Let Us Help You Grow Your Business to New Heights. To take your business to the next level, it’s essential that you choose the right financial partner. At East West Bank, we offer all the products and services you expect from a big bank with the high level of personal attention you expect from a local bank. Our bankers have over 40 years of experience helping minority businesses reach their financial goals. We look forward to working closely with you to customize a financial solution tailored to your unique situation. For more information about East West Bank and our solutions for businesses, please call: 1.626.768.6729 www.eastwestbank.com
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Publisher's Message
T
his edition of the Black Business News aims for a sharp perspective on what we can and must do to counteract the deadly physical and economic impact of the Ebola virus on the African Continent; insight from the White House on the new Buy Secure Initiative and how it takes a critical step toward protecting our financial security and reboot our faith in the integrity of the marketplace; background on Harvard College and Harvard Law School Graduate, Loretta Lynch the daughter of a librarian and Baptist minister whose primed to take the baton from Eric Holder as the new Attorney General; and, to help make your Holiday Season bright, some tips on Yuletide E-mailing and marketing plus much more. We have experienced a difficult and tragic period this year with the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. The Black Business News extends our deepest sympathies to all who have suffered as a result of this plague and join a united effort in the search for cure. As a publisher I will not presume to expound on the causes or any scientific and health issues. However, I will presume to offer comments on the future. Our concern is to restore and enhance the reputation of Africa. Our plan is to encourage individuals and businesses to resume their love affair with the African continent, the people, the traditions, the cultures and the opportunities. The Black Business News Group has been and will be presenting the best face of Africa through our publications: Black Business News, Black Business News International and Black Business News Travel Africa. I invite those with positive stories to tell to join us in this effort. Our pages are available to you. In order to conduct this campaign we also invite companies with interests in a prosperous Africa to advertise those interests in the pages of the publications. Beyond Public Relations and healing, there are a few other steps that should be explored and taken at this time. We should strongly advocate and campaign for a cure while demanding a strengthening of health delivery systems. Finally, we should engage in a marketing campaign that inspires African Americans in the United States to use the more than 1 Trillion Dollar African American spending power to re-energize the Continents rigorous travel and tourism business. There is no Ebola activity in Ghana or 50 of the other nations on the African continent. But the entire continent is being affected negatively. The Black Business News Group, along with the Black Business Association, headquartered in Los Angeles, invite you to identify what you can do and encourage you to do it. If you need a partner, send us a message at info@ blackbusinessnews.net (if we don’t contact you first). Keeping the focus on healing and economics Covered California has awarded over $2.5 million in grants to several non-profit organizations, including the California Black Cedric, The Entertainer Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) Foundation, to address the vital need to get information out to the black
Black Business News Group P.O. Box 43159 Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA 323-291-7819 Fax: 323-298-5064
www.blackbusinessnews.net PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Harris Dean L. Jones
ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR Kim Anthony
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Linda Ware
PRODUCTION MANAGER Narishima Osei
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dean Jones Linda Ware Richard B. Sutton LaSandra Stratton
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STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg Jennifer Marie Hamilton
PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx Sabir Narishima Osei
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LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2014 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.
see Publisher's Message on page 61 3 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
About
ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS NEWS GROUP… 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 news, the publications of the Black Business News Group impart current local, national and international industry and social trends and news affecting small businesses across the United States of America (USA), providing guides to greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentorship opportunities and social media networks. The goals of the Black Business News Group include: •
promoting USA-based black-owned business enterprises to a world wide audience.
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offering business growth enhancing information on education, exhibitioning, international trading, technology, industry trends, and more.
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exploring major public and private sector contracting methods to educate black-owned and operated enterprises.
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gproviding an affirmative influence for emerging entrepreneurs by sharing innovative de-sign and creative cultural content that expos-es them to the history of black enterprisess and urges them to participate in the USA’s future.
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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 ss enterprises. blacks work, live and operate viable business
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2015 Black Business Association Events
February
Annual Awards Dinner
March
Salute to Black Women
June
Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner Black Business News Group Publications Black Business News Black Business News International Black Business News Travel Africa
Contents
BLACK BUSINESS NEWS…NOVEMBER 2014 GOVERNMENT… 8 11 1 12 1 16 1 18 1
President Thanks Those Serving Ebola Victims Operation United Assistance BuySecure Initiative Launched Loretta Lynch, AG Nominee USPS to Deliver 7 Days a Week During Holidays
ENTERTAINMENT… 22 2
16
BNN Show Biz Buzz
BUSINESS… 28 36 42 44 52 65
BBA 2014 Procurement Summit Collage Profit with Google AdWords-5 Steps Greenlining Offers "Racial Equity Framework" 6 Tips for Your Holiday E-mailing Campaign Darhil Crooks Joins The Atlantic More Christmas Marketing Tips (12)
PUBLIC INTEREST/COMMUNITY… 70 71 75
COLUMNS
3 - Publisher's Message 68 - Take A Look! 112 - Books to Consider... 115 - Calendar 117- Resources SPONSORS 6 - Black Business Association
SPECIAL SECTION… 95
Shopping Gallery Cover image - Phallu Morgan
Of The People: Live From the White House 2015 Donald Payne USAID Fellowship Program Tribute to Herman Russell
INTERNATIONAL… 80
Battling Ebola in West Africa
BUY BLACK
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON START ON PAGE 95 5 November Nove No vemb mber er 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
52
Government
President Obama Thanks U.S. Health Care Workers Fighting Ebola By Tanya Somanader
President Barack Obama delivers remarks during an event with American health care workers fighting Ebola, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
American Heroes Captain Calvin Edwards is a father of four from Harrisburg, PA. On his 29th wedding anniversary, he left home for Liberia with a pillow and the copy of the New Testament he always carries on his deployments. But not before he bought his wife a dozen roses. Dr. Dan Chertow is also an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, who took leave from his position at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) to volunteer with Doctors Without Borders in Liberia, where he cared for more than 200 Ebola patients. Katie Curren led a "disease detective" team to a village in Sierra Leone that was so remote, they had to take canoes to reach it. The chief who met them wore a Pittsburgh Steelers hat, and welcomed their help. She's completed her mission and is on her way home. These are just a few of the extraordinary American health
workers who are willingly and courageously serving on the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. They signed up to leave their homes and their loved ones to head straight into the heart of the epidemic.
Call to Honor On October 29th in the East Room of the White House, President Barack Obama called on all of us to honor them for what they are: "American heroes" -- a "shining
8 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government example of what America means to the world, of what is possible when America leads." When disease or disaster strikes anywhere in the world, the world calls us. And the reason they call us is because of the men and women like the ones who are here today. They respond with skill and professionalism and courage and dedication. And it’s because of the determination and skill and dedication and patriotism of folks like this that I’m confident we will contain and ultimately snuff out this outbreak of Ebola -- because that’s what we do. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is understandably stirring concern at home. But, as the President said, what makes America exceptional is our refusal to hide from the challenges that frighten us most: We don’t react to our fears, but instead, we respond with commonsense and skill and courage. That’s the best of our history -- not fear, not hysteria, not misinformation. We react clearly and firmly, even with others are losing their heads. That’s part of the reason why we’re effective. That’s part of the reason why people look to us. And because of the work that’s being done by folks like this and by folks who are right now, as we speak, in the three affected countries, we’re already seeing a difference. Our U.S. military and health personnel have been instrumental in setting up supply lines, laying down the necessary transportation infrastructure for aid to get into countries that need it most, cutting the testing time for Ebola by days, doubling safe burial practices, and imbuing a stronger sense of confidence that this outbreak can and will be controlled and defeated. Still., the problem has not been solved. There is still a severe and significant outbreak, and it will
take time for countries to battle back. "We've got a long way to go," the President said. But thanks to American leadership, the mood is changing for the better. "That's what's happening because of American leadership, and it is not abstract: it is people who are willing to go there at significant sacrifice to make a difference. That’s American exceptionalism. That’s what we should be proud of. That’s who we are." We cannot erase the threat of Ebola until we stop the outbreak in West Africa. That is a fact that these health care workers understand, and the m i s s i o n America is leading on the international stage. The truth is that we are likely to see possible cases outside of the affected countries -- whether or not we adopt a travel ban or a quarantine. That's the nature of diseases. But here's the good news: We know how to treat this disease. And now that the West African nations of Senegal and Nigeria have been declared Ebolafree, we know that this disease can be contained and defeated if we stay vigilant and committed, and America continues to lead the fight. We’ve got hundreds of Americans from across the country -- nurses, doctors, public health workers, soldiers, engineers, mechanics -- who are putting themselves on the front lines of this fight. They represent citizenship, and patriotism, and public service at its best. They make huge sacrifices
to protect this country that we love. And when they come home, they deserve to be treated properly. They deserve to be treated like the heroes that they are. The kind of progress that will win the battle against Ebola is slow, it's steady, and it's defined by grace under pressure and courage in the face of fear. It will take the compassion and painstaking effort that these health care providers readily offer. "So I put those on notice who think that we should hide from these problems," the President said. "That's not who we are. That's not who I am. That's not who these folks are. This is America. We do things differently." That's what I want to see from us -the pride of a nation that always steps up and gets the job done. America has never been defined by fear. We are defined by courage and passion and hope and selflessness and sacrifice and a willingness to take on challenges when others can’t and others will not, and ordinary Americans who risk their own safety to help those in need, and who inspire, thereby, the example of others -- all in the constant pursuit of building a better world not just for ourselves but for people in every corner of the Earth.
“We don’t react to our fears, but instead, we respond with commonsense and skill and courage. That’s the best of our history -- not fear, not hysteria, not misinformation.”
www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2014/10/29/what-makesamerica-exceptional-presidentobama-thanks-us-health-careworkers-fightin www.youtube.com/ watch?v=7izW8tydtfo#t=39
9 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government
After Beating Ebola, Nurse Nina Pham Shares a Hug with the President By David Hudson
W
hile caring for Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital earlier this month, 26-year-old nurse Nina Pham was also infected with the disease. After first being hospitalized at the Texas hospital, she was later transferred to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland to continue treatment. But today, 15 days after she first tested positive for Ebola, Nina was declared Ebola-free. Shortly after she left the hospital, President Obama welcomed her to the Oval Office. At the NIH Clinical Center earlier today, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, announced that Nina was free of the disease, confirming that five separate tests showed she was free of Ebola. "I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today," Nina said in brief remarks to reporters. "I would first and foremost like to thank God, my family, and friends. Throughout this ordeal, I have put my trust in God and my medical team. I am on
my way back to recovery, even as I reflect on how many others have not been so fortunate." The U.S. continues to lead a comprehensive effort to both enhance our preparedness to respond to Ebola here at home, and also combat the epidemic at its source in West Africa. Find out more details on our effort, and get answers to frequently asked questions about Ebola - www. whitehouse.gov/ebola-response.
How You Can Help Looking for ways to help fight the global spread of Ebola? Regular Americans across the country are helping in a variety of ways right now. Here are a couple options available to you. Sign Up to be a Medical
Volunteer If you're a qualified medical professional and want to volunteer to work in West Africa, the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) can connect you with reputable organizations who are active in the Ebola response. Click here to learn more. The CDC is also developing an introductory safety training course for licensed clinicians who want to work in an Ebola Treatment Unit in Africa. Learn more here. Share Your Idea to Help Combat The Global Spread of Ebola USAID is calling on the global community to come up with practical, cost-effective innovations that can help health care workers on the front lines give better care
10 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government
Operation United Assistance By Ben Watson
T
he Pentagon is beginning a new chapter in its broadening efforts to fight Ebola. A 30-person team of medical specialists training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas are expected to wrap up very soon. The group consists of 15 members of the Army, nine from the Navy and six from the Air Force. They will then enter “oncall status,” ready to deploy within a 72-hour notification anywhere in the United States to train and assist civilian medical personnel should Ebola emerge, as it did at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas in late September.
logistics in Senegal. President Barack Obama has approved up to 3,200 troops for the mission, called “Operation United (www.africom.mil/ Assistance.” operation-united-assistance)
In Liberia, Navy teams have reduced the wait time for diagnosing Ebola from two to five days down to three to five hours, according to WHO, the result of the mobile laboratories processing blood specimens from the Island Clinic in nearby Monrovia. “The first thing we do with a blood sample is inactivate the Ebola virus, making the virus non-infectious and
samples per day.” “Our job is to build Ebola treatment units and train health care workers. There is no mission for us to handle infected people, human remains or medical waste… We will have our own facility separate from the population where we will handle force protection and life support.” Maj. Gen. Williams, commander of U.S. Army Africa, said they’re being careful about the risks involved to troops. “Yesterday, I had my temperature taken, I think, eight times, before I got on and off aircraft, before I went in and out of the embassy, before I went
West Africa Seven mobile laboratories are planned for construction in Liberia, as well as 17 Ebola Treatment Units, or ETUs, in at least seven of the West African nation’s 15 counties. A team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been deployed to Liberia to help construct the ETUs—which should be completed in November. The Liberian Defense Ministry already has teams of their own engineers working alongside American troops building those 100-bed ETUs. There are now almost 700 U.S. troops in Africa helping in the effort to build up Liberia’s lagging medical infrastructure for the Ebola fight—581 are in Liberia and another 117 are helping with
and stop Ebola's spread. Learn more and take action now: www. ebolagrandchallenge.net. Learn About Other Ways to
safer From there, we f for f testing. t ti F th extract the genetic material from the blood before making enough copies that the presence of Ebola can be confirmed. As many as 16 samples can be tested in each of the three mobile labs currently up and running. These labs provide 24-hour turnaround results on samples received from area clinics and healthcare providers, with the capability to process up to 100
outt off my place where I’m l h I’ staying. t i “As long as you exercise basic sanitation and cleanliness sort of protocols using the chlorine wash on your hands and your feet, get your temperature taken, limiting the exposure—no handshaking, those sorts of protocols, the risk is relatively low.”
