Black Business News - May Issue

Publisher’s Message

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

Pubisher/Chief Executive Officer

W

ith the U.S. economic recovery officially underway, many might observe that the glass is half-filled, while others might say its halfemptied. My response, it depends on who you are and what you’re drinking.

As a direct consequence of the most severe e c o n o m i c downturn in the history of the U.S. since the Great Depression, African American businesses were disportionately impacted.

As a group, we experienced more than our fair share of business c l o s u r e s , bankruptcies, reductions, as well as cancellations of access to capital markets, increased derogatory credit experiences and loss of net income. However, like in the past, many Black business owners and decision-makers survived this economic storm and are positioning themselves for future growth.

Historically, we have benefited

and lack of a substantial down payment.

In the construction sector, many African American contractors are actively engaged making up for lost revenue from the past few years as result of the recent recession.

Nationwide, African Americans have a combined buying power likely over $1 trillion and account for 1.2 million of our country’s 23 million businesses.

According to the National Minority Business Agency (MBDA), Black-owned businesses experienced the largest growth in number of businesses among minorities from 2002 to 2012. Also, as reported by the Center for an Urban Future, small business suppliers (in which African American have Aliko businesses established markets), Dangote reported revenue growth With the recent uptick in the of 250% in the first few years of housing market, the Black middle working with large corporations.

In Africa, there are several class has grown substantially.

According to several reports, African billionaires, lead by Aliko year-end 2012, almost 35% of Dangote of Nigera. Based on African Americans own their Forbes, Mr. Dangote has an homes. However, there still remain estimated net worth around $16.1 obstacles to homeownership for billion. As illustrated on page 82 of those with less-than-perfect credit see Publisher’s Message on page 4

from the advances made during the Civil Rights movement, particularly among the educated and wellinformed. In this information driven society, Black businesses must harness the emerging power of technology, the Internet, social media and the creative financial vehicle of Crowd-funding.

3  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net

Publisher’s Message from page 3

this month’s Black Business News, Aliko’s fortunes are rooted in sugar, cement and flour. This is quite impressive compared to Oprah Winfrey’s estimated net value just under $3 billion. Of great interest is that Africa’s first female billionaire, Isabel do Santos, oldest daughter of Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, found her fortune by investing in finance and communications companies.

So, on the international scene, it might appear the glass is more than half-filled. However, in the U.S., the median earnings of AfricanAmerican men was 72 cents for every dollar earned of their Asian American counterparts. But there appears to be a different story with African American women.

Among American women with post-secondary education, African-

some college education.

In Los Angeles, the Black Business Association (BBA), held its 10th annual Salute to Black Women Business Conference, Vendor Faire and Awards Luncheon.

For a summary of the event including video, photos, program book and articles, please go to the BBA website at www.bbala.org.

What is in store for Black businesses?

Isabel do Santos American women have made the most significant advances; the median income of African-American women was more than that of their Asian-, European- and Hispanic American counterparts with at least

The keys are (a) information technology and beyond, (b) access to capital and (c) positive opporunities for procurement contracts with the public and private sector.

Too many Black-owned businesses don’t know where to begin at times. Large corporations, often without any sinister motives, have complicated the supply chains and lines of communications with no clear means of securing a deal. As many of you know, African American business owners have enough to do in keeping their doors open without

spending time marketing to large companies.

African American businesses, especially small business suppliers, are struggling with access to working capital and lines of credit.

Credit Cards are never more profound than when bridging the gap between payables and receivables. In Los Angeles, the Black Business Association (BBA) is working with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and a consortium of banks, as well as alternative lending sources such as Crowd-funding to address this issue.

Finally, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the most significant social legislative act enacted since the Great Deal, African American businesses around the country are not only positioning their companies to fully comply, but many are in discussions on how to further participate in the multi-trillion dollar healthcare marketplace.

Keep reading the Black Business News on this, and other future developments. 

4  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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They do right by us. Everyone wins.

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Loans subject to credit and collateral approval. Financing available for collateral located in CA, OR, or WA. Restrictions may apply. Terms and conditions subject to change. ©2013 Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Visit us at unionbank.com.

About

ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS NEWS… 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, the Black Business News imparts current local, national and international industry trends related to small businesses across the United States of America (USA), detailing greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentors and networks. The goals of the Black Business News include: •

• • •

•

Black Business News P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 323-291-7819 Fax: 323-298-5064 www.blackbusinessnews.net

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sarah Harris

ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR

increasing the use of business enterprises owned by USA-based blacks, by advocating for greater access to leading finance lenders and successful business managers.

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

working to merge resources, values, profits, technology throughout the public and private sectors.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

balancing major public and private sector contracting methods with positive outcomes of black-owned and operated enterprises.

LaSandra Stratton • Dean Jones • Linda Ware

gproviding an affirmative influence for emergn ing entrepreneurs sharing innovative design and creative cultural content that exposess d them to the history of black enterprises and excite them to participate in the USA’s future.. advocating and promoting on behalf off 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 blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.

WWW.BLACKBUSINESSNEWS.NET

Kim Anthony Belinda Foster Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris • Phallu Morgan

STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg ▪ Jennifer Marie Hamilton

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • Narishima Osei

CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR La Sandra Stratton

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2012 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.

Contents

MAY 2013

3

Publisher’s Message

GOVERNMENT… 14 18 20 22 24

Obama visits Mexico and Costa Rica

34 36 40 50 64 65 66

Survey Says - Wealthy Black Americans Hopeful

New Hiring Commitments for Veterans National World Trade Month Business Opportunities with Moonbase Project Mining SBA’s 8(a) Program for Contract Success

BUSINESS…

81

Technology Disruptor: Aereo 21 Social Media Marketing Tips In the Funding Business: BlackStartup.com Determine Your Company’s Worth Run Your Business Using That Smartphone Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People

PUBLIC INTEREST/COMMUNITY… 78 79

Fulbright Scholarship Competition Open Let’s Move! - Celebrates Physical Fitness Month

INTERNATIONAL… COLUMNS 74 - Take A Look!

113 - Books to Consider...

114 - Calendar 116 - Resources ACTION ALERTS 39 - AEG Supplier Portal SPONSORS 10 - Black Business Association Cover image - Phallu Morgan

82

“Fixing” Africa - Three Approaches

86

Botswana in Need of More StartUps

88

Innovation Hub in development in Botswana

90

GDP Analysis

24

9  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

profits, technology and people; •

Promoting development and support of minority business enterprises within the domestic and international economies by encouraging and generating greater access to market opportunities and capital;

•

Providing training for entrepreneurial professional development;

•

Supporting and contributing to the economic base and progress of the African-American community; and

•

Developing coalitions that support our political endeavors to effectively achieve public recognition and political influence for African-American business owners.

Over 40 years of service Founded 1970

About the BBA…

Since 1970, the Black Business Association (BBA), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Los Angeles, has been instrumental in the incubation and development of more than 15,000 African-American businesses. Nationally, we have access and influence with more than 85,000 African-American-owned and women/minority-owned firms via strategic alliances with more than 100 women/minority trade associations in more than 42 states nationwide.

___ Our Mission ___ The Black Business Association’s mission is to advocate and promote the development of African-American owned businesses with the goal of creating a firm economic base that support the self-determination and survival of the African-American and urban community by: •

Identifying and creating financial opportunities for the growth and stability of African-American owned businesses;

•

Being a community voice that advocates for the success of small businesses;

•

Being a conduit for the merging of resources, values,

___ Advocacy ___ The Black Business Association maintains very effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials for the support of African-American business development. Locally, statewide and in Washington, DC, we are constantly aware of pending legislation that might affect our member’s businesses, their growth and even their ability to conduct business. When legislation is being considered that affects our mission, the BBA quickly mobilizes to work with key policy makers to support, defeat or modify the bill and pursue the BBA position.

As an organization, we are constantly at the helm, securing innovative means and policies that protect our constituency and their business interests. 

Coming Events 2013

October/Novenber

Procurement Summit & Awards Luncheon Black Business Association P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA Tel: 323-291-9334 Fax: 323-857-4610

• Call 323-291-9334 for information on sponsorship and participation •

mail@bbala.org www.bbala.org www.facebook.com 11  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

SERVING THE INDUSTRY and the TRADE PIPE - VALVES - FITTINGS - METALS - TOOLS PROCESS CONTROLS - INSTRUMENTATION - WATER WORKS

Brandon Supply Corporation is a world class distributor of industrial supplies.

Brandon has been proven to be a dependable source of supply to the petrochemical, power generation and waterworks industries providing fast and reliable service.

Brandon, in maintaining the policy of selling only superior products, represents only the nation's top manufacturers.

SBA CERTIFIED We offer a full range of valves for all piping applications, pressure tubing in all sizes and schedules, a complete line of fittings, flanges and couplings in all metallurgies.

We also offer a full range in PVC, HDPE and other materials.

Clarence D. Scott, CEO CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 14120 Gannet Street Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 5354 Buena Park, CA 90623

Phone: 562-921-0407 | FAX: 562-921-5945 800.238.5906 (Outside California) www.brandonsupply.com | cdavis@brandonsupplycorp.com

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

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Government

President Obama Reaffirms the United States-Mexico Relationship On the first day of his trip to Mexico and Costa Rica (www.whitehouse. gov/mexico-costa-rica-trip-2013), President Obama was in Mexico City for meetings and a joint press conference (www.whitehouse. gov/the-press-office/2013/05/02/ remarks-president-obama-andpresident-pena-nieto-mexico-jointpress-conf) with President Peña Nieto.

The two leaders, who first met in Washington, DC last November, discussed the broad range of

issues that bind our nations and affect the daily lives of citizens in both countries, and renewed their commitment to a strong relationship between the United States and Mexico.

While working together to confront urgent challenges like security, “we can’t lose sight of the larger relationship between our peoples, including the promise of Mexico’s economic progress,” President Obama said. “I believe we’ve got a historic opportunity to

foster even more cooperation, more trade, more jobs on both sides of the border, and that’s the focus of my visit.”

The United States and Mexico have one of the largest economic relationships in the world. Our annual trade has now surpassed $500 billion -more than $1 billion every day.

We are your largest customer, buying the vast majority of Mexican exports. Mexico is the second largest market for U.S. exports. So every day, our companies and our workers -— with their integrated supply chains —- are building products together. And this is the strong foundation that we can build on.

Before continuing on to Costa Rica, President Obama spoke

President Barack Obama and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico share a toast prior to a working dinner at Los Pinos, Mexico City, Mexico, May 2, 2013.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

see Mexico-Costa Rica on page 15

President Barack Obama and President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica participate in a cultural event with Costa Rican youth at Casa Amarilla, San Jose, Costa Rica, May 3, 2013.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Mexico-Costa Rica from page 14

to the people of Mexico at the National Anthropology Musuem (www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/05/03/remarkspresident-people-mexico) about the “impressive progress of today’s Mexico,” which includes the country’s deepinging democracy and strengthening economy.

And because of all the dynamic progress that’s taking place here in Mexico, Mexico is also taking its rightful place in the world, on the world stage. Mexico is standing up for democracy not just here in Mexico but throughout the hemisphere. Mexico is sharing expertise with neighbors across the Americas. When they face earthquakes or threats to their citizens, or go to the polls to cast their votes, Mexico is there,

helping its neighbors. Mexico has joined the ranks of the world’s largest economies. It became the first Latin American nation to host the G20.

“Just as Mexico is being transformed, so are the ties between our two countries,” President Obama said.

As President, I’ve been guided by a basic proposition -- in this relationship there’s no senior partner or junior partner; we are two equal partners, two sovereign nations. We must work together in mutual interest and mutual respect. And if we do that both Mexico and the United States will prosper.

Costa Rica President Obama arrived in Costa Rica on Friday -- his first visit to the country -- and participated in a bilateral meeting and joint press conference (www.

whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/05/03/remarkspresident-obama-and-presidentchinchilla-costa-rica-joint-press-) with Costa Rica’s President Laura Chinchilla, as well as a working dinner (www.whitehouse. gov//the-press-office/2013/05/04/ remarks-president-working-dinnersica-leaders). During the press conference, the President spoke about the friendship and economic ties between our two countries: Costa Rica shows the benefits of trade that is free and fair. Over the last few years, under the Central America Free Trade Agreement, our trade with Costa Rica has doubled, creating more jobs for people in both of our countries.

Our partnerships are creating more opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including young people and women. As I told see Mexico-Costa Rica on page 16

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Government

Mexico-Costa Rica from page 15

President Chinchilla, the United States will continue to be your partner as Costa Rica modernizes its economy so that you’re attracting more investment and creating even more trade and more jobs.

President Obama also attended a forum on Inclusive Economic Growth and Development at the Old Customs House in San Jose.

Speaking with business leaders,

travels both in Mexico and Central America, and I’ve emphasized that although I understand why there’s been a great focus over the last several years on security issues -security is important. It’s very hard to create a strong economy when people are personally feeling insecure.

There’s been a lot of emphasis on immigration, and I understand why that is. Obviously it’s of great importance to this region

to be of enormous importance.

When you look at the scale of business that’s being done currently, it’s creating jobs in the United States, it’s creating jobs here. And what we want to do is to find ways that we can continue to enhance that relationship, how we can get ideas from this region and find ways in which we can improve and foster small business development, medium-sized business development,

President Barack Obama participates in a restricted bilateral meeting with President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica at Casa Amarilla, San Jose, Costa Rica.

May 3, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) the President addressed the issues of security and economic growth before taking questions (www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/05/04/remarkspresident-obama-meetingbusiness-leaders): I’ve been interviewed several times during the course of my

and to the United States. We shouldn’t lose sight of the critical importance of trade and commerce and business to the prospects both for Costa Rica, the United States, and the entire hemisphere.

The United States considers our trading relationships with CAFTA countries, with Mexico,

make this entire region more competitive.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/05/03/president-obamareaffirms-united-states-mexicorelationship www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/05/04/president-obamas-visit-costa-rica

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Government

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Hiring Commitments for Veterans and Military Spouses

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during a Joining Forces initiative employment announcement for veterans and military spouses, in the East Room of the White House, April 30, 2013. Stage participants included, from left, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

T

wo years ago, President Obama announced a challenge to the private sector to hire or train 100,000 unemployed veterans or their spouses by the end of 2013.

On April 30th, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden all participated in a Joining Forces Employment event at the White House.

President Obama set a goal of

asking the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.

The First Lady announced that America’s businesses nearly tripled the goal set by President Obama and did so eight months early. The private sector has already hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses.

The First Lady also announced that American companies have committed to hire or train another

435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years.

For example: • BNSF Railroad committed to hire 5,000 veterans and military spouses in the next five years.

• UPS committed to hire 25,000 in the next five years.

• Home Depot committed to hire 55,000 in the next five years.

• McDonald’s committed to hire 100,000 in the next three years. see Create Jobs/Cut Deficit on page 19

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Government

Hiring Veterans from page 18

• Walmart committed to hiring any veteran that served honorably the year after they separate from the service.

• Deloitte will double its veteran hiring over the next three years.

• USAA pledged that 30% of its new hires will be a veteran or military spouse.

• The Blackstone Group challenged each of the 50,000 managers at its affiliated businesses to hire at least one veteran.

• AT&T committed to creating an online military talent exchange.

• The International Franchising Association has helped more than 4,300 veterans own their own business since 2011.

• The U.S Chamber of Commerce just held its 400th hiring fair since last March for veterans.

The First Lady also shared the stories of veterans who have successfully transitioned into second careers. For example, she shared the story of Staff Sergeant Shaun Murphy, an Army veteran who taught sixth grade special education in Delaware for Teach for America (TFA). Today, he leads TFA’s efforts to hire more veterans as teachers.

He said, “When you hang up those fatigues and put those boots away, you don’t want to feel like you’ve

given up your sense of service.”

And Chryssy Johnson, who is an Army wife and mother. Her family moved around frequently because of her husband’s service, making it hard to keep a job. But USAA gave her an opportunity, and she

but also demonstrate that our nation truly honors their service.

Even with all the wonderful announcements today, it is clear we have more work to do. We still need every business that has not yet joined this effort to make

is now senior financial foundations specialist pursuing her MBA. With the Iraq war over and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, more than one million service members are projected to leave the military in the next several years and transition to civilian life.

Good civilian jobs not only help our veterans and military spouses manage this transition smoothly,

a commitment to hire or train our veterans and military spouses.

Together, let’s work to serve our military families as well as they have served us.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/04/30/first-lady-michelleobama-announces-new-hiringcommitments-veterans-andmilitary-spo

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Government

President Obama Proposes Manufacturing Innovation Institutes

A

fter shedding jobs for a decade, American manufacturers have added about 500,000 positions over the past three years. Production is growing at its fastest pace in over a decade. And as part of his plan to do everything he can to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and fuel economic growth, President Obama is committed to continuing this progress through his , which is why he’s laid out a comprehensive agenda to make America a magnet for manufacturing.

The President has rolled out the first piece of that agenda, announcing competitions to establish three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

These new institutes, partnerships among business, universities and community colleges, and government, will develop and build manufacturing technologies and capabilities to help U.S.-based businesses and workers create good jobs.

Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council, explains in a 60 second video why these institutes are an important part of the President’s strategy to invest in manufacturing - www. whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/09/ clock-manufacturing-innovationinstitutes-explained.

The President’s manufacturing agenda starts with his vision for a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI).

