Kamau and Associates. Since 2003 - The World's 1st Blog for Black & Minority Business
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Black Investment Firm Opens New York Office
Established Team of Seven Veteran Capital Markets Professionals Hired in New YorkCleveland, OH (BlackNews.com) - SBK-Brooks Investment Corp., a leading African-American owned investment banking and institutional brokerage firm, today announced that it has opened an office in New York City as part of its strategic plan to expand existing capital markets operations.
The company also announced that it has hired seven veteran professionals who previously led the capital markets arm of Ormes Capital Markets, Inc. in New York. The seven new hires include six veteran traders with an average of more than 15 years of sales, trading and underwriting experience with the nation's top firms, such as Morgan Stanley and UBS.
"Creating a significant presence in New York is a milestone in the execution of our corporate strategic plan," said Eric Small, president and chief executive officer of SBK-Brooks. "The addition of these seven experienced capital markets professionals allows us to hit the ground running in the New York market, and their considerable depth and capacity will complement our growing national client base with very little overlap on account coverage."
"This announcement underscores SBK-Brooks commitment to growing its capital markets division that began with the 2004 hire of Paul Gabriel as managing director of capital markets," Small said. Mr. Gabriel is a former capital markets manger for NatCity Investments and Commerce Bank in Kansas, Mo.
The New York team will utilize its existing expertise in corporate debt and equity syndicate underwriting and institutional debt and equity brokerage to expand SBK-Brooks existing corporate finance practice and complement its strong municipal finance practice.
SBK-Brooks municipal investment banking division was recently ranked the No. 1 co-manager of Ohio municipal debt for 2004 by Securities Data, a division of Thompson Financial. The firm ranked 33rd nationally in the same survey.
BET, GENERAL MOTORS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH BY HONORING TODAY'S HISTORY MAKERS IN THE MAKING
2005 Honorees Include NFL Star, Police Chief, Best-Selling Authors, AIDS Activist and PhilanthropistWashington, DC (BlackNews.com) - BET, along with General Motors (GM), will celebrate Black History Month throughout February by recognizing and honoring History Makers in The Making; contemporary African-American leaders who have made a significant contribution to enrich or better the lives of other African Americans and their communities. The honorees will be featured on the BET network and BET.com website during the entire month. The program will culminate with a private awards ceremony in Detroit on February 28.
"As a leading entity within the African-American community for 25 years, BET is committed to giving back to and serving its core audience. We commend those individuals who support the community by giving so much of themselves to help others," said Louis Carr, BET President of Broadcast Media Sales.
"African Americans have always played a significant role in GM's success, whether as customers, employees, dealers or suppliers," said Charles Carridine, Director of African-American Sales & Marketing for GM. "History Makers in the Making provides a great platform for us to not only honor those making a difference today but also to encourage all of us to make our contribution to Black History."
History Makers in the Making salutes African Americans in the fields of education, medicine, social services, government, entertainment, business and sports. Previous History Makers in The Making honorees include Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, Pastor Apostolic Church of God; Aaron Dworkin, Executive Director of The Sphinx Competition; Dr. Wilbert Jordan, HIV/AIDS medicine; Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor of Detroit; Kevin Liles, President Def Jam/Def Soul Records; Reginald Brass, "My Child Says Daddy"; Karen E. Jackson, "Sisters Network, Inc."; William H. Gray III, United Negro College Fund (UNCF); Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 18th Episcopal District AME Church. This year's honorees have all made significant contributions to the African American community.
2005 HISTORY MAKERS IN THE MAKING HONOREES
Derrick Brooks - NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Founder, Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc.
Derrick Brooks is a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection. Extremely community-minded, Mr. Brooks works hard to make a lasting, positive impression in the lives of children, while also helping others who are in need. He is founder of the Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc., which strives to provide educational opportunities for socio-economically challenged youth.
Ella M. Bully-Cummings, Esq -Chief of Police Detroit, MI
Appointed to the position of Chief of Police on November 3, 2003, Ella M. Bully-Cummings became the first female police chief for the Detroit Police Department in its 138-year history. She is responsible for the 10th largest police department in the nation, consisting of more than 4,700 sworn and civilian employees and an annual budget of over $418 million. In the decisions she has made throughout her stellar career, she has always held issues affecting Detroit citizens - the community that the Police Department serves - in the highest regard.