Contribute For those who wish to donate money or contribute in other ways, USAID is providing information
about NGOs responding to Ebola in West Africa. Get more information from the USAID website here: www. usaid.gov/ebola#help.
www.defenseone.com/threats/2014/10/ us-military-intensifying-fight-againstebola/97277
11 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government
Protecting Americans from Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft By Jeffrey Zients
O
n October 22nd, President Obama signed a new Executive Order — the first part of the new BuySecure initiative — (www.whitehouse.gov/
the-press-office/2014/10/17/executiveorder-improving-security-consumerfinancial-transactions) that takes
critical steps to protect consumers’ financial security and improve confidence in the marketplace. The Executive Order itself will help by assisting victims of identity theft, improving the government’s payment security as a customer and a provider, and accelerating the transition to stronger security technologies and the development of next-generation payment security tools. In his remarks, the President highlighted some of the specific steps that his Administration and the private sector are taking to improve Americans' financial security — and called on Congress again to enact overdue cybersecurity legislation that will protect Americans, particularly by clarifying companies' obligations when sensitive data is breached. Millions of Americans suffer from credit card fraud and identity theft each year, and tens of millions have had their data breached in the last year alone. The President's Executive Order will be an important step in making Americans safer by securing their payments to and from the federal government through Chip and PIN technology. This new technology will apply to both new and existing credit cards issued by the General
Services Administration to government employees, as well as debit cards issued as part of benefit programs like Direct Express. It will also upgrade retail payment card terminals at federal agency facilities to accept Chip and PINenabled cards. With Chip and PIN technologies, credit, debit, and other payment cards will contain embedded microchips instead of magnetic strips, and face-to-face transactions will require consumers to type their personal identification number (PIN), similar to ATM cards. We are being joined in this effort for more secure credit and debit cards by a number of privatesector leaders: • Home Depot, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart will be rolling out secure Chip and PINcompatible card terminals in all their stores — most by January 2015. • In February, American Express will start a new program to support small businesses upgrading their point-of-sale terminals to more secure standards. • Finally, Visa will launch a new program to educate consumers and merchants on chip and other secure technologies, sending
President Barack Obama signs an Execut future, at the Consumer Financial Protect Souza)
experts to 20 cities in a national public service campaign. President Obama also announced additional steps that the government is taking to assist identity theft victims, as well as actions that private-sector companies are taking to help Americans stay on top of
12 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
affected. • Company assistance: MasterCard will provide its customers with free identity theft monitoring and resolution support. • Increased access to credit scores: Citi, in partnership with FICO, will be making FICO credit scores - the same scores Citi Cards uses in lending decisions - available online for free every month to consumers with Citibranded credit cards
ive Order to provide consumers with more tools to secure their financial tion Bureau in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Pete
their financial health and security: • New resources for identity theft victims: The Executive Order will support the Federal Trade Commission in its development of IdentityTheft.gov, a new onestop resource for victims that streamlines the reporting and remediation process with credit
bureaus. • Expanded information sharing: The Executive Order directs expanded information sharing, ensuring Federal investigators are able to regularly report evidence of stolen financial and other information to companies whose customers are directly
As the President said Friday: I want to thank all the business leaders who are choosing to protect their companies and their customers from the kind of hacking that we saw too many times this past year. I want to encourage every retailer, every bank, and every credit card company to join them in this effort. While these are all steps in the right direction there will continue to be a need for ongoing partnership and dialogue within the industry — to bring modern security features to every American consumer, and to develop and promote nextgeneration mobile and other payment security features. That's why the White House is convening a Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection later this year to bring together major stakeholders on consumer financial protection issues to discuss ways to further protect Americans and their financial data. www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/10/17/ protecting-americans-credit-cardfraud-and-identity-theft
13 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
EDUCATION
CAL ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
HOW TO DO BUSINESS IN THE PACIFIC RIM 2014
PRESENTED BY:
According to a report by the Brookings Institute titled “The Emerging Middle Class in Developing Countries”, China, India and Indonesia alone will account for 27% of middle class consumption within 10 large economies within seven years. That’s more than the United States, Japan, Germany and the U.K. combined. By 2016, emerging Asia will account for almost a quarter of global consumer products markets and 37% of total consumer products growth. As it is now, one nation, China, is the second largest luxury brands market in the world, surpassing Japan recently.
DATE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION LOS ANGELES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 350 S. BIXEL STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90017
For Ernst & Young, the Asian consumer is the “center of gravity” for big consumer brands. Are you there, and if so do you have staying power? Are you reducing costs and risk by taking advantage of all these channels and support services to sustain/capture market share and increase revenue?
REGISTRATION FEE
Attend the How to do Business in the Pacific Rim event and learn how your firm can leverage analytics and government funded trade promotion services to increase your revenues from Pacific Rim markets and how to utilize domestic Asian and Pacific Islander (API) consumer and food products preferences and trends as informal channels back into a “country of origin.”
TO REGISTER
Attend, network, ask questions, and get answers! Use this event as a means to securing that competitive advantage in the global market place.
SPONSORS
Members - $45 Non-Members - $55
calasiancc.org
FOR MORE INFO Sam Driggers, CEcD 916-446-7883 sdriggers@calasiancc.org
PARTNERS
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#iamsmallbusiness
Government
President Obama Nominates Loretta Lynch to be the Next Attorney General By Tanya Somanader
President Barack Obama announces his nominee for Attorney General, Loretta E. Lynch, to succeed Eric Holder, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
P
resident Barack Obama has nominated U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to replace Eric Holder as the next Attorney General of the United States, or "the people's lawyer." As the President said: The person in this position is responsible for enforcing our federal laws, including protecting our civil rights. Working with the remarkable men and women of the
Justice Department, the Attorney General oversees the vast portfolio of cases, including counterterrorism and voting rights; public corruption and white-collar crime; judicial recommendations and policy reviews -- all of which impact on the lives of every American, and shape the life of our nation. As one of the longest-serving Attorney Generals in our history, Eric Holder fulfilled these duties
with a commitment to justice, not as an abstract theory but as a principle. Justice is "about how laws interact with the daily lives of our people," the President said. "Whether we can make an honest living, whether we can provide for our families; whether we feel safe in our own communities and welcome in our own country; whether the words that the founders set to paper 238 years ago apply to every one of us
16 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government in our time." Attorney General Holder's fierce commitment to the pursuit of that principle is shared by U.S. Attorney Lynch. The daughter of a school librarian and a fourth-generation Baptist minister, a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, she is a fair and independent lawyer who has headed one of the most prominent U.S. Attorney's offices in the country -- twice. As the head of the Eastern District of New York: She successfully prosecuted the terrorists who plotted the bomb -- plotted to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank and the New York City subway. She has boldly gone after public corruption, bringing charges against public officials in both parties. She’s helped secure
billions in settlements from some of the world’s biggest banks accused of fraud, and jailed some of New York’s most violent and notorious mobsters and gang members. One of her proudest achievements was the civil rights prosecution of the officers involved in the brutal assault of the Haitian immigrant Abner Louima. Loretta might be the only lawyer in America who battles mobsters and drug lords and terrorists, and still has the reputation for being a charming "people person." Driven by the principles of fairness, equality, and justice, Loretta has striven to make a difference for the people she serves. It's in her blood. Her grandfather, a sharecropper in the 1930s, helped folks in his
community who got into trouble with the law and had no recourse under the Jim Crow system. She rode her father's shoulders to his church, where students would meet to organize anti-segregation boycotts. The sense of justice she absorbed as a young girl is what she will bring to bear at the Department of Justice. In accepting the nomination, U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said: Today, I stand before you so thrilled, and, frankly, so humbled to have the opportunity to lead this group of wonderful people who work all day and well into the night to make that ideal a manifest reality, all as part of their steadfast protection of the citizens of this country.
"The Department of Justice is the only Cabinet Department named for an ideal. And this is actually appropriate," U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said. "Because our work is both aspirational, and grounded in gritty reality." 17 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government
USPS, 7 Days a Week: Package Delivery Ramped Up for Holidays By Heather Fletcher
I
t's now almost a 24/7 postal service. For the holidays, the U.S. Postal Service will be delivering packages seven days a week. The announcement comes a day after Amazon announced plans to deliver some packages via taxi, a service that does run 24/7. Responding to the assertion that competition prompted the daily delivery, a USPS spokeswoman indicated that "The decision to deliver seven days a week is an operational one based on our
own increased p a c k a g e volumes. In the announcement release, USPS cites projected "double-digit package volume growth" as its reason for providing daily package delivery from Nov. 17 to Christmas Day in major cities and "high-volume areas." During that time, the USPS expects to deliver 450 to 470 million packages, for a projected 12% increase, the release announces. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says this is "crunch time" for the USPS—a crunch that is being enhanced by growth in e-commerce purchases. "During the holidays, no carrier makes more deliveries to more places than the Postal Service," he says. "And this year, we're raising the bar with enhanced tracking and Sunday delivery."
The one allusion the USPS release does make to UPS and FedEx is that both increased their shipping prices, while the US postal service reduced some of its prices for businesses and frequent shippers. In addition, the USPS didn't raise rates in January. Overall, package delivery revenues are up for USPS by 10%, even as First Class mail volumes drop, Mickey D. Barnett, Chairman of the USPS Board of Governors recently told Congress. www.targetmarketingmag.com/ article/usps-7-days-week-packagedelivery-ramped-up-holidays/1
• • •
F
or expected delivery of holiday mail and packages by Christmas, the Postal Service recommends keeping the following
mailing and shipping deadlines in mind: • Dec. 2—First Class mail international/Priority Mail
• •
international Dec. 10—Priority Mail Express International Dec. 15—Standard Post Dec. 17—Global Express Guaranteed Dec. 20—First Class mail/Priority Mail (domestic) Dec. 23—Priority Mail Express (domestic)
18 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government
Michelle Howard Becomes Navy’s First Female FourStar Admiral By Courtney Connley
T
he Navy announced Tuesday morning its promotion of Michelle Howard from vice admiral to admiral, making her the first female four-star admiral and first African American to hold this position. In her promotion ceremony held at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, Howard paid tribute to the nation’s service members, as U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus applauded her latest accomplishment as a sign of how far we’ve come. “She is also a great example
of how much we as a nation and a Navy lose if we put artificial barriers in,” Mabus told the crowd. “If we don’t judge people based on their ability, based on their capability. I hope I have always been passionate about that, but I know the intensity has increased since I am the father of three daughters, and I refuse to believe that there are any ceilings for them, glass or otherwise.” Prior to her latest accomplishment, Howard was the first African American woman to serve as a three-star officer in the U.S. military
November is Entrepreneurship Month
and command a U.S. Navy ship. Howard’s accomplishments have also been honored at the NAACP Image Awards, as she was a 2013 Chairman’s Award recipient. www.blackenterprise.com/career/ michelle-howard-first-female-fourstar-admiral/
Payton, the first female president of the United States, in NBC’s new drama series “State of Affairs,” which debuts Nov. 17. She stars opposite Katherine Heigl, who plays a trusted CIA analyst who prepares the president’s daily briefing on By Linda Ware world affairs. “In ‘State of Affairs’ we’re dealing with real issues facing everyone. I’m not saying the ctor, director, and producer Robert Townsend stories are ripped from the headlines, but I think they are has released the popular tearjerker classic very familiar, ones that are unfolding and will engage movie "The viewers,” Woodard said. Plus, she likes the “idea of Five Heartbeats," a getting accustomed to hearing, ‘Madam President.’ ” semi-autobiographical “I do like the idea of a woman president.” piece; reminiscent of Also in the cast of the series is Courtney B. Vance. the 60s R & B male Vance has been cast as Marshall Payton, the First groups and the ups Gentleman of the United States. He is the latest and downs of the music addition to the cast. industry on BlueRay. This classic continues riter-director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love to be a favorite amongst & Basketball and The Secret Life of Bees) audiences and one of humanizes the iconic hypersexualized pop the most talked about films in the industry.
BBN Show Biz Buzz
A
W
A
lfre Woodard is excited about returning to television this season. Woodard portrays Constance
Courtney B. Vance
Alfre Woodard
star in Beyond the Lights, an intelligent, moving, and never-schmaltzy romance set in the world of music videos. Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Noni, a young singer from England who finds herself exploited by her momager (Minnie Driver) and on the verge of ending it all on her hotel balcony when she's rescued by a handsome and politically ambitious law-enforcement officer played by Nate Parker. Beyond the Lights is a keen exploration of race and gender in the music industry and the alienation artists can feel from their public images.
22 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Dear White People
Nate Parker & Gugu MbathaRaw in "Beyond the Lights"
Gina Prince-Bythewood
W
inner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival's Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent, Dear White People is a sly, provocative satire of race relations in the age of Obama. Writer/director Justin Simien follows a group of African American students as they navigate campus life and racial politics at a predominantly white college in a sharp and funny feature film debut.