The President’s FY14 Budget includes a $1 billion investment at the Department of Commerce to

create the NNMI, a model based on approaches that that other countries have successfully deployed. Each institute would serve as a regional hub designed to bridge the gap between basic research and product development, bringing together companies, universities and community colleges, and Federal agencies to co-invest in technology areas that encourage investment and production in the U.S. This type of innovation infrastructure provides a unique ‘teaching factory’ that allows for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while

Metals Manufacturing”, and the Department of Energy will be leading one new institute on “Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing”.

All three institutes will be selected through an open, competitive process, led by the Departments of Energy and Defense, with review from a multi-agency team of technical experts. Winning teams will be selected and announced later this year. Federal funds will be matched by industry co-investment, support from state and local governments, and other sources.

Like the pilot institute, these Institutes are expected to become financially self-sustaining, and the plan to achieve this objective will be a critical evaluation criterion in the selection process. DOD and DOE are opening the competition for the three new institutes immediately.

For more information visit www. manufacturing.gov/welcome.

providing the shared assets to help companies, most importantly small manufacturers, access the cuttingedge capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes.

The Department of Defense will lead two of the new Institutes, focused on “Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation” and “Lightweight and Modern

htm and ww1.eere.energy.gov/ manufacturing: • Department of Defense – “Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation” • Department of Defense – “Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing” • Department of Energy – “Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing” 

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Government

World Trade Week, and the anniversary of the enactment of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement.

“During this month and beyond, the Obama administration will continue working to ensure a level international playing field for American workers and businesses.

We are negotiating agreements to further open markets in Asia and Europe, while celebrating the anniversary of the landmark U.S.Colombia Trade Agreement. At the same time, we remain committed to investigating any unfair trade practices affecting American companies.

As the Obama administration has said before,

National World Trade Month

U

.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez has issued a statement marking the start of World Trade Month. During May, events will take place across the country to promote American trade relationships and provide resources to businesses looking to export their goods and services.

“World Trade Month is an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of international trade to accelerating economic growth in the United States. As Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, I am committed to helping American companies build things here and sell them all over the world. Throughout the month, the Department of Commerce will partner with public and private sector organizations to help connect U.S. businesses of all sizes to the vast commercial opportunities existing outside our borders, where 95 percent of the world’s consumers live. Doing so will advance President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which aims to support millions of new, good-paying U.S. jobs through export growth.”

In keeping with this theme, the Department of Commerce will recognize export successes of U.S. companies at the 51st Annual President’s E-Awards Ceremony on May 20. These awards celebrate significant contributions to increasing our nation’s exports and creating good-paying jobs.

The month also includes National Travel and Tourism Week,

SelectUSA Investment Summit will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., October 31 to November 1, 2013.

The SelectUSA Investment Summit will connect investors – both foreign and domestic – with U.S. cities, states, and regions. These

critical interactions will provide U.S. EDOs (Economic Development Organizations) with unique access to investors and help them more effectively identify, target, and execute their investment attraction strategies. The Summit will also help companies more effectively navigate the U.S. business climate, connect with U.S. EDOs in a meaningful way, and ultimately invest in the United States.

Participants will also have the opportunity to hear directly from senior Administration officials, state and local officials, and subject-matter experts. For information send inquiries to: SelectUSASummit@trade.gov.

Also visit the program website at http://selectusa.commerce.gov.

International Trade Administration we have the best workers and the best businesses in the world, and if the playing field is level, America always wins.”

For more information about World Trade Month, please visit www. trade.gov.

One of the key trade programs of the U.S. Commerce Department is SelectUSA. This program highlights the many advantages the United States offers as a location for business and investment. The next

The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,400 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 70 countries worldwide. www.trade. gov.  www.4-traders.com/news/ ITA-International-TradeAdministration-Statement-from-US-Under-Scretary-of-Commercefor-Intern--16803970

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Government

Moonbase Project: Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses

by Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

A mockup created by Bigelow Aerospace shows a moon base with inflatable modules.

B

igelow Aerospace (www. bigelowaerospace.com) and NASA (www.nasa.gov) say they’ve agreed to look at ways for private ventures to contribute to human exploration missions, perhaps including construction of a moon base. But the space agency emphasized that it’s keeping its own focus squarely on corraling an asteroid and then going to Mars.

“As part of our broader commercial space strategy, NASA signed a Space Act Agreement

with Bigelow Aerospace to foster ideas about how the private sector can contribute to future human missions,” David Weaver, the space agency’s associate administrator for communications, said in a statement emailed to NBC News.

“This will provide important information on possible ways to expand our exploration capabilities in partnership with the private sector,” Weaver said. “The agency is intensely focused on a bold mission to identify, relocate and explore an

asteroid with American astronauts by 2025 — all as we prepare for an even more ambitious human mission to Mars in the 2030s. NASA has no plans for a human mission to the moon (http://cosmiclog.nbcnews. com/_news/2013/04/10/17690294nasa-touts-plan-to-grab-asteroid-asunprecedented-technological-feat?lite).”

Eyes on the moon The moon, however, ranks high among the targets that Bigelow

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see Moonbase on page 23

Moonbase

from page 22

Aerospace has in mind. The Nevada-based company has been working on moonbase concepts for years. During a recent interview on the “Coast to Coast AM” radio show, billionaire founder Robert Bigelow said the potential objectives for private-sector space efforts include a lunar base as well as space stations or refueling depots placed at gravitational balance points in the Earth-moon system.

“We’re making no bones about it, that’s what we’re out to try to

doing is projecting that forward, and exploring what commercial companies can do both to lower the cost of beyond-LEO operations, and to create enhanced capabilities.”

The agreement with NASA calls upon Bigelow Aerospace to lay out the potential contributions to exploration beyond Earth orbit.

“First, we’ll be identifying what the companies and technologies are that could contribute, and then we’ll be examining what some of those specific mission scenarios might be,” Gold said. During the “Coast to Coast AM” interview, Robert Bigelow said the first phase of the

A mockup created by Bigelow Aerospace shows a moon base with inflatable modules. accomplish,” Bigelow said.

Mike Gold, a spokesman for Bigelow Aerospace, explained that his company wanted to help “commercial space achieve escape velocity from Low Earth Orbit.”

Gold said the NASA-Bigelow agreement would build on the work done by SpaceX (www. spacex.com), Orbital Sciences Corp. (www.orbital.com) and other companies to build new spaceships for trips to the International Space Station. “What this is

study would take 100 days, and the second phase would take 120 days.

No money is changing hands under the agreement, which was signed in late March. The recommendations coming from the study could include potential opportunities for NASA to buy or lease facilities from private space ventures.

Earlier this month, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said that the space agency would not “take the lead on a human lunar

mission.” However, Bolden did not rule out the possibility that NASA might play a role in missions led by other countries or private ventures.

Future space stations Bigelow Aerospace made its mark in low Earth orbit in 2006 and 2007 when it sent two inflatable space modules into orbit aboard Russian launch vehicles. Those space station prototypes, Genesis 1 and Genesis 2, are still in orbit.

In January, Bigelow Aerospace and NASA struck a deal to deliver a larger inflatable module, known as the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module or BEAM, to the International Space Station in 2015 on a SpaceX resupply flight.

Eventually, Bigelow plans to put a separate commercial space station in orbit, assembled from two even larger inflatable modules. Each of these BA330 modules would have a habitable volume of 330 cubic meters, and putting two of them together would create an “Alpha Station” for a maximum crew of 12. Gold said that the company was continuing to discuss the concept with international space agencies and corporations, but he emphasized that the venture depended on having regular commercial flights to orbit.

A key development would be the production of commercial spaceships capable of transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, Gold said. NASA has said such spaceships should be flying by 2017.

“The BA330 will be ready prior to commercial crew, so that’s roughly the timeframe were looking at,” Gold said, “and we’re ready to take on customers now.”  http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_ news/2013/04/19/17829546-to-themoon-bigelow-aerospace-and-nasalook-at-private-exploration?lite&ocid= msnhp&pos=7

23  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

Research and Rewards

by Beverly Kuykendall

A

s a business-development program, the 8(a) Program includes myriad resources that work to support growth and development for disadvantaged businesses. SBA created the program to help socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs gain access to, and become viable business participants in, America’s economic mainstream, and help them get a start in government contracting.

The 8(a) Program has two phases over nine years, a four year developmental stage and a five-year transition stage. The 8(a) Program’s most coveted reward is preferential access to government contracts that include sole-source (no competition) and set-aside (limited competition) federal requirements.

Sole-source and limited-source contracts are what attract many to the 8(a) Program, but the pathways toward this goal are often misunderstood. The program is not designed to merely “give” contracts to 8(a)-certified firms; participating firms must demonstrate competency, market themselves effectively, and make contact with federal acquisition, small business, or program managers to present these capabilities.

It is often said that the U.S. government buys everything, but this is only partially true—certain agencies of the government purchase certain goods and services, but not all government agencies purchase all goods

and services. Before a firm starts marketing itself, it must identify which federal agencies buy what it sells. Do your research—lots of information is available about government procurement and contract awards, including the free Federal Procurement Data System.

Misunderstandings about Mentorship There are many misunderstandings about the 8(a) program. I recently spoke with representatives of a firm in its second year of the program that had yet to receive an 8(a) contract.

Why? They had decided not to engage in opportunities that would maximize their 8(a) certification or market their firm, because they “heard” that receiving an 8(a) contract would prohibit them from entering into SBA’s 8(a) Mentor-Protégé Program.

The program’s rules actually say that to qualify as a protégé, a participant must: (i) Be in the developmental stage of program participation; or (ii) Have never received an 8(a) contract; or (iii) Have a size that is less than half the size standard among businesses in its primary NAICS code. The firm was operating under the misunderstanding that in order to qualify for the SBA 8(a) MentorProtégé Program, it must not have received a contract already.

Don’t waste your time on an

inaccurate interpretation—get the facts on the program before you begin the application process. They are available online through federal resource centers and at www.sba. gov. The SBA even offers a tutorial on the 8(a) Program to help firms determine whether or not they are eligible.

Marketing Your Firm The first step in marketing your business is to determine which government agencies buy what you sell. There are many ways to do this: Contact one of the many resources available to small firms seeking to do business in the federal arena. Contact your location Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Visit your local SBA Office or connect with a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in your area.

Become a client of one of the 41 local Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) offices. Connect with one of the Regional Partnering Organizations under the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) or one of SBA’s Women’s Business Centers see Research and Rewards on page 25

24  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

Research and Rewards

from page 24

(WBC). No question should go unanswered.

Once you know which agencies buy what you sell, determine how the agencies you wish to target purchase the products or services you sell. Do they use a GSA (General Services Administration) Schedule? Or do they procure using existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles such as: • Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC), • Simplified Acquisition Task Order Contracts (SATOC), • Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC),

but don’t meet them with a blank slate—develop specific questions to help them help you demystify the federal contracting process. First, they will guide you to the System for Award Management (SAM), which was created to improve the federal government contracting process for small business owners.

SAM’s Phase 1 services combine several procurement systems, including the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), Federal Agency Registration (FedReg), the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), into a single, easy-to-use website. In order to receive payment from a federal agency, your firm must be registered in SAM; for more information, visit www.SAM.gov.

No Easy Path to Government Contracts

• Blanket Ordering Agreement (BOA), • Firm-Fixed Priced (FFP) contract, or • Small Acquisition Procedures (SAP) contract?

There is no straight line to federal contracting, and if there were, everyone would do it.

If you’re still stuck, contact one of the resource centers above,

Some of those new to the federal contracting arena can get frustrated. They have been led to believe that there is an easy path to federal business success, only to be confronted with the reality that it takes work, time, energy, focus, and determination to get government contracts. Learn the procurement process, integrate federal contracting steps/processes with internal systems and protocols, and then implement carefully crafted steps to market your firm to the federal agencies that buy what you sell. There is no other way.

I’ve been involved in the federal arena for more than 20 years, and I admit that it takes a great deal of focus to achieve success.

Complexity and bureaucracy are its natural barriers, and business owners are surprised to discover the efforts necessary to conduct business with the federal

government. If a business owner is serious about contracting with the federal government after determining that there is a real opportunity for growth, he or she should consider hiring a person with experience in navigating the federal contracting process.

This person should be able to help integrate the process internally through systems and protocols including a solid federal capturemanagement system and a “go/ no-go” process—an evaluation to determine whether a government requirement is a good match for the core competencies of your firm quickly. It is also important to develop meaningful relationships across a spectrum of carefully selected prospective customers/ agencies in the federal sector.

With few exceptions, the 8(a) Program has a nine-year lifespan.

Time is limited. Firms are strongly advised to develop a plan to fully maximize opportunities offered by the program prior to appplying.

Some firms are timed-out of the program before they even receive a

contract. The SBA offers orientation classes on certification. The wise businessperson will take these classes and ask questions to understand how to market as an 8(a) firm. see Research and Rewards on page 26

25  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

Research and Rewards from page 25

The Final Word The 8(a) Program is a phenomenal business development tool when coupled with the sources available from the federal government to assist small businesses. For those firms that understand how to market to federal agencies for the purpose of developing key relationships, 8(a) certification is a great way to get a foothold in the federal arena. Sole-source and limitedsource contracts of the 8(a) Program are distinct marketing advantages; it is not only a business development program, it is also a procurement preference program. For contracts worth less than $4 million in services or $6.5 million in products, no formal Justification and Authorization is required.

The prospect of receiving a sole-source contract award from the federal government is what drives

most firms to seek 8(a) certification aggressively.

However, the road to federal contracting is lined with firms that have been successful in receiving the certification, but became lost in a forest of misgivings, misunderstandings and misperceptions about the 8(a) Program. If you conduct due diligence, you will see for yourself the benefits of the program and how it can help you grow your business.  Beverly Kuykendall is the president and CEO of Federal and Commercial Contracts, Inc. (FCCi), where she creates and leverages key relationships for large business access to federal and commercial markets.

She has been named Person of the Year by the Minority Business Development Agency. Kuykendall holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly University, Pomona, California, and an MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

This article orginally appeared in the January/ February 2013 issue of Minority Business Entrepreneur http://mbemag.com

C3 2013 Summit Commercial Service American Business Exchange Pavilion President Bill Clinton, Keynote Speaker Union League Club  New York, NY  October 07, 2013 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS: www.lssassociates.com/Files/PdfDocs/C3-Prospectus-FINAL.pdf

Registration: www.C3Summit.eventbrite.com C3 Summit 2013 in its 2nd year to promote Commerce, Community and Collaboration will host President Bill Clinton as the Keynote and in partnership with the Commercial Service, will conduct an American Business Exchange Pavilion. U.S. companies will have an opportunity to exhibit at the Summit and have international business-tobusiness matchmaking opportunities, provided by Commercial Service, with American and Middle East companies interested in doing business in the Middle East and North Africa markets as well as FDI in the U.S. This is one of New York’s most prestigious international business-to-business networking events. Exhibition space is readily accessible to SMEs interested in doing business in the Middle East region and provides a unique opportunity to have access to this growing market in a truly business venue. Showcase your company to an expected audience of more than 465 company representatives to meet other ideally matched prospects of participating Exhibitors and Sponsors (in addition to networking with more than 400 Plenary attendees). Last year more than 400 participants attended C3 Summit 2012 in NY with more than 35 countries (including 10 Arab nations) represented.

Don’t miss out—limited exhibit and sponsorships available. Meet potential partners, agents, distributors and buyers; and close business deals. For more information contact: RanselPotter@copara.com or Tanya.

Cole@trade.gov 

26  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

Your 2012 Federal Taxpayer Receipt

I

n his 2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that, for the first time ever, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent. And for the third year in a row, he’s keeping that promise.

Just enter a few pieces of information in the

Taxpayers Receipt form, and the Taxpayer Receipt gives you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veterans benefits, or health care. ď ƒ www.whitehouse.gov/2012-taxreceipt

Registration and Information: www.blackenterprise.com/events/entrepreneurs-conference

Expand Your Exports in Colombia Trade Mission & Business Development Opportunities July 14-19, 2013

The Mission The Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) and Los Angeles Metropolitan Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, in conjunction with U.S. Commercial Service, are leading this trade and business development mission capitalizing on the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement signed last year. The mission is open to small- and medium-sized businesses from a cross section of industries with potential for growth in Colombia, but focusing particularly on best prospects in agricultural, commercial/food packaging and infrastructure sectors.

Opportunities x Access to Colombia’s AgroExpo 2013, the most important specialized event in the agriculture and livestock sector of Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean, and one of the most representative events in Latin America. The expo is an ideal venue for business connections, business deals, information exchange knowledge and updates on new technological developments. x Presentation of products, services, and expertise to the business communities of Colombia in the agricultural industry through round tables, conferences and business receptions. x New contacts and business established through personalized matchmaking x Promotion of Southern California business, trade and tourism opportunities x Personalized technical and experience visits to production and distribution centers Why Colombia x Colombia is a key export market for Southern California. Exports to Colombia through the LA Customs District totaled $193M in 2011. x The Colombian economy has performed well over the past decade and has enjoyed unprecedented political stability over the past few years. GDP per capita has doubled since 2004. It is the fourth-largest economy in Latin America and the third-largest in South America. x Colombia is expected to grow 4.5% annually over the next five years. x FTA with the U.S. means immediate duty-free access to Colombia, including almost all products in these sectors: agriculture and construction equipment, aircraft and parts, auto parts, fertilizers and agro-chemicals, information technology equipment, medical and scientific equipment, and wood. x More than half of current U.S. farm exports to Colombia now duty-free, and virtually all remaining tariffs will be eliminated within 15 years. x Dollar is accepted and English is widely spoken in business environment. x U.S. Commercial Service presence to provide international business development assistance to meet the most critical needs of export-ready U.S. companies.

