KENDRA BULLUCK

"I believe in being relatable. It's important to be transparent."

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. I am Kendra Bulluck-Major. I serve as the Executive Director of the Denny’s Orange Blossom Classic.

Q. Let’s talk a little about your journey and how you got to where you are today.

A. I’ve been in business for myself since 1999. While in college, the opportunity arose to purchase the company that I was working for at the time. That began my entrepreneurial journey. After purchasing that business, I expanded into different business acquisition projects. I began exploring the idea of reviving the Orange Blossom Classic in 2011. My son who is very active in football, and my father who loved the Marching 100 sparked my interest in the historical relevance of the game. I began the incorporation process, researching acquiring the rights and trademarking the name, assembling the steering committee, etc. It was a lengthy process but in 2019 we were able to announce that after 42 years, the game once considered the Black National Championship was returning to South Florida. A. I truly believe the Orange Blossom Classic is more than just a football game. It is an opportunity to impact the community and showcase the greatness of the culture of HBCU’s. For that reason, I hope to have year- round community events highlighting HBCU’s leading up to the game and also expand the game into other markets (outside of South Florida) with other opponents.

Q. Tell us more about the “Orange Blossom Classic” and the motivation behind it?

A. The Orange Blossom Classic was considered the Black National Championship from 1933-1978. It was played during a period of racial segregation when the only options African-Americans had for higher education was Historically Black Universities. When segregation ended, the game fizzled out as football talent was accepted at all Universities. The revival of the Orange Blossom Classic was a way to honor the tradition and history of the original game, while giving today’s youth of South Florida a chance to see HBCU football in their backyard. When we began this journey in 2011, the one HBCU in Miami (Florida Memorial University) didn’t have a football program. There was no representation of an HBCU football classic for our youth to experience, without traveling to Orlando. It was important for me that they had this representation closer to home. We paused in 2020 due to Covid and in 2021 and 2022, the matchup features Florida A & M University and Jackson State University, played Labor Day weekend in Miami, FL.

Q. How do you encourage our young female leaders?

A. In order to encourage young female leaders, I believe in being relatable. It’s important to be transparent. When you have reached some level of success, the perception is that you didn’t struggle or that you don’t still struggle. Most people see you on your “good days.” I encourage young leaders by acknowledging the failures and the bad days but using that as a reminder that if I went through it and I found some level of success, then they can too.

Q. Who has been your biggest influencer in your life as a woman?

A. My mom. My mother was an entrepreneur for a while, she is now a retired educator. She holds multiple degrees and as recently as this year, at the age of 67 years-old, she obtained her Doctorate degree. The early part of my life, she was a single mother, who found the time to be present for her daughters, while accomplishing all those things. Later, she married and continued to do the same thing while taking care of a larger family.

Q. Where do you see your company in the next three years? Q. Do women in your profession have a hard time getting promoted?

A. Absolutely, in this profession and many others. This year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which was meant to level the playing field for women in sports, but we still have a long way to go. This month, we witnessed the confirmation of the first African-American female supreme court justice, and the first AfricanAmerican female President of an NFL team. In 2022, we are still having to make a big deal about so many “Firsts” because these opportunities for women have not been common.

Q. What is one fun fact about yourself?

A. I love hip-hop. My kids find it embarrassing when I get excited about ‘Da Baby and Roddy Ricch. I often relate hip-hop to what I am dealing with in life. Right now, this being my busiest time of the year, my “theme song” on constant repeat is Rick Ross’ Hustlin’.

Q. Are there any additional events or upcoming projects you are working on?

A. I’m focused on making the sophomore year of the Orange Blossom Classic successful and establishing it among one of the most talked about classics with the other well- established classics. The goal is to continue to expand on that the next few years.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. IG: @kbulluckmajor, @ orangeblossomfc Twitter: @ orangeblossomfc.