The film stars Tyler James Williams ("Everybody Hates Chris," Peeples), Tessa Thompson (For Colored Girls, "Veronica Mars"), Kyle Gallner (A Nightmare on Elm Street, CBGB), Teyonah Parris ("Mad Men," They Came Together), Brandon P. Bell ("Hollywood Heights"), Malcolm Barrett (The Hurt Locker), Brittany Curran ("Chicago Fire"), Marque Richardson ("The Newsroom")
Justin Simien and Dennis Haysbert ("24," Far From Heaven).
23 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
E
mpire, a new series on Fox, is described as a unique family drama set in the world of a hip-hop empire and centering on music mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard). With Timbaland serving as a songwriter and song producer, the series will feature both original and current music. The Empire
cast also includes Taraji P. Henson as Lucious’ ex-wife and business partner, Malik Yoba, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Y. Gray, Trai Byers, Grace Gealey, Kaitlin Doubleday and recurring player Gabourey Sidibe. The pilot was directed by Lee Daniels and penned by Lee Daniels’ and Danny Strong.
R
ed Band Society, another new series on Fox, follows a group of teenagers who meet as patients in the children’s wing of a hospital and become unlikely allies and friends. The cast includes Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, Dave Annable, Griffin Gluck, Charlie Rowe, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Zoe Levin, Ciara Bravo and Nolan Sotillociara.
Business
Entrepreneur Alert: 6 Reasons Working For Free Can Get You Paid from Who's Who Publishing
A
re you a freelancer? If you are, you may be working whenever or wherever you can get work. Working for free benefits with entrepreneurial aspirations can get you a return on your time investment. You may have to forego getting paid for a short time to make more money later. Here are a few new ways of looking at making the leap:
later. This is a win-win situation.
You are learning something new: Give away your services in return of obtaining a new trade or enhancing your skills. You are planting a seed: Plants seeds and your rewards will be many. You help them and they will reward you. It’s the law of the land. You are doing what you love: Make a career out of doing what you love.
You are making a spot at the table: No matter where you are sitting at the table everyone will get fed somehow.
You are providing a free lunch: People never expect anything for free. “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” You will be appreciated and deserving of your payday. Working for free may seem like a bad idea at first, but it will surely pay off. Consider these six ways of thinking above and you will bring the odds into your favor.
You are creating space: There are companies that are in need of your services but don’t have the funds to pay for these services yet. Do the work now to get paid
www.whoswhopublishing.com/index.php/newsroom/ top-news/1008-6-reasons-working-for-free-can-getyou-paid
Quote of Note "An open Internet is essential to the American economy, and increasingly to our very way of life. By lowering the cost of launching a new idea, igniting new political movements, and bringing communities closer together, it has been one of the most significant democratizing influences the world has ever known. “Net neutrality” has been built into the fabric of the Internet since its creation — but it is also a principle that we cannot take for granted. We cannot allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to restrict the best access or to pick winners and losers in the online marketplace for services and ideas. That is why today, I am asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to answer the call of almost 4 million public comments, and implement the strongest possible rules to protect net neutrality."
Barack Obama 34 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
RIO 2016 OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Partnership & Contract Opportunities For a list of current Rio 2016 Olympic Sponsors visit: http://rio2016.com/en/organising-committee/partners
Your American Contact: joel.Reynoso@trade.gov
For information on the Games visit http://export.gov/brazil/games/index.asp
Grow With
A crowdfunding platform for projects and ideas benefiting the AfricanAmerican community. www.blackstartup.com
Verizon is joining forces with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and a number of other businesses and community organizations to help promote safe driving through
It Can Wait. http://itcanwait.com
Business
The 5 Simple Steps to Profit With Google AdWords By Phil Frost for Target Marketing Great guidelines but the "Devil is in the Details." Find talented people or companies to help you.
G
oogle AdWords (www. google.com/adwords) search advertising is one of the best marketing opportunities for businesses. Where else can you display your product or service to prospects that are literally searching for what you have to offer? Think about that for a minute. Every day your prospects are going to Google.com and searching for your products or services. They are no longer flipping through the Yellowpages. To find a dentist in Boston, they'll search "dentist in Boston." To find a plumber nearby, they'll search "plumber nearby." You probably do this as well, right? Here's the best part—AdWords gives you the ability to get your business in front of all of those prospects at the exact moment they are looking to buy! It's not like other forms of advertising where you pray some of the people who see the ad will actually need your product or service at that time. No, with AdWords you know the time is right; It's just a matter of whether or not you're going to show up with a compelling offer.
Succss Guide With all that said, you may already know that many businesses struggle to get AdWords campaigns profitable. It's not rocket science, but there are some common mistakes
you need to avoid, and in this article I'm going to walk you through the 5 steps to set up a profitable Google AdWords campaign. Whether you're just getting started with Google AdWords or you've been advertising for years, I recommend you use this as a checklist to ensure your campaign is as profitable as possible.
Step 1: Know Your Numbers I talk to a lot of businesses that want to dive right into AdWords, especially after they received a coupon for free advertising credits. Please, please, please do NOT rush to get a campaign live! It's absolutely critical to your success to take a few minutes to ensure the numbers make sense. What do I mean by know your numbers? I mean is it even remotely possible for you to be profitable based on your average value per customer and the estimated cost per click of relevant keywords? If you already know your typical sales conversion rates, then this is fairly straightforward. Take your average customer value and multiply by your overall conversion rate. For example, let's say you
have an e-commerce business and a customer is worth about $100. You also know that about 2% of all visitors will buy. That means a visitor is worth $2 ($100 x 2%) and you could afford to pay up to $2 per click before you lose money on your advertising. If you have offline sales via phone or in-person visits, then you'll need to estimate how many phone calls you'll receive per visit and how many of those phone calls will convert to sales. For example, if a customer is worth $1,000, 5% of website visitors will call you and you'll close about 10% of those calls, then you could afford to pay up to $5 per click ($1,000 x 5% x 10%).
In the next step we'll see if your maximum cost per click is going to work for you based on Google's estimated cost per click of relevant keywords.
Step 2: Choose the Right Keywords Keywords are the phrases typed into Google.com. As advertisers, we need to pick the best keywords to ensure our ads will display in front of our best customers. Plus, we need to compare the estimated cost per click with the maximum we calculated in step No. 1 so we know the ads could be profitable. There are three keys to choosing
36 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business the right keywords for your business:
Step 3: Write Compelling Ads
1. Searched in Google. This should be obvious... If no one is searching then you're not going to drive any sales. 2. Searched by your ideal prospects. Don't cast a really wide net. Stay laser focused with keywords that only your ideal prospects would search in Google. 3. Search by your prospect in order to make a purchase. As I mentioned earlier, the best thing about AdWords is that you can get your business in front of prospects looking to buy your prospect or service. This is true, but there are also people searching in Google purely for information and research. A common mistake is targeting "researchintent" keywords. I recommend launching your campaign with only "buying-intent" keywords to give yourself the best shot to
At this point, you should have a list of "buying-intent" keywords that are not too expensive for the product or service you're selling. Next, we need to draft compelling ads that will stand out from all of the competitors already advertising on your target keywords. Do a search and review the competition. How could you stand out from the crowd? Can you make a more enticing offer? Can you match the benefits of your product or service to exactly what your prospect is
searching for? Don't worry about closing the sale in your ads. The goal here is to capture attention and get your prospect to click through to your landing page.
Step 4: Create HighConverting Landing Pages
be profitable.
When your prospect clicks on your ad, then she'll "land" on your landing page. One of the most common mistakes I see is advertisers using their homepage as the landing page. Do NOT use your homepage! Seriously, write that down. Create a unique page on your website that is 100% focused on the keyword and ad copy. If you're promoting a
special discount, then your landing page needs to be focused on that same discount. If you're promoting a special free shipping deal, then guess what, your landing page must reiterate that same message. If you do not have a congruent message from keyword to ad to landing page, then I guarantee you will struggle to create a profitable campaign.
Step 5: Set Up Conversion Tracking OK,
you should have your campaign ready to go live, but there is one more step you can't forget. You must set up conversion tracking so you can measure exactly how many leads and sales are generated directly from your AdWords campaign. To track forms on your site, simply set up the builtin AdWords conversion tracking. To track phone calls, you can use the AdWords website call tracking or a call tracking tool like LogMyCalls. And finally, to track off-line sales you'll need a way to track leads from AdWords and then document when those leads convert to sales either over the phone or in-person. A simple spreadsheet works fine, or you can use a CRM (customer relationship management) system like Salesforce, ACT, or Infusionsoft.
That's It Alright, that's it! If you follow the 5 steps outlined above, then you will be well on your way to profitably advertising your business with Google AdWords. To get even more tips, then go grab our Ultimate Google AdWords Checklist at www.mainstreetroi.com/ultimateadwords-checklist. www.targetmarketingmag.com/ article/5-simple-steps-profitgoogle-adwords#
37 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business
Getting Ready for 2015: 5 Easy Steps to Attract Prosperity From Mind Movies
D
o you often find yourself attracting more of the things you don’t want instead of the things you do want? If you’re tired of not having the lifestyle you desire, filled with prosperity, happiness and fulfillment, follow these 5 simple steps to turn things around… starting today!
Step 1. Get clear on what you really want. Did you know that one of the main reasons people don’t have what they want in life is because they’re not clear on what they truly want? This sounds very simple, but it’s extremely important that you’re crystal clear on what your main goal in life really is. Many people say they want to have more money or a new car, but deep down what they’re seeking is more freedom, time or security. So what do you really want?
Step 2. Act from a prosperous mindset. How do you act and feel when you have more money than you can spend? Well, this is exactly how you should act and feel when you’re broke too. Even though this may sound challenging, remember that you’ll only attract what you keep focusing on. Your subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what’s an imaginary event. Start by visualizing yourself as a prosperous person and soon you’ll start feeling and acting like one, and therefore you’ll attract more prosperity directly into your life!
Step 3. Remove your negative beliefs. Do you ever feel guilty about having more money than others? Do you believe you have to work very hard to be
successful? If your answer is yes, then you may have negative beliefs around money and prosperity and it’s important that you address them right away. Acknowledging them is the first step to overcoming them, so you’re on the right path. :)
Step 4. Be open to receiving. Every night before going to bed, make a list of all the things you’re grateful for. Being appreciative of everything that you have will open you up to receive even more abundance from the universe.
Step 5. Take action. Manifesting is a skill that you will master by putting all of these steps into action, consistently. For me, learning how to manifest and attract the things I want in life has transformed my reality, and if you let it, it can transform yours too. Natalie ~ Mind Movies https://twitter.com/mindmovies1
38 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
TO RECEIVE COMPUTER Attend 3 Hour Boot Camp Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm 4pm – 7pm Saturday 11am – 2pm Locations: Vary – Call For Schedule Questions: Call (323)754-3116 or Email: info@laoic.org
F AC T SHE E T
Covered California
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40 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
A Short History, an Ambitious Future California has an important role to play in ensuring that Covered California is successful. Working together with federal, state and community partners, Covered California wants millions of Californians to get aÎ?ordaEle health care coverage. With more Californians covered, the state, our neighEors and our families will all Ee aEle to make healthy choices that EeneČ´t us all.