APPLY NOW Space is Limited TO APPLY: californiastep.org (and attached matchmaking intel form)

Registration Deadline: May 17, 2013 Cost*: BizFed/LAMHCC members $2690.00 Non-members $2990.00 *For California-based participants. Includes roundtrip coach airfare from Los Angeles, double occupancy hotel accommodations, ground transport, AgroExpo admission, roundtables, conferences, airport fees and some meals. (Single occupancy hotel will be an additional $50.00 per day. Business class airfare available upon request) (50% deposit due upon notification by BizFed of your acceptance on this trade mission; balance due by June 25, 2013)

Eligibility Criteria: x x x x

x

Comply with SBA size standards (www.sba.gov/size) In business for not less than the 1year period ending on date of trade mission Operating profitably, based on operations in U.S. Demonstrated understanding of costs associated with exporting and doing business with foreign purchasers, including costs of freight forwarding, customs brokers, packing and shipping Has in effect a strategic plan for exporting.

Questions? Please contact Judi Erickson at 818.984.5080 or email: Judi.Erickson@bizfed.org

U.S. Department of Commerce Secretarial Infrastructure

Business Development Mission Brazil, Colombia and Panama May 12-18, 2013 http://export.gov/brazilcolombiapanama2013/index.asp Grow your Infrastructure Sales in Latin America The U.S. Secretary of Commerce will lead an Infrastructure Business Development Mission to Brazil, Colombia and Panama that will highlight export opportunities for U.S. businesses in a broad range of infrastructure related sectors: project management and engineering services (including construction, architecture and design); transportation (including road/highways, railways, airports, ports and intelligent transportation systems); energy (including distribution, transmission and smart grid); and safety and security. This mission advances the 2010 launch of President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014, supporting economic and job growth.

An Incredible Business Opportunity While a number of U.S. companies have been successful in Latin America, the U.S. Department of Commerce recognizes that some companies need assistance negotiating the foreign markets to take advantage of the great opportunities that exist. The mission will assist U.S. businesses in initiating or expanding exports to region by making business-to-business introductions, providing market access information, and facilitating access to government decision makers.

Why is Trade Important The Administration’s efforts to promote U.S. exports are paying off, with export levels reaching a record $2.2 trillion in 2012. The U.S. is continuing to make historic progress toward the President’s goal of doubling exports. As part of this effort, the National Export Initiative has helped U.S. companies by leveling the playing field and providing access to new markets. Not only did exports outpace the growth in imports for the first time since 2007, but exports have helped support the creation of over 6 million private sector jobs over the past 35 months.

2012 HIGHLIGHTS • Record level of exports: U.S. exports set another record in 2012, growing $92.6 billion and reaching $2.2 trillion despite significant economic headwinds from abroad.

• Exports outpaced imports: Growth in exports of goods and services outpaced the growth of imports of goods and services both in dollar value and percent change for the first time since 2007, with exports growing by $92.6 billion or 4.4 percent.

• America’s trade deficit declined: The U.S. trade deficit improved by $19.5 billion in 2012, from the $560 billion recorded in 2011, and is well below the pre-recession high of $753 billion recorded in 2006. In fact, it is at the lowest level since January 2010 • Exports were steady as a share of GDP: Exports as a share of U.S. GDP were 13.9 percent in 2012, tying the record set in 2011 • Country and Region Spotlights: The United States reached record levels of exports for 2012 with more than 70 trading partners, including major emerging markets and 11 free trade agreement (FTA) partners.

Don’t miss out on this tremendous business opportunity.

Request an application here - http://export.gov/brazilcolombiapanama2013/eg_main_057839.asp.

31  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

U.S. Department Gearing up for of Commerce BookExpo America 2013?

Trade Show The U.S. Commerce Department’s Global Publishing, Media Announcement & Entertainment Team is bringing international publishing-industry trade specialists to BEA 2013. Our team helps connect U.S. publishers with international partners. During appointments, we will distribute our newly updated Publishing Market Guides, which contains 16 valuable countryspecific research reports to assist publishers in growing sales overseas.

At this year’s show we have a representative from Egypt available to advise U.S. publishers on the opportunities that exist in this market. The appointment request form offers an opportunity to meet with a U.S.–based team member and/or our Egypt Commercial Specialist.

If you are interested in selling more overseas, have country-specific questions, or are looking for background information on potential partners, then BookExpo is an ideal time to meet with our industry experts at the show.

And, don’t forget to visit us at Booth #644!

To schedule an appointment go to: http://export.gov/newjersey/Forms/bookexpoamerica/index.asp

BookExpo America 2013 Conference New York, NY, United States  5/29/2013 - 6/1/2013 Website: http://export.gov/industry/paper/index.asp?EventID=34001&InputType=EVENT or contact:Bobby Hines, 444 S. Flower ST, 37th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 bobby.hines@trade.gov  213-894-4231  FAX: 213-894-8789 Please consider these upcoming international trade events including the Senior Commercial Officer conferences that are taking place throughout the country during the first half of the year. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet with our senior diplomats serving in countries that are strategically important to your company. We hope you can join us as we continue to support the exports of U.S. products and services around the world. To find out more about these events, please visit our website at www.export.gov/california/ca/socal/monthlynewsletter Best Regards, Richard Swanson, Network Director, Pacific South Network U.S. Department of Commerce – U.S. Commercial Service UPCOMING SENIOR COMMERCIAL OFFICER CONFERENCES • ACCESS 2013 International Trade Forum – Africa, Middle East, South Asia - San Diego, CA, May 1-2, 2013 • Gateway to Europe International Trade Conference - Minneapolis, MN, June 4-5, 2013

32  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Wealthy Black Americans Hopeful About Country, Personal Finances Source: BusinessWire www.businesswire.com

H

alf of wealthy Black Americans say the United States is better off today than it was five years ago, compared to 18% of the general population surveyed who believe similarly.

As for personal finances, 62% of wealthy Black Americans feel better off now than they did five years ago, more than double the 29% of overall survey respondents who share this sentiment.

The findings come from Northern Trust’s recent Wealth in America survey (www. northerntrust.com/insights-research/ wealth-management-research/ wealth-management-topics/wealthin-america-survey), which provides

insights into the financial attitudes of wealthy Americans.

Black respondents said that market stability and the re-election of President Barack Obama are the two principal reasons for their positive outlook. “ T h i s optimism about the future of the country and their personal finances h a s contributed to wealthy B l a c k p e o p l e feeling m o r e confident in achieving their longt e r m financial goals,” said Darrell Jackson, executive v i c e president of Northern Trust. “We believe that investors

should review their outlook, investments and liabilities regularly with their professional advisors and make sure they are clearly aligned.”

Business Owners Looking Ahead to Continued Recovery Black entrepreneurs surveyed also voiced optimism about the future growth of the economy.

Respondents noted these plans for the next 18 to 24 months: • Nearly half (47%) will hire more staff.

• More than a third (37%) anticipate keeping staff levels stable.

• A third (34%) intend to invest in information technology.

• 60% of Black business owners identified increasing revenue as their main focus.

Other key areas of importance to their businesses include: • Planning for higher taxes – 30% • Investing in the business for future growth - 28% • Succession planning – 21% Many respondents report accumulating wealth from earnings. The majority of wealthy Black survey participants say 63% of their total household assets come from earned income; only 11% comes from investment returns. This compares to findings among the general population surveyed who indicate 44% of their total household assets come from earned income and 22% from investment returns.

“Wealthy Black Americans are often first-generation stewards of wealth. Many are business owners see Black Americans Hopeful on page 35

34  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Black Americans Hopeful from page 34

who consider their hard work as a key to achieving their financial goals,” said Linda Nolan, a managing director at Northern Trust. “While many want to grow their wealth, just a small group reports actually having an established financial plan to help ensure they are on track to meet their goals.”

Growing Wealth.

Half of wealthy Black Americans (51%) say their primary investment objective is to grow wealth, compared to only 16% who say their main goal is to preserve capital. According to the survey, 27% believe it is important to have a written financial plan, but only 11% of wealthy Black Americans have established such a plan.

They reported taking these steps to achieve their goals: • Save more - 32% • Diversify investments - 28% • Work with a financial advisor 18%

a cause in which they personally believe (93%) are cited as the most important reasons for giving. The top recipients of their donations are human services organizations, educational institutions and religious organizations. In addition, 83% indicate it is very important to them to help their children develop an appreciation for giving (www. northerntrust.com/documents/whitepapers/wealth-management/wealth-inblack-america-2010-survey-findingsreport.pdf?bc=22801694).

“The

survey’s findings continue to show the depth of commitment Black Americans have for giving back – both in terms of time and money,” said Jackson. “In addition to giving to charitable organizations, many wealthy Black Americans surveyed also report contributing to educational expenses of extended family members.”

About Northern Trust Northern Trust is a premier wealth-management firm that specializes in goals-based financial advice, offering clients insightful perspectives and creative thinking, backed by innovative technology and a strong fiduciary ethos.

Northern Trust is ranked among the top 10 U.S. wealth managers with $206 billion in assets under management as of March 31st, 2012, and more than 70 wealth management offices in the United States and abroad. The Financial Times Group has named Northern Trust Best Private Bank in the USA for four consecutive years. In 2012 Northern Trust was also was named Best Private Bank globally for Innovation and Best Private Bank for Socially Responsible Investing. 

Family Plays a Role inFinancial Decisions.

The majority (80%) of wealthy Black respondents say they involve their spouse or partner in household financial decisions and discuss financial matters at least monthly, discussing topics such as goals, business planning and charitable contributions. More than half (65%) say it’s important to speak to their children about their wealth and 72% say they have already done so.

Charitable Giving Charitable giving continues to be of major component of financial planning. Wealthy Black Americans continue to contribute to charitable causes, donating an average of 87 hours in 2011. Helping the less fortunate (94%) and contributing to 35  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

TV Disruptor: Watch Live TV Online, No Cable by Tyler Falk

L

ast year (2012), according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, five of the 15 most disliked companies in America were cable companies.

When there’s that much dissatisfaction with television services, other companies try to make it better. Sites like Hulu and Netflixs offer streaming of TV shows, but none legally offer live streaming of broadcast channels on the Internet, until one startup came along.

Aereo (https://aereo.com/home) offers services that allow you to watch broadcast channels — so no HBO or ESPN — and one cable channel (Bloomberg television) live and offers space to record shows to watch later. The best part for dissatisfied cable consumers is that you don’t need a cable subscription (the service isn’t free though) or television, just an Internet connection and a computer, iPad, or iPhone. But while the hope is to make customers happier, the same can’t be said for cable companies, The Economist reports: Television companies loathe Aereo. It does not pay networks for the free-to-air channels it streams. It allows people to receive content without paying for the bundles of channels from which cable firms derive their profits. Broadcasters have sued Aereo for copyright infringement and filed a request to shut down the service (this was denied on appeal on April 1st).

The service plans to expand to 22 cities throughout the United States later this year and buy cable stations that can be viewed live.

Currently the service is only offered

in New York City, so the expansion would be a big one and maybe a sign that the company believes the courts will continue to agree that their service is legal.

Aereo, a small start-up, has infuriated television executives Mr. Kanojia (pictured) started Aereo in 2012 to capitalise on people’s hatred of high cable bills.

For as little as $80 a year, his firm allows subscribers in New York City to record programmes and watch live broadcasts over the internet. Aereo rents each subscriber a fingernailsized antenna, which it houses in a warehouse in Brooklyn.

A e r e o does not pay networks for the free-toair channels it streams. It allows people to receive content without paying for the bundles of channels from which cable firms derive their profits.

Broadcasters have sued

Aereo for copyright infringement and filed a request to shut down the service (this was denied on appeal on April 1st).

“Aereo is stealing our signal,” says Chase Carey, president of News Corporation, which owns Fox, a broadcast network. Mr. Carey has threatened that if Aereo continues, Fox could turn itself into a cable channel and charge viewers for carriage. Haim Saban, the chairman of Univision, a Spanish-language broadcaster, has said the same.

Aereophobes see Mr. Kanojia’s firm as a pesky parasite that flouts see TV Disruptor on page 37

36  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

TV Disruptor from page 36

copyright law and profits from distributing content that it does not pay for. Supporters point out these are free-to-air networks, and say Aereo has designed a clever and legal technology to give customers what they want: the ability to watch live programmes and recordings cheaply, and on devices other than a TV set.

The concern is that Aereo threatens a valuable source of income.

“Retransmission” fees, which cable operators pay broadcast networks to carry their channels, will earn the big four broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS) $1.3 billion in 2013 and as much as $3.5 billion in 2016, predicts Benjamin Swinburne of Morgan Stanley, a bank.

Aereo could spoil the party. When broadcast networks have tried to negotiate hikes to their fees in the past, they have threatened cable operators, such as Time Warner Cable or Comcast, with blackouts.

Operators have caved in. But if customers have Aereo, the threat of a blackout is less grave, says Rich Greenfield, an analyst at BTIG Research, since people can watch network programmes online.

Mr. Kanojia sold his previous company to Microsoft in 2008 for a reported $250m. He knew before he launched Aereo that he faced a fight. Now it only operates in New York city, but it plans to reach another 22 cities this year. The networks could sue in those places, but may prefer to wait for their New York case to be heard, perhaps early next year. With luck, by then the judge will “see us as pro-social”, says Mr. Diller.

No one knows how many people would subscribe to Aereo if given the chance. Currently it offers

only broadcast channels and one cable channel (Bloomberg television).

However, in the next year it could start paying to carry other cable channels and add more content. M.r Kanojia anticipates strong demand for live shows. Plenty of services, such as Netflix and Hulu, offer previouslyaired content online but few offer live news and sports.

Aereo is not the only disruptive force attracting lawsuits.

New technologies allow firms to do things that lawmakers never imagined.

Aereo’s fate will mostly depend on whether the courts deem its transmissions to constitute “private” or “public” viewing (the latter is barred by copyright law). Like “Law and Order”, this courtroom drama could run and run. 

www.smartplanet.com/blog/ bulletin/tv-disruptor-watch-livetv-online-no-cable/17767?tag=nl. e660&s_cid=e660&ttag=e660 www.economist.com/news/ business/21576161-aereo-smallstart-up-has-infuriated-televisionexecutives-signalled-out

37  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819



AEG Invites Current and Interested Supplier Partners to our

Supplier Portal, an online communication tool designed to enhance the relationship between AEG and our partners. The portal is an online and paperless tool that will provide you with: Increased visibility for AEG business opportunities Extended Company Profile in online directory Direct email updates from AEG clients and buyers Easy accounts payable information sharing Increased exposure for MBEs, WBEs, and DBEs It is important that you register your business so that we have the ability to contact you for participation in future opportunities. Suppliers seeking to initiate business with AEG are encouraged to register as well.

Registration is simple and we invite you to visit our Supplier Portal at your earliest convenience:

https://supplier.aegworldwide.com

Business

Social Media Marketing World: 21 Best Tips from the Experts

by Jamie Turner, 60 Second Marketer

W

hat follows are the best tips from Social Media Marketing World (www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ smmworld) presented by some of the leading experts in the field.

Schedule Your Social Media Updates: I use BufferApp to schedule tweets, Facebook posts and LinkedIn posts. I typically share my favorite quotes and links to articles I’ve written and great articles I find on the web. Since a lot of what I share is timeless, I can use the analytics from BufferApp to take the most popular content and

schedule it again for another time.

– Dave Kerpen, CEO, Likeable. com and author of Likeable Social Media and Likeable Business Integrate Your Efforts: My tool du jour is “integration.” I know that’s not a tool per se, but I’ve been getting more from some of the tools I use when I get them to work with each other. For instance, HootSuite integrated with Nimble Social CRM allows me to build lead lists in Twitter based on profile and advanced search. I open up HootSuite to the this list and with one click add potential prospects

to Nimble for a unified messaging, follow-up, and conversation experience.

– John Jantz, DuctTapeMarketing. com, Author of Duct Tape Marketing, The Commitment Engine and The Referral Engine Mobile Marketing Tools: One of the great tools that I heard about at Social Media Marketing World was Morgeet Express. Pat Flynn mentioned that he used it to text his listeners after his podcast with follow-up links. I plan on using it in

both my product and service based businesses to market promotions and follow-up with mobile users after my webinars.

– Melanie Duncan, MelanieDuncan.com Create a Content Marketing Mission Statement: This means clearly defining the “why” behind the content you create to attract and retain customers. Every content marketing mission statement includes: • The core audience target • What will be delivered to the audience • The outcome for the audience This is the kind of thinking needed before you create any more content. Every person in your organization needs to have a copy of your mission statement to

make sure we have a consistent customer experience that ultimately meets our marketing objectives. For more on how to create a content marketing mission statement, feel free to download our free e-book.

– Joe Pulizzi, Founder, Content Marketing Institute, Author, Get Content, Get Customers and Managing Content Marketing Use AgoraPulse for Metrics and Measurement: I have a few favorite tools, but since I’m a stats guy the main one is AgoraPulse. If you’re serious about your Facebook marketing, it’s a requirement that you look beyond the surface level metrics and monitor them closely.

This is not easy to do using only the Insights exports.

But AgoraPulse makes it easy with graphs, tables and ratios to better organize this data and make it easier to digest.

– Jon Loomer, CEO and Founder, JonLoomer.com Don’t Forget the Power of Email Marketing: Don’t be distracted by the shiny new toy of social media to the neglect of building an email list from day one of launching your see 21 Social Media Tips on page 41

40  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

21 Social Media Tips from page 40

blog or website. Subscribe to an email platform such as Aweber, Mailchimp or Exact Target and make it easy for people to subscribe to your newsletter and receive your articles. You own your your email list and it is an asset worth building from day one.

