12-Jul by Black Business News Group

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Publisher’s Message Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

hether you found yourself on the favorable side of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) – “Obamacare” – or against it, one thing is now crystal clear: it is the law of the land. Despite promises of the Republican Party to do its best to dismantle the law, before or certainly after their hoped-for election of presumed nominee Mitt Romney, the rollback of Obamacare is a virtual impossibility given the current legislative landscape. Now that the United States Supreme Court has spoken, upholding the constitutionality of Obamacare’s most controversial tenet making purchase of health insurance mandatory, the discussion on this landmark law will no doubt continue, as the process of its implementation moves forward. Considerable work remains to be done on the state and national levels putting into place mechanisms turning theory into practice, as painlessly and equitably as possible. However,

the pedal to the metal action will really take place on the very local levels in homes and business offices across the nation. Business owners, large and small, are pondering with trepidation exactly how the Affordable Care Act will affect them and their bottom lines. Strategic questions ranging from the significance of insurance exchanges and pay-or-play to tax credits and non-compliance penalties require thoughtful consideration, particularly in these present day times of economic uncertainty. While virtually no one has the time to read through and digest the hundreds of pages that comprise the ACA, at the same time staying out of trouble and within the law can be tricky without clear understanding. Over the coming months, as the dayto-day reality of Obamacare rolls out, there will be opportunities to receive informative products and participate in events that the Black Business News will share in timely fashion, to help readers navigate the challenges of health care’s newest incarnation. Now that the ACA has become codified into

law, it is incumbent upon all responsible members of the business community to do whatever is necessary to impact the greatest number by doing the most good at this seminal moment in history.

The BET Experience at L.A. Live On another note, I am pleased to announce that next year the Black Business Association (BBA) will play an integral role in the revamped 2013 BET Awards, in partnership with Black Entertainment Television and the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). The awards, to be known as “The BET Experience at L.A. Live”, will feature a three-day festival held in downtown Los Angeles, showcasing some of the hottest stars in music and entertainment and broadcasting for the first time from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. The Nokia is currently the home of the American Music Awards (AMAs) and the Video Music Awards (VMAs). With this move, the BET Awards are moving up to the big time and the BBA will be providing support, front and center in pre and post events, concerts, seminars and a free expo. Leading up to this starstudded weekend of June 28, 29, and 30, 2013, the Black Business News will provide timely updates on how you can take part in the exciting new venture linking BET, AEG and the BBA. The more of us who are at the table, the better. So stay tuned and get ready. 

3  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

About the Black Business News… The mission of The Black Business News is to inspire and inform public and private sector industry representatives on the importance of smart small business growth. As a versatile source of socioeconomic development activity, the Black Business News imparts current local, national and international industry trends related to small businesses across the United States of America (USA), detailing greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentors and networks. The goals of the Black Business News include: •

•

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

ASSOCIATE EDITOR La Sandra Stratton

ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR Kim Anthony

increasing the use of business enterprises owned by USA-based blacks, by advocating for greater access to leading finance lenders and successful business managers.

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Belinda Foster

PRODUCTION MANAGER

working to merge resources, values, profits, technology throughout the public and private sectors.

•

balancing major public and private sector contracting methods with positive outcomes of black-owned and operated enterprises.

•

providing an affirmative influence for emerg-ing entrepreneurs sharing innovative design n and creative cultural content that exposes them to the history of black enterprises and excite them to participate in the USA’s future.

•

Black Business News P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 323-291-9334 Fax: 323-298-5064

advocating and promoting on behalf of black-owned businesses by promoting the need for expanding an economic foundation that supports an unfettered and self-sustained urban society with USA job creation and economic opportunity, where blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.

www.blackbusinessnews.net

Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LaSandra Stratton • Dean Jones • Linda Ware

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris • Phallu Morgan

STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg ▪ Jennifer Marie Hamilton

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • Narishima Osei

CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR La Sandra Stratton

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2012 by Black Business News All Rights Reserved. The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.

AWARDS U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

2007 Journalist of the Year Award LA/Minority Business Opportunity Center (LA/MBOC)

2010 Media Firm of the Year 4  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

FEATURES… July 2012

Publisher’s Message

GOVERNMENT… 10 14 19 21

Affordable Care Act Better Decisions for Historic Properties MBDA Breaks Records in Contracts & Capital Broad Public Disrespect for the President on is Display

BUSINESS… 36 HR & New HealthCare Ruling 39 New Health Care Ruling and Your Wallet 41 ASPIRE Channel now on Comcast 44 Mars One: futuristic business opportunities 58-63 Entrepreneurs Section 70 Crowdfunding and your Startup/Growth Business

PUBLIC INTEREST/COMMUNITY…

73 74 75 77

Never Get Sick Again Williams Sisters Make History Let’s Move, Get Moving This Summer UniversityNow, Affordable Online Education For All

INTERNATIONAL…

COLUMNS 65 - Take A Look! 100 - Books to Consider... 104 - Calendar ACTION ALERTS 2 - AEG Supplier Portal SPONSORS 06 - Black Business Association Cover image - Phallu Morgan

George W. Bush Visits Zambia

President Urged to Increase Trade with Africa

How Investors can Win in Africa

92 92 94

US. Commercial Services Wants Your Input

Africom: A Growing Influence in Africa Doing Business In Botswana 2012 Conference in Washington, DC African National Congress Celebrates 100 Years in 2012

5  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

profits, technology and people; •

Promoting development and support of minority business enterprises within the domestic and international economies by encouraging and generating greater access to market opportunities and capital;

•

Providing training for entrepreneurial professional development;

•

Supporting and contributing to the economic base and progress of the African-American community; and

•

Developing coalitions that support our political endeavors to effectively achieve public recognition and political influence for African-American business owners.

Over 40 years of service Founded 1970

About the BBA…

Since 1970, the Black Business Association (BBA), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Los Angeles, has been instrumental in the incubation and development of more than 15,000 African-American businesses. Nationally, we have access and influence with more than 85,000 African-American-owned and women/minority-owned firms via strategic alliances with more than 100 women/minority trade associations in more than 42 states nationwide.

___ Our Mission ___ The Black Business Association’s mission is to advocate and promote the development of African-American owned businesses with the goal of creating a firm economic base that support the self-determination and survival of the African-American and urban community by: •

Identifying and creating financial opportunities for the growth and stability of African-American owned businesses;

•

Being a community voice that advocates for the success of small businesses;

•

Being a conduit for the merging of resources, values,

___ Advocacy ___ The Black Business Association maintains very effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials for the support of African-American business development. Locally, statewide and in Washington, DC, we are constantly aware of pending legislation that might affect our member’s businesses, their growth and even their ability to conduct business. When legislation is being considered that affects our mission, the BBA quickly mobilizes to work with key policy makers to support, defeat or modify the bill and pursue the BBA position. As an organization, we are constantly at the helm, securing innovative means and policies that protect our constituency and their business interests. 

Upcoming 2012 Events October 11, 2012 Procurement Exchange Summit & Luncheon Black Business Association P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA Tel: 323-291-9334 Fax: 323-857-4610

• Call 323-291-9334 for information on sponsorship and participation •

mail@bbala.org www.bbala.org www.facebook.com 7  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

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8  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Government

President Barack Obama responds to the Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Remarks by the President on Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act

ood afternoon. Earlier today, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act -- the name of the health care reform we passed two years ago. In doing so, they’ve reaffirmed a fundamental principle that here in America -- in the wealthiest nation on Earth – no illness or accident should lead to any family’s financial ruin. I know there will be a lot of discussion today about the politics of all this, about who won and who lost. That’s how these things tend to be viewed here in Washington. But that discussion completely misses the point. Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it. And because this law has a direct

impact on so many Americans, I want to take this opportunity to talk about exactly what it means for you. First, if you’re one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance -- this law will only make it more secure and more affordable. Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime limits on the amount of care you receive. They can no longer discriminate against children with preexisting conditions. They can no longer drop your coverage if you get sick. They can no longer jack up your premiums without reason. They are required to provide free preventive care like check-ups and mammograms -- a provision that’s already helped 54 million Americans with private insurance. And by this August, nearly 13 million of you will receive a rebate

from your insurance company because it spent too much on things like administrative costs and CEO bonuses, and not enough on your health care. There’s more. Because of the Affordable Care Act, young adults under the age of 26 are able to stay on their parent’s health care plans -- a provision that’s already helped 6 million young Americans. And because of the Affordable Care Act, seniors receive a discount on their prescription drugs -a discount that’s already saved more than 5 million seniors on Medicare about $600 each. All of this is happening because of the Affordable Care Act. These provisions provide common-sense protections for middle class families, and they enjoy broad popular support. And thanks to today’s decision, all of these see Aﬀordable Health Care on page 11

10  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Solicitor General Donald Verrilli in the Oval Office, after learning of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Affordable ff d bl Care C Act A from page 10

in the Affordable Care Act that people who can afford to buy health insurance should take the responsibility to do so. In fact, this idea has enjoyed support from members of both parties, including the current Republican nominee for President. Still, I know the debate over this law has been divisive. I respect the very real concerns that millions of Americans have shared. And I know a lot of coverage through this health care debate has focused on what it means politically. Well, it should be pretty clear by now that I didn’t do this because it was good politics. I did it because I believed it was good for the country. I did it because I believed it was good for the American people. There’s a framed letter that hangs in my office right now. It was sent to me during the health care debate by a woman named Natoma Canfield. For years and years, Natoma did everything right. She bought health insurance. She paid her premiums on time. But 18 years ago, Natoma was diagnosed with see Aﬀordable Health Care on page 13

11  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Government

benefits and protections will continue for Americans who already have health insurance. Now, if you’re one of the 30 million Americans who don’t yet have health insurance, starting in 2014 this law will offer you an array of quality, affordable, private health insurance plans to choose from. Each state will take the lead in designing their own menu of options, and if states can come up with even better ways of covering more people at the same quality and cost, this law allows them to do that, too. And I’ve asked Congress to help speed up that process, and give states this flexibility in year one. Once states set up these health insurance marketplaces, known as exchanges, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against any American with a preexisting health condition. They won’t be able to charge you more just because you’re a woman. They won’t be able to bill

you into bankruptcy. If you’re sick, you’ll finally have the same chance to get quality, affordable health care as everyone else. And if you can’t afford the premiums, you’ll receive a credit that helps pay for it. Today, the Supreme Court also upheld the principle that people who can afford health insurance should take the responsibility to buy health insurance. This is important for two reasons. First, when uninsured people who can afford coverage get sick, and show up at the emergency room for care, the rest of us end up paying for their care in the form of higher premiums. And second, if you ask insurance companies to cover people with preexisting conditions, but don’t require people who can afford it to buy their own insurance, some folks might wait until they’re sick to buy the care they need -- which would also drive up everybody else’s premiums. That’s why, even though I knew it wouldn’t be politically popular, and resisted the idea when I ran for this office, we ultimately included a provision

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12  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Affordable Care Act from page 11

cancer. And even though she’d been cancer-free for more than a decade, her insurance company kept jacking up her rates, year after year. And despite her desire to keep her coverage -despite her fears that she would get sick again -- she had to surrender her health insurance, and was forced to hang her fortunes on chance. I carried Natoma’s story with me every day of the fight to pass this law. It reminded me of all the Americans, all across the country, who have had to worry not only about getting sick, but about the cost of getting well. Natoma is well today. And because of this law, there are other Americans -- other sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers -- who will not have to hang their fortunes on chance. These are the Americans for whom we passed this law. The highest Court in the land has now spoken. We will continue to implement this law. And we’ll work together to improve on it where we can. But what we won’t do -- what the country can’t afford to do -- is refight the political battles of two years ago, or go back to the way things were. With today’s announcement, it’s time for us to move forward -- to implement and, where necessary, improve on this law. And now is the time to keep our focus on the most urgent challenge of our time: putting people back to work, paying down our debt, and building an economy where people can have confidence that if they work hard, they can get ahead. But today, I’m as confident as ever that when we look back five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, we’ll be better off because we had the courage to pass this law and keep moving forward. Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America.  www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2012/06/28/remarks-presidentsupreme-court-ruling-affordable-care-act