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41 ď‚ą November 2014 ď‚ą Black Business News ď‚ą www.blackbbusinessnews.net ď‚ą 1-323-291-7819
Business
Connecting the Dots: Federal Reserve Chair Yellen on Diversity and Policy By Danielle Beavers
I
won’t lie to you: Being a diversity advocate in the financial sector can sometimes be maddening. I can’t tell you how many feelgood speeches I’ve sat through, shallow diversity trainings I’ve heard about, or rainbow posters I’ve seen as “evidence” of an organization’s commitment to diversity & inclusion. These intentions, though well meaning, miss the real point: Diversity is more than “brown faces in high places.” Diversity is about integrating a full understanding of the consumer base, typically gained through lived experiences, into decision-making. And when diversity is adequately and strategically realized, all communities equitably benefit — from how a company markets products, to how the government regulates the economy. In other words, diversity is about how
end user are made. Today, I’m thrilled to say that arguably the most influential regulator in the world, Chair Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve System, took a meaningful step by making that critical connection. The most important element of Chair Yellen’s speech at the National Summit on Diversity in the Economics Profession (www. federalreserve.gov/newsevents/ conferences/diversityconf.htm) was: “All of you know that there has been a fair amount of public debate in recent years about the health of the economic profession, prompted in part by the failure of many economists to comprehend the dire threats and foresee the damage of the financial crisis. Did the economics profession recruit and promote the individuals best able to bring the energy, the fresh
policies and practices that affect the
insights, and the renewal that every
field and every body of knowledge need to remain healthy?” Chair Yellen also was clear that, “these are not idle questions,” something the Greenlining Institute (http://greenlining.org) and our coalition know too well. For years, Greenlining has been asking these very questions and highlighting why diversity is critical to a healthy economy. In fact, we asked similar questions three weeks ago when our coalition met with Chair Yellen, the other Governors, OCC Comptroller Curry, FDIC Chairman Gruenberg and other key regulatory heads during our annual trip to Washington, D.C. And we know that questions are not enough. That’s why we published The Racial Equity Framework (http://greenlining.org/ issues/2013/omwi-refreport/), a comprehensive guide to help policymakers, step-by-step, through evaluating and creating diversity and inclusion within their organization. We’ve seen effective frameworks produce
42 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business equitable results for communities of color across a number of programs, and encourage financial regulators and companies to unlock their full potential and utilize this or other tools. The good news is the DoddFrank financial reform law created 20 offices with this exact purpose— The Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWIs) (http://greenlining.org/issues/2014/ offices-minority-women-inclusionsection-342-dodd-frank-act). These offices face the difficult but vital task of diversifying their federal financial regulatory agencies and over 70,000 financial institutions. The bad news is that the policy that
created them didn’t given them a lot of power or resources to make their jobs any easier. Greenlining has been pushing the leaders of the OMWIs’ respective agencies to support them, by making the case for why diversity is so important to the health of our nation. Clearly we should no longer have to make this case, as the financial crisis of 2008 clearly demonstrated the consequences of a regulatory system that failed to hold financial institutions accountable and protect consumers from a precarious lending environment. Yet even today, the general lot of regulators and financial institutions have yet to fully accept the value proposition of
diversity in the workplace. We commend Chair Yellen for her leadership in publicly communicating that more diverse regulators will lead to a better and more responsive government that can serve the interests and needs of a diverse nation. We urge her peers to follow suit. But you can be sure we’ll be expecting more than just insightful speeches. Once we get regulators to “talk the talk,” you can be sure we will continue pushing for them to “walk the walk.” http://greenlining.org/blog/2014/ connecting-dots-federal-reserve-chairyellen-diversity-policy
www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small
http://americarecyclesday.org 43 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
6 Last-Minute Tips for Your Holiday Email Program By Jose Cebrian for Retail Online Integration
T
he holidays will be upon us before we know it. For retailers, this is the make-orbreak time of the year. The stress levels start to increase after a summer during which many brands solidified plans, made upgrades to their websites and more. So, what can you control now to make the season go more smoothly, save some time and drive more revenue? Here are six tips for your holiday email program:
1. Get rid of text versions of your email campaigns. They're not worth the time to create or review. If someone feels terribly strongly about them, just create a generic one that can be used for all emails, but even that isn't worth the effort. If you need proof, just run a report on how many clicks you get from text-only emails. Use the time saved to work on the below steps.
2. Get your segments set up by activity level. While you still have some time, and before the pressure to mail your entire list every day is fully upon you, segment your lists so you know what you have to work with. Segment your lists into groups based on email engagement (i.e., last open or click). Some call them hot, warm or cold segments, others call them engaged, disengaged or unengaged. Regardless of what you call them, the point is that you segment your list based on the last time they engaged with your email. Segment definitions vary by brand, but here are some common
definitions: A hot segment are those subscribers that engaged with your email in the last 90 days. Warm could be email engagement between 91 days and 180 days, and cold is anything 180-plus days. You'll also want to segment out new to file, which are email addresses acquired in a defined period of time (e.g., the last month). These segments can be overlaid and used in conjunction with any demographic, domain-specific or persona-based segments you may already have. There are a great deal of additional important analytics that can propel an email program forward, but without more resources to translate analytics insights into targeting and creative, that may need to be a Q1 project. The reason to segment by activity level is twofold: • You want to enhance your deliverability reputation to the highest level you can. This will help you get more email into inboxes during the heart of the holiday season, which means more people will see your messages and more desired actions will occur. Do this by mailing less — don't necessarily eliminate — to your disengaged and unengaged groups. • There's nothing new about deliverability being critical to an email program, but many programs don't have key lists readily available to make changes to sequencing or throttling when campaigns are ready to deploy.
For example, if you run into deliverability issues, you'll need to throttle your best responders by domain and you won't want to wait for that segmentation to be done. Have it ready. If you have a large number of unengaged subscribers, you should consider running it through a cleansing service to eliminate unmailable addresses. And of course, be careful mailing less engaged groups. There's value in those addresses because they'll drive some incremental revenue, but they shouldn't be treated with the same cadence as your hot and warm groups. By segmenting, you'll be able to quantify the impact of those groups on both revenue and deliverability. You can also create a subsegment of past holiday online buyers that are unengaged or disengaged. These are the people that are generally unresponsive but purchased last year. They may be seasonal customers and should be considered a better group than that of completely unengaged. It's important to stress that someone who purchased offline isn't the same. While it's very true that promotion in one channel can drive action in another, deliverability needs to be considered here.
44 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business 3. Experience what the customer experiences. Lots of times we're so busy in our day-to-day projects that we don't stop to understand the customer experience and how they interact with email. Since the holidays are a heavy activity season, it's important to understand how customers interact with email in order to identify small incremental changes that can be made in advance of the holidays. Go through the signup process in-store and on your website. Understand what the customer experiences. You only have a short while until sites and technology are in lockdown and you won't be able to make changes. Buy something. Get the order confirmation email. Check the shipping notice. Do a password reset. Check the speed of a welcome email. For that matter, check the full welcome stream. Is it on brand? What's the offer? And of course, make sure you have web analytics tracking your emails. I'm always surprised how few transactional emails have tracking in them. This is legitimate email program revenue that should count. A little tip: People who reset their passwords are trying to do something — usually buy something!
4. Use website analytics data and search terms to make decisions about your email content. Promote things that people are using or buying. Using top search terms can help you improve subject lines. Look at your top-selling products and must-have items and promote those in your emails as anchor products. There will always be a conflict between internal buyers and the email team, but if your incentive is based on revenue, sell things that people are buying — not what was overbought. If you need to, create a separate email to
promote overstocked items.
5. View your email list as an asset that's useful beyond email. Email addresses can be used for more than just email, as they're a form of online identity and may be used to target your customers on other sites, including Facebook and other social networks. This means that in addition to your traditional outbound email campaigns, you can proactively drive both reach and frequency by extending the conversation via a display campaign on a site you might expect your customers to frequent. One of the easiest ways to implement this is by setting up display retargeting as part of your outbound email program. Why do this? Well, if you mail 100 people, you might have 20 people open and only three click through. Retargeting is a way to connect with those 17 people with your messages as they browse. Connecting your email program with your display advertising initiatives is a great way to extend reach and increase engagement. I do, however, highly recommend connecting with your legal and/or privacy team prior to launching display retargeting to ensure this tactic falls within both corporate policy as well your customer-facing privacy policy. One key element is to understand under what permission standard the email address was collected and how that aligns with using it in another channel to communicate with your customer.
increases to benefit your email program. Make sure you have an email address sign-up button prominently on your site. Be ready to capitalize on increased site traffic for getting permissions for email and SMS. Most online retailers have their email signup below the fold on the homepage, if at all. It's still rare to see a SMS signup. Of course, it's better to use homepage real estate to drive a purchase, but if 90 percent of people come to your site and don't buy, get them to sign up for something that's addressable and of value. The holidays are exciting and stressful times. Your plans are ready. You're set. However, there's more you can do to get prepared.
Use these tips to free up some time, get through some bumps, acquire more email addresses, and create additional reach and frequency. www.retailonlineintegration. com/article/6-last-minutetips-for-your-holiday-emailprogram/1?e=lion.comm@ hotmail.com#utm_source=todaytarget-marketing&utm_ medium=enewsletter_headline_ story5&utm_campaign=2014-10-30
6. Use holiday site traffic
45 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business
Regina Faison, Owner, Faison Wealth & Retirement
W
hen you initially meet Regina Faison, you may think she's had it all together and has always been a very successful financial advisor for more than 20 years. Well, that's hardly how her life path has been.. The youngest of five and raised by a single mother, Regina learned early on the importance of God, family and faith. Regina recalls growing up in poverty, but remembers all of the love more, as her mother instilled in her and her brothers and sisters. “I remember we lived in a one bedroom apartment over a gas station back in New Jersey when I was only 7 years old”. Those were some of the most memorable and best times, Regina recalls. Even though she had a void of growing up without her father, the love of her mother saw her through tough times. Having grown up without a father, Regina always wanted more for her own kids and was looking forward to the day she would marry and have a family of her own. She met the love of her life, Derrick, (a professional football player at the time) when she was only 21 years old and it wasn't long before they married and had two beautiful sons. “The experience I had with Derrick going through the NFL was one that was a life lesson for us both”, Regina recalls. She smiles as she recalls Derrick’s jokes (as he was a practical joker and always made her laugh). He always said, “You know what the
NFL stands for, right”? “Not for Long”! He always said he would have never traded that experience for the world as it prepared him for life and its challenges. Derrick, having played sports all of his life, had yet to find his true passion and calling in life after football, which was being an educator. He received his Master’s degree in education and was one of the youngest and brightest educators in OC Department ACCESS, which is alternative education. Regina’s life changed in an instant, when she lost her husband (Derrick) of almost 16 years at the young age of 36. So, in an instant, she became a single mother of 7 and 9 year old sons. Ironically, she and Derrick had just purchased their home only months before he passed unexpectedly. Regina, had been working on her family’s own planning for and had started to put in place insurance (for family protection as well as mortgage protection (so that the house would be paid off in the event that she or Derrick passed unexpectedly, so that the other would not be left with a huge mortgage). As you know, mortgages for married couples are usually dependent on both incomes, not just one. Or, if the one of the spouses is the main breadwinner, it’s even more important that this protection be in place. In Regina’s case, both she and Derrick worked and their incomes combined were dependent on the household expenses for their family. Sadly, Derrick passed just 2 days before their medical exams were expected for their insurance, so the end result was that Regina was left with a huge mortgage to pay on her own, less the additional income (from Derrick) that she was dependent on to keep everything in order. Everything now was 100% dependent on her income alone with no help or any additional excess savings for this type of sudden tragedy. Faced with a difficult dilemma of “should I stay in California and finish raising the kids, or move back east with my family for help”? Regina decided to stay in California (in their same home) and let her sons go to school where they were most comfortable. It was important to her not to uproot her sons from the only home they knew, as she felt they had been through enough already. This decision came at a huge cost though. Regina had to start over financially and had to consolidate all of the debt (that was jointly owned). She had to do it in order to keep her home so that they did not have to move. It was a sacrifice that she made for her family, and would do it again if she had to. After another life event having to do with her own
46 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
health and well- being came up in 2010, she decided to leave one of the biggest wire houses on Wall Street to start her own business independently so she could service her clients better. It gave her more freedom and access to service her client the way she felt best and not be tied to any proprietary products, which is common with the larger firms. Usually when advisors leave a big wire house, it is planned well in advance, but for Regina, it was a life choice that she made suddenly without any planning in advance, a huge risk, but it worked out. She walked out on faith and never looked back. Many have asked her how she had the fortitude to leave like she did unplanned, and she “simply responded “it was one of the toughest, yet the easiest decisions I ever had to make” – it was a life choice for her, and she wanted to be able to service her clients the way she knew best without any regrets as well as be here for her own children. Regina has set up a foundation (Derrick Faison Foundation) in her husband’s memory to increase awareness of heart disease and educate the community on life-saving skills and openly shares her story to help others. Both her sons are active and involved with the foundation as well and they are proud to do work in their father’s legacy. She continues to count her blessings every day and is thankful that she is still here and succeeding in this business (as it has not been easy with the ever-changing markets and industry), not to mention being a minority (an African American Woman). Regina has two passions in life (besides her amazing sons, spoken like a proud mama!) – “To share her personal story on the financial side to help others in financial distress and life’s challenges (as she has been there and walked that path) and you can overcome any hurdle. People are very comfortable talking to Regina because firstly, she has either been through it personally herself and can understand and secondly, she NEVER judges anyone! One never know where one will be tomorrow, so if one is on top today, that doesn’t mean one will be there tomorrow, and vice versa, if one is on the bottom, one can be on top just as easily! You can’t control life’s struggles and adversity, but the one thing you can control is YOU and how you react to it. Regina adds, “God always has a plan and HE will get you to where you are supposed to be, just trust and walk in faith”. Regina’s other passion is to share her story of her loss with the community and help educate families on the dangers of heart disease and promote everyone to get annual heart screenings, as there are so many walking around with heart disease and they have no idea that they even have it! Regina’s husband, Derrick was playing a pickup game of men’s basketball when
he collapsed suddenly and went into cardiac arrest. He never regained consciousness. Sadly, her sons were with their father that fateful day when he was taken. Today, they are both thriving in basketball, as “we feel he is with them in every game”, Regina says. The foundation donates life saving devices (AED’s – automated external defibrillators) to schools and in the community to help keep our young athletes safe. Our foundation donated an AED to the gym where Derrick died, “so we ensure no other life will be lost at that gym”, Regina adds. Regina says that her struggles and path that she had to walk, she feels was to make her an even better advisor, as she makes sure that all of her clients families and retirement are properly secure. She openly shares her story with all of her clients and people she meets so that they can learn and possibly avoid going through what she experienced. “Going through adversity build character and makes one stronger”, Regina always says. With every new client she meets, she always starts off the relationship with a “life plan” before even getting into any investments or recommendations, she takes the time to “listen” to her client’s life goals, hopes and dreams and then puts a plan together so that they aspire to those goals. Regina is honored to be a part of helping her client’s life dreams come true through being their trusted advisor and partner. Anything is possible and it is never too late to make all your goals become a reality! You just have to have a plan, a trusted partner to work with, and above all “keep your faith”. Remember, things happen exactly as they are supposed to, so just walk the path that is placed in front of you. For more information on Regina and her services: • Visit www.faisonwealth.com • Office location: 3070 Bristol Street, Suite 500, Costa Mesa, CA 92630 • Office Phone: 949-200-8212 • Email Address: regina@faisonwealth.com • For appointments: email service@faisonwealth.com or call 949-939-1194 • Derrick Faison Foundation – www.dfaison.org
Affiiations Regina is a member of the BBA (Black Business Association) Member of the LEAPS (Life threatening events in pediatric sports) through the OCDE (Orange County Department Education) – focusing on keeping our youth safe in participation in sports in schools. Disclaimer: Securities, and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Woodbury Financial Services P.O. Box 64284*St. Paul, MN 55164*- 800-800-2638 Faison Wealth and Retirement Services and Woodbury Financial are not affiliated entities."
