This year, we celebrate a group of entrepreneurs who were inspired to turn their innovative solutions into successful businesses. The winners of the Black Enterprise Small Business Awards will be announced at the 11th annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, hosted by General Motors, May 17-20, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Look for more coverage on blackenterprise.com and further recognition of the winners’ accomplishments in the September 2006 issue.
Emerging Company of the Year NOMINEES
This award recognizes businesses that have poised themselves for growth by carving out a special business niche or by adopting creative marketing techniques.
International Catastrophe Solutions
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Disaster Recovery, CEO/PRESIDENT: Corey Pitts. LOCATION: Atlanta
After the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region, private companies were lining up to help with the recovery process. International Catastrophe Solutions, a disaster recovery company, was one of the first to arrive.
Corey Pitts, 36, president and CEO of ICS, and his technicians were in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi to help commercial enterprises-including several hotels-clean up their properties. ICS has partnered with Marriott, Radisson, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn hotels. The company cleaned and sanitized some hotels so aid workers and government officials had places to stay during the arduous cleanup and rebuilding efforts.
Pitts directs a mobile emergency response unit that specializes in fire and water restoration, dehumidification, mold remediation, and asbestos removal. Last year, the 80-employee company posted $37 million in revenues.
Warm Spirit Inc.
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Direct Selling. CEO/PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER: Nadine Thompson. LOCATION: Exeter, NH
Nadine Thompson will tell you that Warm Spirit is not your average beauty-and-wellness company. Her unique direct-sales business-selling products at home gatherings, one-on-one, or through catalogs-was initially created to empower African American women, an audience Thompson felt was underserved as both consumers and entrepreneurs.
Warm Spirit, founded in 1999 by Thompson, 44, and Daniel Wolf, produces a comprehensive collection of nature-based beauty and healthcare products. Supplies are sold through a diverse nationwide network of more than 20,000 independent consultants, who earn income from personal direct sales and sales of consultants they recruit into the company.
Boosted by a phenomenal period of growth and end-of-year sales, the Exeter, New Hampshire-based firm reported income for 2005 at nearly $15 million. Sales for 2006 are projected to be well over $20 million.
Global Professional Solutions
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Information Technology. CEO/PRESIDENT: Frank J. Stuart. LOCATION: Alexandria, VA.
Frank J. Stuart has successfully capitalized on the increasing need for security in the U.S. to catapult his firm, Global Professional Solutions, into this $40 billion marketplace.
GPS specializes in program management and information technology support-from systems development and deployment to information collection and intelligence analysis. Stuart, the 45-year-old president and CEO who founded the Alexandria, Virginia-based company in 1995, announced in January 2005 that the firm’s new initiative was to achieve ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification, a feat the firm accomplished in nine months.
GPS’ personnel certification initiative paid great dividends, as the company achieved $15 million in revenues for 2005. New contracts are expected to help GPS generate revenues of $27 million in 2006.
BUSINESS INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
This award recognizes companies that have set trends and broken new ground in a particular industry.
Tap It FAME Inc.
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Digital Entertainment. CEO/OWNER: Jonathon Alexander. LOCATION: Los Angeles
What has been missing for independent artists, until now, is a fresh approach to getting their work out to the masses. Jonathon Alexander, CEO of Tap It FAME, an online artist portal, is making this happen by changing the dynamics of the industry. Alexander is the creator of an innovative Internet service that allows emerging artists to showcase their talent without catering to major labels.
Alexander, 41, developed www.tapitfame.com, to provide an outlet for emerging artists by allowing them to upload, display, market, and sell their work. For the service, artists pay $9.95 (for the basic package) plus merchant services fees. Artists set the prices for their work and are able to circumvent the 40% to 70% of gross sales charged by most online music sites, says Alexander. Special site features include a patent-pending Fame Tracker search engine of singers, bands, artists, and designers.
Before launching Tap It FAME (an acronym that stands for fashion, art, music, and entertainment) in August 2005, Alexander spent about 18 months researching the idea, traveling the world, and talking to artists and consumers about online music.
Now that Tap It FAME has completed its beta-testing phase, the company expects to make $700,000 by the end of this year. Alexander, who is on target to list 30,000 artists in his database by mid-2006, is continuing his goal-to revolutionize the way people listen to and buy music.
Life Enhancing Dentistry
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry. FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO: Dr. Lynn D. Locklear, DDS. LOCATION: Washington, D.C.
After Dr. Lynn Locklear completes dental work on her patients, they usually leave with a smile-not because they are pleased with the bill. Many who have undergone Locklear’s state-of-the-art neuromuscular treatment report an increased sense of well-being and comfort.
