This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, in time for Women’s History Month, UBR contributor Samantha Pass speaks with women’s history maker Marjorie Perry, founder and Chief Creative Officer of MZM Construction & Management Co., based in Newark, N.J. Perry has earned numerous awards and recognition for her entrepreneurial achievements, including being named one of the Top 25 Entrepreneurs in New Jersey and one of New Jersey’s Top 50 Women in Business by the business publication NJBIZ. She has also recently been selected by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to be a member of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Perry built a career working for such corporations as 3M, Johnson & Johnson and United Airlines, before launching her own consulting firm focused on helping entrepreneurs succeed in the marketplace. Impressed by her insight and vision, MZM Construction, which was one of her clients at the time, asked her to join the business as a partner. Eventually Perry became the sole principal and CEO of the company. Under Perry’s guidance, MZM Construction has enjoyed 19 years of profitable performance, including work on such projects as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Meadowlands Giants & Jets Sports Arena. Perry joins the Roundtable to share her journey to the top of a multimillion-dollar construction business.
Also, UBR contributor contributor Renita D. Young speaks with Tynicka Battle, CEO of Think Tank Digital, a digital marketing and promotions firm, about how entrepreneurs can create strategic digital partnerships. Over the past five years, Battle and her company have spearheaded campaigns for Pepsi, Motorola and the 2012 U.S. Census, as well as for some of the hottest acts in music, including Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga.
And finally, every week on UBR, you’ll hear my “Alfred’s Notepad” segment, get motivation and inspiration from author and entrepreneurial icon Farrah Gray, a weekly wrap-up of business news from USA Today business correspondent Charisse Jones, our Patient Investor Report from Ariel Investments and key economic intelligence for small business owners from our UBR economists Derrick Collins and Rasheed Carter.
If you have a question you want answered or a topic you want addressed on The Urban Business Roundtable, connect with me at BE Insider, the social media network for people who are serious about Black Enterprise. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.
Alfred Edmond Jr. is the senior VP/editor-at-large of Black Enterprise and the host of the Urban Business Roundtable, a weekly radio show, sponsored by Ariel Investments, airing CST Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. on WVON-AM 1690, the Talk of Chicago. You can also listen live online at WVON.com. Check back each week for UBR Spotlight, which features additional resources, advice and information from and about the topics, entrepreneurs and experts featured on the show.
Small business is BIG BUSINESS at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 23-26, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. Beat the March 16 Early Bird deadline to get a $200 registration discount at www.blackenterprise.com/ec/! And be sure to nominate your company or another business for our Small Business Awards! Want to pitch your business idea and win $10,000? Don’t miss the chance to enter our Elevator Pitch Competition before March 30 to qualify for the $10,000 grand prize. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/
