URBAN CALL BRIEFS By Lafayette Jones
Bernard Bell Operations Analyst and Business Builder
Carla Matthew
Cosmetologist & Community Volunteer
Dr. Deborah Bartlett
Tameran Davenport
Media Entrepreneur & Beauty Instructor
Vegan, All-natural Beard Specialist
Bernard Bell
all affiliate network distribution agreements, growing the subscriber base
Beauty Operations Analyst and Business Builder
from zero to 34 million within 36 months. These license fees have generated over $400 million in revenue for the network. Before joining TV One, Bell was vice president of sales for Tribune Media
Greensboro, North Carolina -
Services, where he oversaw the successful launch of Tribune’s electronic
Bernard Bell is the Shuford Program in
program guide Zap2it into the cable television industry. Prior to joining
Entrepreneurship executive director in
the Tribune, Bell was a regional vice president of sales for ICTV, an internet
the UNC College of Arts and Sciences
startup based in Silicon Valley. He was previously regional director of
and has worked as an entrepreneur-in-residence for the program. In this
affiliate sales for Home and Garden Television Network (HGTV) and
role, Bell has been responsible for teaching, mentoring and coaching
started his television career as a sales executive for the Discovery Channel.
students with a special emphasis on social entrepreneurship ventures. His
His sales career began at IBM as an account executive. Before that, he
leadership program has grown from 200 students to a student body of
worked as an operations analyst for Dudley Products Inc., a manufacturer
almost 800 students. The Shuford Program is the only entrepreneurship
and distributor of hair and skincare products for the African American
program in the country housed in the College of Arts and Sciences.
community. Because of his association with Dudley Products, he was
Bell is also the chairman and CEO of Urban Media Solutions (UMS), a
recently interviewed for the Dr. Joe L. Dudley, Sr., Legacy Project (www.
media consulting firm that coaches high-growth startups, corporations
patreon.com/joedudleysr). The project is being conducted by Every.Black,
and government agencies on traditional media and digital strategy around
a company that assists entrepreneurs in creating wealth by leveraging
the urban market. He was most recently the senior vice president in the
technology and utilizing a global networking strategy.
Office of the President for TV One, the lifestyle and entertainment cable
Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UNC-Chapel Hill and
network. He joined the network in 2003 as the second employee and led
an MBA in marketing from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
the successful growth of the network from a $130 million investment to
Additionally, he attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
an over $600 million valuation within 54 months. As TV One’s senior vice
College for Executive MBA coursework. Bell most recently served as a
president of sales and marketing, he successfully negotiated and managed
corporate director for ICLUB, an investment software company, and is on
The preceding article is the property of SMSi – Urban Call Marketing, Inc. - and may not be reproduced without written permission from the author.
OTC Beauty Magazine January 2022
21