– Jeff Bullas, JeffBullas.com and author of Blogging the Smart Way – How to Create and Market a Killer Blog with Social Media Use Buffer App to Coordinate Your Efforts: Lately, I have been enjoying Buffer App. Buffer App let’s you creature tweets, Facebook posts and more and then it allows you to stagger them over time. It also learns when it’s best to post and can make recommendations based on your community. I am bit of a social media purist, so I’m typically not a fan of tools that automate, but on the other hand, I do most of my reading curating early in the morning and do not want to litter my Twitter and Facebook feeds all at once. Buffer App allows me to share a lot more of what’s interesting to me without me feeling like I am doing any form of automation.

– Mitch Joel, President of Twist

Image, author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete Use Pagelever for Facebook Analytics: My favorite tool is Pagelever – one of the best Facebook analytics tools I’ve seen on the market. Not only does it offer a wide variety of metrics, it also serves them in an easy-to-manage format. The real-time data allows you to see how well your content performs, adjust it on the fly and optimize your content and paid media in the most effective and impactful way.

This tool is critical in the Now! economy.

– Ekaterina Walter, Social Media Innovator at Intel and author of Think Like Zuck Invite First, Sell Later: Use the social channels to invite people into your media empire. Use the media empire to invite people into business. In that order, it’s magic.

Where most people go wrong is that they don’t engage on the social outposts, and try, instead, to sell. Tweak this, and you’ll have gold.

– Chris Brogan, CEO & President, Human Business Works, author of The Impact Equation, Trust Agents, Social Media 101, and Google Plus for Business.

Feature Members of Your Community: When you are building and growing a brand community, make your community members the stars of the show. Showcase them, co-create with them, publish their content and put them in leadership positions. This invests

y o u r members in the success of the community, creates a deep sense of connection and belonging and deepens loyalty to the community and to the brand.

– Sarah Robinson, President Sarah Robinson and author of Fierce Loyalty Hide Your Social Media Icons: There are multiple revolutionary takeaways — too many to tell but one undervalued and impactful tip Chris Brogan recommended was to hide you Social Media Icons. Put your Website in your signature and on your front pages and hide your Social Media icons off the beaten path in your Contact page. He states – the minute you encourage a visitor to click your Twitter icon – you’re encouraging them to leave your site into the abyss of Social Media mayhem often never to return. Goal is to get them to your website where they can submit their Email address and buy your goods and services.

– Amy Cole, Make Linked In Powerful Embrace Honesty: My tip came from Marcus Sheridan, and that is to embrace honesty when blogging because then you control the conversation. Answer your customers’ questions – even when it involves pricing. Stop worrying about the competition. Become the thought leader in your industry, and the business will follow.

– Gloria Rand, SEO Copywriter for travel industry and others, Social Media Consultant, Speaker Get Into Mobile: An easy way to get started with mobile marketing via text is Mogreet.com. Usually you see 21 Social Media Tips on page 42

41  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

21 Social Media Tips from page 41

think of coupons for retail stores, the demo I saw was promoting a podcast.

– Elena Verlee, Founder, Cross Border PR Email Marketing Matters: Chris Brogan gave a great presentation

– Tracy Stonard, CEO, Magenta eMedia.

Don’t Feed the Trolls: A key takeaway came from Douglas Karr on how to handle PR crises on social media – don’t feed the trolls by staying on your own turf.

Truthfully and succinctly state your position on your company’s social media sites only, not on other sites.

– Kristen Moore, Communications Champion at Regency Centers Use Do Share, and Replies and More Extensions: There were a lot of big philosophical messages delivered or reinforced for me, but I also appreciated the specificity in the sessions. For example, I immediately started using two G+ extensions (Do Share for

on what actually “adds value” to his bank account. Anything that doesn’t add to the bank isn’t worthy of being a tracked metric. Bottom Line: Email matters. Your email list is gold. It reaches people, and those people buy. Chris wasn’t the only one to say this. One of my key takeways is the ongoing importance of email marketing and list building.

– Mike Gingerich, Co-Founder TabSite, Social Media Strategist, Facebook Marketing Speaker

Create In-Person Relationships: My big takeaway, which can be seen as traditional in the face of social media, is creating in-person relationships via networking.

Those online connections we make can be strongly reinforced by attending a conference such as Social Media Marketing World.

Larry Benet’s networking exercise enabled me to get introductions to many of the key speakers. This wouldn’t have been possible from siting behind my desk back in the UK.

scheduling, Replies and More for engagement) thanks to watching Guy Kawasaki step through his own posting process. A seemingly little thing like clipboard buffering (Guy uses Jumpcut) can make a significant difference when you’re in the trenches of your day-to-day.

– Adam McKibbin, Content Marketing Manager, Central Desktop Find Your Voice: One of my biggest takeaways from the conference is basically summed up by: Find your voice. Use it. Own it.

Strategist, Consultant P i n t e r e s t Contributor Boards: One take-away that I will be implementing with clients ASAP is the idea of contributor boards for Pinterest. A great way to create/build alliances, build followers and keep content fresh.

– Crystal Munro, Marketing Consultant, Creating Excellence Share Your Social Media Wins: One big tip was to make everyone aware internally of social media “wins.”

In companies where not every employee feels comfortable or sees the value in social platforms, it’s a great way to exhibit to them and others the power of social. For example, look at the way Dave Kerpen used the screenshots of tweets (both complaints and resolution) in his presentation….if the social media marketer for a company did a similar thing on the internal communications (whether its intranet or email), it would generate internal buzz and confidence, and potentially drive more engagement externally. I believe this tip came from Kerri Holden with the 4 Seasons Hotels (@fsaustin).

– Vincent Orleck, Social Media Specialist, IO A special shout-out goes to everyone who participated by sending me your Social Media Marketing World tips. There’s a lot of great stuff here and we’re flattered and honored that you shared it with us. 

– Kimberly Reynolds, Website Developer, Mobile Social Media

http://60secondmarketer.com/ blog/2013/04/18/social-mediamarketing-world-best-expert-tips

42  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

ID8 Nation: Entrepreneur.org’s new Information System

C

reated by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ( w w w. k a u ff m a n . o r g ) , Entrepreneurship.org (www. entrepreneurship.org) was formed as a free, online international resource designed to help build entrepreneurial economies.

Entrepreneurship.org has initiated a new information source ~ID8 Nation~ and promotes their video channel e360TV.

ID8 Nation ID8 Nation (www. entrepreneurship.org/id8), is a channel about cities and the people who start businesses in them.

Entrepreneurship has become the elixir of economic recovery.

Many cities around the country have put out the welcome mat for entrepreneurs and claim at least the nucleus of a startup scene.

Of course, some cities are more

formula for success be copied by another or does each city have to find its own secret sauce?

At ID8 Nation we think of entrepreneurial scenes as ecosystems – communities of living things in a complex set of relationships with nonliving components of their environment.

Everything is interconnected, and the variety, volume and interplay of the ecosystem’s elements determine what grows.

ID8 Nation is exploring cities’ entrepreneurial ecosystems to determine what grows in them and why. We’re telling the stories in a variety of mediums and voices, but primarily through the entrepreneurs who bring things to life in the ecosystem.

We chose Pittsburgh as the first issue because it has a good story to tell. A Rust Belt city that clawed its

Pittsburgh, is vibrant, but the city is bumping up against problems, including a shortage of capital and management as well as the struggle every Midwestern city has to keep its best and brightest at home.

We hope those familiar with the Pittsburgh ecosystem will find their stories inside and those who don’t know the city will discover insights relevant to their own experiences.

E360TV As the designated video channel for entrepreneurship, the e360TV Channel (www.entrepreneurship.

org/en/e360TV.aspx) features content focused on important topics that are impacting the world of entrepreneurship as we know it.

About the Foundation

successful than others. But why? Is it the result of low taxes and higher education? How important are a deep talent pool and an abundance of capital? Can government spur startups (should it?) Can one city’s

way out of the collapse of the steel industry and rebuilt a diversified economy. Its entrepreneurial scene, powered by Carnegie Mellon University and the University of

The vision of the Kauffman Foundation is to foster “a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities.”

In service of this vision, we focus our grant making and operations on two areas—education and entrepreneurship—which our founder, Ewing Kauffman, saw as two ends of a continuum. A quality education is the foundation for self-sufficiency, preparing young people for success in college and in life. Many young adults will work in businesses started by entrepreneurs. Some will become entrepreneurs themselves, providing jobs and wealth for society. 

43  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Save the Date

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Domestic and International Trade

Business

Donna Lee Andrews September 25, 1960 April 24, 2013

D

onna Lee Andrews, 52, President of Lee Andrews Group, Inc. (LA Group), a Los Angeles-based public affairs and environmental consulting firm, died Wednesday, April 24th due to complications of a heart condition.

Her exuberant personality and her beautiful smile will be missed greatly.

Donna was a tireless advocate

for strengthening community by creating opportunities for women, minorities and the disadvantaged.

Keenly aware of the enormous impact that the environment has on the quality of life within communities, she used her expertise to assist with environmental mitigation measures, to guide land-use and development projects through the municipal approval process, and to educate and unify communities around environmental and coastal issues. This important work was the impetus for her establishing LA Group, while studying at the University of Southern California, School of Law. Through LA Group she devoted her time and energy to providing community outreach, government relations and environmental services to large scale publicprivate partnership projects for over 20 years throughout the State of California. Her public ventures led to her involvement in political campaign management for many of local, state and federal campaigns.

She was the first campaign manager for U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer. 

SBA #TradeChat The SBA is hosting a series of Twitter Q&A’s for U.S. companies during World Trade Month - May 2013 on Thursdays at 2:00pm EDT. Businesses can participate by tweeting their questions using the hashtag #TradeChat during the scheduled times or submitting in advance using the online form on http://www.ustda.gov/TradeChat.

This Twitter chat series provides U.S. companies with exporting solutions, including information on the resources available to begin or expand exporting goods and services to overseas markets.

The Twitter chats also provide an opportunity for firms to ask questions and connect directly with the U.S. government agencies that support President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) and BusinessUSA.gov – a new one-stop resource for small businesses and exporters.

• May 9th: Export Opportunities • May 16th: Financing • May 23rd: Training and Travel Opportunities You do need to have or to open a Twitter account to participate.

Series details may be found at: www.sba.gov/community/blogs/ join-us-government-tradechatand-get-your-exportingquestions-answered. 

45  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Amazon’s ‘Send to Kindle’ Button Supports Read-ItLater Services

by Roberto Baldwin

S

ending longreads to your Kindle just got easier.

When your job gets in the way of reading something on the Internet, read-it-later services like Pocket (http://getpocket.com) and Instapaper (www.instapaper. com) will let you download a story to their apps for offline access at your leisure. Now Amazon is entering the read-that-really-longstory-later market with a Send to Kindle button that will push content directly to Kindles and devices with the Kindle app (www. kindlepost.com/2013/03/send-tokindle-button.html). The button has already launched on Boing Boing, Time and The Washington Post.

More will likely follow shortly, as Amazon has created a WordPress plugin (wordpress.org/extend/ plugins/send-to-kindle) and a site to help developers (www.amazon.

com/gp/sendtokindle/developers/ button) place the Send to Kindle button on their sites.

Sending web articles to the Kindle is nothing new. A Send to Kindle extension (www. amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle#?_ encoding=UTF8&tag=heaprcom0520&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789& creative=390957) for Firefox and Chrome has been available since August 2012. But Amazon’s new Send to Kindle button changes the game by putting the feature directly in front of potentially millions of Kindle customers, with no need to install anything on your browser. It seems like a natural extension of the way people are already using readit-later services to push content to their tablets and phones for offline reading.

While it could be bad news for services like Pocket and Instapaper

that won’t have the exposure of a button at the top of every article on a major news site, it might also raise awareness that reading later is even something one can do.

The first time you use the button, you’re prompted to sign into your Amazon account. A settings window determines which Kindle or device with the Kindle app installed to send articles. After a few minutes the article appears on your device ready to read.

The saved articles offer text-tospeech on devices that support the feature. If you’re fine with a female robot telling you a story, you can create your own little audio books for the long commute home.  www.wired.com/ gadgetlab/2013/03/send-to-kindle

47  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

BlackStartup.com Helps Black-Owned Businesses Secure Funding

W

hile many aspiring and new African-American business owners have the passion and drive to get their company off the ground, there are overwhelming challenges that come to play once funding-time hits.

A CB Insights report (www. cbinsights.com/blog/venture-capital/ venture-capital-human-capital-reportgender-and-education) that tracked

founders of 165 companies that had received a first round of venture funding during the first half of 2010 revealed only 1% were African

American, despite 11% of the U.S. population being black. Meanwhile, 87% of founders who obtained funding were white, and 12% of the startup founders were Asian.

Equity crowdfunding legislation has simplified the funding process for many entrepreneurs, and business owners have been successful with crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, among others.

A group of Morehouse College alums, and brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated,

wanted to help other entrepreneurs on their quest for funding. They created a new crowdfunding site, BlackStartup.com.

www.MadameNoire.com reports:

“The companies will use the site as a crowdfunding platform, and BlackStartup.com also has resources and a blog to support business owners. CEO Nate Bennett Fleming, who is an adjunct professor of law at the University of the District of Columbia’s School of Law, researched crowdfunding and AfricanAmerican business, determining that while African Americans have a lot of business ideas, they often lack the access to capital to get the ideas off the ground.

‘I wanted to create a solution to address that problem,’ he said. ‘At this point, we do the crowdfunding and address increasing access to capital and as we expand, we’ll “As citizens, we understand that it’s create partnerships with not about what America can do for on-ground organizations us it’s about what can be done by that look to encouraging us, together, through the hard and entrepreneurship and frustrating but absolutely necessary support entrepreneurs to work of self-government.” help with mentoring.’ 

Quote of Note...

President Barack H. Obama

www.blackenterprise.com/ technology/blackstartup-comhelps-black-owned-businessessecure-funding

50  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

New York CPAs to Install Kirkland as Next President

By Alonza Robertson

J. Michael Kirkland

J

. Michael Kirkland, CPA, will be installed as the 2013–2014 President of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants Board of Directors at the organization’s 117th Annual Election Meeting and Dinner May 16 at the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square.

Kirkland, a director in the Deutsche Bank AG, Accounting Policy and Advisory Group, is the second African- American to lead the Society in its 116-year history.

A member of the NYSSCPA since 1982, Kirkland was the recipient of the 2011 NYSSCPA’s Outstanding CPA in Industry Award, which recognizes CPA financial executives with records of outstanding professional achievement in a private business or industry. He is also the recipient the 2013 National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) National Achievement—Public Accounting Award.

A Mount Vernon, New York native,

Kirkland attended Mount Vernon High School and is a graduate of Fordham University, Bronx New York College of Business Administration. He began his career with Arthur Andersen & Company and has also worked for Banker’s Trust Co. and JP Morgan Chase.

He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc., the

Bert N. Mitchell

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the Accountants Club of America.

With the NYSSCPA, Kirkland has served as president-elect and as a vice president of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

He is a member of the Real Estate Task Force and the Curriculum Committee for the Foundation of Accounting Education. He was served as president of the Manhattan/Bronx Chapter, co-chair of the Industry Outreach Task Force and as a member of the Finance, Bank and Minority Group Recruitment & Equal Opportunity committees.

He has been married to his wife, Barbara, for 38 years.

Bert N. Mitchell, CPA, was the first African American to be named president of the NYSSCPA. He served from 1987 – 1988.

About the NYSSCPA Representing more than 28,000 CPAs, the NYSSCPA was the first state accounting organization in the nation. Incorporated in 1897, the Society is a not-forprofit organization that seeks to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor, and character among certified public accountants who practice in New York State; encompassing all areas of public practice, government, education, business, and industry.

The NYSSCPA is located at 3 Park Avenue in New York City. Visit the Society’s website at nysscpa.org for more information.  arobertson@nysscpa.org

51  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Toward a Blacker Architecture in America

By C.C. Sullivan Who’s the best AfricanAmerican architect in the United States?

I

’ll forgive your hesitation. You may not know Halevy Simmons, who designed the Adam’s Mark Hotel in St. Louis. He died in early April at the age of 83, raising new discussions about the formidable barriers faced in establishing his career and his practice.

As for living talents, look to another hotel: the new Hilton

lots of press for the failures of the profession. About 1.7% of male architects are of African descent; 0.3% are women of color, according to the University of Cincinnati’s Directory of African American Architects (http://blackarch. uc.edu). That’s a tiny sliver of 90,000-plus U.S. architects.

Local talents, left out?

So it seemed to make sense to include minority-owned architecture firms in the mix for a major project

Good news instead comes from Chicago, where this week the City Colleges of Chicago announced that Moody Nolan will design the new, $251 million Malcolm X College campus. At 500,000 square feet, this new magnet for health science studies kicks off a five-year capital plan that advances education as well as the portfolio of black design.

Curtis Moody speaks eloquently about urban issues, which have long informed his practice, the 85th largest in the United States.

“As the suburban peripheries of our cities continue to grow during difficult economic times, our urban cores also continue to slowly die out,” he said. “Our cities lack clear identity, a sense of place and our current growth patterns are not sustainable. We are desperate to find ways to bring people back into our urban cores.”

While this is not a uniquely AfricanAmerican theme in architecture and urban design, it is one that is passionately pursued by leading black architects.

Leading lights

Malcolm X College, designed by Moody Nolan.