Locklear, 42, ranks among 1% of dentists trained in the cutting-edge field of neuromuscular dentistry. She has extensive training in this emerging field of dentistry, which is based on establishing the proper alignment of the jaw and facial muscles. When the jaw is misaligned, both hard and soft tissues are affected, which can cause headaches, jaw pain, and neck and shoulder pain. To relieve these symptoms, neuromuscular dentistry can be applied to place the jaw in its optimal position.
Through the application of this unique dental process, Locklear is able to provide her clients with exceptional aesthetic results, while additionally relieving the pain of joint dysfunction, migraine headaches, and numerous other conditions.
Locklear, who has been practicing dentistry in Washington, D.C., since 1992, transformed her traditional practice into Life-Enhancing Dentistry in 2002. Since that time, her practice has seen revenues grow from $710,000 in 2003 to more than $1 million in 2005. The company expects continued growth in 2006. Locklear has completed more than 350 hours of post-graduate training at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.
African Ancestry
TYPE OF BUSINESS: DNA-based Genealogy Tests. FOUNDERS: Rick Kittles and Gina Paige. LOCATION: Washington, DC
Do you know what part of Africa your ances
Three years ago, Kittles and his partner, Gina Paige, started Maryland-based African Ancestry, which uses DNA technology to provide a bridge to the past for people of African descent. The company sells DNA-based ancestry test kits for $349 each, which can pinpoint where in Africa a client’s ancestors came from.
Clients use swabs to wipe inside their cheeks and return the DNA samples via express service. African Ancestry then sends samples to Sorenson Genomics, a Salt Lake City-based laboratory that processes the swabs to determine their DNA genotyping and sequencing.
The key to the success of African Ancestry is the company’s comprehensive genetic African lineage database, a repository of molecular blueprints of Af
rican peoples created by Kittles, who has an extensive experience and expertise studying genetic variations in the African diaspora.
Paige, who serves as president, is optimistic about the company’s growth potential and the impact it’s making within the black community. “Our company is transforming the lives of African Americans because they are finding a part of their family history that they thought they lost forever,” says Paige. African Ancestry’s revenues totaled $450,000 in 2005 and is expected to total $850,000 in 2006.
RISING STAR AWARD NOMINEES
This award recognizes individuals, aged 21-35, whose outstanding skills, professionalism, and perseverance have established them as future business leaders.
Roadstarr Motorsports
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Car Customization. FOUNDERS: Hassan and Hussein Iddrissu & John Spio. LOCATION: Los Angeles
Whether it’s a custom-made cab for their Porsche GTC45 or 20-inch Maya GR5 wheels for their Ferrari F430 Spyder, car enthusiasts want more from their rides. When celebrities want to find a place that can modify their exotic cars, all roads lead to Roadstarr Motorsports, one of the most sought after automobile customization shops in Los Angeles.
Hassan Iddrissu, 28, a native of Ghana, decided to turn his love of stylish cars as a teen into a business. In 2001, he opened Roadstarr Motorsports, a luxury car customization service with his twin brother, Hussein, and cousin, John Spio. Now, the three dynamic entrepreneurs have combined their passion for high-end European cars with the lucrative opportunities found in the exploding landscape of automotive accessories and car customization.
Each day, Roadstarr customizes at least five to seven high-end European automobiles that come through their shop, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Land Rover, and Lamborghini. And the company’s clientele reflects it. Roadstarr’s celebrity roster includes European soccer star David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal, Ben Affleck, and rapper Ludacris, to name a few.
Glamour and glitz aside, Roadstarr Motorsports projected revenues of about $4 million in 2005, up from $3.8 million the year before. With the two new locations set to open, the company expects to reap as much as $7 million this year.
Diversity City Media Inc.
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Marketing and Public Relations. CEO/PRESIDENT: Dante Lee. LOCATION: Columbus, OH
If a press release about your company’s new development gets picked up by a media channel, the coverage can turn into a public relations bonanza. When black-owned businesses and organizations want to get noticed by black media, Dante Lee provides them the news outlet they need.
Lee is the
Lee launched BlackPR.com in 2001 as a response to a growing demand from celebrity authors, black organizations, and other companies that were seeking press coverage. Now, BlackPR.com, which distributes to 221 black newspapers and 83 magazines, sends out daily press releases to more than 40,000 contacts.
With clients such as Black Entertainment Television, McDonald’s, and Marriott, Diversity City generated revenues of $450,000 in 2005. This year, the company expects to generate $1 million. In addition to running Diversity Media, Lee found the time to write a book. In September 2005, he released How To Think Big … When You’re Small ($12.95; LIGATT Publishing), which offers a comprehensive set of 24 keys to success in life and business.