13  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Forum Participants

Government

Hawaii State Park

Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes Action Plan - Better Decisions for Historic Properties

n emerging issue for the national historic preservation community has particular relevance to Indian tribes. That issue is: how do we balance the need for alternative energy and other development with the preservation of traditional cultural landscapes and other large-scale historic places? This challenge is not new to

preservation but the scale of alternative energy development, and associated transmission corridors, poses new and considerable challenges to the preservation of traditional cultural landscapes of importance to Indian tribes. In order for federal agencies to make informed decisions, it is critical to involve tribes as early as possible in planning and before project sites are

selected. In 2009, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) initiated discussions with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations about how to address these issues. Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (the Section 106 process is overseen by the ACHP) any federal undertaking that may adversely affect a historic property on or eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places must consider how to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to historic properties, including cultural landscapes. Unfortunately, these kinds of historic properties have not always been recognized or understood by federal agencies and the preservation community. Recognizing the importance of balancing the growing needs of development, while respecting the rights and traditions of Native peoples, the ACHP launched the Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes Action Plan in November 2011. The plan calls for the ACHP and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to do the following: • Promote the recognition and protection of Native American traditional cultural landscapes both within the federal government and the historic preservation community as well as at the state and local levels; and • Address the challenges of the

14  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

see Historic Properties on page 15

Native American Indian Reservation

Historic Properties from page 14

consideration of Native American traditional cultural landscapes in the Section 106 review process as well as in National Environmental Policy Act reviews. The ACHP has advanced the idea that large scale properties of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations might best be addressed as landscapes. With adoption of the Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes Action Plan, the ACHP outlined specific actions to address the challenges of recognizing and protecting these historic properties through partnerships with other federal agencies, Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, State Historic Preservation Officers, and intertribal organizations. It is the goal of the ACHP to broaden this discussion and raise the visibility of this important issue in the larger historic

preservation community. Partnerships are critical to good decision making and finding the best outcomes for preservation. In one such partnership, ACHP and DOI are addressing the implications of renewable development on historic properties through a joint workgroup on Energy and Historic Preservation It is important that Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations are aware of and help shape the outcome of this initiative. The ACHP staff and

its largely presidentially appointed membership will continue to seek tribal and Native Hawaiian counsel as the initiative advances. Please contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have on this topic. Send comments to landscapes@ achp.gov.  www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/28/ native-american-traditional-culturallandscapes-action-plan-betterdecisions-histo-0

15  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

www.medweek.gov

Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference - 30th Anniversary

he National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference is the Nation’s premier event for minority entrepreneurs and the public and private sectors. The MED Week Conference offers a venue for minority-owned firms to access information, tools and resources to grow their businesses both domestically and internationally. Each year, thousands of minorityowned firms across a variety of industries converge upon Washington, DC to connect with public and private sector buyers, explore avenues for business expansion, and develop thriving partnerships with firms across multiple industry sectors. This is done through networking

events, workshops and issue forums, ms, including: • Business-to-business matchmaking sessions with ith corporate procurement officials and nd capital providers; • Global networking events with th embassy officials from Latin n America, Asia, Africa and the e Middle East; • The MED Week Awards Program m honoring some of the fastestt growing minority-owned firms, entrepreneurs and advocates in the country. Download Awards Brochure (www. medweek.gov/sites/default/files/ AwardsProgram.pdf). 

Date Sept. 25-27, 2012 Venue Omni Shoreham Ho te 2500 Calvert Stree l t NW at Connecticut Ave Washington, DC 20 008 Phone: (202) 234-0 700

17  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net busi bu sine ness ssne news ws.n .net et

How Can Organizations Participate? > Employers > Financial institutions > Non-profits and governments > Educators and Youth Organizations > Military > Media

How Can Individuals Participate? > Assess your savings progress > Join America Saves > Test your savings knowledge > Take action to save more effectively > View savings messages > Read saver stories

What is America Saves Week? About America Saves Week Our Purpose Participating Organizations America Saves Week 2011 America Saves Week 2010 America Saves Week 2009

www.americasavesweek.org

18  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Minority Business Development Agency MBDA Obtains RecordBreaking $4 Billion in Contracts and Capital for Minority-Owned Firms

he U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) experienced recordbreaking performance in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 as detailed in its FY 2011 Annual Performance Report, released today. Despite the serious headwinds the economy is facing, more than 5,780 new jobs were created by minorityowned firms working with MBDA and its network of MBDA Business Centers in FY 2011. Overall, MBDA has helped

minority-owned firms create more than 16,300 new jobs for Americans between FY 2009-FY 2011. The number of new jobs created by minority-owned firms who received services from MBDA between FY 2009-FY 2011 represents an increase of 20 percent over the prior three-year period. And, during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, MBDA aided in securing nearly $11 billion in contracts and capital for

minority-owned firms, including $4 billion in FY11 alone. “From day one, the Obama administration has been focused on getting the American people back to work. Today’s performance report shows that MBDA heeded this call to action by continuing to help minorityowned firms create thousands of jobs in the last year alone,” stated David A. Hinson, MBDA National Director. “MBDA will continue working to reach more minority-owned firms and provide minority-owned firms with MBDA and Commerce tools vital for creating jobs and strengthening the economy.” Under Director Hinson’s leadership, MBDA expanded its footprint of business centers to several new locations over the past couple of years, including: Anchorage, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, and Memphis. Following the redesign of its business center program, the Agency expanded the portfolio of services provided by MBDA Business Centers to include export-readiness, mergers & acquisitions, and alternative financing. National Director Hinson was also the catalyst behind the launch of the Agency’s first specialty business center—the Federal Procurement Center—designed to increase government contracting with minority-owned firms. More details about the MBDA’s performance, including the size and industry of firms assisted, sources of contracts and capital, and state-level data, can be found in the full report on the

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) MBDA, www.mbda.gov, an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, promotes the growth and global competitiveness of the minority business community, making them better equipped to create jobs, impact local economies, and compete successfully in domestic and global marketplaces. With a nationwide network of 40 business centers and a rich portfolio of strategic partners, MBDA assists minority entrepreneurs and business owners with consulting services, contract and financing opportunities, bonding and certification services, building business-to-business alliances and executive training.  www.mbda.gov/pressroom/press-releases/ minority-business-development-agencyobtains-record-breaking-4-billion-contractsand-capital-minority

africanamericans. barackobama.com

19  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Government

David Hinson, National Director, MBDA

Agency’s website at www.mbda.gov/ budget-performance.

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Opinion Column by DeWayne Wickham, USA Today, August 3, 2011

GOP’s Disrespect of President Obama Goes Beyond Debt Fight

hat should be clear to the whole world watching the debt-ceiling battle is that the Republicans are far more intent on taking the president’s scalp than balancing the nation’s books. They had ample opportunities to do the latter during the eight years of George W. Bush. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader with the greatest cunning and sharpest knife, signaled his party’s true purpose last year when he proclaimed: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” It was not to undo the health care legislation Obama signed into law, or to block another debt limit increase. Even then, two years out from the next presidential election, the Alabamaborn senator said the top goal of GOP lawmakers to oust Obama.

It’s personal

President Barack Obama

ATTACKS RUSH LIMBAUGH A PRESIDENT OBAM rican’ • a ‘halfrican Ame action • an ‘affirmative candidate’ ic Negro’ • ‘Barack the Mag Barack e k li , r le it H lf o d A • tate. Obama, ruled by dic save the ’t n a c u o y is t in o p • The defeat country if you don’t Obama. • I hope he fails.

ceilin ceiling fight. He attacked this first Africa African-American president with a pal palpable disrespect not only for Oba Obama personally, but also for his esteemed e office. Fo Following what Senate Majority Lea Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., calle called Cantor’s “childish” display dur during a meeting with Obama, the House majority leader complained that the president com had cut short the meeting ha and stormed out of the room. an “He shoved back and said, “H ‘I’ll see you tomorrow’ and ‘I’l walked out,” Cantor snidely w told reporters— as though to the president needs his th permission to end a White p House gathering. H That encounter might have reminded Obama of the open letter Frederick Douglass, a runaway slave

and abolitionist who became one of this nation’s first black diplomats, wrote to his slave master. It would be “a privilege” to show

Frederick Douglass you “how mankind ought to treat each other,” Douglass told the man who had badly mistreated him. “I am your fellow man, but not your slave.” Douglass’ words might have Disrespecting President Obama on page 23

21 21  J July l 2012 201 0122  Black Bl k Business B News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Opinion

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has been especially relentless in the debt-

CONNEL C M H C IT M R O T A SEN AMA ON PRESIDENT OB t important s o m le g in s e h “t • chieve is thing we want to a a to be for President Obam ent.” a one-term Presid ly the • “This is certain most anti-business e the administration sinc Carter years,”

red reduction debate on the House floor to stop making disparaging remarks dis about Obama. abo T This total lack of res respect is downright co contemptible — if no not unpatriotic. Su Such contempt, I’m convinced, is ro rooted in something o other than political d differences. Today, yyou might not see tthe overt actions o of racist southern

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer publicly chids President Barack Obama upon his arrival at Phoenix airport.

Disrepecting D i i President P id Obama from page 21

prompted another reflection when, during a critical point in the debt negotiations, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, contemptuously waited more than half a day to return a call from the president. Or, Obama might have heard Douglass’ words ringing in his ears after acting House Speaker Steve LaTourette of Ohio had to warn his GOP colleagues during a heated debt-

Rush Limbaugh

governors like Ross Barnett or George Wallace in the 1960s. But the presence of Jim Crow, Jr. — a more subtle form of racism — is there. D o u g l a s s viewed such behavior as “an outrage upon the soul.” In this present case it is the soul of n, our nation, which stilll o struggles to get beyond the awful r i p p l e effects of its haunting history of President Barack Obama with human Vice President Joe Biden

bondage. McConnell, Boehner and Cantor are the vanguard of a political force of a dying era — one that looks more like the nation’s past than its future. Obama is the third president of this millennium, but the first chief executive of the America of new possibilities — a multiracial, multicultural nation whose emergence the old order is working mightily to forestall in its desperate p y  attack on his presidency.

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN “We Are Going To W in This Race!”

23  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Opinion

Racism, if subtle

Senator Mitch McConnel

USDOC Export Regulations Seminar Los Angeles August 8-9, 2012 The Bureau of Industry and Security, in cooperation with the Southern California Regional District Export Council, and the U.S. Commercial Service in Southern California, invites you to attend a workshop on the Export Administration Regulations and Export Management Compliance Program. This program is well suited for those who need a comprehensive understanding of their obligations under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). The workshop will explain: • The scope of the Export Administration Regulations. • How to determine the export licensing requirements for your product. • When you may export without applying for a license. • What an Export Management Compliance Program (“EMCP”) is, and how it can help meet your regulatory responsibilities. • What the Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative is, and how it affects you. Dates/Time: Aug. 8 – 9, 2012 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Registration/Continental Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 am Cost: $450 for both days includes continental breakfast, lunch and training materials. Location: Sheraton Gateway Hotel Los Angeles 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90045 **Registered attendees will be able receive a preferred rate of $119 per night. Preferred rate ends July 24, 2012.

REGISTRATION: www.regonline.com/bis2012la Questions? For more information on the topics covered, please call BIS Western Regional Office at (949) 660-0144 and for arrangement or registration, please call the Irvine U.S. Export Assistance Center at (949) 660-1688. NOTE:The Western Regional Office of the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This course is worth 12 hours of MCLE credit. However 0 hours will apply to legal ethics/law practice management; prevention, detection and treatment of substance abuse and emotional distress; and elimination of bias. Americans with Disabilities Act: If special arrangements are required for a disabled individual to attend any of these programs, please notify the contact person at least one week prior to the program.

