Small Business Spotlights -Black Entrepreneurs Video

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Small Business Spotlights -Black Entrepreneurs

Small Business Spotlights-Black Entrepreneurs Danita Blackwood: American history is filled with inspirational black entrepreneurs. Some are prominent like George Washington Carver, a former slave who impacted the national economy, people, science and business. Millions of other black entrepreneurs persevere against the odds to build successful businesses but got little notice for their achievements outside of their communities, a battle some believe is still being fought. Troy Jones: There have been tons and tons where black has always coming to me and saying to me, “Troy, you know I can’t find the image of let’s say an Afro-American male. Danita Blackwood: Troy Jones and his wife wants a one-stop shop for minority stock images has become the largest stock and assignment photo agency in the U.S. specializing in multicultural imagery. The agency not only visually chronicles black achievement but other minority groups. The Ethno brand had expanded to include a comprehensive music production house, stock music and jingle writing service. Troy Jones: When we started the Ethno we were thinking of a bigger entity. Ethno is going to serve as an umbrella for a whole bunch of different divisions. T. Lynn Jones: We have to continue to make sure that we’re identifying new opportunities and new ways to constantly increase sales in our industry. Danita Blackwood: Entrepreneurial excellence help David Stewart a business on a shoe string in 1990 and guide it to where to become where the nation’s largest African-American owned companies. Stewart Technology Company began with only a handful of employees and has grown to over $2 million in annual revenue and more than a thousand employees. Stewart survived some tough times to build a competitive and growing company where change is embraced. David Stewart: Seeing this company go from stage to stage and seeing people and people have to change. We are a company that encouraged to change within the organization but we have changed also. It’s difficult for a lot of people to do that and so there is some preparation on their part and then once they get there and they are part of that change and part of that process I think that you see some bit reward associated with it but getting through that is sometimes very difficult. Danita Blackwood: Wally Amos in his trademark are associated with the gourmet food industry, quality cookies, muffins and sweet treats but Amos is more than a baker. He’s an entertainer, communicator, educator, and philanthropist using his success to help others. Wally Amos: The one thing that has helped me so much during the downtime, during the times when I was going to some mud splash. People really came to my rescue. People really supported me because I supported so many other people. For 21 years I have been national spokesperson for literacy volunteers in America. For 15 years, I’ve been one of the Board of Directors for communities and schools or organizations that help kids stay in school. For 11 years, I’ve been on the board of the National Center for Family Literacy and I'm proud of that. I'm really proud of taking that cookie company and using for more than a commercial venture. I'm using it as a vehicle to serve others. Danita Blackwood: Amos, the inventor of famous Amos cookies is not only numerous business awards including the President’s Award for entrepreneurial excellence. He is also a business author and literacy activists. Amos is one of millions of African-American entrepreneurs creating new chapters in black history and working to make sure others can find their recipe for success. I'm Danita Blackwood reporting for sbtv.com where small is our only business.

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Small Business Spotlights-Black Entrepreneurs

Danita Blackwood: American history is filled with inspirational black entrepreneurs. Some are prominent like George Washington Carver, a former slave who impacted the national economy, people, science and business. Millions of other black entrepreneurs persevere against the odds to build successful businesses but got little notice for their achievements outside of their communities, a battle some believe is still being fought.

Troy Jones: There have been tons and tons where black has always coming to me and saying to me, “Troy, you know I can’t find the image of let’s say an Afro-American male.

Danita Blackwood: Troy Jones and his wife wants a one-stop shop for minority stock images has become the largest stock and assignment photo agency in the U.S. specializing in multicultural imagery. The agency not only visually chronicles black achievement but other minority groups. The Ethno brand had expanded to include a comprehensive music production house, stock music and jingle writing service.

Troy Jones: When we started the Ethno we were thinking of a bigger entity. Ethno is going to serve as an umbrella for a whole bunch of different divisions.

T. Lynn Jones: We have to continue to make sure that we’re identifying new opportunities and new ways to constantly increase sales in our industry.

Danita Blackwood: Entrepreneurial excellence help David Stewart a business on a shoe string in 1990 and guide it to where to become where the nation’s largest African-American owned companies. Stewart Technology Company began with only a handful of employees and has grown to over $2 million in annual revenue and more than a thousand employees. Stewart survived some tough times to build a competitive and growing company where change is embraced.

David Stewart: Seeing this company go from stage to stage and seeing people and people have to change. We are a company that encouraged to change within the organization but we have changed also. It’s difficult for a lot of people to do that and so there is some preparation on their part and then once they get there and they are part of that change and part of that process I think that you see some bit reward associated with it but getting through that is sometimes very difficult.

Danita Blackwood: Wally Amos in his trademark are associated with the gourmet food industry, quality cookies, muffins and sweet treats but Amos is more than a baker. He’s an entertainer, communicator, educator, and philanthropist using his success to help others.

Wally Amos: The one thing that has helped me so much during the downtime, during the times when I was going to some mud splash. People really came to my rescue. People really supported me because I supported so many other people. For 21 years I have been national spokesperson for literacy volunteers in America.

For 15 years, I’ve been one of the Board of Directors for communities and schools or organizations that help kids stay in school. For 11 years, I’ve been on the board of the National Center for Family Literacy and I'm proud of that. I'm really proud of taking that cookie company and using for more than a commercial venture. I'm using it as a vehicle to serve others.

Danita Blackwood: Amos, the inventor of famous Amos cookies is not only numerous business awards including the President’s Award for entrepreneurial excellence. He is also a business author and literacy activists. Amos is one of millions of African-American entrepreneurs creating new chapters in black history and working to make sure others can find their recipe for success. I'm Danita Blackwood reporting for sbtv.com where small is our only business.

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