Columbus Downtown, which opened in Ohio recently. It’s an important new signature for the city, designed by Curtis Moody, principal of Moody Nolan — the nation’s largest African-Americanowned architectural firm — and a memorable modern composition of brick and glass. It offers a glimmer of a bigger future for black American architecture.

Black architects have gotten

like Columbia University’s huge campus expansion in New York City. Yet in recent weeks, the university’s leaders have been criticized for “flying in architects down from Europe to work on the project when there were equally qualified Harlem architects right down the street,” says architect Zevilla Jackson Preston, a member of Arch527, a group of Harlembased black architects.

Architect Philip Freelon, who runs his vibrant, eponymous practice in Research Triangle Park, N.C., is among the strongest U.S. voices today. An advocate for design excellence in public places to be “experienced by everyday people,” he is the leader of a team designing the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture in Washington, D.C., a much-delayed project.

“The African-American story is see Blacker Architecture on page 53

52  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Blacker Architecture from page 52

worst of what the American story is in the African-American story.”

The Freelon Group won a major design competition for the Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta.

On Freelon’s team is David Adjaye, a critically acclaimed Tanzanian-born British architect with a very high international profile.

In the U.S., Adjaye is behind the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, and he’s often seen on the campuses of Harvard, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

Why isn’t there a U.S. equivalent of Adjaye among our ranks?

the quintessential American story, even though it was about a forced migration,” he told the Washington Post recently. “America is about opportunity for people from other places. You’ll find the best and

Freelon will likely discuss these themes and the upcoming museum when he delivers North Carolina State University’s commencement address next month.

One of America’s greatest architects, Paul Revere Williams.

The closest we’ve come to our own Adjaye might have been Paul Revere Williams of Los Angeles, among the best American architects ever. Williams, who died in 1980, designed that awesome, futuristic Theme Building you’ve seen at LAX, as well as homes for Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball.

Best-ever Hollywood architect Through the 1920s and 1930s, Williams built a Depression-proof practice by building glamorous homes for glamorous clients in the elite hillside subdivisions like Bel Air, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills. The entertainment industry recognized both his blackness and his design talent. A memorable and dynamic personality, Williams was the first “Architect to the Hollywood Stars.”

So to answer the question: The best African-American architect in the United States may well be a legacy like Williams. Or a Brit like Adjaye. But we’d do better to elevate leading thinkers like Freelon or Moody and hundreds of emerging talents in Harlem and elsewhere. The profession — and our cities and buildings — will be so much the better for it.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/take/ toward-a-blacker-architecturein-america/705?tag=nl.e660&s_ cid=e660&ttag=e660

53  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

55  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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56  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

GRANTS.GOV LISTINGS The following grant opportunity postings may be found on the Grants.gov Find Opportunities service: DOS Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs U.S. Embassy Islamabad PAS Grants Program, Modification 8 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=114273 USAID Agency for International Development Afghanistan USAID-Kabul Public Private Innovative Development Initiative, Modification 3 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=129593 USAID Agency for International Development Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Development Through Regional Cooperation, Modification 5 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=172393 DOT Department of Transportation DOT/Office of Small & Disadvantaged Utilization Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center Program, Modification 3 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=177273 HHS Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178334 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service

Assessing Management Needs to Enhance Recovery for the Eastern Massasauga, year four Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178353 HHS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE), Phase II Study Investigators (U01), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178354 HHS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE), Phase II, Coordinating Center (U01), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178355 HHS Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement for the Development, Operation, and Evaluation of an Entertainment Education Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178356 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM CA Lassen Land and Trails Trust LLTT Modoc Line, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178357 ED Department of Education Upward Bound Math and Science Program - CFDA 84.047M, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178373

ED Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-RERCs--Recreational Technologies Exercise Physiology Benefiting Individuals Disabilities, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178393 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Headquarters E.2 Leading Edge Aeronautics Research for NASA (LEARN), Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178394 ED Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-Disability, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178413 USDOT Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions FY 2012 Bank Enterprise Award Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178433 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service University of California, Davis Species Project, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178453 NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Headquarters COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT ON ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER MISSIONS OF OPPORTUNITY, Grant

58  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

GRANTS.GOV LISTINGS from page 58

www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178473 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM NV Nevada Ecological Site Descriptions State and Transition Models Development, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178474 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Estimating grizzly bear use of large ungulate carcasses with GPS telemetry data, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178493 DOD Department of Defense Air Force Academy STEM Outreach to K-12 Schools in Southern Colorado, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178494 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Developing Chesapeake Youth Corps Network, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178496 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management BLM WY 2012 Challenge Cost Share Program, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178497 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Signage and Related Interpretive Media Along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Metro DC, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178513

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Heritage Partnerships Program 3D Digital Documentation, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178514 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service War of 1812 in Southern Maryland: Traveling Exhibit and Traveling Trunks, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178515 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Assisting in Development of Potomac River Segment of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trails, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178516 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Interns CLI/LCS, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178517 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Development of LandScope Chesapeake, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178533

Irrigation Water Delivery Metering Project, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178573 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Mark Processing, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178574 DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Technology Enhanced Interpretation Development, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178593 DOS Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Middle East Partnership Initiative Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178594 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service DURHAM DAM, Modification 1 www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178613 DOI Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Chumstick Barrier Removal Phase 4, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178633 

DOI Department of the Interior National Park Service Cooperative Agreement for the identification of sites and structures significant in Hispanic heritage, Grant www07.grants.gov/search/search. do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=178553 DOI Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation - Pacific Northwest Region

59  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

FOR

Mother’s Day

OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION

Diana Price and Associates is a consulting firm that works with companies to transform relationships with their customers by developing customized programs that deliver exceptional, sustainable and referable customer service experiences.

Who We Are • We teach companies how to treat and serve others • We make customer service relevant at every level of the organization • We show companies and their employees how to learn to love the next customer interaction • We elevate service, making it mission critical to the functioning of the business

Our Focus • Exceptional service experiences have the power to transform not only the relationship between you and your customers, but also the strategic relationship between customer service and the success of your business.

Our Approach • We work with companies to bring a sustainable customer service promise to life by making it relevant at every level of their organizations.

• We make sure customer service is treated as a corporate mandate, a business imperative and, ultimately, a profit strategy that is a reference point in everything the company does.

• People at every customer touch point – direct and indirect - are empowered and trained to deliver on that customer promise.

The Result • We teach companies how to make serving their customers central to their corporate cultures, and

in turn have that central focus also serve them as a successful and profitable business strategy.

Diana Price & Associates provides a refreshing approach to creating exceptional customer experiences, operational assessments, human resources training, communication strategy, team retreats, culture and vision planning and customized consulting. Explore how we can help you get your customer interactions and employee engagement right and keep you moving forward.

Converting Business Pressure Points into Sustainable Customer Solutions • Service Leadership and Communication Strategy (coaching, training) • Customer Service Culture Sculpting and Vision Planning • Human Resources Training & Consulting • Career Development • Community Relations • Certifications • Keynote Speaking

www.dianapriceassociates.com 1507 7th Street Suite 686, Santa Monica CA 90401 T: 866.631.7500 • F: 888.920.2110

62  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Intangible assets can i n c l u d e anything from technology to advertising concepts to relationships and intellectual property. And because we are doing business in such a digital age intangible assets are important to a company’s bottom line. “There is no other time in business governance history when larger percentages of company value, sources of revenue, competitive position, and future earnings potential are so deeply rooted in a company’s intangible assets, intellectual property, know how, and brand, etc.,” says Moberly.

He says it is important that company management teams regularly assess the value of their intangible assets because:

How to Determine Your Company’s Worth

B

efore any major business decision, it is important you know the worth of your company. But this is sometimes a difficult process as there are many intangible assets to keep in mind.

“Intangible assets are unique brands, combinations, and/or

collections of particular processes, activities, relationships, or market conditions that companies can exploit to differentiate themselves from competitors, and thus create value,” according to Michael D. Moberly, founder of St. Louisbased Knowledge Protection Strategies.

Intangible assets are very important because they are essential to the success and future success of a company. “They are,” says Moberly, “the primary source of a company’s competitive advantage which lie increasingly in unique and sometimes proprietary knowledge and processes a company possesses and…can be used to provide a competitive advantage – edge for a company.”

1. Intangible assets are nonphysical. They lack, for example, a conventional sense of physicality or physical presence. Such things as reputation, image, goodwill and brand are considered intangible assets.

“Nevertheless intangibles are embedded in a company’s sources of revenue, competitive advantages, profitability, and sustainability.”

2. Intangible asset value can vary relative to its contribution to company functions.

3. Intangible asset value is perishable and generally nonrenewable.

4. Today, slight advances in technology, minor improvements in production, and/or small refinements in business processes through better utilization of intangible assets can afford companies tremendous competitive advantages over their market

rivals.

5. If intangibles are dismissed or neglected by company management teams, there is a substantial probability that such initiatives as new project launches, competitive advantages, marketing programs, and strategic planning will be stifled, undermined, or certainly less than their potential.

For the tangible assets, mergers, acquisitions, and valuations, expert Grover Rutter suggests the following: “Get the company financial statements/tax returns in order and have copies readily available; update the company depreciation schedules (deleting assets no longer owned and adding recent additions); and engage a Certified Valuation Analyst and or an Accredited Business Valuator.”

Don’t use standard formulas when calculating your company’s worth says Rutter. All companies are not alike.

Another mistake in calculating the worth is “that most business owners (and their advisers) do not understand what, exactly, is being valued” he says. “Is the opinion of value representative of the company’s enterprise value or its equity value? Enterprise value is the total debt free value of the company while equity value is the after-debt value of the company. For example, a company’s enterprise value (value of total assets) might be $4 million. But, if that company has debt of $4.5 million, the equity value of the company would be a negative $500,000.”

Don’t compare your company to another company’s worth. Just because one company sells for a certain amount doesn’t mean yours will sell for the same amount.

“Also, business owners do not see Company Worth? on page 65

64  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Is it Possible to Run Your Business from a Smartphone?

T

hese apps can help you set a budget, manage your expenses, communicate with clients and more.

The office is overrated. Instead of slaving away in a cubicle all day, run your business from your smartphone using these apps.

and import from your bank.

Square

This innovative app lets you accept credit cards from a device that attaches directly to your smartphone. The funds are deposited into your bank account the next day, and the app has its QuickBooks own wallet feature that allows you Available for both Android and to securely pay for goods and iPhone devices, Quickbooks offers services using just your phone. cloud accounting solutions to Mint.com over 1.3 million customers around Instead of spending hours pouring the world. It is a pain-free way to over your budget and analyzing manage your money, do your taxes receipts, let Mint.com organize and categorize your spending for you. It shows where your money is Company Worth? from page 64 clearly going so you can make educated money decisions, track your goals understand what business buyers and set a budget. are seeking. This situation is like Documents to Go trying to place a square peg into a This all-in-one app supports PDF round hole. The business may have files, Microsoft Word files, Excel self-perceived worth to the current spreadsheets, PowerPoints and owner; however there may be few more. It can even synchronize (or no) buyers who would have with your desktop applications to the same perception of worth,” make storing, loading and sharing says Rutter. “An example might be your files easier than ever with a sentimental value.” smartphone.

This is a mistake that many may not know they are making. Evernote Use this app to sync to the cloud “Many business owners do not take the time to really get to know and share nearly anything with their own businesses,” advises other users. Great for taking notes, Rutter. “Accordingly, the owner’s sharing webpages, organizing perception of value is skewed. information and more, the app is Owners spend so much time like having a virtual office on your running their business, that little smartphone. time remains for them to analyze Bento the value drivers and value killers This ingenious app multitasks within the business.” so you don’t have to. Billed as a So taket time to understand your “personal database,” the app has company and what it’s vaule—seen a variety of templates that makes and unseen--is. tracking and managing businessKim Anthony related items easy. Use it to manage

your inventory, items sold, invoices, expenses and more.

GTasks This free app syncs with your Google Calendar and Google Task, and features reminders, subtask features and color-coding options so you never miss an important meeting or deadline.

Spreadsheet Compatible with both Numbers and Excel, Spreadsheet allows you to create and edit spreadsheets effortlessly. It also lets you add cell types, formulas, cell formatting, text wrapping and functions to your sheets.

ClockIn A virtual punch card, this iPhone app lets you “punch in” when you begin tackling a project and “punch out” when you are done. It makes it easy to track your time for multiple clients and projects, and it even creates Excel-compatible reports you can send to clients.

kimanthony@live.com

65  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Dennis Kimbro

Business

2013 Times Magazine 100

T

he TIME 100 issue represents the publication’s choices for the 100 most influential people in the world. It’s the 10th year of the list that tells a pretty good story of how the world seems at the time.

The list includes Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, the first Nigerian celebrity to be so named.

President Barack Obama is on the list for a record 8th time. Other AfricanAmericans on the list include Beyoncé; California Attorney General K a m a l a H a r r i s , L e B r o n J a m e s , O b a m a S e n i o r Advisor Va l e r i e Jarrett, musician Miguel, Michelle Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde O b a m a , singer Frank and Miquel O c e a n , writer/producer Shonda Rhimes and Jay Z.

TITANS • • • • • • • • •

Jay Z Valerie Jarrett Elon Musk Oh-Hyun Kwon Scooter Braun Kevin Systrom Michael Kors Palaniappan Chidambaram Ren Zhengfei

• Ted Sarandos • Gina Rinehart • Markus Persson and Jens Bergensten • Igor Sechin • Tadashi Yanai • Sam Yagan • Shonda Rhimes • Lebron James • David Einhorn • Magnus Carlsen • Sheryl Sandberg

LEADERS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Rand Paul Noynoy Aquino Barack Obama Chris Christie Hassan Sheik Mohamud John Brennan Park Geun-hye Yair Lapid Wayne LaPierre Kamala Harris Fethullah Gulen Xi Jinping Wilfredo De Jesús Tom Coburn Kim Jong Un Abdullah Ocalan Enrique Peña Nieto Elena Kagan Joe Biden Susana Martinez Mario Draghi Joyce Banda Pope Francis

• • • • • • • • • • •

Jennifer Lawrence Christina Aguilera Steven Spielberg Jonathan Ive Alex Atala Ed Ruscha Miguel Mindy Kaling Jenna Lyons Bryan Cranston George Saunders

ARTISTS

• • • • •

Jimmy Kimmel Wang Shu Hilary Mantel Frank Ocean Jimmy Fallon

PIONEERS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aamir Khan Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller Marissa Mayer Hannah Gay, Katherine Luzuriaga and Deborah Persaud Bassem Youssef Joaquim Barbosa Vrinda Grover Perry Chen Roya Mahboob David Coleman Travis Tygart Eric Greitens Andrew Sheng Don Yeomans Jared Cohen Moncef Marzouki Christopher Fabian and Erica Kochi Kimberly Blackwell Kai-Fu Lee Mary Nichols Peter Theisinger and Richard Cook

ICONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Malala Yousafzai Lena Dunham Mario Balotelli Peng Liyuan Aung San Suu Kyi Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Lindsey Vonn Justin Timberlake Gabrielle Giffords Beyoncé Daniel Day-Lewis Kate Middleton Michelle Obama Li Na

POWER COUPLES • Barack & Michelle Obama • Jay Z & Beyoncé Carter • Xi Jinping & Peng Liyua http://time100.time. com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/all

67  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Startup Business Owners Optimistic About Growth in 2013 from Kauffman Foundation

E

arly-stage business owners’ confidence is climbing, according to the first-quarter 2013 Kauffman/LegalZoom Startup Confidence Index, released today by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and LegalZoom.

84% of entrepreneurs said they are confident or very confident in their companies’ prospects for profitability in the next 12 months, which is the highest confidence level since the survey launched early last year and reflects a 1% increase over the fourth-quarter 2012 survey.

Furthermore, confidence levels of the youngest entrepreneurs – those 18 to 30 years old – started to rebound, as 96% reported they were confident or very confident that their businesses’ profitability will increase in the year ahead, a 3% jump over fourth quarter 2012.

“The findings of this survey

from quarter to quarter provide an important gauge for entrepreneur sentiment, which plays a significant role in their business decisions,” said Dane Stangler, director of research and policy at the Kauffman Foundation. “This also is a way to give entrepreneurs, who are as diverse as their companies, a collective voice.”

Confidence levels among other age groups fell as the entrepreneurs’ ages increased. Nevertheless, even entrepreneurs aged 61 and older – the oldest category – expressed 73% confidence in 2013 profitability.

“These reports continue to benchmark entrepreneurial confidence across the country,” said John Suh, CEO of LegalZoom.

“They also provide a more granular feel as to how an entrepreneur’s experience with consumer demand and perceived outlook on the economy may impact the decision

YouTube to Launch Subscription Channels

Y

ouTube, owned by Google, is reportedly getting ready to launch a paid subscription service for some of its specialist video channels, sources close to the Internet cornerstone say. The proposed plan could involve as many as 50 video channels and would allow single-channel subscriptions for $1.99 a month, according to reports. In October 2012, the company started hosting channels that feature specialized content from specific news outlets.

YouTube has around a billion users that view approximately six billion hours of videos a month.

to hire.”

Despite their optimism for their own companies’ profits in the year ahead, entrepreneurs’ faith in U.S. economic growth deteriorated from fourth quarter 2012. Just 39% said they expected the economy to improve over the next 12 months, compared to 44% in the previous quarter’s survey.

The number of entrepreneurs planning to hire more employees also declined. In fourth quarter 2012, 37% of the respondents planned to hire. In the most recent survey, only 32% expected to hire more employees in the next 12 months.

Entrepreneurs’ outlook for consumer demand dipped with 44% expecting an increase in customer demand, down from 45% in the previous survey.