25  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Entertainment

Registration and Education

hose three words are the mantra of This is My Vote. They represent the most effective way to fight back against voter suppression and to make your voice heard in November. Over and over again we see the impact lawmakers can have on our lives. By registering to cast your ballot and educating yourself on the requirements for voting, you can have the effect on our country that proponents of these these laws are seeking to prevent. Registering to vote takes only 5 minutes. Head to the This is My Vote site, fill out your application, and mail it in today:

by Linda Ware

f you ever wondered about the power of music and its ability to lure a human being to want to fall in love, you were made sure the first moment you listened closely to “Love And Happiness” with its endearing poetic lyric, “You be good to me, and I’ll be good to you, and we’ll be together”. The incomparable master of romantic love songs, Al Green, is bringing romance to the city of Los Angeles with his upcoming scheduled concert at L.A.’s Greek Theater on July 19, 2012. Celebrated with a lifetime achievement award from the BET AWARDS and an Icon award from BMI, Al Green is heralded as one of the greatest soul singers in American Music with his most treasured classic hits including, “Love and Happiness”, “Let’s Stay Together”, and “I’m still in

love with You”. His remarkable ability to capture the essence of the feeling of falling in love through his poetic lyrics and soulful infusion of emotion sparks the atmosphere with the ambience of love and romance like no other performer can emote. It is no surprise that Rolling Stone Magazine has acknowleged him as one of the “Top 100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. With over 20 million CDs sold in his career, the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inducted him as “ “one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music” in the world. He will be traveling in to Los Angeles for his highly anticipated concert date on his way from San Francisco as he continues his national summer tour across the USA. 

http://action.naacp.org/ voter-registration I know you’ve heard it before but I will keep on saying it: There is strength in numbers. We proved this in Sanford, Florida, and I’ve seen it proven all over the United States in the 100+ campaigns I’ve worked on. I know what can be achieved if our nationwide effort to register voters is successful: Elections will be swung, civil rights and social justice will take their rightful place on the policy agenda, and voter suppression laws will be rendered useless. Don’t overestimate the time it takes to register to vote. It only takes 5 minutes, the same amount of time it takes to send our registration link to your family and friends if you’re already registered. Together, we can have a monumental impact. Register to vote, or send our link to your family and friends: http://action.naacp.org/voterregistration Thank you, Marvin Randolph Senior Vice President for Campaigns NAACP - www.naacp.org 

29  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Entertainment

Soul Crooner Al Green Brings Romance to L.A.’s Greek Theater

32  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

www.elceshow.com

Special: Meet Bina48 - The Gynoid A personal humanoid tutor/teacher

GRANTS.GOV LISTINGS The following grant opportunity postings may be found on the Grants.gov Find Opportunities service: DOS Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs U.S. Embassy Islamabad PAS Grants Program, Modification 8 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=114273

Business

USAID Agency for International Development Afghanistan USAID-Kabul Public Private Innovative Development Initiative, Modification 3 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=129593 USAID Agency for International Development Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Development Through Regional Cooperation, Modification 5 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=172393 DOT Department of Transportation DOT/Office of Small & Disadvantaged Utilization Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center Program, Modification 3 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=177273 HHS Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178334 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service

Assessing Management Needs to Enhance Recovery for the Eastern Massasauga, year four Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178353 HHS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE), Phase II Study Investigators (U01), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178354 HHS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE), Phase II, Coordinating Center (U01), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178355 HHS Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement for the Development, Operation, and Evaluation of an Entertainment Education Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178356 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM CA Lassen Land and Trails Trust LLTT Modoc Line, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178357 ED Department of Education Upward Bound Math and Science Program - CFDA 84.047M, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178373

ED Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-RERCs--Recreational Technologies Exercise Physiology Benefiting Individuals Disabilities, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178393 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Headquarters E.2 Leading Edge Aeronautics Research for NASA (LEARN), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178394 ED Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-Disability, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178413 USDOT Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions FY 2012 Bank Enterprise Award Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178433 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service University of California, Davis Species Project, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178453 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Headquarters COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT ON ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER MISSIONS OF OPPORTUNITY, Grant

34  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

GRANTS.GOV LISTINGS from page 34

www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178473 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM NV Nevada Ecological Site Descriptions State and Transition Models Development, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178474 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Estimating grizzly bear use of large ungulate carcasses with GPS telemetry data, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178493

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Developing Chesapeake Youth Corps Network, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178496 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM WY 2012 Challenge Cost Share Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178497 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Signage and Related Interpretive Media Along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Metro DC, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178513

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service War of 1812 in Southern Maryland: Traveling Exhibit and Traveling Trunks, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178515 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Assisting in Development of Potomac River Segment of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trails, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178516 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Interns CLI/LCS, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178517 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Development of LandScope Chesapeake, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178533

Irrigation Water Delivery Metering Project, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178573 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Mark Processing, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178574 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Technology Enhanced Interpretation Development, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178593 DOS Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Middle East Partnership Initiative Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178594 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service DURHAM DAM, Modification 1 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178613 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Chumstick Barrier Removal Phase 4, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178633 

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Cooperative Agreement for the identification of sites and structures significant in Hispanic heritage, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178553 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation - Pacific Northwest Region

35  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

DOD Department of Defense Air Force Academy STEM Outreach to K-12 Schools in Southern Colorado, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178494

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Heritage Partnerships Program 3D Digital Documentation, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178514

What the Health Care Ruling Means for Talent Management by Jeﬀrey Cattel, Talent Management

Business

he U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to uphold nearly all of the provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including the constitutionality of the government-imposed individual m a n d a t e , will have widespread effects on HR departments across the country. “This is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity for Human Resources (HR) to earn that seat at the table that we’ve talked about for years that they feel eluded them,” said Richard Wald, a director at Deloitte who focuses on employer-facing health and benefit consulting. “There are a lot of choices, but it starts with: How can HR make the business understand that it’s a new day with a new math equation?” For employers, the individual mandate requires that companies with more than 50 employees pay a $2,000 penalty for each employee the company does not cover under a health insurance plan. Similarly, on the employee side, U.S. residents without employer- or government-provided health care must enter into state or privately-run health care exchanges or

pay a government-imposed penalty. Many businesses and even states have “treaded water” to wait to see how the Supreme Court ruled to make any big-scale changes, said Mark Schmidtke, a lawyer and shareholder

at Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak and Stewart PC based in Chicago and Valparaiso, Ind. “Nobody wanted to invest a lot of time and capital into something that might not take effect,” he said. “But if I’m an employer now, I’m not going to wait around. The bulk of this law takes effect Jan. 1, 2014, and for employers who haven’t done anything or have done very little, it’s time to get going.” In actuality, most HR departments have begun to make changes in compliance with the law -- changes in plan eligibility to include dependent

children up to age 26 and a removal of lifetime maximums on health care plans. Now, it’s time to shift into phase two: strategic thinking about how to address benefits in the future, what it means to be an employer of choice and how HR can align its strategy with a company’s corporate strategy, Wald said.

Pay Or Play Phase two manifests in the pay or play debate. Starting in 2014, companies will have the decision to provide health insurance coverage in compliance with the Affordable Care Act or pay a $2,000 for each full-time employee without health care. With national health care costs averaging between $8,000 and $9,000 per employee, the option to opt out and pay the $2,000 penalty might s e e m attractive. But the decision to pay the penalty or to provide employer health care (otherwise known as ‘to play’) is more nuanced than an evaluation of the basic costs. Industry experts like J.D. Piro, a s e n i o r vice president at human resources consulting and outsourcing company Aon Hewitt, cites numerous hidden costs. Take, for example, the potential for the opt-out penalty to increase. The current $2,000 penalty is based on an assumption that the majority of the 160 million Americans currently insured in the United States will remain insured under employer-provided plans. If that number changes dramatically, the employer penalty could increase, Piro said. Then, employers need to factor in

36  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

see Health Care Ruling on page 37

Health Care Ruling from page 36

Care Act considers any employee who works an average of 30 hours or more each week to be a full-time employee. With that status, he or she must be offered employer-provided health care or a company must pay the opt-out fee. Wald said this has the potential to have major impacts on retailers and restaurants, two industries that include large numbers of part-time employees. This could mean businesses structure their workforce with a handful of fulltime employees rather than peak-time

employees who may now fall under the auspices of the Affordable Care Act. HR departments need to focus on properly communicating the new definitions of part- and full-time employees to individuals on the operations side of the company, so they don’t encounter steep fines from the government, Wald said.  http://talentmgt.com/articles/view/ what-the-health-care-ruling-meansfor-talent-management/?interstitial=tm ss070312

Quote of Note... “xxxxxxxxx.” President Barack H. Obama

New Definitions Aside from the pay-or-play debate, HR departments should be concerned about the new definitions of part- and full-time employees. The Affordable 37  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

what Wald calls the morale factor. “Some employers will say, ‘We want to be an employer of choice and in order to do that we need to offer a benefit plan,’” Wald said. “They think, ‘We won’t be competitive, our employees will think less of us, so we’re going to stay in the game and continue to offer benefits.’” After taking all of these hidden costs into account, Piro said the decision between pay or play is not as easy as one might think. “When you finally do the math, when you don’t just look at the penalty, employers are looking at this saying, ‘Where are the savings?’” he said. Talent retention is another factor that comes into play here. “If the guy down the street is offering a health care plan in order to entice employees and you’re not, you’re at somewhat of a competitive disadvantage,” Piro said. An October 2011 survey by the Urban Institute showed that the vast majority of employers who provided employees health care before the Affordable Care Act will continue to provide similar levels of health care after the act passed. For Mark Fahleson, a partner at Rembolt Ludtke LLP in Lincoln, Neb., and chair of the employment and labor law committee at DRI, the voice of the defense bar, the pay-or-play scenario becomes most important for companies with 50 to 200 employees. “The statistics show the companies in that size range have discontinued health benefits at a disproportionate rate to larger companies,” Wald said. “They may actually look at those exchanges and say, ‘You know what, given what we have to charge our employees to give them a health care plan that we can still afford as a company, it may be advantageous to let them go to the state exchange.’”

Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge! For more information, call (800) 209-7229 or REGISTER now at www.blackenterprise.com/gt. Take advantage of our special discount pricing: COUPLES PACKAGE (SAVE $100!) - Two (2) people registering at the same time, using the same credit card will receive a $50 registration rate discount per person. (This offer does not include the Social Package.) GROUP PACKAGE (SAVE $400!) Four (4) or more people registering at the same time, using the same credit card, will receive a $100 registration rate discount per person. (This offer does not include the Social Package.) 38  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

5 Ways the Affordable Care Act Affects Your Wallet by Sheiresa Ngo, Black Enterprise

2.5% of household income (whichever is greater). Individual adults will pay $695. The penalty must be paid to the IRS along with your taxes. 2. Health insurance tax credits. Starting January 2014, if your household income is less than $88,000 for a family of four, and your job doesn’t provide coverage you can afford, you are eligible to receive tax credits to assist you with paying for insurance. An advance payment can be made to your insurance company to help cover the cost of premiums. 3. Health insurance exchange program. Starting January 2014, if your employer does not offer health insurance, you can buy it directly from an Affordable Insurance Exchange. Both small businesses and individuals will be able to participate in this new insurance marketplace. The exchange allows consumers to enroll in a private or public health insurance plan,

compare insurance benefit packages to get the best deal, and determine eligibility for tax credits. 4. Increased income tax for high earners. Starting January 2013, if you’re a very high earner you might be hit with higher income taxes. There will be a 3.8% surtax on investment income earned in households earning $200,000 or more for individuals and $250,000 or more for couples. 5. Home sales tax. In addition, if capital gains on the sale of one’s primary home is more than $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a couple, and income requirements are met, the realized gain will be taxed at 3.8%. The rise in fees will help with paying for the cost of healthcare. For more information on the Affordable Care Act, log on to www. HealthCare.gov. 

39  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

hile the web and the world are all abuzz about the historical ruling the Supreme Court handed down recently in support of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, you might be wondering exactly how it affects you and your money. Well, the full Affordable Care Act document (hundreds of pages) may be read at http://housedocs.house.gov/ energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf, but we’ll sift through the dense text and outline five key points: 1. Non-compliance penalty. Most Americans will be required to obtain qualifying health coverage by 2014 or face a penalty. The charge will gradually rise over a three-year period. In 2014, the cost will be $285 per family or 1% of household income (whichever is greater). Individual adults will pay $95. The following year, in 2015, the fee will be $975 per family or 2% of household income (whichever is greater). Individual adults will pay $325. By 2016, the cost will rise to $2,085 or

Aspire: Magic Johnson’s Channel for Black Families Kicks Off on Comcast http://news.yahoo.com/aspire-magic-johnsons-channel-black-families-121103022.html

agic Johnson, the basketball great and business tycoon is leveraging his clout and good name to launch the Aspire cable network on Comcast. “We have a big platform for African-

for!” Big aspirations, indeed, as Aspire makes its debut. Initially it’s available in about 7 million homes and in 16 of the top 25 African-American markets (including New York, Atlanta, Chicago

introducing the minority-oriented Aspire as part of an agreement struck with the Federal Communications Commission when Comcast purchased NBC Universal. Aspire’s reach will grow to 12 million

Business Ervin “Magic” Johnson Photo By Starpix, Amanda Schwab

American work,” Johnson told the gathered. “Family driven content, positive images of African-Americans — that’s what we want that platform

and Washington). It can be seen by some customers served by Time Warner Cable Inc. and by Comcast Corp., the nation’s largest cable operator, which is

homes by year’s end, to 20 million to 30 million homes by the end of 2013, and to 40 million homes within two years,

41  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

see ASPIRE on page 43

ASPIRE from page 41

according to Johnson. “Focus groups told us AfricanAmericans want more family content on TV,” he says a few hours before the party. “If they would have told me, ‘We don’t need another channel, there’s not an opportunity for you,’ we wouldn’t be sitting here.” Seated in a raised director’s chair whose exaggerated height seems made-to-order for the towering former L.A. Lakers point guard, Johnson is speaking with a reporter in an NBC green room during a busy day of meetings and media appearances. “I wouldn’t get into this if I didn’t feel there was an opportunity,” he goes on. “That’s what I do. I look for opportunities.” Johnson doesn’t dismiss the growing roster of other networks targeting black viewers. “BET dominates the young people and does a great job,” he says. “TV One skews a little older. We’re gonna skew older than both of them. Blacks want options; they want variety, like

next step in his burgeoning media empire, whose holdings include 20 radio stations, Vibe magazine and the “Soul Train” brand. But an almost dizzying array of other investments includes real estate, restaurants, a prepaid debit card he soon will introduce and, of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers, purchased in May for $2 billion by a group he fronted. “I am SO proud of the Dodgers,” he grins when that subject comes up. “I’m like a little kid! To know I own the Dodgers is even blowing ME away!” In short, Johnson’s career as an NBA legend and Hall of Famer is rivaled by his entrepreneurial efforts, which, along with his philanthropic and motivational work, largely cater to the black community. “I’ve been doing business almost as long as I’ve been playing basketball,” he says. “I bought a radio station when I was 19 years old, when I first got drafted by the Lakers.” For now, despite his many business interests, he’s giving Aspire top priority. “When you’re starting a business, you have to be more involved day-today,” he says. “I’m a control freak. Even though I allow people to do their jobs, I want to know everything, and I HAVE to know everything: It’s my brand, my name; everything is out there on the line.” Looking to Aspire’s future, he points out how he always had two big dreams: to play in the NBA and be a businessman. “I don’t know why God blessed me with this life, but I’m glad he did, and I love it,” Johnson sums up. “And I’m full steam ahead!” 