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson - Author, Professor
Named by Essence magazine as one of the nation's "50 most inspiring African Americans," Dr. Michael Eric Dyson has been dubbed by the Philadelphia Inquirer as "a major American thinker and cultural critic." Dr. Dyson earned a PH.D. from Princeton University in Religion and is currently the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities, and Professor of Religious Studies and Africana Studies, at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Dyson has written ten books in ten years, ranging from works on cultural criticism, race theory, religious thought, philosophical reflection and gender, and sexual studies. Dyson is also an ordained Baptist minister, radio commentator for NPR's Tavis Smiley Show, contributing writer for Philadelphia Magazine, and frequent guest on the nation's leading cultural and political television shows.
Roderick D. Gillum - Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, General Motors Foundation
Roderick D. Gillum is responsible for global corporate social responsibility initiatives, which include community relations, philanthropy, business ethics, and diversity management within the corporation. In addition, Gillum is chairman of Motor Enterprises Incorporated, a subsidiary of General Motors, specializing in providing capital for GM minority suppliers. Gillum was elected by his peers and serves as a fellow in the American Bar Association's College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. And serves on the board of Holcim, Inc. where he chairs its Audit Committee. His other board memberships include: National Urban League: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; National Council of LaRaza; Hispanic Association Corporate Responsibility; Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Shorenstein Center; Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History; The Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr., National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.; Detroit Economic Growth Corporation; Michigan Colleges Foundation; and New Detroit.
Iyanla Vanzant - Best-Selling Author, Inspirational Speaker
Iyanla Vanzant is a nationally recognized best-selling author and immensely popular inspirational speaker, devoted to showing others the way to transform their lives. She has written ten books over the past seven years, five of which were New York Times best-sellers and has been hailed as "one of the most dynamic African-American speakers in the country." In addition to her books, she is the Chief Executive Officer of Inner Visions Worldwide, Inc. Spiritual Life Maintenance Center in Silver Spring, MD., where she regularly conducts personal growth classes and workshops for men and women and regularly lectures at various events. Currently, Ms. Vanzant is also a Life Coach on "Starting Over," a daytime syndicated TV show dedicated to helping women start their lives over. As a "Life Coach" she helps them define their goals and outline steps needed to achieve those goals.
Phill Wilson - Founder and Executive Director, Black AIDS Institute
Phill Wilson is Founder and Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute, the only Black HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States. The mission of the Institute is to stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Black communities by mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV/AIDS. The Institute develops and interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view. Mr. Wilson was the co-founder of the National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum and the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention. He has been involved in the founding of a number of other AIDS service organizations and community-based organizations, including the Chris Brownlie Hospice, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the National Minority AIDS Council, the Los Angeles County Gay Men of Color Consortium, and the CAEAR Coalition. The Ford Foundation named him one of twenty Leadership for a Changing World in 2001. Wilson was a member of the US delegation to the 1994 World AIDS Summit in Paris, and has worked extensively on HIV/AIDS policy, research, prevention, and treatment issues in Russia, Latvia, the Ukraine, the UK, Holland, Germany, France, Mexico, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and India.
BET AND BET JAZZ NETWORKS LAUNCH DIVERSE OFFERINGS OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMING DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) - As Black History Month unfolds for 2005 and the country honors the historic contributions of African Americans, both BET and its sister network BET Jazz: The Jazz Channel are delivering a diverse menu of special programming. Both networks have infused their lineups with an enlightening and entertaining mix for a month-long salute that viewers will enjoy.Anchoring BET's Black History Month fare is the annual CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL, back for its fifth year celebrating both the traditional and contemporary art form as sung by some of the biggest names in gospel music along side secular artists with gospel roots. Performers for this spiritual salute include Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, BeBe Winans, Angie Stone, Smokie Norful, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Pastor Shirley Caesar, J. Moss, BET's own Dr. Bobby Jones, The Clark Sisters, Kiki Sheard, Tye Tribbett and others. CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL V premieres on Thursday, February 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
THE COUSIN JEFF CHRONICLES, a new, in-depth quarterly forum and talk show featuring BET's own "Cousin Jeff" Johnson, makes its series debut during Black History Month on Monday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. Quickly earning a reputation as urban America's newest voice of social and political consciousness, Cousin Jeff will engage viewers with his unique ability to stimulate dialogue and examine differing perspectives in an effort to frame and explore social ills. For its debut installment, THE COUSIN JEFF CHRONICLES will address the subject "The Bridge is Over - The Gap Between the Civil Rights and Hip Hop Generations."