AllHipHop.com
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Entertainment & Lifestyle Website. FOUNDERS: Chuck Creekmur and Greg Watkins. LOCATION: New York City
For millions of hip-hop fans looking for the inside scoop on the hottest rappers in the industry, AllHipHop.com is your source. Proclaiming itself the “world’s most dangerous site,” AllHipHop.com has become one of the most widely read Internet sources for hip-hop news, reviews, and industry insight.
The driving forces behind AllHipHop.com are founders Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and “Grouchy” Greg Watkins, who have emerged as credible experts, speaking on all facets of hip-hop culture. By maintaining the journalistic integrity of AllHipHop.com, Creekmur, 34, and Watkins, 32, are changing how the culture is covered. These aspiring media moguls have combined their musical knowledge with an aggressive style of journalism to offer a balanced and thorough view of hip-hop.
AllHipHop.com, which delivers over 27 million page views per month, is regularly tapped for social and cultural commentary by major national and international media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, and Reuters. Since its launch in 1998, the company has shown signs of steady growth throughout the years. Sales reached in excess of $550,000 in 2005 and 2006 sales are expected to surpass the $1 million mark.
Teenpreneur Award NOMINEES
This award recognizes entrepreneurs age 18 and under who serve as role models and are committed to advancing the rich tradition of black business achievement.
EDEN Body Works
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hair Care. PRINCIPAL: Jasmine Lawrence. LOCATION: Mount Laurel, NJ
Initially, Jasmine Lawrence’s plan was to create an all natural hair care product that really worked. Now, this 14-year-old CEO is establishing distribution channels and negotiating prices with suppliers for her successful company, EDEN Body Works.
Motivated by her own desire for hair care products without harsh chemicals, the Mount Laurel, New Jersey, resident founded EDEN Body works in 2004 after being selected to attend a business camp sponsored by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Under Lawrence’s leadership, EDEN Body works has experienced tremendous growth with a rapidly expanding customer base. Her products, such as the jojoba all natural hair oil spray, are currently being sold in seven states. The line is being expanded to include other hair and beauty products, such as shampoo and conditioners, hair gels, and skin moisturizers.
Drive Safe
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Driver Safety Notification Signs. PRINCIPAL CEO: Chestina Perry. LOCATION: Columbia, SC
Chestina Perry, 18, recalls the pressure she faced when learning how to drive three years ago. Her inexperience behind the wheel drew horn blowing, fist shaking, and vulgar gestures from impatient drivers in busy traffic. But the safety-conscious teenager found a creative way to turn her difficult driving experience into a business opportunity.
Perry came up with the idea of asking her mother, Winnie, to make some magnetic signs that would keep other motorists from getting angry while she was on the road. Using a sign that read “New Driver in Training-Please Be Patient” made her driving experience much safer. Other drivers began to react by giving Perry room to maneuver safely in traffic.
In March 2004, Perry, along with her three nieces, started a family business called Drive Safe, which makes and sells a variety of magnetic signs for cars with messages promoting careful driving. The teenage CEO’s oldest niece Tiffanie, 12, is the president; Twana, 11, is the vice president; and Victoria, 10, is in charge of customer relations.
Since its launch, the Columbia, South Carolina-based company is experiencing tremendous success. Drive Safe, which generated $3,000 in sales last year, was awarded the official patent for Driver Safety Notification Signs in February 2005.
Honeecakes Bakery
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Homemade Cake Bakery. PRINCIPAL: Andrea Dashiell. LOCATION: Fores
tville, MD
For Andrea Dashiell, starting her own bakery business had a lot to do with her grandmother, who she said taught her to think independently and use her imagination. Now, that wisdom is evident in how the 18-year-old operates Honeecakes Bakery, which produces quality, affordable homemade cakes and pies.
Dashiell launched Honeecakes in November 2004 to satisfy the sweet tooth of members of her church and others in the community. “My business has grown tremendously through word-of-mouth,” says Dashiell. People who sample her cakes at school and church functions call by phone to place orders for everything from sweet potato pound cake to apple pies. Dashiell has extended her product line by adding mini-cakes for individual snacking.
Once her baking business started to take hold, Dashiell improved her skills by obtaining a Food Handlers Certification license from Prince George’s Community College.
Dashiell learned the basics of business when she got involved with the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship program at Suitland High School in 2004. She earned first place in the organization’s In-Class Business Plan Competition and success has followed the aspiring college student ever since. In 2005, the Forestville, Maryland-based Honeecakes revenues reached $3,000.
In selecting the award nominees, a committee of BLACK ENTERPRISE editors and conference coordinators pored over hundreds of business plans and nomination forms. Once preliminary nominees were selected, be’s research department conducted further due diligence to determine the strongest candidates. For information on the 2006 Small Business Awards or to nominate a business or entrepreneur, go to blackenterprise.com