Outstanding Leaders Under 40 Jay Dukes ’10

Jay Dukes, class of 2010, is a comedic host and entrepreneur from Spartanburg, S.C. He began working in the entertainment industry as a highly requested master of ceremonies for hundreds of major collegiate events. Dukes has opened for the Legendary Patti Labelle and co-hosted Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated's 81st Grand Conclave step show with Rickey Smiley.

Dukes created Jay Dukes' "Training Day," Claflin's annual "Let's Talk" Panel for the freshman class featuring notable alumni and a comedy show later that night. He is the founder and CEO of Aux Cord Wars, LLC., one of the premiere companies for college engagement and activations for black and brown students nationwide. ACW executes 35-40 activations a semester and a minimum of 70 annually.

Dukes is a loving husband to his beautiful wife and Beyond The Stage Productions business partner, LaRhonda Dukes. Trained in Improv and stand-up, with a gift of being naturally entertaining, Dukes is ready to take his talents to the big screen. He appears in the movie Couples' Night and has several other projects underway.

Outstanding Leaders Under 40

Makeda Shanee Escayg

Makeda Escayg is a media professional residing in Florida. With nearly twenty years of experience, she has been employed at two Public Broadcast Station (PBS) affiliates, an ABC affiliate, and ESPN. She also served in academia as an Adjunct Instructor at two Florida universities.

Escayg, is a graduate of Regent University (M.A., Communication, 2010) and Summa Cum Laude graduate of Claflin University (B.A., Mass Communication, 2007). Makeda was an Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College student and joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Mu Chapter.

Currently, at the Home Shopping Network (a subsidiary of Qurate Retail Group), she is the manager of sales strategy. Escayg, is also co-lead membership officer for Black Employees Leading in Inclusion, Education, Vision and Engagement, a DE&I Team Member Resource Group at the company.

Escayg, has been employed and held various positions at HSN for 10 years.

As a Beauty Category (TV) Producer, she was responsible for brand strategy for many beauty brands at HSN. In 2017 she received the HSN Vision Award for leadership and in 2016, Escayg became the first Black woman television production supervisor in HSN’s history of more than 40 years.