FOR
Thanksgiving Day
OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION
The Permanence Project is Rapidly Growing! During the 44th Annual Legislative Conference, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) launched enrollment for our new online community of policy makers, thought leaders and civically engaged people: the Permanence Project. The Permanence Project is built on a cloud-based platform, enabling users to exchange ideas and information to address critical, long-term challenges affecting black communities. The Permanence Project will offer resources and real-time updates on public policy issues including health care, employment, education and more. It will also feature news, reports, research materials, commentary, editorials, updates, and customizable alerts. Our inaugural partner in this initiative, Young Invincibles, is a national organization committed to mobilizing and expanding opportunities for young Americans between 18 and 34 years of age. As of today, more than 400 people have signed up. Be among the pioneers who have already joined this oneof-kind online community.
Sign up for the Permanence Project today! www.cbcfinc.org/permanenceproject
Spring 2015 Internships! Calling all scholars! The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Leadership Institute for Public Service is now accepting applications for the Spring 2015 Communications and Emerging Leaders Internship Programs. Program participants receive housing in Washington, D.C., a stipend, office placements, and opportunities to meet and interact with lawmakers and leaders working in all branches of government. The application deadline is November 14, 2014. Apply today at: www.cbcfinc.org/what-we-do/leadership-institute/internships.html
Business
Darhil Crooks Joins The Atlantic as Art Director By James Sturdivant
D
arhil Crooks, formerly creative director at Ebony and Esquire, has joined The Atlantic to oversee art direction across the brand's myriad platforms. The job includes guiding the look of the print magazine, website and successful Web properties The Atlantic Wire and The Atlantic Cities. Art direction duties had been
temporarily overseen by design firm Pentagram, which produced the muchtalked about "What, Me Marry?" cover in November. Crooks brings experience in cover-to-cover magazine redesign and app development. His work at Esquire garnered consecutive ASME nominations for design in 2010 and 2011, including for best mobile edition. Esquire also received a 2007 Magazine of the Year nomination from the Society of Publication Designers. "Darhil's imagination and passion for ideas-driven work make him the perfect creative force for The
Atlantic," Atlantic Editor in Chief James Bennet said in a press release. Asked about hiring a crossplatform designer, Bennet said the goal is brand consistency. We're not at all interested in creating look-alike products," he told Publishing Executive. "But we do want a consistent underlying aesthetic for The Atlantic brand, just as we aim for all our writing, on whatever platform, to convey the intelligence and energy that is at the core of The Atlantic.". www.pubexec.com/article/darhilcrooks-joins-the-atlantic-artdirector/1
Darhil Crooks redesigned Ebony and designed the November issue of the Atlantic.
52 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
For Sponsorship Opportunities visit http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102600104296-590/JOB_FAIR_+2014.pdf
The U.S. Commercial Service is proud to present this unprecedented national series of business development conferences to help U.S. companies identify and win new business in the international marketplace. Each DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS event will feature visiting U.S. Commercial Diplomats from the countries highlighted below:
DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: Free Trade Agreement Countries Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Singapore, and South Korea Detroit - September 9-10, 2014
DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: Greater China and Gateway Countries Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenyang, Singapore, Taiwan, and Mongolia New York - October 7-8, 2014
DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: The Americas Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay Charlotte - October 29-31, 2014
DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: Sub-Saharan Africa Angola, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania Atlanta - November 5-6, 2014
DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: Healthcare & Life Sciences Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, European Union (Regulations), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudia Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam Minneapolis - November 17-18, 2014 Contact us at any time at DiscoverGlobalMarkets@trade.gov
56 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Conference Overview: Join the U.S. Commercial Service, the export promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, and the Georgia District Export Council for DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA This premier business conference will help you to transform market potential to market success. The two-day business conference has been designed for U.S. executives who want to explore new export market development strategies, innovative tools to promote competitiveness and success, and the dynamic and emerging markets of Sub-Saharan Africa. DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA will feature highranking U.S. government officials, visiting U.S. commercial diplomats posted at U.S. Embassies throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, and international business leaders from the private sector. Experts on trade finance, market entry strategies, risk mitigation, and a broad array of industry sectors, including oil and gas, agribusiness, healthcare, information technology, franchising, and consumer goods, will alert attendees to recent and anticipated developments that will impact where—and how—to develop new business opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA also provides ample networking opportunities with U.S. trade officials and diplomats, industry leaders and other U.S. exporters. For more information and registration go to: http://export.gov/georgia/dgmsubsaharanafrica/index.asp Contact us at any time at
DiscoverGlobalMarkets@trade.gov
Business
Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC)
favorable rates through the federal government. •And the national economy benefits as the small businesses financed by SBICs continue to create jobs and generate tax revenues.
Where can I learn more? Visit the SBIC Program pages ( w w w. s b a . g o v / c o n t e n t / s b i c program-overview-0), including the FAQ, for more information about the SBIC Program. Still have questions? Email askSBIC@sba. gov.
D
id you know that the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program has been helping high-growth small businesses get financing since 1958? That's right – for more than 50 years, SBICs have facilitated the flow of long-term capital to America’s businesses. There are thousands of small business success stories, but here are a few you probably recognize: Costco, Apple and Staples – just to name a few.
funds (the SBICs) that finance small businesses.
How does it work?
What are the perks?
SBA doesn't finance businesses directly. For the SBIC program, the Small Business Administration (SBA) partners with private investors to capitalize professionally-managed investment
•Small businesses can receive equity capital, long-term loans and expert management assistance. •Investment managers can add to their own private investment capital with funds borrowed at
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MOBILE BLACK BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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Download the App Add your Business Information Be found by new & old clients
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DO IT TODAY! http://aroundthewayapp.com
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http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org 60 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Publisher's Message Publisher's Message from page 3
community about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For information on how to navigate through the various service providers please contact the CBCC at 916-463-0178 voice 916-463-0190 fax. In Los Angeles, mark your calendar for December 8th at the Davidson Conference Center, University of Southern California and join invited guest U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee along with numerous Southern California leading African American business organizations, community leaders and financials lenders for the launching of a focused initiative to increase the flow of capital to support black businesses. This initiative is to address the problem that commercial lending to African American owned businesses is at historic lows. The lack of capital to this segment of the business community has the potential to disenfranchise an important portion of our population. Two annual Gala fundraisers held by organizations on a mission to enfranchise the disenfranchised
take place in November at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. First, the Brotherhood Crusade hosts its 46th Annual Bremond-Bakewell Pioneer of African American Achievement Awards Gala themed “Leading Young People onto the Stage of Life.” The fundraising event, once known as “The Pioneers of Black Leadership”, salutes pioneering “African Americans who have established new benchmarks for success and achievement.” Noted comedian/actor and philanthropist Cedric “The Entertainer” is this year’s honoree. Proceeds from the event serve the Brotherhood Crusade’s many programs such as the Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program, Mentor and Me, Brother to Brother, March to 1000 and more. Co- Founded in 1968 by the visionary community activist Walter Bremond and Danny Bakewell, Sr., the Brotherhood Crusade’s principal mission is dedicated to building and
sustaining an institution that raises funds and resources from within the community and distributes those funds directly back into the community. Later in the month Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) and Citizenship Education Fund, host the 16th Annual Awards Dinner celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and his 73rd birthday. The evening will highlight the RPC’s accomplishments in 2014 and the extensive ground the organization has covered over the years. The fundraiser will aid a slate of programs designed to support RFC’s mission, “to protect, defend, and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields, and to promote peace and justice around the world”. Finally on behalf of BBN we wish you all a Blessed & Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.
Earl “Skip” Cooper, II
Pubisher/Chief Executive Officer
BANC OF CALIFORNIA Signs Community Benefits Plan 61 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
UPCOMING TRADE MISSIONS!!
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rade Missions are listed on the Trade Mission Calendar when their official trade mission statements are approved for release to the public based on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Trade Mission Policy. The U.S. Government, in keeping with the National Export Initiative, is committed to sponsoring an unprecedented number of trade missions focusing on the most innovative and competitive sectors of our economy. The renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies focused missions, for example, will be among those listed on this site. Visit http://export.gov/ trademissions/eg_main_023185. asp for detailed information on the trade missions listed here.
Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique February 23-27, 2015 Trade Mission to Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique will put you front and center with the key decision makers looking for technologies and solutions like yours.
Trade Mission Features • Meetings with potential partners, distributors and end-users • Receptions with the local business communities • Briefings from local experts on doing business in Africa • Media exposure
Target Sectors Energy Equipment and Services: Power generation, including renewable; transmission and distribution, energy efficiency, oil and gas exploration and production and project
development. Transportation Infrastructure and Equipment: Road, bridge and dam construction; railroad equipment and rolling fleets, port mobile, weighbridges and quayside systems and upgrades to port equipment. Agricultural Equipment: Crop production equipment and machinery, irrigation equipment and technology, crop storage and handling, precision farming technologies and fertilizers. Medical Technologies: Diagnostic imaging equipment, laboratory equipment, patient aids, innovative minimally invasive devices and dental and optometry equipment. Contact: Anne Novak at Anne.Novak@trade.gov or (202) 482-8178. Application deadline: December 31, 2014.
Morocco, Algieria, Egypt March 4-12, 2015 Safety and Security Mission to Morocco, Algeria and Egypt. The purpose of this mission is to help U.S. firms in the safety and security industry find business partners and sell products and services in North Africa. The targeted sector for participation in this Business Development Mission is safety and security, including U.S.-based manufacturers of safety and security equipment, U.S. based providers of safety and security services, and U.S. trade associations promoting U.S. safety and security products and services. Contact: Frank Spector or (202) 482-2054 or Arica Young or (613) 688-5176
Application deadline: January 15, 2015.
Egypt, Jordan, Israel May 16-21, 2015 Healthcare Mission to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. This is a healthcare equipment, services, and technologies business development mission to introduce representatives from U.S. firms and related trade associations to the region and to promote exports of U.S. healthcare products and services. Delegates will receive market briefings and participate in customized meetings with prospective partners. Companies may also participate in a stop in the West Bank city of Ramallah at an additional cost.
Targeted sectors include: • Maternal and child health needs • Medical equipment and supplies, including diagnostic, monitoring, and imaging equipment • Hospital and outpatient clinic design • Hospital management • E-health: healthcare management systems/software/network design • Laboratory and scientific equipment • Specialty areas such as oncology, cardiology, wound care, and plastic surgery • Products and services for implementing quality standards and accreditation • Robotics • Mobile clinics Contact: Patricia.Molinaro@trade. gov or call (973) 645-4682. Application deadline: March 13, 2015.
63 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
The 12 (Marketing) Tips of Christmas By Heather Fletcher
K
enshoo, a Tel Aviv-based marketing software provider, announced sent out an infographic titled "The 12 Tips of Christmas: for search and social marketing, to make your season merry + bright." (http://kenshoo. com/digitalmarketingtechnology/ wp-content/uploads/2014/11/The12-Tips-of-Christmas.pdf) Marketers can click on each package shown in the infographic, which opens as a PDF, to find the surprise—a tip inside. Of course, the tips allow marketers to create more revenue and profits
• 2. Use predictive tools to forecast how much adjusting spend on search and social will influence results on key dates, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. • 3. Include seasonal keywords and use "negative" options to rule out unqualified search queries. • 4. "Develop relevant, holidayspecific ad copy with clear calls to action," Kenshoo says. "Implement testing to ensure your most effective messaging is used on peak times during the
7 this holiday season (and all year 'round). If marketers want to spoil the surprise, they can read the 12 tips here: • 1. Look at historical data, because optimizing based on previous results can help boost this year's results. Plus, upping bids on paid search and social during the key dates marketers find there may help them stand out from the heavy competition.
•
• • •
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sites aren't optimized for the experience.] 7. Incorporate local search in campaigns so consumers can find stores if they want to convert offline. 8. Retarget shoppers and offer complementary items. 9. Add social sharing options to product pages. 10. Use search marketing campaign insights to inform social media ad buys, so marketers can find the prospects most likely to convert. 11. Optimize campaigns more
8 festive season to drive the most engagement." • 5. Employ Google Shopping Campaigns and use snazzy photos in Product Listing Ads to grab attention. • 6. Ensure consumers will have seamless cross-device shopping experience. [Editor's note: Previous articles allude to the possibility that mobile shoppers may stop before buying because many
often than usual during the holidays. • 12. Attribute. Find the touchpoints that influenced the sale. www.targetmarketingmag.com/ article/the-12-marketing-tipschristmas/1?e=lion.comm@ hotmail.com#utm_source=todaytarget-marketing&utm_ medium=enewsletter_headline_ story1&utm_campaign=2014-11-07
65 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business Technology:
Take a Look! by LaSandra Stratton Check out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.
www.charitynavigator.org
T
ake some of the guess work out of your end-of-year charitable giving process by visiting the Charity Navigator website. On the site you will find listings of organizations providing funds and service for the programs and projects that are of interest to you and your business.
to co-workers, family, or friends and post an emergency message to your Facebook wall and Twitter account. All communications can also include your location, if you want. Or, if you’re in a position to help, you can donate money via text-to-give or PayPal, donate goods, or volunteer your time towards relief efforts. The app is available from the ITunes store and the Windows Phone site. For more information, visit www. microsoft.com/helpbridge.
www.wattpad.com
W
attpad is a place to discover and share stories: a social platform that connects people through words. It is a community that spans borders, interests, languages. With Wattpad, anyone can read or write on any device: phone, tablet, or computer.