43  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

everybody else. There’ll be enough viewers for all of us. So everybody wins.” He says Aspire is aiming for black families with a slate of enlightening and positive programming — the sort of fare that everyone can gather in the living room to watch, “the way I grew up,” Johnson fondly recalls. Aspire will air movies, documentaries, music and comedy, as well as faith and inspirational programs. Initially, the schedule consists of acquisitions, including long-ago series like “The Bill Cosby Show,” ‘’I Spy,” ‘’Julia” and “The Flip Wilson Show.” The network promises documentaries

chronicling real-life events, people and places that shaped black history. Movies include “Shaft,” ‘’Bird,” ‘’Sarafina!” and “Lilies of the Field.” Eventually, Aspire plans to create its own programming. For that, Johnson hopes to tap black artists ranging from young up-and-comers to the likes of Spike Lee and Tyler Perry. But what about a certain world-class star already on the payroll? Will Earvin “Magic” Johnson step in front of the Aspire cameras? “I may do a show interviewing celebrities,” he says. “Or a business show. We haven’t planned it yet, but African-Americans want to know how to build wealth. They want to know how to start a business or grow one. Home ownership. Having good credit. I think I’m going to have to go on and teach them that sort of thing.” The principal owner of Aspire is Magic Johnson Enterprises, with the 52-year-old Johnson as the network’s chairman and CEO. But Aspire is teamed with Atlanta-based GMC (formerly the Gospel Music Network), which, available in about 50 million homes, focuses on uplifting music and family entertainment. GMC is providing operational infrastructure (what Johnson dubs “the back of the house”) for Aspire, also based in Atlanta. Johnson declines to say exactly what he’s investing in Aspire as its principal owner, but acknowledges “it takes $100 (million) or $150 million just to turn the lights on and really get it going — and we’re gonna be in that neighborhood.” Already, Johnson has landed five blue chip “charter brand partners”: Coca-Cola Co., Chrysler, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., L’Oreal and Nationwide Insurance. He says his network is on track to be “almost break-even in a year.” Johnson sees Aspire as the logical

Human Settlement of Mars in 2023

ars One will establish the first human settlement on Mars in 2023. A habitable settlement will be waiting for the settlers when they land. The settlement will support them while they live and work on Mars the rest of their lives. Every two years after 2023 an additional crew will arrive, such that there is a real living, growing community on Mars. Mars One has created a technical plan for this mission that is as simple as possible. For every component of the mission we have identified at least one potential supplier. Mars One invites you to join us in this next giant leap for mankind!

Business

Mankind on Mars Say someone were to tell you: we are going to permanently settle four astronauts on Mars. You might consider the following questions: • How can the astronauts leave everything behind on Earth? • How will they prepare for a life on Mars? • What will that seven month journey be like? • What will they do once there? Below we try to answer these questions and more.

Emigrating to Mars A one way trip has obvious technical advantages, but what does this mean for the astronauts themselves? That depends on who you ask. You could say that most people would rather lose a leg than attempt it: leave for a cold and dangerous planet, saying goodbye to your friends and family, possibly never being able to speak to them faceto-face again and swapping creature comforts for a Spartan existence on the Red Planet. However, there are

fractures, for example.

Journey to Mars

also individuals for whom traveling to Mars has been a dream for years. They relish the challenge. To them, it is about exploring a new world, having the opportunity to conduct the most revolutionary research ever, build a new home for mankind and tackle the unknown. Mars One will offer everyone the chance to apply for a spot in our team of astronauts. Are you the one for whom this is a dream? If so, read on to find out what will be waiting for you! Would you rather say goodbye to your left leg? Read on and make sure.

Training Even before they find their way onto the rocket, each astronaut will be put through the required ten years of training. They will be isolated from the world for a few months every two years in groups of four, by being placed in simulation bases to see how they cope with being secluded and living in close quarters with each other. In addition to the expertise and work experience they must already possess, they also have to learn quite a few new skills. After all, the four of them will be in charge of every aspect of the Mars base: making repairs, cultivating crops, and even addressing medical problems, such as

The flight will take seven months. The astronauts will spend those seven months together in a small space – much smaller than the home base will be – devoid of luxury or frills. This will not be easy. Showering won’t be an option, instead they will have to make do with wet wipes like the International Space Station astronauts. Tinned food only, constant noise from the ventilators and equipment and a regimented routine of three hours of exercise a day to keep up muscle mass all add to their trials. If they are hit by a solar storm they will have to take refuge in the shelter area of the rocket, which provides the best protection, for as long as several days. There is no doubt that the trip will be tough, but the astronauts will endure it – it is the flight carrying them to their dream.

Living on Mars Once they arrive on Mars, the astronauts will begin making use of their spacious living units; over 50 m2 per person, and a total of more than 200 m2. Within the settlement are inflatable components which contain bedrooms, working areas, a living room and a ‘plant production unit’, where they will grow greenery. They will also be able to shower as normal, prepare fresh food (that they themselves harvested) in the kitchen, wear regular clothes, and in essence lead typical day-to-day lives. If they want to leave the settlement they will have to wear a Mars Suit, but all Units will be connected by

44  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

see Mars One on page 45

Mars One from page 44

passageways, so that the astronauts can move freely from one end of the base to the other. It will not take long for them to put down roots, and once they have done so they can begin building and researching.

Building and Researching

Reality TV and reports All of our astronauts’ activities will be captured by the Living Unit cameras, so that those back on Earth can experience them as well, and are kept up to date with how they are doing. The astronauts themselves will also report back. They will tell us about everything we’ve wondered. What is it like going outside? What is involved? What is it like living with Mars’ gravity, which is just 40% of Earth’s?

Expansion A new group of four will land on Mars every two years, steadily increasing the settlement’s size. A Living Unit will be built out of local material that will be big enough to house trees. As the number of settlers increases, so will the sense of normality, as they will be able to have a social life alongside their work.

About the suppliers

Russian, Japanese and commercial space programs from operating units across Canada, the US and Europe. Paragon Space Development Corporation (www.paragonsdc.com) provides environmental controls for extreme and hazardous environments. Paragon designs, builds, tests and operates premier life support systems and leading thermal control products for astronauts, contaminated water divers, and other extreme environment adventurers, as well as for unmanned space and terrestrial applications. Space Exploration Technologies (www.spacex.com) has developed a family of launch vehicles and spacecrafts that increase reliability and reduce the cost of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. As the first rockets developed in the 21st century, the Falcon series take advantage of the latest technologies, as well as 50 years of “lessons learned” in the aerospace industry. SpaceX is demonstrating that through simplicity, both reliability and low cost can be achieved in commercial space flight. Surrey Satellite Technology (www. sstl.co.uk) is the worldwide leader in the construction of small satellites. The British company provides a range of affordable satellite solutions to a variety of customers in the fields of Earth observation, science, technology demonstration, telecommunications and navigation. Thales Alenia Space (www. thalesgroup.com/space) has an enduring history in building habitable systems and has successfully developed a large number of pressurized elements for the International Space Station, including Node 2 & 3, Cupola, Columbus and ATV Cargo Carriers. Thales is also currently developing the pressurized cargo carriers for the Orbital Cygnus vehicle in the frame of the Nasa Commercial Resupply Services initiative.

Join the Adventure Find your company’s place in the space exploration adventure through alliances with these and other Mars One suppliers. 

45  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

http://mars-one.com/en/

Business

Several new components will touch down on Mars with the first group of four. They will be bringing a second Living Unit and Life Support Unit ready for the arrival of the second group, along with some other components. The already established astronauts shall connect them to the main base. Not only are they now prepared for when the other groups land, but they also have more room themselves and extra security due to the back up equipment essentially doubling. Hopefully by this point they will also already have the technology to produce additional living area from local materials. There will also be a lot of research done on the planet. The astronauts will research how their bodies react to living on Mars, how the plants respond, research into both geological and biological matters… who knows, they might find out that there was life on Mars before them!

Mars One has visited several major aerospace companies around the world to discuss our plan and the hardware components that we need to implement the plan. For each component we have found at least one potential supplier. We have visited the companies below and have received letters of interest from them. Astrobotic Technology Inc. (http:// astrobotic.net) is a Pittsburgh based company that is pioneering affordable planetary access and mobility solutions that promise to spark a new era of exploration, science, tourism, resource utilization and mining in the solar system. Astrobotic is flying a mission to the moon’s pole in 2015 to find water ice. ILC Dover (www.ilcdover.com) is the forerunner in the softgood industry for current and near term space programs and is very supportive of commercial s p a c e activities across the globe. ILC Dover is one of the few companies in the world that can claim to have products on both the Moon and on Mars. They have contributed to the Apollo spacesuits and the three-airbag landing systems that helped land the NASA rovers on Mars’ surface. MDA Corporation (http:// is.mdacorporation.com/mdais_ canada) is a worldwide provider of information systems and is an established provider of custom space systems to government and commercial markets internationally, from earth orbiting infrastructure and spacecraft servicing to deep space and planetary exploration. Provider of the robotic systems aboard the Space Shuttle and Space Station as well as robotic systems and science instruments successfully operating on the surface of Mars , MDA’s exploration heritage traces back over three decades of human spaceflight and Mars exploration. Today MDA proudly supports US, Canadian, European,

City of Los Angeles Business Inclusion Program The City of Los Angeles is striving to increase the participation of small, emerging, veteran, women and minority-owned businesses in City contracts. All City departments utilize the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electronic marketplace, Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network (www.labavn.org), to post all opportunities subject to advertising. We encourage business owners to register on www.labavn.org to receive notifications of contracting opportunities as well as updates on implementing the program. Visit www.losangelesworks.org for additional information regarding doing business in and with the City of Los Angeles.

Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office of Economic & Business Policy

San Diego World Trade Center

“Access China 2012” September 5-13, 2012

www.wtcsd.org/asia-desk/access-china-2012 ORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego, with the support of the California State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP), is leading a trade mission to China (September 5-13, 2012) to promote California exports. The delegation will participate in the 16th Annual China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen. USDOC’s U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service staff in China will provide briefings and support. The remainder of the trade mission includes trips to three (3) dynamic cities in the prosperous Yangtze River Delta: •Nanjing •Changzhou •Shanghai

• Develop export markets and business opportunities in southern and eastern China, two major hubs for China’s commerce and industry • Provide exposure for your products and services to visitors from all regions of China and the world during CIFIT • Attend CIFIT’s investment and trade seminars/forums • Gain access to key players and business leaders in China through pre-arranged meetings and matchmaking services • Minimize your costs and time with our travel logistics services and pre and post-fair assistance

KEY BENEFITS

OPPORTUNITY COST OF GOING SOLO:

• Qualified California SMEs are eligible to receive $1,000 towards their trade mission participation • Join business/government leaders from throughout California • Pre-arranged matchmaking meetings in each city • Harness the World Trade Center Association’s global network for facilitating international trade

WTCSD Trade Mission: $5,500 Individual Trip Estimate: $10,300+

For questions, or additional information, please contact: Ethan Devine, Asia Desk Manager WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego (619) 615-0868 edevine@wtcsd.org

Business

51  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Black Founder of Internet Domain Registry, Network Solutions, Reminisces on Racial Barriers in Tech Sector By Lauren deLisa Coleman

vital part of that team and still thinks longingly about those heady days when sink or swim business decisions were made by the minute and when untold amounts of money were within grasp’s reach — if they just could have

lbert White sits and takes a long sip of iced tea. It’s summertime in Maryland and he’s preparing for the annual family get-a-way out of the country for several weeks. But if things had turned out just a bit differently in the tech industry several years ago, White would actually have joined the ranks of multi-millionaires and billionaires who retire early and spend slow-paced days golfing, investing and buying islands. Not so, however, for this man who just happened to find himself under the wrong circumstances albeit at the right place at the right time many years ago. Years before Google, before tablets, heck, before the Internet was a popular term, and even before the first domain name was offered to the general public, a predominantly African-American team actually once controlled the Internet; or at least your domain access to it. Few may know it today, but Al White was a

held out l o n g enough. O n c e upon a time a couple of friends got the idea that this tech stuff might be a good business opportunity. Emitt J. McHenry was working diligently at the time as a vice-president at the former Union Mutual Insurance Co. Between this position and a former one which he held as a systems engineer at IBM, he could see how the dots were beginning to connect in a new way in business so he, along with some partners, started a little company called Network Solutions in 1979. The venture actually began as a consultancy company providing

53  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

see Network Solutions on page 55

Business

Albert White

engineering solutions for such corporations like Nations Bank (now Bank of America); but one day the group got a tip from the head of the National Science Foundation (NSF) that the Internet was going to be big. It was suggested that Network Solutions, given its expertise, track record and core competency, put in a bid to the government to manage the domain name registration services for the Internet. They figured, “Why not?,” put in the bid, and won the contract. Won sole authority to develop the system and issue web addresses ending in .com, .net, .org, .edu and .gov. “You have to understand,” Emitt J. McHenry explains White. “We had no competitors for the bid. Not AT&T. No one. No one really knew what this Internet thing was, so it was not on anyone’s radar. And had it not been for the head of the NSF at that time, it would not have been on ours either.” Around this time, White had been brought on by his friend McHenry in order to head up corporate marketing at Network Solutions. His role included many responsibilities, but one of the main ones was to evangelize about this new platform called the Internet. He

Network Solutions from page 53

But this is not where the story ends. SAIC would then turn around and later sell Network Solutions in 2000 to VeriSign for $21 billion dollars and make history in one of the biggest tech deals to be completed in the United States at that time. Network Solutions remains one of the most important companies in the Internet industry. Traumatizing. Devastating. It is for such events that these adjectives were probably created. In fact, White and McHenry even stopped speaking to

investor side of the table. “What we need to do now is start to understand this opportunity and, for example, create investment clubs around it in order to review potential businesses and take full advantage of it,” White excitedly explains. “This is a huge move that the SEC is doing because it will put power in the hands of the individual; buyer and/or seller. All one will have to do is produce a business plan, have the right background credentials and take it to a crowd-funding site. You’ll be able to get up to a million dollars, if you’ve got the right idea. This makes access to capital much less problematic and levels the playing field for those who want to invest in the new tech companies that will be the black-owned Apples and Samsungs of tomorrow.” For White and McHenry, time has changed many things. It’s taken several years, but the two former business partners have found their way back to friendship and continue to share with each other’s families and at events. McHenry owns and runs a $300 million company with firms such as Nokia among its clients. But where they, and we, go from here is — as the character Neo says in the closing scene of The Matrix — a choice I leave to you. White has some guiding words of wisdom. “If there is any advice I could give black entrepreneurs today,” explains White, “it would be that you must stick with what you are doing, if you feel it is right. Don’t allow other people to tell you that you don’t have anything important like we did. That is really the key. That’s why we suffered. Listening to other people… who didn’t know.” Hopefully, future African-American tech entrepreneurs can benefit from White’s drama of lessons learned from a life in the tech arena.  Lauren deLisa Coleman, see page 91 http://thegrio.com/2012/06/28/blackfounders-of-internet-domain-registrynetwork-solutions-reminisce-on-racialbarriers-in-tech-sector

55  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

remembers that it was tough-going but that, in time, Network Solutions grew to approximately 400 employees. “Slowly some people began to understand or at least be curious about the Internet, and we started to get more and more requests for the domain names,” says White. But the tech architecture to handle such an emerging industry was costly to create, to say the least. “We had no income producing model for this,” White explains. “The agency (NSF) would not let us charge for issuing the names. That was part of the deal, and we had no idea the thing would move the way [it] did. When you hear it now it seems crazy but, yes, we actually gave away all those domains for free. Had to.” Capital was needed, and now. The issue was how to raise it, and that issue quickly became two-fold. One, White says that Network Solutions could not raise money because people did not believe the Internet was ever going to be anything of great value. Two, if it were something of value, it was perceived that anyone AfricanAmerican couldn’t possibly be on top of it. “ I know as I was out doing my thing, I could sense that it was literally like, ‘if it was going to be big, white people would already have this thing,’” says White. “We got dismissed again and again, by white and black investors alike.” So, after 16 years of both good and bad times, they sold it to an outfit called Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for $ 4.8 million in 1997.

each other and parted ways, bitter with disappointment. This situation might be a distant memory, but could remain a looming concern for many young black tech entrepreneurs today — and therefore the U.S. economy overall — because there is no full-proof inoculation against business growing pains. Are many entrepreneurs falling prey to a similar strain of “Network Solutions syndrome” today? Where, for example, are the faces of color in the current Best Buy television ad that features a number of successful Caucasian males trumpeting their inventions? From the duo that started Words with Friends, to the man who enabled mobile phones to take photos, each man starts off saying, “I invented….” While watching that ad, one can’t help but think, “They created those things, but it’s African-Americans who actually over-index in mobile phone purchases, usage, expenditures, features and mobile video viewing.” Need verification? Google “Nielsen Mobile” and find out. Clearly, we are not timid about the use of technology, so perhaps there is something more. “[P]art of the problem,” explains White, “is that we have very little reference to our history of contributions to building America. We don’t know our history, particularly within tech. We don’t know that we come from a long line of inventors and entrepreneurs so there is little psychological support for today’s black entrepreneur. But we do, we have and we can still create amazing things… even in this economy!” White cites contributions within Bell Labs, broadband and more where blacks have played a vital yet clandestine role in the rise of technology (http:// blackvoicenews.com/news/newswire/46914-a-black-man-father-of-thecell-phone.html). We just may have an opportunity to begin to turn things around, however. White is encouraged that through the jobs bill people will soon be able to invest in companies on-line via a new twist on crowd-funding (see page 61). This could be a huge game-changer for economic growth (particularly for people of color), regardless of whether one might be on the entrepreneurial or

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56  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

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57  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

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Don’t Be a Slave to Your Business: How to Keep Small Business Ownership From Taking Over Your Life Source: TNJ.com

Entrepreneurs

rying to keep a small business in the black with revenues coming in on a regular basis takes a lot of work. Startups and small businesses know this fact intimately, living and dying on making it through the month with sufficient sales to pay the bills and keep the business afloat for another quarter until the next big customer comes in. The dream of owning a business is something few people ever achieve. Once that dream is realized, then the real challenge begins. Owning a small business means that the success or failure of that business falls solely on your shoulders. There is a widespread belief that when you own a small business, you are shackled to that business, and you must live, eat, breathe and think about that business 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But that kind of devotion can also backfire, because it provides excuses for inefficiency since you’ll be at the business all day. It can also take a huge toll on relationships, family bonds, marriages and cause a small business owner to miss out on all of the important milestones in their children’s lives. A successful small business owner must learn how to keep that business from taking over their life.

Create a Work Schedule If you were working for someone else, you’d be expected to adhere to their work schedule. As a small business owner, once you establish a work schedule, you will know that you must accomplish whatever you have to do on any given day during those hours. It is a good way to force yourself

to be more disciplined.

Learn to Prioritize Everyone has to set priorities in real life, so small business owners can do the same thing. It doesn’t matter what type of small business it is. Setting priorities takes any guess work out of trying to figure out what to do next. It means that you will complete tasks in order of what is most important.

Keep Business and Personal Phones Separate If you use a cell phone, make sure that you don’t use the same cell phone for business as you do for your personal life. Otherwise, you’ll have people calling your personal cell phone at all hours of the day or night, and you will become a prisoner of your cell phone. Once you do get a separate business cell phone -- should that be necessary, you won’t have to give people you do business with your home or personal cell phone number. Turn your business cell phone on when you are working, but be sure to turn it off when you’re not working. If your business is located someplace outside of your home, consider leaving the phone there. If you have a land line, make sure it isn’t published or listed with directory assistance. That way, people can’t find your home phone number and call you outside of work.

Create or Establish Dedicated Workspace

Many small business owners work out of their homes. The advantage of

this when first getting started is that you won’t have to pay rent for the business space. As convenient as working from home is, it can also be a disadvantage when other people or things around the house become distractions. As long as there is a designated workspace, you can go off to that space, just as you would go off to work at a traditional workplace, and then leave at the end of the day.

Schedule Family Time A small business requires tremendous dedication and hard work. That should never be an excuse for neglecting family. By scheduling family time, you remind yourself that this is as important an obligation as anything else. It also assures your family that there will always be a designated time for all of your favorite family activities. No business can function with only one employee. Remember that and be willing to hire other employees. Although the addition of an employee may mean more money that you have to shell out, it may free up time for you and allow you to get some mental free time as well as actual free time. By accepting the fact that you need other workers, you alleviate some of the burden and anxiety that can quickly lead to burn out. By remembering that you need to take care of yourself and spend time with loved ones, you will be a more balanced, effective and successful small business owner, and this will help your business grow and thrive. 

58  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Squeezing Sales in Hard Economic Times Source: TNJ.com

focus on one particular task or product, but diversifying opens multiple, new revenue streams. There’s nothing

wrong with selling automotive parts by day and car how-to-repair articles for websites by night. Thinking about what additional services or products can be built around a core business opens additional sales and more ways to connect different customers to the same business.

• Social media – Yes, you’ve probably heard getting a Facebook page or Twitter account is a need for every business, but it’s not clear how doing so produces business. A successful approach needs a direct message that brings customers in via social media and gets them to buy or at least ask for direct communication about a service or product. Done right, this approach can improve small sales and provide steady transactions, but its hands-on intensive as social media requires lots of interaction.

• Network, network, network – Many businesses provide some of the best customers to each other. A sale doesn’t always have to come from a private customer. Business owners who connect with each other on a personal level are more likely to order product and services from each other, building long-term relationships and repeat business.

• Diversifying – Many businesses

• Use the Internet – Business sales

can come from anywhere as long as a customer has a way to reach a business and feels safe doing so electronically. A business website with a secure ordering and payment system provides this opportunity, and sells a lot of static product, which can be openers for better-paying customized work later on with the same customers via up-selling. • Building awareness – A number of cheap website tools exist by which to send out electronic newsletters, providing bits of free information to potential customers regularly. This creates ongoing awareness and generates cold orders from readers who connect the dots and realize a solution for their needs. 

59  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Entrepreneurs

rying to keep a small business in the black with revenues coming in on a regular basis takes a lot of work. Startups and small businesses know this fact intimately, living and dying on making it through the month with sufficient sales to pay the bills and keep the business afloat for another quarter until the next big customer comes in. The cycle of feast and famine can take a toll on a business owner quickly, affecting both mental outlook as well as the business itself in terms of performance. So where there are opportunities to generate interim income between big jobs, they should be taken. This provides a regular, steady stream of revenue that can be relied on for business needs between big projects and sales. It also provides stability for the business financially so the owner can begin to think about long-term strategy and growing the business. A number of tools are available, fortunately, for small businesses, and many are free or low-cost, which keeps marketing costs down (another benefit during hard times). These include:

TALK BACK : If you want to share your advice on kee ping small busines ses afloat send an e-mail to Entreprene ur Editor Kim Anthony at mail@bbala.o rg. We welcome your feedback!