The Kauffman Foundation sponsors the Startup Confidence Index surveys in conjunction with LegalZoom (www.legalzoom.com), a leading national provider of online legal solutions and legal plans to young companies.

The findings are based on 1,650 responses to a nationwide, February 2013 survey distributed via email to LegalZoom customers who formed their entities within the last 12 months. The Index is conducted quarterly to gauge entrepreneurial confidence.

View all of the Kauffman LegalZoom Startup Confidence Index infographics at www. kauffman.org/research-andpolicy/kauffman-legalzoomstartup-confidence-index-firstquarter-2012.aspx. View the 2013 infographic on the next page.  www.kauffman.org/newsroom/ startup-business-owners-optimisticabout-growth-in-2013.aspx?utm_ source=Newsletter&utm_ medium=Opticast&utm_ campaign=Ideas_At_Work_5_2_13

70  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Startup Confidence Index

T H E K AU F F M A N / LEGALZOOM

Q:

A Survey of New Business Founders’ Outlook on the Economy & Hiring — 1 Q, 2 0 1 3 In conjunction with the Kauffman Foundation, LegalZoom conducted this quarterly survey to gauge entrepreneurial confidence. The findings are based on 1,650 responses to a February 2013 nationwide survey distributed via email to LegalZoom customers who formed their entities within the past 12 months.* See detailed confidence levels from previous quarters at kauffman.org/confidenceindex.

How confident are you that your business will be more profitable in the next 12 months than it is today?

84%

84%

1Q, 2013

are confident or very confident that their businesses will be more profitable in the next 12 months, a climb of 1% over the fourth-quarter 2012 survey and the highest level expressed in any of the previous surveys.

41%

42%

4Q, 2012

VERY CONFIDENT

42%

42%

4Q, 2012

SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT

Consistent with the 2012 quarterly surveys, confidence was highest among the youngest entrepreneurs. The older the age group, the more confidence dropped.

88%

of the 18-30-year-olds and of the 31-40-year-olds are confident or very confident that their businesses will realize greater profitability in the next 12 months.

17%

16%

4Q, 2012

NOT CONFIDENT

100% 98

86

18-30 YEAR OLDS Q2 2012

Q3 2012

Q4 2012

What do you think will happen with the economy over the next 12 months?

90%

80%

Q1 2013

34% 26%

25%

64%

9%

Stay the same

5%

Significantly deteriorate

are confident that the economy will improve or stay the same—this is down from 4Q 2012 when it was 66%.

Deteriorate

64%

96

93

91

Q1 2012

1Q, 2013

1Q, 2013

Significantly improve

The youngest entrepreneurs’ confidence in future profitability, which fell for the first time in 4Q 2012, is starting to rebound:

Q:

1Q, 2013

Improve

96%

1Q, 2013

40% What do you see happening to consumer demand over the next 12 months?

24%

5%

4%

Significantly increase

Moderately deteriorate

Significantly deteriorate

1Q, 2013

44%

of entrepreneurs expect consumer demand to increase moderately to significantly in the next 12 months.

Moderately increase

44%

26%

Stay the same

Q:

Q:

Do you have any plans to hire additional employees?

NO

63

YES

37

4Q, 2012

68% 32% 1Q, 2013

70

30

3Q, 2012

68%

of respondents do not plan to hire additional employees, a 5% increase from 4Q 2012.

67

33

2Q, 2012

72

28

1Q, 2012

www.kauffman.org

* Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

71  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business Development

Building Your Business for Success: The Importance of Ownership

O

ne of the keys to economic independence for African American business owners is the acquisition and ownership of commercial real estate. By controlling the buildings and land that house the means of generating revenue, an entrepreneur can better attain the goal that underpins what being in business is all about: maximum self-determination.

With interest rates now at historically low levels and the economy growing at a slow pace, now is a prime time for many business owners to consider the purchase of commercial real estate. The benefits and drawbacks to commercial real estate ownership vary from business owner to business owner, but potential buyers should educate themselves about the obvious and sometimes hidden benefits to the ownership of a commercial property. Below are some of the major benefits to real estate ownership, versus leasing a commercial space.

Tax Deductions

Added Value To Business

For many Black business owners, a primary benefit of commercial real estate ownership is the tax deductibility of property that can be taken on the interest portion of the monthly commercial loan payment. These deductions can be substantial and each business owner should consult a qualified tax specialist about his or her unique situation.

Unlike some residential loans, many commercial loans are assumable. This makes the business and its real estate much easier for a buyer to acquire, and enhances the value of the business tremendously.

Equity Appreciation On average, commercial real estate properties will appreciate about two to three percent above inflation over the long term. Paying rent provides no appreciation or equity. Quite candidly, the BBA has members who have been paying rent for a decade or more, with no equity accrued and never having positioned themselves to benefit from any hope of equity appreciation. Using some of the most conservative estimates, potential equity appreciation can result in significant financial gains over a period of decades.

A Retirement Fund Through various circumstances, many minority and small business owners will not receive a pension when they decide to retire. In such cases, the equity appreciation on commercial property can be significant. An owner can decide either to sell the property upon retirement to cash in on equity appreciation, or lease the property to another business for a continuous retirement income stream. In fact, in some situations, a business owner may be able to lease out an unused portion of the property, such as a spare office, before retirement for additional income.

No Taxes To Pay On Your Rent When a business leases its real estate, sales tax is paid on the rent paid to the landlord. When you own the real estate there is no tax to pay on the rent. The savings can be significant.

Easy Access To Financing Historically-low, thirty-year fixed interest mortgage rates are now available for owner-occupied commercial properties.

Furthermore, there are flexible interest-only options from which entrepreneurs can benefit. In fact, in some instances, with strong financials a business owner may qualify for loan financing up to 100% of the purchase price for commercial real estate. A business owner should consult an experienced commercial mortgage adviser before making an offer on a commercial property, so that in addition to the tangible benefits outlined above, the business owner will have the satisfaction that only comes with property ownership. Truer words have never been spoken: “God bless the child that’s got his own�.

The Black Business Association will soon launch a program to assist African American business owners in acquiring commercial and industrial real estate.

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. http://crowdcall.me CrowdCall is a product of CrowdCall, Inc. that enables everyone

to host secure conference calls quickly and easily. No dial in numbers, no PINs, just fast and easy conference calling.

Simple, Visual, Mobile Audio Conferencing.

• No dial in numbers or PINS, the system dials out to everyone.

• Calls can be immediate or scheduled, messaging is automatic.

• Secure and private. No more wondering who is on the call.

• Mute, hang up, or silence specific callers with easy in-call controls.

• Free app is available on iPhone, Android and on the web.

• Available in North America only at this time.

CrowdCall gives you 500 free minutes when you sign up.

That’s over 8 hours of phone conversations!

CrowdCall has three calling

packages: Premium is $9.99/ mo offering 1,000 minutes, Pro is $49.99/mo offering 10,000 minutes, and Power is $99.99/mo offering unlimited minutes.

CrowdCall, Inc. is a fast-growing telecommunications company with the goal of providing consumers with a complete “smart communications” experience that revolutionizes the way people create and manage conference calls. https://vizibility.com Vizibility makes it easy for anyone to get to know, like and trust you.

Your mobile business card is like a personalized, mobile-friendly website with key content about you and your organization. It’s instantly accessible from any smartphone without an app. And it’s a snap to share using QR codes and Microsoft Tag barcodes, NFC mobile wallet cards, Apple’s Passbook and special buttons and links.

Features include: Common Connections™ - share LinkedIn and Facebook info; vCard Plus Notes - share your vCard, Virtual Introductions - let others share your info, My Links - easy to find you online, Real-time Alerts - monitor interest whenever someone views

your mobile business card, Custom Branding - mobile business card uses your own logo and branding, Easy Setup - automated self-service setup, Appointment Scheduling - allows someone to schedule an appointment with

you, Mobile Directory - searchable directory of mobile business cards for everyone in your organization. http://thegrizzlylabs.com/geniusscan With Genius Scan, you are able to scan then create PDF documents and export them to the cloud in a matter of seconds.

First you Scan a document or image using your smartphone camera, then Crop and Straighten your page using frame autodetection and perspective correction tools, Enhance your document by turning your grayish documents into real black and white

or makeing color documents look more vivid, Group pages into multi-page PDF documents or Reorganize pages within a document, Organize your documents by adding tags, Quickly Transfer your documents to your computer via Wifi sharing and/or Share your documents with colleagues (or yourself) by email or export them to iBooks, Box, Dropbox, Evernote, Expensify, Google Drive and SkyDrive, then Print your document form on the website.  Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

74  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

ATTORNEY LEO BRANTON, JR. 1922-2013 challenge the unconstitutional practice of denying jury duty to members of the Negro race in Riverside, CA • First Black lawyer to represent a national labor union, representing the ILWU Fisherman’s Union

L

egendary Civil Rights and entertainment attorney Leo Branton, Jr., passed away on April 19, 2013 at Kaiser Cadillac Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 91. The wellprepared and outspoken attorney was admired by all, feared by some and appreciated by those he represented. His scholarly charm, elegant appearance, dramatic openings, rebuttals and closing arguments made all conscious that Leo Branton Jr. had come to court to win.

Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on February 17, 1922 to the late Leo and Pauline (Wiley) Branton, Sr., he was the eldest of five siblings. He attended both elementary and high school in Pine Bluff before going on to earn his B.A. with honors from Tennessee State University in 1942. As the only person of color in his class, he obtained his J.D. in 1948 from Northwestern University Law School in Chicago after serving three honorable years in the army. Leo married his sweetheart Geraldine (Pate) Branton of Jackson, Tennessee in 1955, who preceded him in death in 2006 Throughout his life, Attorney Leo Branton had many “firsts” • First lawyer to successfully

• First Black lawyer to try numerous Maritime Tort Cases and became an expert in the field • First Black lawyer to form an interracial law firm west of Chicago, the Los Angeles firm of Margolis, McTernan and Branton • First Black attorney to represent prominent entertainers such as Nat King Cole, Dorothy Dandridge, Inger Stevens, Richard Pryor, Miles Davis, as well as the Estate of Jimi Hendrix to name a few • First Black attorney to become a member of the State Bar Review Board, which ruled on all disciplinary proceedings against California attorneys • First Black lawyer to volunteer his services during the Civil Rights years by going to the south on numerous occasions to get people out of jail and represent them in court • First attorney , Black or White to file numerous cases against the LAPD for misconduct against Black people.

As a social justice advocate, he contributed generously to social and political causes. In 1971, Angela Davis, a Black woman and an admitted member of the

Communist Party, was charged in Santa Clara County for the murder of a judge and the permanent paralysis of a district attorney. As the lead attorney of four, he brought about an acquittal before an allwhite jury in San Jose, California.

In 1972, Attorney Branton defended members of the Black Panther Party who were charged with various felonies after a “shoot-out” with the LAPD. Through his pro bono work, all 13 defendants were eventually acquitted of all major charges.

As an ardent foe of the death penalty, Branton battled through the courts and within the public arena.

He considered his efforts, and those of Charlie Garrey, to amend the death sentence of Wesley Robert Wells to life without parole after more than ten years on death row, to be his proudest achievement as an attorney. In 1972, after the Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional, Mr. Branton procured Wells’ complete release from prison on a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.

His leadership, awards and advocacy have recently been recognized by the ACLU, NAACP, Langston Bar Association, CABLE, and his stories are legendary. In his home with his wife Geraldine, he hosted Mrs. Rosa Parks, John F. Kennedy, Jr, and James Foreman, National Director of SNCC among many others. He was an astute and successful businessman who helped many others in their businesses with legal advice. After almost 62 years of practice, he still kept his bar card active and practiced the last ten years pro bono. 

75  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

CO-HOST

9TH

ANNUAL Diversity Day BUSINESS

JOBS * HEALTH CARE * CONTRACTS CERTIFICATION * TAXES *Access Capital VIP Luncheon Guest Speaker *(s) State of California Commissioner on Economic Development Health Law Guide for Business Int’l Trade – Africa – New Guinea –Middle East- Asia Transportation Liasons

“FAMED” BEVERLY GARLAND Holiday Inn Hotel 4222 Vineland Ave... /..Off Hollywood Fwy – Universal City (NoHo), CA 91602

TUESDAY MAY 21, 2013 @ 9:00 am *VIP Luncheon..$40 FREE ALL DAY ADMISSION TO EXPO- Specialized Workshops RSVP REQUIRED...818 464 3484 / events@regionalblackchambersfv.info www.regionalblackchambersfv.info Mistress of Ceremony - Madame M C Townsend – President/CEO

76  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

The 2014-2015 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Core Competition is Open! he Fulbright Scholar Program offers teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries for the 2014-2015 academic year. Opportunities are

T

Salary-Stipend-Supplements), and the Teaching English as a Foreign Language Award (www. cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/ catalog/2014-2015/TEFL).

Interested faculty and

us_scholars/us_awards) or contact by email at scholars@iie.org.

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is the U.S.

available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others.

This year, there are over 50 awards available to those interested in African Region Studies. Included are All Discipline awards, offered in all regions of the world welcome teaching and/or research proposals in any area of study, including interdisciplinary projects.

The program has introduced several new innovations to the 2014-2015 program.

These innovations have been added to meet the changing needs of academia and develop new options to better accommodate the interests and commitments of today’s scholars. There are new changes to the Fulbright Flex Awards ( w w w. c i e s . o r g / u s _ s c h o l a r s / us_awards/catalog/2014-2015/ FLEX), Fulbright Postdoctoral/ Early Career Awards (www. cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/ catalog/2014-2015/POSTDOC), Salary Stipend Supplements ( w w w. c i e s . o r g / u s _ s c h o l a r s / us_awards/catalog/2014-2015/

professionals are encouraged to learn more about these opportunities, and hundreds of others, by visiting the Catalog of Awards (http://catalog.cies.org).

The application deadline for most awards is August 1, 2013.

U.S. citizenship is required. For other eligibility requirements and detailed award descriptions visit the Fulbright U.S. Scholars Program website (www.cies.org/

government’s flagship international exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. For more information, visit fulbright.state.gov (http://eca. state.gov/fulbright).

The Fulbright Scholar Program is administered by CIES (www.cies. org), a division of the Institute of International Education (www.iie. org). 

78  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

THE WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS MONTH, 2013

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

O

ver the past 3 years, communities all across America have joined First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, which aims to help parents make healthy choices and give our children a strong start.

Today, families have more of the tools and know-how they need to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Kids and adults are finding new ways to bring exercise into their daily lives. And by getting active, our youngest generation is not only improving their health, but also their ability to learn and be successful later in life. During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we celebrate that progress and keep striving for more.

To help more kids and families get moving and make exercise a lifelong habit, we are working to create more opportunities for physical activity -- whether on the playground, in the classroom, or at work.

Through Let’s Move! and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, we continue to advance that mission by collaborating with partners in every corner of our country -- public and private, large and small, national and neighborhood. Together, we are helping cities, towns, and counties raise a healthier generation of kids. And earlier this year, we built on that work by launching a new program to bring physical activity back to our schools. To learn more and join in, visit www.

LetsMove.gov and www.Fitness.gov.

With simple steps, all of us can make physical activity a way of life.

This month, we recognize Americans who are choosing that future for themselves and inspiring others to do the same. We also take this opportunity to renew the call to action. I encourage business, faith, and community leaders to uphold physical activity as an important way to enrich our neighborhoods. I call on schools to make good health and exercise part of a good education. And alongside our friends and family, let each of us recommit to leading a healthy, active lifestyle, and setting our children on the path to a bright future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2013 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the people of the United States to make daily physical activity, sports participation, and good nutrition a priority in their lives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

The Economic Turn Around in the USA is in Our Hands •Buy Products Made or Assembled in the USA •Hire One New Employee •Eat an Extra Meal Out Each Week •Start/Grow a Business to Generate Wealth & Jobs

Buy Black  Save Black  Invest Black 80  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

2013

EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY

The Los Angeles

Black Business Expo Friday & Saturday

May 24-25, 2013

in “The Hangar” at West Angeles Church Crenshaw & Exposition Blvd.

www.expoupdate.com A SLAM, INC PRODUCTION

2013

SAVE THE DATE!

International

Analysis: Three Billionaires, Three Ways to Fix Africa

By Jonathan Ortmans

I

magine, for a moment, that you are an African billionaire.

It’s a nice thought – there’s the private jet, the fancy house, the good food and expensive drink. Life is good. But perhaps there comes a time when, surveying the under-development all around you, you think that you should use your money for a cause that is more noble than your own personal

enrichment.

This is easier said than done.

As has been demonstrated on this continent repeatedly, simply chucking money at a problem does not make it go away. It might sound counter-intuitive, but we can’t simply spend our way out of poverty. It’s not like there’s a magic solution to Africa’s problems that is just sitting there on the counter, waiting until someone can afford to buy it.

As international NGOs will tell you, as do-gooder celebrities will tell you, as economists will tell you, fixing any one of Aliko Dangote

see Billionairs Fix Africa on page 83

Internationl

Billionairs Fix Africa from page 82

Africa’s numerous, systemic, and entrenched economic and political problems can be a nightmare of failed initiatives and good ideas gone wrong (or bad ideas gone horribly wrong).

So, Mister African Billionaire, what’s your plan? (It’s nearly always a mister; last year was the first time any women made the Forbes Africa Rich List). How are you going to spend your money for the greater good?