Find Any Story, Write Any Story The site provides reviews and ratings of the charities along with some guidelines for giving on the "Tips For Donors" page. Charily Navigator is a charitable organization and would benefit from financial support also.
https://play.google. com/store/apps/ details?id=com.microsoft.helpbridge
H
elpBridge is a free mobile app that connects you to your loved ones and opportunities to help in a time of disaster. With just a few clicks, you can quickly send e-mails and texts
With thousands of stories added each day, there’s always something you want to read. Want a story about a daughter smuggling her zombie mother to safety? We have that. Want a story about a time-traveling frog with super powers? We don’t have that, and we’d be happy to see you write it.
Free Reading, not eReading Wattpad stories are free. Whether you’re online or off, use the devices you already own to carry an entire library wherever you go.
Write on Wattpad Whether you’ve never written before, or published multiple books, Wattpad offers benefits for writers of all levels.
Stories Made Social Join the conversation about the stories you read: message the writer and interact with other people who love the story as much as you.
Live Story Updates Get notified the moment your favorite writer shares a new chapter.
www.callingpost.com
C
allingPost offers a suite of tools that make managing your group quick and easy. Communicating with your group will no longer be a chore. Easily keep your members in the loop, engaged, and connected. CallingPost offers voicebroadcasting services (phone, text, and email messaging) to schools, businesses, churches, civic groups and emergency services in all areas of the continental United States as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. CallingPost Communication, Inc. has sent well over 65 million messages to homes across the country.
68 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business Phone Messaging • 2 minute message length • Select your caller ID • Voicemail detection
Group Texting (SMS) • No message limits • 2-way responses • Members can opt-in
• Send group emails • Attach files and photos • Send newsletters and more
Event Management • Automatic notifications & reminders • Allow volunteers to sign-up online • Attendance tracking
www.haikudeck.com Haiku Deck is a completely new kind of presentation software. We make telling your story simple,
beautiful, and fun. Whether it's a breakthrough business idea, a photo slideshow for your blog, or a mini manifesto, we know you have amazing stories to tell and ideas to share. Haiku
Deck helps you find your creative flow. 1) You select the perfect backdrop for your words from millions of free, highquality photos plus premium imagery from Getty Images. You can also use your own images or easily create stunning charts and graphs. 2) Choose from a range of stylish fonts, layouts, and image filters to give your deck the exact look you want. No design skills? No problem. We’ve got you covered with lots of templates in our gallery. 3) It’s easy to share your decks via Facebook, Twitter, or email and view them on any web-enabled device. You can even use your iPhone as a remote control or embed your decks in a blog or website. Get plenty of help and inspiration through our Blogs, Reviews and Help sections.
https://keepersecurity.com/ en_US
K
eeper is a secure and easyto-use password manager and digital vault. Keeper® is cross-platform and works seamlessly across all your devices. • iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® touch • Android phones and tablets • Windows Phone • Mac and PC Computers • Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome • Kindle and Nook
passwords, financial information, documents, photos and videos. Keeper uses world-class encryption technology and security. • Private encryption key - only you can decrypt your info • 256-bit AES data storage • PBKDF2 key generation • Perfect Forward Secrecy enforcement • Two-factor authentication
Seamless Data Sharing You often have confidential information that needs to be shared. Keeper's built in Vault-to-Vault sharing is the most secure way to share records between users. • Simple secure sharing • Built-in PKI encryption • Control "edit" and "view" permissions • Share with one or more users and groups
Keeper is for Life Keeper is your personal vault that lets you transition to new mobile devices and computers with ease. • Trusted by millions of users and companies • Over 50,000 five-star reviews • Highest levels of data privacy and encryption • 24x7 support
Safe and Secure The Keeper team is passionate about protecting your private information - website logins,
Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.
69 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
Of the People: Live from the White House
First lady Michelle Obama with Mason student Jeffrey Wood in China. The interview became part of Discovery Education’s “Of the People: Live from the White House” online broadcast series on March 22nd. Photo courtesy of Discovery Education
L
ast year, we launched “Of the People: Live from the White House,” a virtual field trip series with Discovery Education to give middle and high school students unique access to the White House and Obama administration officials. The program launched with a special look at the art and history of the White House featuring curator William Allman. Students joining virtually from classrooms across the country had the chance to explore the art and history of the iconic building that has served as the primary residence for 42 of our nation’s presidents and their families for 213 years. You can tune-in to watch installments in this series -- on
Discovery Education’s website. Over the year, webinars have addressed topics that range from community service to climate change and from foreign policy to science and technology. A complete archive of all virtual field trip sessions is hosted on www. discoveryeducation.com. On October 29, the “Of the People” series continued with a live cooking demonstration and a discussion about nutrition with Sam Kass,
Executive Director of Let’s Move! and White House Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy. The show may be viewed at: http://www. whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/10/24/ people-live-white-house-kitchen and at www.discoveryeducation. com. www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/12/16/announcingpeople-live-white-house-discoveryeducation
70 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
Women Veterans Career Development Forum
F
irst Lady Michelle Obama joined more than two hundred active-duty, retired-military, veteran, and reservist women at the Women Veterans Career Development Forum which was focused on transitioning to civilian life. The day-long career-readiness forum, held at Arlington National Cemetery, included discussion with private and public-sector employers; hands-on workshops covering topics from financial literacy to resume writing; insights on entrepreneurship from Bobbi Brown, founder and CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics; and a career fashion workshop sponsored by Ann Taylor. In her keynote address, the First Lady started by thanking the attendees for their service: But most of all, I want to thank all of you, the service members and veterans who have stood up every time this country has called. And before I go any further, I want to say two words that I don’t think we can say enough, and that is, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your unending commitment to our country. But I’m here today because I know that simply saying thank you isn’t always enough. We’re here because of women…with distinguished records of service who still struggle to find jobs after
they leave the military. The First Lady announced two significant public-private partnerships with LinkedIn and Coursera that will help military members find and land the jobs they want: • LinkedIn will now provide the ability for veterans to import their LinkedIn profiles directly into the Veteran Employment Center (www.ebenefits.va.gov/ ebenefits/jobs) and is providing free services and tools, such as training materials and access to a one-year free Job Seeker Subscription. • Coursera, an online educational platform, is offering all US veterans one free certificate in hundreds of in-demand courses. Additionally, Coursera and the Department of Veterans Affairs are teaming up to open twenty learning hubs across the country. The First Lady also highlighted the Veterans Employment Center,
a new website that’s changing the way veterans can find jobs in the public and private sectors with more than a million job postings. It’s a one-stop shop for you to build on your profile, create a resume, find a list of job openings that suit the skills you’ve learned in the military. And already there are more than a million job postings, and it features hundreds of employers that have committed to hiring our veterans. And on top of all that, this website also allows you to view all of your other earned benefits, things like career counseling, the GI Bill. "You might have your ups and downs," the First Lady said in closing, "but I want you to know that this whole country believes in you, and we’ve got your backs. So we’re going to keep rallying this country to serve you as well as you’ve served us." www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/thefirst-lady-wants-you-to-hire-our-femaleveterans/vi-AA7vf1f?ocid=UP94DHP
71 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
Announcing the 2015 USAID Donald Payne Fellowship Program from Jonta Williams <mariewilliams@usaid.gov>
1) U.S. Congressman Donald M. Payne speaking with constituents in New Jersey; 2) Payne visits Ethiopia; 3) Payne is flanked by Rev. Joseph Lowery on the left and President Barack Obama on the right.
U
SAID is pleased to announce the 2015 USAID Donald Payne Fellowship Program, an initiative is designed to promote excellence and diversity in the USAID Foreign Service. Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 to be considered for this year’s award. Please share this information with any students and young professionals who you think would fit well with the program.
About the Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship The Payne Program is designed to attract outstanding young people to careers in international development as USAID Foreign Service Officers. The Payne Fellowship Program provides benefits valued at up to $90,000 over two years toward a twoyear master's degree, arranges internships in Washington D.C. and at USAID missions overseas, and
provides professional development and support activities. Fellows who successfully complete the program become USAID Foreign Service Officers. Fellows may use the fellowship to attend a two-year master's program in a U.S. institution to study an area of relevance to the USAID Foreign Service, including international development, international relations, public policy, business administration, foreign languages, economics, agriculture,
72 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest environmental sciences, health, or urban planning at a graduate or professional school approved by the Payne Program. At the end of
USAID Foreign Service and those with financial need. Information and application materials for the program are available at www.paynefellows. org. The application deadline is January 20, 2015. The Program is funded by USAID and managed by Howard University.
Quick Facts - 2015 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship • Number of Fellowships Offered: 5 • Eligibility Requirements: U.S. citizenship; GPA of 3.2/4.0; seeking to start two-year relevant grad program in fall 2015 • Online Application Opens: October 14, 2014 www.paynefellows.org • A p p l i c a t i o n Deadline: January 20, 2015 - Finalists selected by the end of February Fellows selected by midMarch • C o n t a c t : paynefellows@howard. edu; 202-806-4367 , (877) 633-0002 ; or Tessa Henry, Program Officer, (Tessa.henry@howard. edu) 202-806-5952.
About
Donald
M.
Payne
the two-year fellowship, Fellows enter the USAID Foreign Service. Applicants must be college seniors or graduates looking to start graduate school in the fall of the year they apply, have GPAs of at least 3.2 and be U.S. citizens. The program welcomes applications from those with any undergraduate major and encourages applications from members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the
Donald Milford Payne (July 16, 1934 – March 6, 2012) was an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district from 1989 to 2012. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He was the first African American to represent New Jersey in Congress. During his tenure in Congress, Payne was a member, and former chair, of the Congressional Black Caucus; he was active on issues relating to Africa, particularly regarding the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan and the Western
Sahara conflict. As a leading advocate of education, Payne was instrumental in the passage of key legislation, including the Goals 2000 initiative to improve elementary and secondary schools; the School-to-Work Opportunities Act; the National Service Act, establishment of the National Literacy Institute; and funding for Head Start, Pell Grants, Summer Jobs and Student Loans. He served as Chairman of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health. He was one of five members of Congress chosen to accompany President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton on their historic six-nation tour of Africa. He also headed a Presidential mission to war-torn Rwanda to help find solutions to that country's political and humanitarian crises. In 2003, President George W. Bush appointed Payne as one of two members of Congress to serve as a Congressional delegate to the United Nations and reappointed him in 2005 to an unprecedented second term. Payne served on the board of directors of the National Endowment for Democracy, TransAfrica, Discovery Channel Global Education Fund, the Congressional Award Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, the Newark Day Center, the Fighting Back Initiative and the Newark YMCA. He received numerous awards and honors from national, international and community-based organizations, including the Visionaries Award bestowed by the Africa Society and the prestigious Democracy Service Medal by the National Endowment for Democracy. Payne supported Senator Barack Obama in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
73 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest - Obituary
Businessman, Civic Leader Herman Russell Dies at Age 83
H
erman J. Russell, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who turned a small plastering firm into one of the most successful African-Americanowned real estate development and construction companies in America, died Saturday. He was 83. Russell, a lifelong Atlantan who counted among his friends several presidents and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., helped shape the city’s skyline and wielded influence far beyond the Capitol of the South. “I’ve known Herman Russell for 40 years. To me, he was always a living example of how you could be successful,” said Channel 2’s Monica Pearson.