Produced by BET Pictures in association with Strange Fruit Films, a new original made-for-television movie BOOK OF LOVE - THE DEFINITIVE REASON WHY MEN ARE DOGS will add some special spice to BET in Black History Month. This "mock-u-mentary" features an all-star ensemble cast and delivers comical insight to a tale of unrequited love and male/female relationships gone bad. Written by Jeffrey W. Byrd and Eric K. George, the film stars Robin Givens (Head of State, Boomerang), Salli Richardson Whitfield (Biker Boyz, Antwone Fisher), Richard T. Jones (Twisted, Judging Amy), Anthony "Treach" Criss (Playas Ball, Jason's Lyric), Mari Morrow (National Security, How To Be A Player) and Eric K. George (NYPD Blue, The Practice). BOOK OF LOVE premieres on Monday, February 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Also highlighting the BET Black History Month slate is a special mini-series event THE JACKSONS: AN AMERICAN DREAM. It all began with a working-class family from Gary, Indiana. But when their extraordinary gift for singing is discovered, the music world is set on fire by some talented youngsters who would become the world famous Jackson 5. This three-part journey through success, trouble and turmoil televises February 21, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
BET Jazz: The 24-Hour Jazz Channel will satisfy a range of musical tastes with its Black History Month sampling of compelling performances from the worlds of jazz and R&B. The special programming includes (all times ET):
SEAL: LIVE FROM THE 2004 BERMUDA MUSIC FESTIVAL - Set against the lush backdrop of Bermuda where the water is blue and the stage sits in the ocean, pop sensation Seal gives a strong performance as he sings hits ranging from an acoustic version of "Kiss From A Rose" to "Don't Cry," and selections from his most recent CD titled Seal IV. Hosted by Maxine Williams. Schedule: February 6, 10 & 17 @ at 8 a.m., 4 p.m., 10 p.m.
THE JAZZ FOUNDATION OF AMERICA PRESENTS "A GREAT NIGHT IN HARLEM" - Go behind the scenes of this annual fundraiser event at New York's famed Apollo Theater. The Jazz Foundation of America, which aids musicians in their later years, pays tribute to the late great Ray Charles. Attendees include Taylor Hackford (director of the Academy Award-nominated film Ray), Angela Workman (an original Raylette), The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Orchestra directed by Arturo O'Farrill, Brian Blade, Sweet Georgia Brown, a taped statement by Quincy Jones, actor Danny Aiello and many others. Hosted by actor Hill Harper (CSI: NY). Schedule: February 8 @ 12 p.m., 8 p.m., 12 a.m.; February 13 @ 12 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m.; February 22 @ 12 p.m. 8 p.m., 12 a.m.; February 27 @ 12 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m.
ANGIE STONE: THE STONE LOVE TOUR - Angie Stone takes viewers on a soulful journey as she sings hit after hit from her Stone Love CD such as "I Wanna Thank Ya" and "Stay For A While"(duet with Anthony Hamilton), as well as her hit single "Brotha" from her previous album, Mahogany Soul. This concert showcases why Angie Stone will be one of the long-lasting R&B divas of our time. Schedule: February 13, 16 & 21 @ 8 a.m., 4 p.m., 10 p.m.
ANTHONY HAMILTON: "COMIN' FROM WHERE I'M FROM" - Anthony Hamilton gives a rousing performance from his tour stop in Atlanta based on his CD Comin' From Where I'm From. Songs include the 2004 hit "Charlene", "Cornbread Fish & Collard Greens" and the soul stirring "Float." He gives his all during this live performance and viewers definitely come away as fans of his engaging style. Schedule: February 20, 24 @ 8 a.m., 4 p.m., 10 p.m.; & February 27 @ 1 p.m., 6 p.m., 12 a.m.