Maybe you’ll follow the Mo Ibrahim example of

Sudanese telecoms entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim, who was among the first to recognise the potential for mobile phones in Africa. It was his vision that brought innovations such as prepaid airtime to the continent, and earned him a tidy sum in the process: somewhere between one and two billion dollars, according to Forbes estimates.

Cash in the bank, Ibrahim turned his attention to the problems of African governance, and how to improve it. Reasoning that good leadership starts from the very top, he created a foundation* which lauds and rewards African presidents who demonstrate excellence in office and leave it when they are supposed to. He also commissioned an annual database of governance statistics so that citizens have an impartial guide of how well their leaders measure up. More important than either of

these initiatives, however, is the exhausting behind-the-scenes work that Ibrahim puts in, a never-ending roundabout of high-level meetings, dialogues and international conferences promoting governance issues.

Is it effective? Probably. However, by its nature, it is hard to judge such discrete diplomacy.

But perhaps you’re not looking for such a hands-on approach, and besides, few African billionaires have the humility to be much good at it. In which case, the footsteps of a certain Patrice Motsepe might be the ones to follow. With an estimated fortune of $2.9 billion, earned from the South African mining magnate’s substantial holdings in platinum, gold and other minerals, he’s Africa’s eight-richest man. Or he was, until he decided to give away half of it to charity. see Billionairs Fix Africa on page 84

International

Billionaires Fix Africa from page 83

“Precious (his wife) and I will contribute at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to the Motsepe Foundation to be used during our lifetime and beyond to improve the lifestyles and living conditions of the poor, disabled, unemployed, women, youth, workers and marginalised South Africans, Africans and people around the world,” said Motsepe in a “giving pledge” he made in January this year.

Motsepe, for his part, was inspired

by American billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates who have launched a high-profile campaign to get their rich friends more involved in philanthropy. Theirs is a distinctly bottom-up approach, trying to fix problems where they see them.

The Gates Foundation, for example, has ploughed billions into schools, immunisation programs and research. This is more traditional NGO work, but the Gates Foundation has been criticised for ignoring wider issues in its rush to solve specific problems.

“Some argue that the founder’s background in technology means that he is too transfixed by the search for technological ‘magic bullets’ to fix health problems, when often the problems involved are social or developmental: persuading Nigerian clerics to let children have the polio vaccine, persuading South African men to protect themselves better against HIV by getting circumcised,” observed Gideon Rachman in the Financial Times.

Motsepe’s foundation runs the same risk: it is plugging the hole in the dyke rather than fixing the leak.

There is another, more unorthodox option, as illustrated this week by

Africa’s richest m a n , A l i k o Dangote, who made most of his $16 billion fortune in the Nigerian cement Patrice Motsepe i n d u s t r y.

L i k e Motsepe, Dangote is also planning to part with half his fortune – but he’s not giving it away. Instead, he announced that he is funding the construction of an $8 billion dollar oil refinery in Nigeria. “This will really help not only Nigeria but subSaharan Africa. There has not been a new refinery for a long time in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Dangote.

He’s right.

Africa is a continent of vast natural resources and an incredibly limited industrial capacity to process those resources. That’s why South Africa sells raw gold and platinum to the world and buys imported jewelry at a huge markup. That’s why Nigeria, the continent’s biggest oil producer, imports 80% of its petrol. That’s why the Democratic Republic of Congo doesn’t make its own mobile phones despite providing some of their most important ingredients (specifically coltan).

Dangote’s refinery should go some way towards fixing the Nigeria problem, at a stroke doubling the country’s refining capacity. The new refinery, scheduled for completion in 2016, will produce around 400,000 barrels a day, as compared to Nigeria’s current capacity of 445,000 which is rarely achieved thanks to mismanagement.

Dangote’s motivations are not philanthropic. He’s a businessman,

and he thinks this is good business.

But this kind of substantial investment in a crucial sector of Africa’s largest economy will have a knock-on effect on the rest of the country. And, hopefully, because the refinery will be managed privately and for profit there will be a large incentive to eliminate the kind of corruption, mismanagement and wasted opportunity which has for so long characterised Nigeria’s relationship with oil. Even better, all the money made stays in Africa – and is hopefully ploughed into more projects.

The project is, undoubtedly, a risk – which is why no one’s tried it before (also, few people have $8 billion lying around). But it’s the kind of risk that Africa’s businessmen need to take, and increasingly are taking, to kick-start their respective economies without reliance on foreign aid or investment. It’s what I’d do with my imagined billions. DM CORRECTION: As some of our commenters noted, Patrice Motsepe did not actually pledge to give away half his fortune; instead, he pledged to “contribute at least half of the funds generated by our family assets”.  www.dailymaverick.co.za/ article/2013-04-18-analysis-threebillionaires-three-ways-to-fix-africa

International

Botswana: Startups Needed

By Jonathan Ortmans for Entrepreneurship.org

B

otswana (www. gov.bw) is among Africa’s richest countries and the continent’s oldest functioning post-colonial, multi-party democracy. It has low taxes and a stable government that has been ranked as Africa’s least corrupt. But it needs entrepreneurs.

While mining has been the pillar of Botswana’s wealth (diamonds account for about half the government’s revenue and over a third of its GDP), the country has largely avoided the “resource curse” that stymies economic growth in similar nations.

The country’s income from diamond mining is spread widely enough to provide almost half the population with middle-class status. Articles about the economy of Botswana always hail its development performance and the example of stability it sets for the rest of the continent, but warn that the country must diversify before the mines run out—a deadline that is currently estimated at 2030. Entrepreneurs will play an important part in this.

Diversifying is no simple task for any nation. However, despite the recent diamond market downturn, the Botswana economy is, relatively speaking, not under stress which makes it easier for those with political will to take a long-term view as they embark on a new economic path. Currently, the government drives the economy, but building an entrepreneurial economy means empowering entrepreneurial communities and the private sector.

At the present, according to the

Gaborone, Botswana

World Bank, local companies are not very competitive compared with those in other middle-income countries. Its small domestic market of 2 million people represents a challenge for entrepreneurs.

Moreover, the country is fighting one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world.

To get the country moving in a new direction, the Small Business Act of 2004 took the first step by establishing the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) (www.lea. co.bw) as a Statutory Authority of the Government of Botswana with the mandate of supporting entrepreneurship and enterprise development. The LEA prides itself on having an extensive countrywide footprint of 13 branches, and a board of directors drawn from both the private and public sectors. This focused one-stop shop has concentrated mainly on the needs of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) by encompassing training, mentoring, and market access facilitation. In pursuit of economic diversification,

LEA has targeted interventions in various business sectors, such as commercial farming and safari tourism. The Government of Botswana has also partnered with UNDP and the private sector to form an Enterprise Botswana (www.unbotswana.org.bw/undp/ poverty_projects.html) program to target growth- and export-oriented companies. Further, the government has tapped into the University of Botswana for entrepreneurship training, and has worked with foreign embassies to offer business development workshops, for example, in Gaborone for women and young entrepreneurs.

However, Botswana still needs a parallel focus that will look beyond SMMEs to enabling new entrepreneurs and high-growth startups. This is where the great untapped opportunities lie. Given its small local market, building bridges to other entrepreneurship ecosystems is a must. Botswana joined the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor see Startups for Botswana on page 87

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Abu Camp Safari Lodge

Startups for Botswana from page 86

for the first time in 2012 through the University of Botswana Faculty of Business, but it has yet to join global networks like Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) or engage in other ways. For example, a GEW movement in Botswana could add a missing component of what is a nascent ecosystem: networks and cultural capital to support highgrowth ventures.

In 2010, Legatum and the Omidyar Network nominated Botswana’s NTR Technology, a diversified engineering group, for its Africa Awards. Unfortunately, little is known of other success stories and there are few local rock star entrepreneurs. Given that the Index of Economic Freedom (www.heritage.org/index/country/ botswana) ranks Botswana 2nd out of 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan

Kasane, Botswana

Africa region, and its overall score is well above the regional and world averages, Botswana offers a fertile environment for startup community teams and investors looking for a base in Africa. Low taxes, political stability, a relatively educated work force and an English speaking market lend themselves to further foreign investment as startups scale. Now all Botswana needs is entrepreneurs. 

Botswana International University of Science and Technology

www.entrepreneurship.org/en/ Blogs/Policy-Forum-Blog/2013/April/ Botswana-Startups-Needed.aspx

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International

Botswana Innovation Hub

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his forward thinking proposal by SHoP Architects (www. shoparc.com) was selected in an international design competition to design the Botswana Innovation Hub, a new building in Gaborone which will provide office and

laboratory space for technologydriven and knowledge-intensive foreign and local businesses, as well as research and advanced training institutes. The building will be an iconic symbol of Botswana’s support for research and development and the promotion of innovation and enterpreneurship, acting as a nexus for knowledge creation and innovation. http://openbuildings.com/buildings/ botswana-innovation-hubprofile-38673 88  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Join us for a two day summit on one of Africa’s fastest growing economies Africa’s recent economic surge is fueling optimism about the continent’s prospects and positioning it in the minds of many investors and businesses as a significant opportunity.

Blessed with a wealth of natural resources and a large, young and growing population, many economies in Africa are enjoying rates of growth and development that are the envy of the emerging world.

While sections of the continent still face steep challenges, Ghana is well placed to benefit from the forces of beneficial change in the region.

• Strong and sustained growth in recent years - with the country benefiting from high global commodity prices and continued political stability • A youthful and better educated workforce, with half of the population under 20 • The emergence of a new generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs. Ghana has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in Africa, with mobile phone penetration surpassing the 100% barrier • A concerted effort by the government to attract foreign investment and improve ease of doing business

However, Ghana faces serious challenges too. Its economy remains vulnerable to external factors— in particular the risk of a slowdown in China, the global commodity cycle and high inflation.

The Ghana Investment Summit will openly explore the risks and opportunities—tensions and compromises—that are facing this thriving global African economy. It will bring together over 150 leaders from government, business and finance who are invested or otherwise interested in Ghana’s future.

Register you interest today: http://response.economistconferences.co.uk/cemea-register-interest.

89  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

The Definition of GDP The definition of GDP does not include employment rates

Z

ambia has and continues to exhibit impressive economic growth. It is predicted that Zambia could experience 7% GDP growth for 2013.

The global standard of measuring the “health” of an economy is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and according to this measure, Zambia has been doing quite well.

However, many have questioned the true value of using GDP as a measure if this growth is not followed by a growth in employment. The point, however, is that while we would like to see employment grow with GDP growth, employment rates are not part of the definition of GDP.

The Definitions of GDP: The monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period, though GDP is usually calculated on an annual basis. It includes all of private and public consumption, government outlays, investments and exports less imports that occur within a defined territory.

Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.

Copper Mine Zambia, Africa

Robert Sichinga Jnr. MBA, MsHCA

asp#ixzz2KeYRRSqi

The value of a country’s overall output of goods and services (typically during one fiscal year) at market prices, excluding net income from abroad.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be estimated in three ways which, in theory, should yield identical figures. They are (1) Expenditure basis: how much money was spent, (2) Output basis: how many goods and services were sold, and (3) Income basis: how much income (profit) was earned.

Read more: http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/ gross-domesticproduct-GDP. html#ixzz2KeZVVmsN see GDP Defined on page 91

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International

GDP Defined from page 90

Changing the definition of GDP or any other economic measure to dilute the positive performance of Zambia’s economic performance is doing a disservice to Zambia’s efforts at building its reputation as an attractive investment destination.

Furthermore, consideration should be given to the areas fueling this growth. If these areas are highly

dependent on heavy duty equipment, machinery or automation, it is expected that traditional labor will suffer at the hands of technology and efficiency. Unfortunately this is the environment in which we live to day. So lets apply this to Zambia. Consider the main area fueling Zambia’s economic growth, copper. It is estimated that approximately 50% of the value of Zambia’s exports is from copper. Now it goes without saying that the efficiency and ability of mining equipment has and continues to improve. Today’s mining equipment are able to explore and extract the targeted mineral with less effort than was required a decade ago. So more copper is being extracted with the need for less manpower. This is not the “fault” of anyone or a flaw in economic policy. It should be blamed on technology development. And so when Zambia is able to export

more of that copper in a shorter period of time and more efficiently, it is expected that her GDP growth will be reflective of this.

So know that we agree that GDP growth is not necessarily commensurate with large increases employment, the focus should then be on answering the question “How can Zambia grow its employment as its GDP grows?” There are several tactical answers to this question, but in an attempt to answer the question with a single statement, the Zambian government should create an enabling economic and fiscal climate to incentivize small to medium sized businesses.

Note that I said the government should create and enabling environment and NOT create jobs.

This will be a topic to expand upon in a later feature.

As the price and demand for copper remains attractive on the global market, and as Zambia maintains its position as one of the worlds global supplier of copper, while Zambia fails to grow other sectors or develop ways to reduce its dependency on copper for its economic health, we will continue to see this disconnect between impressive GDP growth and flat or slow-growing employment rates.

About the Author Robert Sichinga is originally from Zambia and is currently based in California.

He is committed to promoting Zambia’s investment opportunities. His primary interest is in publicizing, promoting, and developing commercial and industrial connections between companies in the United States of America and Zambia. He is also the founder of the newly formed Zambia USA Chamber of Commerce.

Robert Sichinga welcomes discussions on his blog: http://www.robertsichinga.com/ Information on Zambia can also be found on http:// www.zambiausachamber.org. 

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International

www.zambiausachamber.org

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. 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 last issue of The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html)

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see On The Rise on page 94 94  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

ACCESS: Africa, Middle East & South Asia 2013 International Trade Conference San Diego, CA | May 1 – 2, 2013 | San Diego Marriott La Jolla ACCESS 2013 is a unique opportunity to hear directly from U.S. Commercial Service Officers serving in some of the world’s fastest growing economies. ACCESS 2013 can help your company identify new export markets and opportunities in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, obtain the resources necessary to succeed in these markets, and develop market entry strategies. U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers stationed in these world regions have been invited to actively participate in ACCESS 2013.

Senior Commercial Officers from the following countries will attend ACCESS 2013: Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and more.

Register and schedule your one-on-one meetings with the Commercial Service Officers and Specialists so that they may help you identify new export markets, and develop market entry strategies. .

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Early Bird Rate (through March 31): Rate after April 1: Government Rate: On Site Fee:

$495 $595 $295 $700

Conference Hotel Venue: San Diego Marriott La Jolla, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, California USA Registration Link: www.regonline.com/access2013internationaltradeforum SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: www.regonline.com/builder/site/tab3.aspx?EventID=1167401

About the U.S. Commercial Service The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets. With offices in 108 U.S. cities and U.S. Embassies and Consulates in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service connects U.S. companies with international partners. For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service visit, www.export.gov Bobby Hines (bobby.hines@trade.gov) 213-894-4231, FAX: 213-894-8789 444 S. Flower Street, 37th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 www.export.gov

Other Trade Information: Service: California StateTradeExport Promotion-STEP- facilitates exports using “offsets” http://californiastep.org Event: Collection Premiere Moscow (CPM) International Fashion Trade Show www.cpm.moscow.com February 26 - March 1, 2013, Expocentre Moscow, Russia Contact: kim-bang.nguyen@trade.gov Event: ACCESS 2013 International Trade Forum – Africa, Middle East, South Asia San Diego Marriott La Jolla - San Diego, CA May 1-2, 2013 http://export.gov/california/ca/events/access2013/sandiegoaccess2013055759.asp

RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL Dear International Executive,

I

f 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 http://export.gov/usoffices/ index.asp. And, remember to use these outreach tools to grow your international business: Sell Worldwide in the USA Product Showcase; Commercial News USA: Buy 2, Get 1 Free; and Read the Digital Edition of America’s Export Promotion Magazine.

Happy Exporting! ************************* Event: Africa Growth Conference: Africa Open for Business Location: UCLA – Anderson School of Business Date/Time: April 17, 201 Cost: FREE Registration: Onsite UCLA Anderson’s African Growth Conference aims to bring together business leaders, professionals, academics, and students to discuss business trends, challenges and the increasing importance of the role of African countries in the global economy.

It also provides a collaborative forum for participants to build networks, exchange ideas, and share knowledge and best practices. The 2013 conference will provide an opportunity for its audience, composed of industry professionals, government leaders, academics and other stakeholders who are interested in learning more about the region, to learn from influential and impactful leaders and hear their insights on the trends, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in investing in and doing business with the region.

Event: Irvine Chamber Global Markets Webinar Series Topic: Increase Export Sales by Safely Extending Payment Terms Location: Your Computer Date/Time: April 17, 2013, 10am11am Cost: FREE Register: www.irvineglobalmarkets. com Featured Speaker: Gary Mendell, President of Meridian Finance Group

approach to help manufacturers with their export initiatives. ExporTech will connect you with the best international business experts in the region, assist you in developing an export growth plan, generate measureable results, and more. The program is designed for senior level management and requires a commitment to attend all three sessions. For more information contact: Elizabeth Glynn at (310) 9840728 or email: eglynn@cmtc.com

Event: Access the Western Hemisphere Location: Minneapolis, MN Radisson Plaza Hotel Date/Time: April 23-24, 2013 Cost: $299 Learn More / Register: http://www. exportassistance.com/wh-agenda This annual conference will bring 10 Senior Commercial Diplomats covering over 15 markets across the Western Hemisphere. Participants will discover how to identify new export opportunities, increase market share and competitive edge, and develop strategic relationships with those that are on the forefront of business and exporting in these key markets.