Russell was one of the most successful African-American entrepreneurs the nation has ever seen. Russell bought his first piece of land when he was 16 for $125. Soon after, he formed a plastering company that over several decades became a successful real estate development and construction conglomerate. Along the way, he broke virtually every racial and economic barrier. H.J. Russell & Co. built much of Atlanta’s skyline (often through joint ventures), from the Georgia-Pacific headquarters to the Georgia Dome. The firm is a partner in the joint venture selected to build the new
nearly $1.3 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium, which is slated to open in 2017. H.J. Russell & Co. built much of Atlanta’s skyline (often through joint ventures), from the GeorgiaPacific headquarters to the Georgia Dome. The firm is a partner in the joint venture selected to build the new nearly $1.3 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium, which is slated to open in 2017. "He fully understood the principle that's a biblical principle. To those to whom much is given, much is required. And he always gave back,” said Pearson. www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/ businessman-civic-leader-hermanrussell-dies-age-8/nh734
75 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
#GivingTuesday is Tuesday, December 2. What is #GivingTuesday? It is a day created to GIVE BACK. It's that simple. Spend some time focusing on how thankful you are for what you have. Then why not give to a charity that has touched you deeply. If you give in any way on December 2, then you have participated in #GivingTuesday
International
7th Annual Energy Africa Conference (EAC) & Business Symposium Regis University and the Colorado School of Mines November 12-14, 2014 Denver, Colorado During President Obama's recent US-Africa Leaders Summit, hosted in Washington, DC, this past August 2014, the Administration's "Power Africa Initiative" was highlighted as a leading industry sector to promote increased US trade and investment opportunities to develop the continent's energy infrastructure. As a follow up to the President's initiatives, this year's annual EAC is gearing up to be the best event ever; with substantive participation from key industry leaders and decision makers in the public sector, private sector, and international development institutions--including policy makers, senior executives from leading energy firms, and project developers and financing organizations dedicated to Africa's fast growing emerging market opportunities. Please refer to the website for additional information and details on this event: www.energyafricaconference.com "Power Africa Initiative" www.usaid.gov/powerafrica
79 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
Battling the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa
A
s the Ebola outbreak continues to spread, with 1,093 cases and 660 deaths now reported across West Africa, Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is stepping up its response in the most affected areas. While the
with 22 international and 250 Sierra Leonean staff currently working in the country. In Kailahun, in the east of the country, the team is running a 64-bed Ebola treatment center. Since the facility opened on June 24, 131 suspected, probable, and confirmed patients have been
In the past three weeks, MSF has trained more than 200 community health workers to deliver essential health messages to people in their villages about how to protect themselves against Ebola and what action to take if someone shows any signs or symptoms of the disease.
An MSF medical team checks safety gear before entering the Ebola treatment center in Kailahun, Sierra Leone. number of cases in Guinea has declined significantly, in neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia more and more people are being infected with the virus. With resources already stretched, health authorities and international organizations are struggling to bring the outbreak under control.
SIERRA LEONE In Sierra Leone—now the epicenter of the epidemic, with 454 cases recorded so far—MSF is rapidly scaling up its response,
admitted for treatment. So far, 12 patients have recovered and returned home to their families. An MSF psychologist is providing support and counseling to patients and their families, as well as to other MSF staff members. MSF is also supporting the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) at two referral sites in the villages of Koindu and Buedu in Kailahun district, where people with symptoms of Ebola are isolated before being transferred by ambulance to MSF’s center in town.
MSF will now focus its efforts on halting the spread of the disease in the area straddling the Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia borders, where the population is very mobile and people continue to transmit the disease to different villages. The team will scale up its health promotion and outreach activities in the villages in this area, and reinforce the alert system so that any new suspected cases can be identified promptly and transferred in MSF’s ambulance to Kailahun for treatment.
80 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
LIBERIA In Liberia, the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with cases of Ebola now confirmed in seven counties, including in the capital, Monrovia. There are critical gaps in all aspects of the response, and urgent efforts are needed to scale up, particularly in terms of contact tracing, organizing safe burials, and establishing a functioning alert system. Already stretched beyond capacity in Guinea and Sierra Leone, MSF is able to provide only limited technical support to the Liberian Ministry of Health. MSF has set up an Ebola treatment center in Foya, in Lofa county in northern Liberia, where cases have
been increasing since the end of May. After the initial set up, MSF handed over the management of the center to nongovernmental organization Samaritan’s Purse on July 8. There are currently six patients admitted to the center and MSF experts continue to provide technical support and training to the staff there. The team will now shift its efforts to Voinjama, also in Lofa county, where there are reports of people dying of Ebola in their villages before being able to reach medical assistance. The MSF team will set up a referral unit for the Ministry of Health so that people suspected to have Ebola can be isolated and then transferred to the
treatment center in Foya. In Monrovia, an MSF emergency team—comprising an emergency coordinator, medical coordinator, one doctor, two epidemiologists, and two water and sanitation specialists—is constructing a new tented treatment center with capacity for 40–60 beds. It is scheduled to open on July 27 and will also be run by Samaritan’s Purse. Previously, the MSF team had already set up and handed over a 15 bed treatment unit at Monrovia’s JFK hospital to the Ministry of Health in April. However, the unit has since been closed and all patients are currently cared for at see Battling Ebola on page 82
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Battling Ebola from page 81
ELWA hospital in Paynesville until the new center is open at the same site. Currently there are 14 patients admitted to this center. The MSF team is also supporting the Ministry
as few as 10% of patients could be expected to survive. In the capital, Conakry, MSF is reducing its activities as far fewer cases are appearing. Currently the Donka treatment center has just one patient who is now recovering and should be able to leave the hospital
In Guéckédou, in the southeast— the original epicenter of the epidemic—the number of patients in MSF’s center has declined significantly, with currently just two patients admitted. It is very unlikely, however, that this reflects an end to the outbreak; instead it suggests
Samaritan's Purse team conducting community education services. of Health in the overall coordination of the Ebola response and providing technical and medical guidance. In Guinea, the situation has
by next week. MSF is planning to hand over responsibility for the center to the Guinean Ministry of Health by the end of July. Of the 59 confirmed Ebola patients admitted
stabilized in some areas and MSF has closed its Ebola treatment center in Telimélé, in the west of the country, after no new cases were reported for 21 days. During seven weeks, 21 people with the disease were admitted to the center, with an astonishing 75% of patients making a recovery. Without medical care,
to the center since March 25, 63% recovered and were able to return home. However, cured patients continue to face stigma from their communities and even some of MSF’s Guinean staff prefer not to reveal where they are working for fear of being ostracized by their families.
UINEA
that infected people may be hiding in their communities rather than coming for treatment.
The Fear Factor There continues to be significant fear surrounding Ebola amongst local communities and MSF teams have been prevented from visiting four villages due to hostility. MSF is working with local authorities and elders to try to ensure safe access to these areas in order to obtain a clearer picture of whether people are still being infected and dying of the virus. Since the beginning of the outbreak, MSF has treated 150 patients in its center in Guéckédou. The recovery rate in the Guéckédou centre has been lower than in
82 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Samaritan's Purse team distributes supplies to outlying villages.. Telimélé or Conakry, as people have been delaying coming for treatment.
How to Help For Doctors without Borders, the ability to respond quickly to medical humanitarian emergencies is crucial to saving more lives. Donations of unrestricted funds allow us to allocate our resources most efficiently and where the needs are greatest. Visit the donation page on the website at: https:// donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/ onetime.cfm. If you wish to target your gift, please contact us at (212) 7635779 or email donations@newyork. msf.org to find out if the specific project you wish to support is able to accept earmarked funding.
Samaritan's Purse
The Ebola virus disease is a deadly hemorrhagic fever rampaging across West Africa. The current unprecedented outbreak has already claimed thousands of lives and threatens millions more. Samaritan’s Purse is aggressively responding in Liberia, where we have had a country office for more than a decade, by establishing and managing Community Care Centers in areas hit hard by the disease. Other Samaritan’s Purse public health initiatives in the country include caregiver training and kit distribution, as well as a massive public education campaign focused on infection prevention and control. We have provided potentially lifesaving information to more than 1 million people directly or indirectly through a variety of events and
m e d i a since last March.
Charity Navigator Charity Navigator's mission is to guide intelligent giving. Their website provides a list of 4- and 3-star rated organizations actively battling the Ebola. Visit www.charitynavigator. org/index.cfm?bay=content. view&cpid=1794 to view the listing. www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ news-stories/field-news/battlingebola-outbreak-west-africa www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/ ebola-crisis
International
Download the Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce App from the
Apple App Store or
Google Play Store Search: "Zambia USA Chamber"
Find links to the chamber website and facebook page, and embassies; access business resources; receive breaking news; view relevant video presentations; communicate via Twitter, smartphone and e-mail.
www.zambiausachamber.org
84 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
CATALOGUE SHOWS GALORE!! MARKET TO INDIA The American Business Corner (ABC) outreaches to U.S. business community and connects them to India Chambers of Commerce members in 13 India cities. Display your marketing material and catalogs across India for an annual membership fee. Select one or all of the following cities: Madurai, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, Kochi, Mangalore, Vizag, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Surat and Indore http://export.gov/india/americanbusinesscorners/index.asp
MARKET TO SAUDI ARABIA CS Saudi Arabia invites U.S. Companies to register for the upcoming “Jeddah-Saudi-Arabia Catalog Show." Registration fee $100. The show will be hosted by the U.S. Commercial Service in partnership with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, on Wednesday, November 19, 2014.
Contact: Mai.AbuDabat@trade.gov.
MARKET TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The 2nd International Franchise Conference & Franchise Catalogue Show Date: November 1819, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates US Participation Fee: $500 No. of Brochures: 200 Contact: Manal.elmasry@trade.gov https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=5K1Y
African Stock Exchanges • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bond Exchange of South Africa - www.bondexchange. co.za • Botswana Stock Exchange www.bse.co.bw • Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres - UEMOA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) - www.brvm.org • Casablanca Stock Exchange (Morocco) - www.casablancabourse.com/bourseweb/index. aspx • Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz • Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www.douala-stockexchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www.
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egx.com.eg/English/homepage. aspx Ethiopia Commodity Exchange - www.ecx.com.et Ghana Stock Exchange - www. gse.com.gh Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa) - www. jse.co.za/Home.aspx Khartoum Stock Exchange (Sudan, in Arabic) - www.kse. com.sd Libyan Stock Market - www. lsm.ly/_layouts/membership/ login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fEnglis h%2fPages%2fdefault.aspx Lusaka Stock Exchange (Zambia) - www.luse.co.zm Nairobi Stock Exchange (Kenya) - www.luse.co.zm Malawi Stock Exchange - www. mse.co.mw
• Mozambique Stock Exchange (in Portuguese) - www. bolsadevalores.co.mz • Namibian Stock Exchange www.nsx.com.na • Nigerian Stock Exchange www.nse.com.ng/Pages/default. aspx • Stock Exchange of Mauritius www.stockexchangeofmauritius. com • Swaziland Stock Exchange www.ssx.org.sz • Tunisia Stock Exchange - www. bvmt.com.tn • Uganda Securities Exchange www.use.or.ug Read the lastest issue of The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html
85 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Thursday Blues at Uncle Darrow‛s High Noon-2pm Every Thursday
Come by for lunch and relax to blues & jazz from our house band! 2560 S. Lincoln Blvd. Marina del Rey North East corner of Washington & Lincoln
“LA Times Magazine favorite cajun food”
310-306-4862
www.uncledarrows.com 86 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
About HRA Expo (www.hraexpo.org) The HRA Business Investment Expo & Conference, now in its sixth edition promoting business development & investment, has established itself as the premier and the largest network event gathering high profile government officials, private sector, investors, NGOs, bankers, funders, entrepreneurs to discuss investment opportunities, form partnerships, share experiences, knowledge, passion and commitment to promoting sustainable development in the Caribbean. The 2015 Business Expo will broaden its reach to include other Caribbean Diaspora businesses and investors interested in investing in emerging markets. This year's key topics and theme will address global development solutions to the regions pressing problems around Energy and agriculture; other sessions will include social business and investment opportunities in infrastructure, technology, Tourism and improving Diaspora engagement strategies. Exhibitor Registration: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e9xrotnzb140aa05&oseq=&c=&ch=
Visitor Registration: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e9wp9y2ude7f4524&oseq=&c=&ch= 87 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
AFRICAN EXPANSION ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2014 / Durban, South Africa 10-14 November 2014 Durban International Convention Centre The African Economic Expansion Summit is an annual global gathering of international investors, business executives, financiers and government officials to discuss, showcase, review and create business partnerships. Several infrastructure channels and project pipelines have been identified for pre-selected African States to submit pre-screened projects to the Project Initiation Committee under the following sectors: Transport:
Services:
Social:
Agriculture:
Energy:
• Ports/Shipping • Road Network • Rail Network • Airports
• Electricity • Water • Telecoms & ICT
• Schools/Universities • Clinics/Hospitals • Tourism
• Production • Processing • Distribution
• Generation • Distribution • Sustainable & Alternative
International project and consulting companies and interested businesses/investors will be able to present their focussed projects and services to government decision makers from across sub Saharan Africa. Interested parties from Africa and overseas will be able to showcase their infrastructure projects and services through targeted exhibitions, project due diligence presentations and other marketing materials. The Summit’s diverse array of marketing channels includes site visits, plenary sessions, panel discussions, break-away sessions and one-on-one interactions will deliver a unique professional experience and networking platform to move deals forward. The AEES gives Africa a new platform to drive economic activity and investment profiles about what’s happening on the continent as it relates to infrastructure projects. African delegations from Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union, West & East African Regional Economic Communities, and various African member states to showcase their economies critical infrastructure projects. The Summit co-hosts, the South African Province of KwaZulu-Natal and Rainbow/PUSH Africa believe this unique professional networking experience offers an exceptional insight into Africa’s future infrastructural opportunities and challenges. We look forward to your participation at the AEES, we believe there is an appetite to build new partnerships and become part of the African growth story. Registration and Information: Website: www-aees.co.za E-mail: info@aees.co.za
Lusaka, Zambia 4th to 5th December 2014 Radisson Blu Hotel www.pangaeaconferences.com/register/
Explore new business and investment opportunities in mining, energy and more.....
World Class Speakers Sylvia Banda President, AWEP
Brian Tembo CEO, Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE)
Sir. Richard Branson Founder/Chairman, The Virgin Group
Carl-Heinrich Bruhn
www.pangaeaconferences.com/register/
Founder/CEO, Amatheon Agri
What will you Achieve?
