbreaking national study of Diversity Best Practices from the employee perspective for the National Urban League and will moderate a session on diversity at the organization's national conference in Detroit, MI on July 23. Metropolitan Detroit is home to four of the top 10 Black Enterprise 100 companies and some of the largest African American businesses in America. An unwavering supporter of black businesses, Dowdell, a one-time resident of Detroit, is at the forefront of the current black business renaissance through his efforts to organize Behind the Business Tours at this year's NUL conference. These tours will provide access to African American Michigan based businesses that supply products to the world and that have gross annual revenues from $10 million to $750 million.
Mr. Dowdell was formerly the President of the National Association of Black Automotive Suppliers (NABAS), headquartered in Troy, MI. His previous experience includes senior executive leadership positions in human resources with the Henry Ford Health System (a 1996 ELC Corporate Award winner) and the American National Can Company. In 1991, at the time of his role as corporate vice president at Henry Ford Health System, Dowdell was one of only a handful of high-ranking African American executives in the country. This experience inspired him to help bridge the racial gap in senior management through mentoring. He currently mentors inner-city teens and other corporate professionals and leaders, has been featured on television, and authored articles on successful mentoring practices.
During an eight-year stint with the U.S. Department of Labor, he was an attorney focused on legislative and legal issues related to employee benefits for miners, longshoremen and harbor workers, equal pay, age discrimination, OSHA, and numerous other labor statutes. Mr. Dowdell is licensed to practice law in several states and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Since his appointment, he has worked tirelessly, along side, ELC staff and colleagues at BP, founding sponsor and an ELC member company, on developing the Institute's foundation, infrastructure, and alignment with other ELC initiatives. The Institute will utilize action learning and opportunities to participate with and learn from premier business minds, academicians and consultants to aid senior level and high potential executives in achieving breakthrough in enhancing their contributions and promo ability. It will also focus on developing and creating similar types of learning opportunities for non-profit community.
"We are excited about being able to create opportunities for senior and high potential African American executives. Ultimately, the Institute will change the face of global leadership by removing barriers to African American ascension," said Mr. Dowdell.
Two inaugural seminars one for senior African American executives (September 22- 24), the other for high potential mid-level managers (September 22- 24) will be held in Los Angeles, this fall. The seminars, Getting to the Top and Staying There: Strategic Leadership Development and Strengthening the Pipeline: Critical Factors of Successful Leaders, will explore opportunities, issues, and challenges African Americans face in the workplace and leadership arenas. The initial symposia will serve as models for future Institute offerings and pave the way for new research topics.
ELC is the nation's premier organization of most senior African American corporate executives in Fortune 500 companies. For more information about the Executive Leadership Council, visit www.elcinfo.com. For specific questions regarding the ELC Institute for Leadership Development and Research, call Julian Scrivens at 202-298-6344.