Event: ACCESS 2013 Trade Forum on Africa, Middle East, and South Asia Venue: San Diego, CA Date/Time: May 1 & 2, 8am-5pm Cost: $595 Link to Register: www.export.gov/ sandiego ACCESS 2013 International Trade Forum is a unique opportunity to hear directly from U.S. Commercial Service Officers and U.S. State Department Officers who serve in some of the world’s fastest growing economies (one-on-one meetings can be scheduled). Regional experts from Africa, the Middle East and South Asia will convene on May 1-2, 2013 in San Diego for ACCESS 2013, the first time that this event is being held in California. In addition to 25 government speakers, over 50 private sector leaders will speak and participate in the ACCESS two-day program focused on trade opportunities by industry sector and world region.

Event: ExporTech Corporate Management Program Location: Norwalk, CA Date/Time: April 24, May 22, and June 19, 2013 Cost: Early Bird Registration $3,500 per company for 2 executives Learn more/register at: http://www. cmtc.com/Portals/103829/docs/ exportech_sfs_04.24.13.pdf Learn how to improve your export initiatives or get started on the exporting path! CMTC, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and U.S. Commercial Service in collaboration with regional partners are presenting an in-depth and accelerated

Event: 2013 Export Workshop Series Location: ITT Technical Institute – Sylmar Date/Time: May 1-August 7, 201 Cost: FREE of charge Register: Jean Coronel at jcoronel@ portla.org or register at: http://tinyurl. com/ExportUSFValley see Going Global on page 97

96  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Going Global

exporting in these key markets. from page 96

Eight International Trade Workshops will be presented every two weeks from May 1, 2013 through August 7, 2013. Export counseling will be offered by appointment in Session 8. Session topics include the following:

• May 1: International Business Culture • May 15: Is Exporting for Me? • May 29: Finding & Entering New Export Markets/International Matchmaking • June 5: Internet Export Marketing • June 19: Export Sales Techniques and Documentation • July 10: Export Trade Finance & Insurance - Getting Paid • July 24: Legal Do’s and Don’ts for Exporters • August 7: Freight & Logistics / Export Planning and Counseling Event: Gateway to Europe Conference Location: Minneapolis, MN Radisson Plaza Hotel Date/Time: June 4-5, 2013 Cost: $299 Early bird rate, $349 regular rate Learn More: http://www. exportassistance.com/eu-about-theconferences Cost: Early Bird Rate $70 until December 14 (after: $90) The MN District Export Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service, is pleased to present the Gateway to Europe conference, the second of two regional International Trade Administration conferences to be held in Minneapolis in 2013!

This annual conference will bring more than 25 Senior Commercial Diplomats and U.S. international trade officials covering the European, Russian and Turkish markets. Participants will discover how to identify new export opportunities, increase market share and competitive edge, and develop strategic relationships with those that are on the forefront of business and

Sell Worldwide in the USA Product Showcase for Just $499 Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can advertise in the USA Product Showcase section of the magazine for just $499.

Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter-million buyers worldwide in print and 23,000 per month online.

Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal.us, or send e-mail to export@thinkglobal.us.

Follow Commercial News USA on LinkedIn and Twitter @comnewsusa Commercial News USA: Buy 2, Get 1 Free Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an inexpensive way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. In addition to free Portuguese translation, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. Does not include Showcase section). Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal. us, or send e-mail to advertise@ thinkglobal.us. Follow Commercial News USA on LinkedIn and Twitter @ comnewsusa.

Read the Digital Edition of Commercial News USA Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has launched a new interactive PDF

Trade Winds Asia May 12-15, 2013 Seoul, Korea Extend your reach with optional Mission Stops, May 9-10 (Hong Kong or Manila) or May 16-17 (Taipei or Tokyo).

For more information: www.export. gov/pennsylvania/tradewinds or e-mail: tradewindsasia@trade.gov with any questions. edition. The new edition is available for free at http://cnusa.thinkglobal. us Commercial News USA offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. Does not include Showcase section). Moreover, you will receive a free online listing in Portuguese. Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter-million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, contact your U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal.us, or send e-mail to advertise@thinkglobal.us 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 http:// export.gov/usoffices/index.asp.

Your privacy is important to us.

Please note that we do not share our lists with parties outside of the U.S. Department of Commerce. You may review our privacy policy at http://www. commerce.gov/Privacy/index.htm ****************************

97  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

87th Annual World Trade Week Kick Off Breakfast JW Marriott at L.A. Live  May 2, 2013  7:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.  Cost: $75 Register: http://www.lachamber.com (World Trade Week Home) For more than 80 years, World Trade Week (WTW), an initiative of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, has been the most extensive and unique program of its kind in the country.

WTW dedicates itself to educating the public on the importance and benefits of global trade on the local and national economy through a series of educational programs and events. World Trade Week is celebrated throughout the month of May and is jumpstarted by the Chamber’s Annual WTW Kickoff Breakfast. The keynote address for this year’s breakfast will feature Tyler Bryson, Microsoft Corporation Enterprise & Partners Group Southwest District General Manager. Mr. Bryson overseas Microsoft’s sales for the largest 150+ customers in the Southwestern United States across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Hawaii. Through his leadership, Microsoft established the first-ever High Tech Customer Advisory Board, a vehicle for driving greater industry and customer feedback to Microsoft.

Information available on the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce www.lachamber.com International Trade Events Calendar; Global Initiatives; Educational Initiatives; Inside Global Trade

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 100  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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 101  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Eso Won Books

African American Books 4327 Degnan Boulevard, Leimert Park, Los Angeles

Give the Gifts that Keep on Giving!

Come see our unsurpassed collection of books, music, videos, children’s books, and games!

323-294-0324 www.esowonbookstore.com //esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events

International Edition

Black Business News

View the International Edition at www.bbala.org

Watch & Support the Africa Channel!

Time Warner • Comcast Don’t have the Africa Channel in your area? Call Time Warner at: 1-888-892-2253 and ask that the Africa Channel be broadcast to ALL regions of your state.

For information on the Africa Channel visit www.theafricachannel. com or send an e-mail inquiry to info@theafricachannel.com.

BLACK MEETINGS & TOURISM DIGITAL MAGAZINE

T

he digital version of Black Meetings & Tourism magazine is available on-line. The current issues, as well as archived issues, can be viewed by visiting www.blackmeetingsandtourism. com and click on the image link located on the home page.The digital version is just a small part of BM&T’s expanded on-line presence, which includes a host of new departments, the twice-monthly e-newsletter, an increased focus on leisure travel, and many new marketing opportunities. The newly designed website offers a guest blog page, a video page and a variety of interactive and custom advertising products that will allow vendors direct access to the more than 45 billion dollar AfricanAmerican travel market. 

103  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Leimert Park Village

Shop, Eat, Relax

An African American Cultural, Retail, Foods & Entertainment Center.

Degnan Boulevard

Little Ethiopia

between Crenshaw & Leimert Blvds.

43rd Street-43rd Place, Los Angeles

www.sazacc.com

in

Experience Africa in America

Culture, Retail, Entertainment

Fairfax Boulevard between Pico & Olympic Boulevard Los Angeles

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

Gathers Strategies, Inc. is in the heart of Downtown LA at

City National Plaza.

Gathers Strategies, Inc. 515 South Flower Street, 36th Floor  Los Angeles, CA 90071 USA Phone: 213-236-3554  Fax: 213-236-3501 Please stay in touch!

www.gathersstrategies.com  Follow us on Twitter @gathersstrat We appreciate your friendship and support and look forward to our continued association with you.

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

107  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Bernahu Asfaw & Getahun Asfaw

1041 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019 323-938-8827 or 323-938-8806 • Fax: 323-932-6047 messob@gmail.com • www.messob.com

Open 7 days a week • 11am - 11pm

How to Do Business with Metro - Monthly Workshop DECEMBER 11, 2012 9:30am – 12:00 pm June 11, 2013

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Ǧ Ȁ Ǥ ǯ ǡ ǡ Ǧ Ǥ ǯ Ǧ Ǧ Ǥ ͻǣ͵Ͳ ǤǤ For further questions, please contact Sherman Gay, Ph.D. (HC) at gays@metro.net or at (213)922-3502. Ǥ ሺ ̷ Ǥ ሻ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ȁ Ǥ

110  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

How Can Organizations Participate? > Employers > Financial institutions > Non-profits and governments > Educators and Youth Organizations > Military > Media

How Can Individuals Participate? > Assess your savings progress > Join America Saves > Test your savings knowledge > Take action to save more effectively > View savings messages > Read saver stories

What is America Saves Week?

About America Saves Week Our Purpose Participating Organizations America Saves Week 2011 America Saves Week 2010 America Saves Week 2009

Contact Us | Privacy Policy | America Saves

www.americasavesweek.org

www.TheArtofBidding.com is dedicated to the art and science of moving goods and services to market. This web site is useful to business managers responsible for their companies’ supply chain activities. This information is sponsored by the Southland Partnership Corporation that serves a wide range of supply chain management issues for large and small enterprises.

Southland is in place to enhance supplier inclusion through the increased flow of goods and services by providing current information from initial sourcing all the way through to delivery to public and private sector endusers. Southland shares vital information of purchasing opportunities from production planning, order processing and fulfillment, inventory management, transportation, distribution, and professional service requirements.

For some, this information on proposal estimating will be a refresher on how to submit an effective pricing plan, however, for other companies this may be just the information to create that winning response. All buyers seek to make the best investment when selecting outside resources. The supplier selection results from demonstrating efficiencies and generating the highest level of customer satisfaction at the most responsible lowest cost. In general all major buying entities look at the strategic, tactical, and operational functions of prospective suppliers.

111  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

JWFA

Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors, LLC M a n a g i n g We a l t h I n t e l l i g e n t l y

WHY OWN GOLD IN YOUR IRA/401k Changing jobs creates a great opportunity for you to switch, or rollover, your former employer’s retirement plan into an IRA. Plus, it usually provides you with more investment options than if you left the money in your former employer’s plan or rolled the money into your new employer's retirement plan.

The early 1980s presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy stocks. Today, economic and political conditions appear to offer a similar opportunity in tangible assets such as physical gold. With the global economic environment growing more uncertain, physical gold has become the #1 alternative for IRA, 401k, 403b, and Pension Plans, as well as for non-retirement funds.

Gold is produced primarily for accumulation while other commodities are produced primarily for consumption. Gold’s value does not arise from its usefulness in industrial or consumable applications. It arises from its use and historical worldwide acceptance as a store of value. Gold is money. A healthy measure of gold clearly belongs in every portfolio for the “Four Ps” – Personal Purchasing Power Protection.

There are six primary reasons why investors own gold: As a hedge against inflation.

As a hedge against a declining dollar.

As a safe haven in times of geopolitical and financial market instability.

As a commodity based on gold’s supply and demand fundamentals.

As a store of value.

As a portfolio diversifier.

According to Bloomberg.com, on October 15, 2009, Paul Tudor Jones of Tudor Investment Corp, who manages about $11.6 billion out of Greenwich, Connecticut, told its investors, “I have never been a gold bug… but Gold is just an asset that, like everything else in life, has its time and place. And now is that time…Gold appears to be cheap. In our view, gold’s value should increase as its scarcity relative to printed currencies increases.”

JAMAAL WILKES FINANCIAL ADVISORS makes 401(k) rollovers easy with just a few simple steps. Please call us at (310)209-8298 or email gold@jamaalwilkes.com for a web seminar presentation.

Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors is an independent Registered Investment Advisor www.jamaalwilkes.com Phone: (310)209-8330 6601 Center Drive West, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90045

112  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Books to Consider...

others can emulate them.Based on a seven year study of 1,000 of the wealthiest African Americans, The Wealth Choice offers a trove of sound and surprising advice about climbing the economic ladder, even when the odds seem stacked against you. Readers will learn about how business leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like Bob Johnson, Spike Lee, L. A. Reid, Herman Cain, T. D. Jakes and Tyrese Gibson found their paths to wealth; what they did or didn’t learn about money early on; w what they had to sacrifice to get to the top; and the role of discipline in managing their success 

Daily Motivations for AfricanAmerican Success: Including Inspirations from Famous AfricanAmerican Achievers

by Dennis Kimbro

will lead to the achievement of your true goals. Each lesson will last a lifetime! 

Wealth Choice: Success Secrets of Black Millionaires

by Dennis Kimbro

A rich compendium of wisdom from such distinguished and celebrated African Americans as Malcolm X, Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Alice Walker and others, designed to help you focus on the thoughts, attitudes, and deeds that

It’s no secret that these hard times have been even harder for the Black community.Approximately 35 percent of African Americans had no measurable assets in 2009, and 24 percent of these same households had only a motor vehicle. Dennis Kimbro, observing how the weight of the continuing housing and credit crises disproportionately impacts the African-American community, takes a sharp look at a carefully cultivated group of individuals who’ve scaled the heights of success and how

Other Books by Dennis Kimbro include: Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice What Makes the Great Great What Keeps Me Standing  www.denniskimbro.com

113  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Calendar May…

16th-17th 19th Annual National Conference - Ethiopian Community Development Council This unique event is dedicated solely to the topic of African refugees and immigrants in the United States. Register now at: http://ecdcus.org/Registration-1.asp or get information at: http://ecdcus.org/ Conference-home13.html.

28th-30th BET Experience at LA LIVE This 3-day entertainment festival is being held in conjunction with the 2013 BET Awards broadcast. Get your tickets at: www.axs.com/betexperiencevip.

July…

6th-10th 42nd Annual Conference of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund Register to attend the Chicagobased conference at: www.rainbowpush.org.

September…

24th

27th-28th

Cameroon Land of Promise Day Full day of information and cultural activities includes the Culture and Diversity Film Festival on Cameroon Africa Day in Johannesburg, South Africa. www.facebook.com/ events/413466908746861/#!/pages/Cameroon-Land-Of-PromiseProject/368012999922572

West Coast Expo The 2nd West Coast Expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The expo features include a Job Fair, Junior Business Camp, Fashion Show, and six pavilions business, technology, green living, automotive, home improvement, and health and beauty. Get detailed information on exhibiting, sponsor-

June…

ship and registration at: www.westcoastexpo.biz.

October…

24th-26th National Black Book Festival The 6th annual National Black Book Festival (NBBF) is sponsored by Cushcity.com, the world’s largest African-American retailer online.

It will be held at Fallbrook Church, 12512 Walters Rd., in Northwest Houston, Tx. The festival attracts a wide array of authors, publishers, book clubs, libraries and individual readers from the Southwest U.S. and nationwide. Get detailed information on exhibiting, sponsorship and registration at: www.nationalblackbookfestival.com. 

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 Rock Me Africa //rockmeafrica.com

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 Ventures www.ventures-africa.com

U.S. Government Commerce Department www.doc.gov International Trade Administration http://trade.gov

Organizations The African Union www.au.int/en Black Business Association www.bbala.org CauseCast www.causecast.com www.causecastfornonprofits.com Continental African Chamber of Commerce

Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov Small Business Administration www.sba.gov State Department www.dos.gov White House www.whitehouse.gov

116  May 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

U.S. Sm

Reach Thousands of the Nation’s Most Influential African Americans

all Bus

in

ess Adm 2007 A inistra tion WARD W “Journ alist of INNER! the Yea r”

YOUR LINK TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE The Black Business Association, SBA 2007 Journalist of the Year, is pleased to invite you to be an integral part of our publication. Black Business News - Your Link to African American Business Enterprise throughout the nation. The Black Business News is the ofÀcial voice through which public and private entities advertise contract opportunities available to black business enterprise. Gain access to a highly afÁuent target market via outreach and advertising opportunities.

• Outreach to Black Businesses • Advertorial/Feature Story Advertising • Profiles and Business Listings • Classified Ads and Bid Opportunities

Black Business News

Our readers are BBA members, Black business owners, corporate buyers, prime contractors, community organizations and elected ofÀcials, who all turn to the Black Business News for business development news and information to take their business and project efforts to the next level of proÀtability and success!

No

In Th vember 2008 is Iss ue…

5 Co ver S tory: we g Wher o e do Barack from h er Obam USA. a, 44th e?

Preside 6 Bla nt of the ck Bu sines Profi s Succ le Dicker ess 9 Fo son Employee reclo sure Benefits $8.68 R 31 Sm Billion Settleme elief nt. all Adm Business inistr Online Train ation ing for

Don’t be left out. Advertise in this door-opening publication.

Exporte

rs

Reserve Your Ad Space Today! Call (323) 291-9334 Deadline: Every third Friday of the Month!

50% Discount for Regular Financial BBA Members Advertising Opportunities Full Page Color w/Feature Story Full Page Color Half Page Color w/Feature Story Half Page Color Quarter Page Color Eighth Page Color Business Card Ad/Listing

1x $2,500 $2,000 $1,250 $1,000 $ 500 $ 350 $ 125

3x $2,250 $1,800 $1,200 $ 875 $ 450 $ 300 $ 100

Website Advertising Opportunity Webpage, Link & Marketing Message

1x $ 125

3x 6x 12x $ 100 $ 80 $ 60

E-Blast Advertising Opportunity Issue Dedicated Marketing Message

1x $2,200

Custom Reprint Issue a specific article

1x $500

RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

6x

12x

$1,600 $1,150 $ 825 $ 400 $ 250 $ 80

$1,400 $1,100 $ 775 $ 350 $ 200 $ 60

Presid

The H o ent-E norable B ar lect o f the U ack H. O bama, nited States of Am er

ica

Ad Type Measurements Full Page 10.25”x12.75” Half Page 10.25”x 6.75” Half Page 5.00”x12.75” Quarter Page 5.00”x 6.75” Eighth Page 5.00”x 3.00”

For more information contact: Earl “Skip” Cooper, II at 323-291-9334 E-mail: mail@bbala.org