Count Me In’s Urban Rebound Program is Coming to a City Near You! Count Me In, with support from the Sam’s Club Giving Program, is pleased to present the Count Me In Urban Rebound Program, coming to Los Angeles, CA (Spring), Detroit, MI (Summer) and Charlotte, NC (Fall) 2012. Urban Rebound is an exciting initiative for

women entrepreneurs ready to grow their businesses to $250,000 or more in annual revenues. In the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing pitch parties, webinars and, of course, a fabulous pitch competition for women with businesses based in these areas. We’ll be looking for 100 women from each city to participate in our Business Accelerator Program so don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of this exciting opportunity! Sign up for Count Me In’s Urban Rebound Program event alerts and updates at: http://makemineamillion.org/webform/Upcoming-Events

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Boosting Your Social Media ROI Source: TNJ.com

Fortunately, there are several strategies that businesses can embrace to help better their returnon-investment when it comes to social media. First, it’s important for businesses to measure the results of their social media campaigns. It’s not enough for them to simply acquire followers. They must also determine whether these followers are making purchases or leading them to new clients. It’s important, too, for businesses to acquire the most loyal of followers, those who will comment frequently on company message boards, praise the company and its products to others and

Consumerism: Beware of Package Delivery Scam

ccording to a U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesperson, this scam occurs when victims receive an e-mail appearing to come from the US Postal Service. It states that a package could not be delivered and directs the victim to click on a link in the message to arrange for pick-up or delivery. But Postal Inspectors warn: Don’t do it! Like most viruses sent by e-mail, clicking on the link or

opening the attachment will activate a virus that can steal information—such as your user name, password, and financial account information. What to do? Simply delete the message without taking any further action. If there is a package waiting for you, the postal service will leave a notice in your mailbox, not send you an e-mail. The Postal Inspection Service is working hard to resolve the issue and shut down the malicious program. You can help by forwarding spam e-mails to spam@uspis.gov. If you have questions about a delivery or wish to report spam, please call 1-800-ASK-USPS or email spam@uspis. gov. 

61  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Entrepreneurs

avvy business owners are relying on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ to promote their businesses. But while businesses might be posting more messages to Facebook and Tweeting more often about their newest products and services, what’s not known is how effective all this activity is. Businesses are supposed to use social media to not only communicate with their customers, but to drive sales and generate leads. Businesses that aren’t doing this are just wasting their time when it comes to using Facebook, Twitter and the rest.

bring new followers with them. Secondly, businesses need to determine what type of customer they are aiming for with their social media efforts. Businesses who want to target 18- to 34-year-olds will send vastly different messages than will those who are hoping to land business from 50-year-olds. As in all forms of advertising, businesses must tailor their messages for their specific audiences. Finally, business owners need to have specific goals in mind when they launch social media campaigns. Are business owners hoping to spread positive word about their companies? Are they hoping to boost sales by 25 percent or more? Do they want to boost the company’s Web presence or make the company more relevant to younger consumers? These are all different goals, and they all require a different type of social media marketing. 

Iterative Startups

by Jonathan Ortmans for Entrepreneurship

hile the startup genome in Silicon Valley is always mutating, some formulas are becoming basic tenets in the science of startups. A critical mass of email about my use of the word “iterative” in my blogs prompts me to revisit one such startup fundamental—the so called “Lean Startup” formula. Eric Ries, an engineer, entrepreneur, author and now an entrepreneur-inresidence at the Harvard Business School, coined this new concept, which has became a movement in the startup world. Steven Blank, a serial entrepreneur, lectures at Stanford about the model. In short he says:

stressed, is much more important than the tendency to overbuild w e b s i t e features that do not increase user engagement. Further, the higher flexibility which underpins this new startup model seems to be fueling a new wave of companies that find opportunities across fields. As Steve Lohr from the International Herald Tribune noted in his recent article “Silicon Valley’s Brand of Startups,” Lee Redden, a Ph.D. candidate in engineering at Stanford with skills in artificial intelligence and computer vision, provides a good example of this. Redden is applying those skills to agriculture with his startup, Blue River Technology (http://bluerivert. com), by developing a robotic weed killer for organic farms. His computervision software can distinguish lettuces from weeds. Many entrepreneurial minds are doing the same, recognizing opportunities to apply Silicon

Valley technology to medicine and transportation, among other fields. Others are starting to listen to these ideas. The Kauffman Foundation for example, took that cross-disciplinary approach to its Kauffman Labs initiative. Kauffman Labs (www.kauffmanlabs. org) is designed to accelerate the number and success of new highgrowth, scalable companies by offering a new method for teaching and training entrepreneurs in a lab setting. As part of this initiative, the Kauffman Education Ventures Program offered an intensive, hands-on, immersion program designed to catalyze the creation of high-growth, transformative companies in the education market. It will likely become a critical element of other initiatives to educate and support entrepreneurs. It also helps us better understand how and why company formation happens—and why they fail. It is, as the dictionary says, “a procedure in which repetition of a sequence of operations yields results successively closer to a desired result”. It is smart, flexible, customer-centric, new firm formation.  www.entrepreneurship.org/en/Blogs/ Policy-Forum-Blog/2012/July/IterativeStartups.aspx

63  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Entrepreneurs

experiment in the marketplace from day one with the lowest-cost possible viable product and improve the product or service according to how customers react—the critical ‘pivot.’ This approach is less linear in the sense that students are no longer encouraged to follow the process of first drawing up a business plan, building a final product and then taking it to the marketplace. It is a lowercost, much more “iterative” approach that quickly transforms mistakes and failures into business insight. Mentors and investors seem to be looking out for this approach. Dave McClure of 500 Startups (http://500.co) advised Sao Paulo web entrepreneurs during a Startup Weekend last November to stay lean through “feature killing” or testing whether users miss a feature when removed. This, he

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www.bellycard.com Operate a Client Centered Business? Belly redefines traditional customer loyalty programs by letting you give your customers rewards they actually want! We work with your business to design rewards that are oneof-a-kind and representative of your business’s distinct personality, creating a more engaged user base and improving customer retention (www. bellycard.com/add). Loyal Customer of a Few Great Businesses?, Belly is a universal loyalty program that customers can take with them anywhere! We’re spreading the love to your favorite places, enabling you to earn rewards wherever you go. Whether it’s your morning cup of Joe or late-night beard trim and hair cut, Belly is there. Don’t weigh down your wallet with multiple customer loyalty cards you’ll never use. With Belly, we offer you one card to replace the rest. Plus, you can download our App, link it to your card and locate places to Belly when you’re out and about. Belly gives boring loyalty campaigns a good kick in the pants by offering exceptional customer rewards, making it fun, exciting and worthwhile to return to your favorite places. Based in New York City with an office in San Francisco, The entire Animoto team is a passionate and innovative group devoted to helping more people experience the power of video for sharing their lives.  Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

65  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Business

You have never experienced a task manager like this! Simple. Attractive. Useful. 30/30 helps you get stuff done! You set up a list of tasks, and a length of time for each of them. When you start the timer, it will tell you when to move on to the next task. That’s it! The main screen is completely free of buttons; you use gestures instead. The display is minimal but attractive and it still shows you everything you need to know: - What am I supposed to be doing right now, - How much time do I have left to do it?

services are available. Some costs are levied. Available now for iPad and iPhone.

Business Development

Building Your Business for Success: The Importance of Ownership

ne of the keys to economic independence for African American business owners is the acquisition and ownership of commercial real estate. By controlling the buildings and land that house the means of generating revenue, an entrepreneur can better attain the goal that underpins what being in business is all about: maximum self-determination. With interest rates now at historically low levels and the economy growing at a slow pace, now is a prime time for many business owners to consider the purchase of commercial real estate. The benefits and drawbacks to commercial real estate ownership vary from business owner to business owner, but potential buyers should educate themselves about the obvious and sometimes hidden benefits to the ownership of a commercial property. Below are some of the major benefits to real estate ownership, versus leasing a commercial space.

Tax Deductions

Added Value To Business

For many Black business owners, a primary benefit of commercial real estate ownership is the tax deductibility of property that can be taken on the interest portion of the monthly commercial loan payment. These deductions can be substantial and each business owner should consult a qualified tax specialist about his or her unique situation.

Unlike some residential loans, many commercial loans are assumable. This makes the business and its real estate much easier for a buyer to acquire, and enhances the value of the business tremendously.

Equity Appreciation On average, commercial real estate properties will appreciate about two to three percent above inflation over the long term. Paying rent provides no appreciation or equity. Quite candidly, the BBA has members who have been paying rent for a decade or more, with no equity accrued and never having positioned themselves to benefit from any hope of equity appreciation. Using some of the most conservative estimates, potential equity appreciation can result in significant financial gains over a period of decades.

A Retirement Fund Through various circumstances, many minority and small business owners will not receive a pension when they decide to retire. In such cases, the equity appreciation on commercial property can be significant. An owner can decide either to sell the property upon retirement to cash in on equity appreciation, or lease the property to another business for a continuous retirement income stream. In fact, in some situations, a business owner may be able to lease out an unused portion of the property, such as a spare office, before retirement for additional income.

No Taxes To Pay On Your Rent When a business leases its real estate, sales tax is paid on the rent paid to the landlord. When you own the real estate there is no tax to pay on the rent. The savings can be significant.

Easy Access To Financing Historically-low, thirty-year fixed interest mortgage rates are now available for owner-occupied commercial properties. Furthermore, there are flexible interest-only options from which entrepreneurs can benefit. In fact, in some instances, with strong financials a business owner may qualify for loan financing up to 100% of the purchase price for commercial real estate. A business owner should consult an experienced commercial mortgage adviser before making an offer on a commercial property, so that in addition to the tangible benefits outlined above, the business owner will have the satisfaction that only comes with property ownership. Truer words have never been spoken: â&#x20AC;&#x153;God bless the child thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got his ownâ&#x20AC;?. The Black Business Association will soon launch a program to assist African American business owners in acquiring commercial and industrial real estate.

JOBS Act: What Crowdfunding Means For Your Startup ByBill Clark, Mashable Business

CROWDFUN DING: Financial co ntributions from online in vestors, sponsors or donors to fund for-p rofit or non-profit in itiatives or enterprises.

President Barack Obama signs the Jobs Act of 2012.

resident Barack Obama has signed the JOBS Act, officially opening up a new source of funding for small companies and startups. Much of the attention so far has been on this component of the bill because it would allow financing via crowdfunding. Participants can raise as much as $1 million a year without having to do a public offering — a step

requiring state-by-state registrations that can cost thousands of dollars. The belief — and hope — is that this type of funding will open up more opportunities for capital to flow into startups. That, in turn, will help grow new companies and create new jobs. The reality is that crowdfunding may not be right for every startup. Some business models are more capital

intensive and wouldn’t fit within the constraints of crowdfunding. There are several factors to consider before pursuing this type of funding. Let’s take a look at what they are, and what this new piece of legislation might mean for your next fundraising round.

1. Consider Prior Raises If you have raised money previously

70  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Crowdfunding from page 70

and that total is more than a $1 million in the last 12 months, then you will not qualify for the crowdfunding exemption. If you can wait until the 12 months are up, then you should be OK to use the exemption in the future.

see how much volume you are doing or how you make money, then you probably don’t want your financials out in public. (This is one of the reasons that Facebook waited to do its IPO.) But if you crowdfund, you may need to provide different amounts of financial

might pay $7,000 for a business that is not very complex. The costs just go up from there.

6. Look at Front Costs There are a lot of costs that you will have to pay before you even put your

2. Have a Communication Plan

3. Keep Your Secret Sauce In Check Some companies don’t want to share a business plan or idea unless those involved sign a non-disclosure agreement. The fear is that a competitor will get their hands on it. If you put your business plan on a funding portal that anyone can look at, then this could be a problem. You do, however, need to give potential investors enough information to make a good decision, so here are the items you need to provide so that investors can still do their due diligence: company name, address, bios of the officers and Board of Directors, a business plan and description of the business, and how you intend to use the funds raised.

4. Show Them the Money If you don’t want your competitors to

information to your investors depending on the amount you raise. Here’s the breakdown: Less than $100K: You are required to provide your income tax returns and have your financial statements certified by your CEO. $100K to $499K: Your financial statements will need to be reviewed by a public accountant. $500K to $1 Million: You will need to provide the investors with audited financials.

5. Lawyer Up The investments you receive through crowdfunding will be for equity in your company, so you will need to have a lawyer structure the deal and set up the necessary funding documents. It would be ideal to have a Private Placement Memo that would disclose all of the risks to an investor. The legal documents can get pretty expensive. At the low end I would estimate you

opportunity online for people to invest in. Between audited financials, legal fees, and paying to hold your money in escrow, you could spend $10,000 to $15,000 before you raise your first dollar. If you are only raising a small amount, the cost might not be worth it. Or, if you’re a startup, you might not have the funds to set up crowdfunding.

7. Have a Plan B Because the SEC has 270 days to implement the regulation, startups will not be able to use the crowdfunding exemption until early 2013. In the meantime, there are a few other options startups should consider. They can raise what are essentially loans from sites like Prosper.com or LendingClub. Or, they can get a peerto-peer loan to test out, so they can see if crowdfunding would be right for them. AngelList is a good service to list your startup on, and it will make your company visible to active investors. 

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Business

Have you thought about how you would communicate with potentially a 1,000 or more investors brought in through a round of crowdfunding? You may not have enough time in the day to address all their questions or concerns. The last thing you want is for this to take valuable time away from running your startup or business. If you use a funding portal, that company should help you manage your communication with your investors. Companies like Caplinked also provide tools that a startup can utilize to message with all of its investors at the same time.