Who Should Attend?
Conference Outcomes
• Thought Leadership and Roundtables focusing on key growth sectors • Interact with globally-recognised business leaders from industries such as Logistics & Distribution; Mining; FMCG; TMT; Infrastructure & Construction; and Agribusiness • Hear from different providers of capital from the Zambian and global markets • Showcase Zambia to the world
• • • • • • • •
• Discuss real investment opportunities • Share knowledge and experiences • Engage, share views and gain invaluable information on the Zambian market • Put Zambian businesses in direct contact with key people in the regulatory entities, with providers of different forms of capital and with potential local or international partners • Discover and network with new business partners • Match local opportunities to international capital/expertise
CEOs, CFOs, CIO’S Portfolio Managers and Analysts Investors Entrepreneurs Finance and Treasury Directors Investment Bankers Risk Analysts Senior Government Officials
Premier Elite Sponsors Lusaka Stock Exchange
konya
gi.co.t
z
International
One Africa:
Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!
J
oin with and support the United Africa Organization’s campaign to petition the U.S. Department of State to include the whole African continent under its Bureau of African Affairs.
Why? The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, led by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, currently excludes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara from its agenda. Instead, the aforementioned countries are grouped with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, together with Iran, Iraq, Israel and others. This artificial distinction between North Africa and the rest of Africa
negatively impacts US foreign policy relations throughout the entire continent of Africa. We unequivocally reject the argument that North African countries are outside the scope of African affairs. North Africa is geographically and historically part of the African continent, and all fifty-three (53) independent African states, including North African countries, are represented in the African Union (AU). It would be far more productive for the State Department to engage with the entire continent of Africa, including North Africa, under its Bureau of African Affairs. We are one Africa, from the Cape to Cairo, indivisible and bound together! Therefore, no square inch of African
land should be excluded from African affairs.
Sign The Petition!!! Go to www.change.org/petitions/ one-africa-tell-us-state-departmentthat-north-africa-is-part-of-africa and sign the online petition to support this important proposition. Next tell everyone you know to sign.
www.uniteafricans.org
RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL Event: East Meets West in Startup Paradise 2014 “Digital Lifestyle” Dates: November 5-7 Times: 9am Cost: $1,000 Registration: http://eastmeetswest.co/en/#sthash.6kmpRtVN.dpuf Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Join us for some golf and networking on November 5th at the beautiful Kapolei Golf course, followed by a VIP dinner. Then on November 6th, we will hold the East Meets West in Startup Paradise 2014 "Digital Lifestyle" Conference followed by a VIP reception at Hawaii Fashion Week at The Modern Honolulu. Finally, on November 7th, network and soak in all the knowledge at our full-day conference followed by a Luau! To Resolve Questions or For More Information: http://eastmeetswest.co/en/activity/ acy219096#sthash.et7gzMIF.dpuf
Event: Sustainable Energy Business Districts (SEBIZ)- Energy Efficiency
Trade Mission to China Date: December 7-13 The mission will focus on business development opportunities in Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, and Changzhou. The mission will be unique in that two of the stops will focus on “shovel-ready” projects that have been prepared under the auspices of a US DOE grant. A US firm called Optony (http://www.optony.com) is managing the execution of the grant-related work, and is looking for US firms with efficiency-related technologies that can carry out retrofitting projects. Register or For more information: http://chinauseealliance.org/2014mission
Asian Development Bank Tender Report This Foreign Government Tender report from the US Commercial Service Asian Development Bank Liaison Office (CS ADB) augments our series of regular monthly reports that give U.S. exporters advance information on Asian government tenders. This report covers advance and ongoing procurement, as well as recruitment of consultants for projects that are funded by the ADB. U.S. firms may submit their bids directly to the executing agency listed on the procurement notice. Details of the bidding procedures are stated in the Bidding Documents issued by the executing agency or otherwise stated in the procurement notice. U.S. firms are encouraged to keep in contact with CS ADB, especially if they decide to participate in ADB procurement activities. This office works closely with the Office of the U.S. Executive Director (US/ED) to the ADB to increase American awareness of and participation in ADB’s procurement activities. A summary of the projects is found at: http:// buyusainfo.net/docs/x_751955.pdf and www.export.
92 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL gov/ADB/build/groups/public/@ eg_adb/documents/webcontent/ eg_adb_078505.pdf. ᏊᏊᏊᏊᏊ Marketing: Promote Your Company on the New Commercial News USA Website The newly redesigned Commercial News USA website makes it easier for buyers around the world to find American companies with products and services ready for immediate export and for U.S. exporters connect with buyers worldwide. Commercial News USA features hundreds of products and services from U.S. exporters. For more information and/or to review the current
issue of the magazine, please visit www.thinkglobal.us. ᏊᏊᏊᏊᏊ 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 www.buyusa.gov/home/us.html or contact Bobby Hines at bobby. hines@trade.gov.
International
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 94 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Cultural Interiors West &
Cordially Invited Cultural Interiors West 5573 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019 Experience our exciting array of products from Cards to Cupcakes, African Masks, Asian Teacups, Healthy Herbal Teas, Gourd Purses, Candles, to Furniture
Artwear Handpainted Handbags, Skirts, Tees, Accessories, Calendars, Wall Hangings & More! http://gbabysworld.blogspot.com Gbabyartwear@hotmail.com or Gbabyart345@gmail.com Find Gbaby Products at the “Collective” http://www.atthecollective.com 280 Elizabeth Street, Atlanta, GA
Hope to see you soon!!! In the meantime visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/CulturalInteriors-West/140688362658236
JJ’s Belizean Cuisine 2618 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008 1-323-293-2926
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99 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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Nubian Skin launched with a carefully edited collection of lingerie and hosiery to provide the essential underwear needs of women of colour.. Headquartered in London, Nubian n Skin delivers worldwide and looks ks forward to growing the company’s offering and expanding its reach. So for all you beautiful women, next time you November Special Offer!! need a nude pair of holdFree shipping to the USA ups or maybe a nude on all orders over £100 / strapless bra to go under $160! that stunning white halter dress, Nubian Skin is only a few clicks away. Empowering Women. Embracing our Colour.
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Buy Black Save Black Invest Black 104 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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Books to Consider...
Just Mercy: a Story Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
A
powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the p poor, the w r o n g l y ccondemned, a and women and children a in ttrapped tthe farthest rreaches of o our criminal j u s t i c e ssystem. One of his first o ccases was tthat of Walter McMillian, a M yyoung man who was w sentenced tto die for a notorious m murder he insisted he didn’t commit commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machinations, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. JUST MERCY is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of justice. http://bryanstevenson.com/the-book
Father Figure: Exploring Alternate Notions
Bryan Stevenson
of Black Fatherhood by Zun Lee
B
lack father absence is a contentiously-debated social issue in the US and other countries. Too many Black men, so the argument goes, are missing, irresponsible, selfish, not stepping up to the plate. Visuals of deadbeat, absentee Black fathers abound in mainstream media, often intended to sensationalize and ridicule rather than to raise awareness. These stereotypes did not emerge out of thin air. Married couples with children constitute less than one-fifth of African American households. Over 60% of African American children are raised by single mothers. As Americans are struggling to cope with the social and economic consequences of the worst recession since the Great Depression, it appears this will likely become more of a reality for not just Black children, but many kids of all racial groups. The realities are not that simple. Studies show
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that individual circumstances are highly complex for many fathers, making the context of father “absence” and “presence” rather fluid: While many men may deserve the “deadbeat” label, many others simply do not fit traditional notions of fatherhood. Often forced to define parenting in their own specific ways, these men strive to be present despite adverse circumstances: They may not live at home with their partner or kids, they may not be legally married to their kids’ mothers and they may struggle to provide on a consistent basis, but this does not automatically mean that they are irresponsible. It was not too long ago when a family secret was uncovered: My own biological father was a Black man who allegedly disappeared when he learned my mother was pregnant with me. For a long time, holding on to the pain of that discovery was easier than dealing with it: As long as I was able to project my misgivings onto a negative stereotype, I could justify my anger and hurt. But I also realized
that a huge part of me was curious to know more about my Black father, wanting to understand, get to a place of forgiveness. And that longing had informed my creative process all along. Without any information about my father’s identity or whereabouts, the only way to come to terms with my feelings was to examine them through photography. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve developed relationships with several Black fathers from different walks of life and in different cities in the US and Canada. Every father I met spoke with his own voice. They expressed their swagger, life rhythm, and ways of relating with their kids and partners in very unique ways. And perhaps more importantly, as I observed these families, another truth manifested loud and clear: Contrary to the prevalent media caricature of Black men as aggressive, violent, and irresponsible, the fathers I met were loving, affectionate, and dependable. They readily shared their feelings and emotions, their
concerns and fears. They were vulnerable enough to allow me to photograph them in moments of joy and times of frustration. They were by no means perfect, but unsung everyday heroes nonetheless, committed to being present one fatherly act at a time. Working directly with fathers was actually the last thing I would have wanted to do. Many of the encounters were filled with situations I had not experienced as a child, so they were difficult to witness, difficult to understand, and often difficult to photograph. But I knew I had to push past my resistance and spend time with these families – sometimes even live with them for a while. That was the only way to establish the level of connection necessary to make the images I wanted. The work resulted in an ongoing project I dubbed Father Figure. By focusing on quiet moments that are deemed un-newsworthy, I hope this work can prompt people to question assumptions and become sensitive to the broader context of Black fatherhood. Perhaps it can also serve as a counterbalance to the prevalent visual narrative re. Black fathers. In sharing of themselves so freely, the fathers I collaborated with gave me access to the richness of their human experience, which enabled me to find and share my own truth. That was perhaps the biggest gift I received and for that, I will always be grateful. www.zunlee.com/fatherfigure
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From the California Governor's Office...
California Competes Tax Credit
ABOUT THE TAX CREDIT: The California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in the state. Instructions/FAQs: www.business.ca.gov/calcompetes.aspx Apply here: www.calcompetes.ca.gov 114 November 2014 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Calendar November
zenship Education Fund Symposium and Legacy Affair will be held at the Capitol Hilton, Washington, DC. For details call 1-202-393-3913 or inquiry at info@rainbowpsh.org.
4th-5th
10th-14th African Expansion Economic Summit 2014 An annual global gathering of international investors, business executives, financiers and government officials to discuss, showcase, review and create business partnerships. The Summit co-hosts are the South African Province of KwaZulu-Natal and Rainbow/PUSH Africa. For information and registration visit www-aees.co.za or send e-mail to: info@aees.co.za.
Zambia Investment Conference Pangaea Securities and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) invite investors f r o m around t h e world to explore opportunities t. For do conduct business in Zambia. For details visit www.pangaeaconferences.com/register.
February 2015
The conference will be held in Durban, South Africa.
20th 16th Annual Awards Gala The theme for the 2014 event to be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, is "50 Years…The Deam Lives On". Inquire at rainbow@mtaevents.com.
December 4th-5th The Future of Civil Rights The Rainbow Push Coalition & Citi-
Black Business Association Annnual Awards Dinner The BBA's salute to African American business men and women past and present and to the corporate and govenment entities that chamption the Black economy. For particiation information contact the Black Business Association at mail@bbala.org.
Dessert Buffet. For particiation information contact the Black Business Association at mail@bbala. org.
April 25th 12th ANNUAL AFRICAN GOODWILL AWARDS & INDUCTION CEREMONY This will be an exciting event that will showcase great African cultures and honorable achievements in the humanitarian community at the Concourse Hotel LAX. We are always grateful for the work and sacrifice of people of goodwill for the less privileged. For information on the organization or participation and sponsorship of the event visit www.africanfocus.org.
June Salute to Black Busic Awards Dinner The BBA's annual highlighting of the importance of Black music and culture to our economic viability. For particiation information contact the Black Business Association at mail@bbala.org.
March 28th BBA's Salute to Black Women The annual program includes business development workshops, a vendor faire and the awards luncheon featuring the BBA's unique
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Resources Media Africa Interactive Multimedia Press/Content Agency in Africa www.africa-interactive.com Africa World Press Books www.africaworldpressbooks.com African Vibes Magazine www.africanvibes.com The African World www.theafricanworld.tv Africast TV www.africast.tv AllAfrica http://allafrica.com Black Wall Street Times http://bwstimes.com Black Business News Group www.blackbusinessnews.net Black Press USA www.blackpressusa.com BridesNoir www.bridesnoir.com CuisineNoir www.cuisinenoirmag.com DiasporaVoice www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice Publish Africa http://wow.gm/publishafrica Rock Me Africa //rockmeafrica.com
www.causecast.com www.causecastfornonprofits.com Continental African Chamber of Commerce www.continentalacc.org Pan African Film Festival www.paff.org United African Organization http://uniteafricans.org Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce www.zambiausachamber.org
Investment/Development Africa Reports www.africareports.com African Development Bank www.afdb.org African Export - Import Bank //afreximbank.com/afrexim/en AfrigadgetTV www.afrigadget.com The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke YouTube Educational Channels http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know Ventures www.ventures-africa.com
U.S. Government
Organizations Africa Leadership Forum http://africaleadership.org The African Union www.au.int/en Black Business Association www.bbala.org CauseCast
Commerce Department www.doc.gov International Trade Administration http://trade.gov Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov Small Business Administration www.sba.gov State Department www.dos.gov White House www.whitehouse.gov
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