|
Agency Head,
Makeda Smith,
Enjoys over a Decade of
Business Success & Survival
It was
1988 when Gwendolyn "Makeda" Smith resigned her
position as Associate Director of West Coast Publicity at
Hervey & Company, a public relations firm headed by industry
veteran, Ramon Hervey. With no savings or financial backing,
it was a single press release that launched her firm, Jazzmyne
Public Relations, named for her oldest daughter.
As
the president and sole owner of Jazzmyne Public Relations,
Makeda's personalized approach to the vast and hectic world
of entertainment public relations has proven not only successful
but also solid. A home-based operation, Jazzmyne has consistently
boasted a client base that competes with the majors. Specializing
in publicity, media management and management consulting,
Smith has been instrumental in launching, establishing and
maintaining several highly visible publicity campaigns over
the years.
"The
fact that I'm a single mother of two, African American, and
a woman, has always served to make me work even harder. One,
because I believe all these factors offer me a springboard
of strength and empowerment, and two, because I believe in
dispelling people's stereotypes and exceeding their expectations,"
offers the Chicago native.
Armed
with a Master's degree in Communication's Management from
the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science
in Public Relations from Boston University, Smith admits that
the life of an entrepreneur has been an uphill battle. "Like
Whoopi Goldberg and Roseanne, I also was once a welfare mom.
Unyielding faith and perseverance have gotten me through the
roughest of times," reveals Smith.
From
gangsta' rappers to celebrities to special events, Jazzmyne
has publicized a wide range of projects and personalities.
Clients include the Tonight Show's bandleader, Kevin Eubanks;
comedian, A.J. Jamal; child actor Michael Pagan from "How
Stella Got Her Groove Back" and comedian J. Anthony Brown,
co-host of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show
just to name a few.
"I'm
told that most small businesses don't make it past five years.
I'm blessed to still be here and going strong!" asserts
Makeda.
|