Health Tip: 4 Secrets to Never Getting Sick

ver wonder why you always seem to come down with a lifeinterrupting virus this time of year, while other people you know sail through the season sniffle-, cough-, and ache-free? Follow these simple steps to boost your virus protection more:

Get some fresh air Common wisdom has it that staying indoors, where it’s warm and toasty,

germs circulating inside, but also going for a stroll can actually boost your immunity. Exercise leads to an increase in natural killer cells, neutrophils, and monocytes, which ultimately increases immune function.

Chill Out: There are a trillion reasons why taking time to chill out might be the last item on your to-do list. But here’s why it should be a priority: Being stressed will

cytokines, which trigger a diseasefighting response from your immune system. You’re also less likely to take care of yourself—get ample sleep, eat right, exercise—when you’re stressed.

Keep your hands clean! Cold and flu can spread all too easily through touch. Keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible, and make sure to master the art of hand washing. Soap and water remain your most effective tools there, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Germs can grow on bar soaps, so use the pumped kind—or better yet, a hands-free dispenser and choose regular soap over antibacterial. Lather for a solid 20 seconds before rinsing, and make sure to dry thoroughly (but not on your germy clothes!).

The magic bullet

is easier on your immune system than being outside in the cold. Problem is, being inside puts you in close constant contact with other people—and their germs. Not only does escaping into the fresh air give you a break from all those

increase your susceptibility to catching a cold. That may be because, over the long term, it leads to the ongoing release of stress hormones, such as glucocorticoids. These impede your body’s ability to produce cell-signaling molecules called

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A Positive Economic Turn Around in the USA is in Our Hands 

•Buy Products Made or Assembled in the USA •Hire One New Employee •Eat an Extra Meal Out Each Week •Start/Grow a Business to Generate Wealth & Jobs 

Buy Black  Save Black  Invest Black 73  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Community/Public Interest

Research shows that raw garlic has powerful antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antibiotic properties. But you need to eat it raw in order receive the most health benefits. Allicin, a powerful medicinal compound found in the plant, is only released when mixed with saliva. Feel a cold coming on? Chew a clove of garlic a few times a day — followed by a sprig of parsley for fresh breath. 

Williams Sisters Win Wimbledon Doubles Crown

Community/Public Interest

erena Williams claimed a fifth Wimbledon title on Saturday and paid an emotional tribute to big sister Venus whose career, badly affected by recent illness, is slipping into its twilight. Serena, 30, and Venus, two years older, have won 10 of the last 13 singles titles at the All England Club. Saturday’s win over Agnieszka Radwanska took Serena to 14 Gramd Slam trophies and a new ranking of four in the world. But in sharp contrast, Venus, whose first round defeat to Russia’s Elena Vesnina on the opening day was her worst at Wimbledon since 1997, is battling to still remain a contender. The last of Venus’s 43 career titles came in Dubai in 2010 while her last Grand Slam title was in 2008. Furthermore, she was diagnosed with the fatigue-related illness Sjogren’s Syndrome last year which kept her off tour from the US Open until the Miami tournament in March this year. Many in the sport expect Venus, now down at 58 in the world, to quit after this year’s US Open and having had another shot at the Olympics, which will be held at Wimbledon. “I don’t know what I would have if Venus didn’t exist. I don’t even know if I would own a Grand Slam title or if I would play tennis, because we do everything together,” said Serena. “Growing up I copied Venus, everything she did. She was a real big influence for me. So when she started winning, I wanted it so bad. When she became number one I had to be number one. “I had to work harder. I had to do everything in my power to get there. I have no idea what would happen if she

wasn’t around.” Serena said that just as Venus had rallied round her when she was battling life-threatening blood clots which kept her off the tour for a year, now she repays the favour. She believes that support will be crucial when the sisters team up again in London later this month in an attempt to capture a third Olympic gold medal following wins in Sydney in 2000 and Beijing four years ago. “I have to be more supportive. She’s so strong. I can’t imagine what she lives through every day. So she’s an incredibly strong individual,” said Serena. “I feel like I have to be really understanding.” Later Saturday, the sisters teamed up to win a fifth Wimbledon doubles title, defeating Czech sixth seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-5,

6-4 for their 13 Grand Slam doubles triumph. The sisters now have five Wimbledon doubles titles, four Australian Open, two US Open and two French Open doubles triumphs. “It was a very long day. I was happy to win the singles and I think it may have been a big letdown if I had lost the doubles,” said Serena. Venus added: “I felt like I played a match already by watching Serena from the box earlier today. It’s been a great day for all of us. “If anyone knows what it’s like to win singles and doubles in the same day, then it’s me. It’s an amazing feeling. Tomorrow she’ll wake up in bed and think ‘Oh my god, I’m the Wimbledon champion’.”  http://sports.yahoo.com/news/williamssisters-win-wimbledon-doubles-crown005928424--ten.html

74  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Get Moving This Summer!

here’s no better time than the hot, sunny days of summer vacation to get kids moving. And with the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games kicking off this July, young people all across the country will have a chance to see some of America’s finest athletes in action as they run, jump, swim and ride in hopes of bringing home the gold. But watching from the couch is only half the fun—First Lady Michelle Obama, who’s leading the Presidential Delegation to this year’s games, is encouraging kids to support Team USA not just by cheering our athletes on, but by getting involved in sports themselves. That’s why she’s partnered with the U.S. Olympic Committee, as well as the national governing bodies of sports like track and field, tennis, swimming, volleyball, gymnastics— even BMX biking—to help connect 1.7 million kids with beginning athletic programming in their communities.

Being active and moving more doesn’t mean training like our nation’s elite athletes, but the more chances our kids have to move, the healthier their lives will be. And these new opportunities-which range from swim lessons, to gymnastics clinics, to free membership at bike racing tracks, and much more -- will continue giving young people the chance to try something new long after the Olympics come to a close. Families can go to www. ahealthieramerica.org/olympics and type in your zip code to find programs near you.  www.letsmove.gov

AMERICAN GROWN by First Lady Michelle Obama

Available in your local bookstores now

75  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Community/Public Interest

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during an Olympics event at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Obama joined members of Team USA to announce nationwide commitments to getting more kids healthy and active. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

UniversityNow Gears Up for Distance Education By Mike Hohenbrink, Campus Technology

Advancement of Teaching. “UniversityNow’s support will facilitate the expansion of Patten’s degree offerings, and further its institutional commitment to social justice and leadership preparation,” said Holmgren. “It will also allow Patten to continue the unique and important role it plays in Oakland, one of the major urban centers of California. Combining innovative online offerings serving working adults with on-campus programs geared for traditional collegeage students, we will demonstrate that quality and affordability in higher education are pivotal to meeting the needs of the next generation of students.”  http://campustechnology.com/ articles/2012/07/10/universitynowbuys-patten-u-gears-up-for-distanceed.aspx

UniversityNow, Not Just for the Elite UniversityNow has raised $17.3 million in new funding to make college more accessible. The company is looking to create a network of affordable online colleges for adults. They will be high quality, but not necessarily elite, like some other new online learning efforts. San Francisco-based UniversityNow’s Series B funding comes from University Ventures, Bertelsmann AG, Kapor Capital, Novak Biddle Venture Partners and Greylock Partners. It also just received a $300,000 research grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation. UniversityNow runs New Charter University, a cheap online college that opened in April, and plans to expand to a network of such schools. The UniversityNow model stresses competency; there’s no grading

Gene Wade, CEO, UniversityNow on “Building the World’s most Affordble and Accessible Online University” http://tedxsf.org/videos www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrnVuWgYj_1

on a curve, and courses can only be compeleted once the system determines a student is ready to pass the final exam. Students are carefully monitored in their online progress in e-textbooks by individual student advisers and subjectmatter experts. At New Charter, $199 per month gets you as many courses as you can take at one time, including books. “This is not comparable to a four-year liberal arts degree at a small Northeastern college,” said UniversityNow CEO Gene Wade, contrasting the company with other VC-backed college alternatives like The Minerva Project. The goal, rather, is to help people who might not otherwise get a college degree, due to cost or other commitments. Typical students are in their mid to late thirties, Wade said, and many of them in the U.S. can get their tuition covered by a tax credit.  www.bing.com/images/search?q=%22 Gene+Wade%22&view=detail&id=877 15E3F579C88ED237566A96608D62E E071DC8C

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Community/Public Interest

niversityNow (http://unow. com) is acquiring Oaklandbased Patten University (http:// patten.edu), a private, four-year liberal arts institution with enrollment of 900 students, and will begin offering a full distance education program this fall, giving students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree online. The online offering includes all expenses such as tuition, books and fees at a discounted price, part of a flat-rate tuition model that the school predicted will eliminate the need for financial aid on the federal level. Total cost for a four-year degree online through Patten University is predicted to be less than $10,600, according to UniversityNow. The online offering from Patten coincides with the launch earlier this year by UniversityNow of its New Charter University (http://new.edu/ info). New Charter and Patten will offer a dual-admission pathway for a degree that will allow New Charter students to transfer to the degree program online at Patten to earn a degree “for under $8,000,” according to UniversityNow. “We’re proud to invest the resources that Patten needs to pursue its mission, while effectively preparing students nationwide for the 21st century workforce,” said Gene Wade, CEO of UniversityNow. “This is a major step toward achieving the UniversityNow vision of making a high-quality college education available to any qualified student who seeks it.” Working adults are expected to be a key demographic utilizing the offering. Patten University will be helmed by Janet Holmgren, formerly president of Mills College and a previous vice provost for Princeton University, former senior administrator at the University of Maryland, College Park, and chair of the Carnegie Foundation for the

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78  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Augustus “Gus” Arterbery (1930 – 2012) A Longtime Friend of the Black Business Association

ugustus “Gus” Arterbery began his professional career as an engineer at Hughes Aircraft and later joined TRW, where he worked for more than 30 years. Gus’ desire for and commitment to government service led to two presidential appointments. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan appointed Gus to be the Associate Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) where he could use his outstanding managerial skills as second in command of GSA. His was among the highest-ranking political appointments for an AfricanAmerican in the Reagan Administration at that time. Prior to that, in 1984, President Reagan appointed Gus, to be a

member of the board of the African Development Foundation. Later, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board and represented the United States as a delegate at the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, held at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Gus passed away peacefully at his home on July 3, 2012, after a wonderful life and a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Gus was born on August 4, 1930, in Bristow, Oklahoma, to Augustus Caesar Arterbery, Sr. and Gertrude Beasley Arterbery (deceased), and was the middle son of two brothers, John (deceased) and Karl. He grew up in Langston, Oklahoma and attended Langston University and

the University of Oklahoma. He left home at an early age to join the military and served five years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. After completing military service, he moved to Los Angeles to complete his education; he received a Bachelors degree from California State University of California, Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Vivian of 52 years; his devoted daughter, Dr. Elayne Arterbery; stepmother, Thelma Arterbery; brother Karl Artebery, (Louise); sister, Reverend Coetta Bynum; nieces and nephews; three caring caregivers; Pedrina Farjardo, Mark Noble and Jun Dinsay; and a host of loving friends. 

79  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Former U.S. President George Bush Visited Zambia

ormer President George W. Bush visited Zambia to promote a health initiative that focuses on cervical and breast cancer prevention and treatment. In the city of Kabwe, Bush worked with local residents to refurbish a clinic used to screen, diagnose and treat cervical cancer. Bush headed to Zambia’s capital of Lusaka, where he launched an African Centre of Excellence for Cancer

governmental and health care leaders. President Bush and his wife Laura will also provide $50,000 to upgrade a facility technologically at the University Teaching Hospital, announced US Ambassador Mark Storella. He then traveled to Botswana to launch a similar program aimed at combating cancer. The trip to both nations is part of the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon initiative spearheaded by his foundation to

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International

breast cancer and seeks to expand cervical and breast cancer screening, and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. The alliance includes the United States government, the Bush Institute, UNAIDS as well as several different private organisations, including different pharmaceuticals. Cancer in Africa is an emerging global concern. The continent has an acute shortage of experts such as oncologists, and lacks infrastructure and data to combat the d i s e a s e , exacerbating the concern. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush have previously visited the continent as part of his Former President foundation’s George Bush helps health initiative. paint and refurbish In a 2008 trip a clinic used to to Tanzania, screen and treat they highlighted cervical cancer in U.S. initiatives Kabwe, Zambia. to combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria (l-r) Laura Bush, Former President George Bush, Zambia’s and poverty during a trip to five President Michael Sata and First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba. African nations that included Rwanda and Benin. “Different people may have different views about you and your administration and your legacy,” Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said at the time. “You, Mr. President, and your administration, have been good friends of our country and have been good friends of Africa.” As president, Bush introduced an emergency AIDS program that saved millions of lives in Prevention in Women at a university leverage public and private investments Africa by providing antiretroviral drugs. teaching hospital and met with in global health to combat cervical and 

Congress Urges President Obama to Increase Trade with Africa

International

ecently, Senator Dick Durbin (Democrat-Illinois), Chris Smith (Republican-New Jersey) and Bobby Rush (Democrat-Illinois) introduced “The Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act.” This proposed act seeks to increase trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa. The legislation, which calls on the Obama Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy for enhancing U.S. exports and investments in Africa, would triple US exports to Africa to $63 billion over the next ten years. This legislation could create an estimated 315,000 jobs in the U.S. According to experts, this new act, if passed, will enhance a law signed by President Clinton in 2000, called the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which was intended to contribute to poverty reduction in Africa by promoting light manufacturing and trade with the U.S. Under the legislation, which was strengthened thrice by President George W. Bush, 40 African countries are eligible to export up to 6,500 products to the U.S. duty- and quota-free. “The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that was signed into law by the U.S. Senate in 2000 offers tangible incentives for African countries

President Barack H. Obama

to open their economies and build free markets. The trade activities between the two continents have grown during the last 12 years and there are still more opportunities for improvement, before the U.S. can be viewed as a major or super player in Africa from a trade perspective. U.S. companies should leverage all the various government initiatives in place to expand their markets into Africa,” Josiah Osibodu, president of Osibodu & Associates Exporting USA, LLC based in Tampa, FL., points out. “In addition, U.S. companies should learn to operate more outside their comfort zone, similar to their Chinese, Brazilian and Japanese counterparts. Africa is generating waves of fast-growing economies and U.S. companies should also be riding these waves.” Through AGOA, according to reports, two-way trade with Africa has more than doubled to U.S. $73 billion and Africa’s non-energy exports to the U.S. Still many other countries are doing even greater volumes of trade with Africa, particularly China. China´s two-way trade with Africa increased from $10 billion in 2000 to $160 billion in 2011. Other governments have also revved up trade with the Continent of Africa, including Brazil, India, Turkey, Russia and Iran as well as the European Union.

“Today the U.S. is significantly behind China in investments and trade to Africa. Several BRIC countries—Brazil and China—have had growth slow recently. During the recent recession, Africa continued to grow while the rest of the world was affected. Africa continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing economies and U.S. companies can benefit from that continued growth,” says Sam Divine, Jr. CEO of Cross Atlantic Business Advisors, an international business consulting firm that helps companies do business in new markets including Africa. “China sells affordable consumer goods, its construction firms build faster and cheaper than anyone and it asks no questions. Brazil has an agriculture sector built for Africa, and especially as regards Portuguese speaking countries, a natural advantage. The U.S- has some advantages in anglophone West Africa, from which a large diaspora has emerged in metro New York, Maryland/DC and Houston and which is highly educated and very entrepreneurial,” says Joel Patenaude, managing partner at J2 Partners Inc., who has worked in financial services in Nigeria since 2009 and in the building materials industry in Ghana since 1998.

82  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

see Trade With Africa on page 83

America’s charity work on the Continent has helped pave the way for future business partnerships. “The U.S. has tremendous goodwill in Africa. U.S. companies are welcome in many parts of Africa. Much of Africa is plagued with high unemployment and are also concerned that current partners are strictly focused on extraction and not win/win solutions,” says Divine. “If U.S. companies enter and can gain growth but also provide jobs that help take more people into the African middle class, they will be able to create their own niche.” Osibodu agrees. “The U.S. has and continues to be the largest donor or provider of foreign aid to African countries, (l-r) President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and Chairman of the African Union, US especially through organizations President Barack Obama, President John Mills of Ghana and UK Premier, David such as the World Bank, Cameron at the summit. United Nations and African a reduction in anti-competitive trade Development Bank. With this in mind, policies, such as the duties on African it is definitely a good move for the U.S. from page 82 cotton entering U.S. markets. What’s to be a more active business partner needed is a somewhat-more-level especially since they’ve invested (and The push for America to increase its playing field, especially considering the continue to invest) in the development trade with Africa, will be beneficial to poor productive capacities of most of of the continent,” he explains. both parties. “First, Africa’s middle class these markets.” There are many yet to be explored of 300M continues to grow. Projections There are several ways for the U.S. opportunities in Africa. “Africa has by the African Development Bank to engage Africa, say experts. “One a fast-growing youth population points to the middle class growing to way to engage more in Africa is to (the youth boom) that is interested as much as 1B in 40-50 years,” says provide incentives to businesses that in not only strengthening their own Divine, author of Battlegrounds to invest in Africa. It has been helpful to communities and the continent, but Boardrooms: Life Lessons from see Yum Brands and Wal-Mart making doing business with companies and the Liberian Civil War to Corporate strides in Africa in addition to Coca- entrepreneurs internationally. Plus, America. “Secondly, democracy is Cola which has been on the continent there is a need for more Internet access, further on the rise. Recently in West forever,” notes Divine. Trade, of course, which provides a great opportunity Africa, regional leaders have stood say experts should increase. “One way for the U.S. to become involved in together against coup leaders. Third, for the U.S. to engage more in Africa that development. There are huge a significant percentage of African is by increasing trade activities. The opportunities in the USA supporting citizens are under 15. That means continent provides a significantly large Africa’s entrepreneurship development, building your brands locally will give market for various U.S. products (i.e. university and business incubator you significant first-mover advantages.” goods and services). For example, partnerships and development, as well Adds Patenaude, who is leading a Nigeria the most populous African as hi tech initiatives,” says Merri Christi University funded research project that country with over 160 million people, Pemberton, editor GC Style Quarterly examines how travelers arrange their is definitely a market the U.S. can’t Magazine, which covers Global finances as they move along the west ignore. Trading with new and emerging Business News. African coast between Ghana, Togo, markets in Africa will contribute to The future for the U.S. and Africa Benin and Nigeria., “Africa’s rising the National Export Initiative (NEI) to business relations is bright—if America middle class provide new markets and double U.S. exports by the end of 2014. acts now, says Osibodu. “If China, Brazil U.S. companies, like any, must pay In summary, more trade and less aid, and Japan can become major players, attention to capitalize. In order to best is a good way for the U.S. to engage then the U.S. has the opportunity to harness the potential for growth, there more in Africa,” says Osibodu. become a “super” player in Africa,” he should be both investment in Africa and And some observers add that stresses.

Trade with Africa

International

83  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

International

How Investors Can Win in Africa

or businesses to understand African investment, they must realize that African long-term capital investments are not a niche asset class, said African investor Tony Elumelu. Financial commitments that build economic prosperity and social wealth should be the focal point of all African investment. Elumelu, who is chairman of Heirs Holdings (www.heirsholdings.com), calls this “Africapitalism.” This economic philosophy centers around the creation of social wealth, Elumelu said. Many years of charity work and billions of dollars have failed to create adequate self-sufficiency in Africa, Elumelu said. Although investors see moneymaking potential in Africa, they have not seen that creating social wealth will ensure investment success. Elumelu, a former CEO of United Bank for Africa (www.ubagroup.com), pointed to Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (www.transcorpnigeria.com) as an example of how the private sector

could invest in social wealth via Africapitalism. Tr a n s n a t i o n a l r e c e n t l y commissioned a fruit juice plant in Benue State, Nigeria. About 60 percent of the fruit fell to the ground and rotted due to a lack of processing and storage facilities. Private investors stepped in to solve this downstream production problem. By doing so, the investors created jobs, increased the productivity of farmers, opened new domestic markets, increased profitability and conserved foreign exchange. Investors can see in this example an opportunity to help African entrepreneurs solve problems. This is a case showing that Africans know where development is necessary, and they can show the way. Meanwhile, African governments can assist

in this Africapitalism by getting out of the way and allowing entrepreneurs to work, Elumelu said. The role of government should be to ensure a fair and transparent atmosphere for business to grow. Short-term investments to extract wealth is not the path to travel, Elumelu said. Investors need to focus on Africa’s competitive spirit, people capital and African ideas and input. In this new Africa, both Africans and investors will be winners, Mr. Elumelu said. 

84  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

www.thesullivanfoundation.org

www.cvent.com/events/leon-h-sullivan-summit-ix/custom-18-dd1c74ea3020471883645a4c987b86ce.aspx

RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL Dear International Executive,

International

1. Expo de Belleza Internacional Occidente (EBIO), June 3-4, 2012, California Lifestyle Products, Guadalajara, Mexico

27-29, 2012, Bio-medical, Santiago, Chile

re you are aware of the SBA grant program (STEP – State Trade and Export Program) to assist companies with exporting? We hope you can join us for some of the exciting events below. These upcoming U.S. Commercial Service initiatives are designed to connect you to business opportunities around the world.

2. Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition, June 9-12, 2012, Building and Infrastructure, Guangzhou, China

If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://www.buyusa. gov/home/us.html. Happy Exporting!

4. California Agricultural Mission to China and Korea, June 9-16, 2012, Food and Agriculture, China and South Korea

9. California Grown Promotions, September, 2012, Food and Agriculture, China, South Korea & Southeast Asia

5. Expo Hospital Trade Show, June

see Going Global on page 87

3. Farnborough International Airshow, July 9-15, 2012, Industrial Machinery and Supplies, Farnborough, United Kingdom

6. Intersolar-North America, July 10-12, 2012, Environmental Technologies, San Francisco, California USA 7. Taste of California Matchmaking Exhibition, August, 2012, Food and Agriculture, California, USA 8. Hong Kong Food Expo, August 16-20, 2012, Food and Agriculture, Hong Kong, SAR

OCTOBER 10-13, 2012

frica Fashion Week Los Angeles (AFWLA) was founded in response to the growing need in the Greater Los Angeles area to provide a platform for established and emerging African designers to showcase their talents to a broad audience, as well as to raise awareness about human rights issues that are currently being faced in several African countries. We define African in diasporic terms, which includes designers and affiliates with links to the African continent from all parts of the globe. AFWLA is committed to exhibiting collections of excellence and we aim to provide potential buyers with a diverse array of looks that can be incorporated into future

seasons. AFWLA will be a multifaceted week long event that will include runway shows, industry networking mixers, vendor exhibitions, and more. The event, tentatively scheduled for October 2012, will link international partners, local buyers, agents, editors, celebrities, and industry insiders to the vibrant fashions that Africa has to offer. Information for designers, sponsors, attendees, etal is at www.afwla.org

Social Investment AFWLA is committed to using our platform to raise awareness and impact a change in Africa. This year, AFWLA is partnering with The MacDella Cooper Foundation as our non-profit

beneficiary. The MacDella Cooper Foundation (MCF) is a 501(c)(3) international charitable organization dedicated to providing youth, especially orphans and abandoned children, with an education and the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. Their vision is to give as many Liberian children as possible the chance to escape the poverty cycle and grow in the nurturing environment of an MCF Academy, so that they can lead Liberia toward an economically strong and politically stable future. For more information visit: www.macdellacooper.org. 

86  June 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Going Global from page 86

10. Access China 2012: China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT), September 8-11 2012, Xiamen, China 11. Greenbuilding Brasil 2012, September 11-13, 2012, Building and Infrastructure, Sao Paulo, Brazil **************************** Commercial News USA Offers Buy 2, Get 1 Free Promotion

********************************** Read the New Online Edition of Commercial News USA Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has launched a new interactive PDF edition. The new edition is available for free at http:// cnusa.thinkglobal.us Commercial News USA offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Commercial News USA reaches more than a quartermillion buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, visit http://www.thinkglobal.us, or e-mail advertise@thinkglobal.us

********************************** The U.S. Commercial Service - Your Global Business Partner. With offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration uses its global Network and international resources to connect U.S companies with international buyers worldwide. If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://export.gov/ california/ca/socal/index.asp. 

www.zambiausachamber.org

Returning to Africa? African Repatriation is an invaluable online resource for any African national who is thinking about returning to Africa. Our industry articles and specialist editorials provide the latest sector information. Why not find out for yourself and become a part of our growing community today? www.africanrepatriation. com

Career Opportunities in Africa Search and apply online for the latest vacancies in Africa with African Talent. We provide candidates and employers with the tools and resources needed in today’s competitive job market. For employers, we offer numerous options to feature your jobs in Africa and for candidates, reviewing the most recent job vacancies in Africa is a fast, easy process. Uploading your CV is simple and takes just a few moments. www.africantalent.com

87  July 2012  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

International

Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an inexpensive way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. In addition to free Portuguese translation, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. This does not include the Showcase section). Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, contact your U.S. Commercial

Service trade specialist, or call 1-800581-8533 x 822, or visit http://www. thinkglobal.us/499, or send e-mail to advertise@thinkglobal.us

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