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Apollo vs. Dionysus: A Philosophy to Increase College Success by 85% In the 3700 institutions of higher learning in America, no more than 50% of students who start school leave with a degree. The figure is smaller for minorities. In this Freshman Orientation Seminar of six hours (two days of three hours per day), Professor Henry Parker and Marilyn Crist show participants how to increase their chance of graduating by 85%. The content of their presentation is based on a program they created and directed at the University of Tennessee which resulted in an 85% retention rate for all participants, irrespective of race, gender, or academic standing when they entered college. Ms. Crist also discusses a program she created which resulted in a success rate of 77% for probation students, the highest risk group of all. This seminar is a must for schools who know the value of retaining the freshmen they recruit. Topics included in the seminar are sexual relations, time management, reading comprehension, critical thinking, etc
Kirstie Alley Kirstie Alley's career has encompassed success in top-grossing films and highly acclaimed television, garnering multiple awards. Most recently, she made her return to network television by producing and starring in the hit show, "Veronica's Closet." In the show's first season, Kirstie won a People's Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series as well as nominations for the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Emmy Awards. Kirstie first gained notoriety for her portrayal of bar-owner Rebecca Howe on the long-running television comedy, "Cheers." During her six years on the show, she won the Emmy, Golden Globe and People's Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. She has an overall deal with Warner Bros. that encompasses features and television series. Her screen career includes recent performances in Woody Allen's acclaimed "Deconstructing Harry" and with Tim Allen in the romantic comedy, "For Richer or Poorer." She also stars in "The Mao Game," based on the New York Times bestseller, and reteamed with John Travolta with whom she starred in the "Look Who's Talking" series in the drama, "Common Ground."
Larry Dierker Former manager of the Houston Astros baseball club.
George Fraser George Fraser is the author of two books, including the critically acclaimed bestseller, Success Runs In Our Race;The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community. He is also the creator and publisher of the award winning SuccessGuide Worldwide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources. A 13 th edition (250,000 copies) will be published next year. Many have called George a new voice for African Americans. He is considered by many to be one of the foremost authorities on networking and building effective relationships. George Fraser is a frequent contributor to scholarly journals on a wide range of topics to include networking, business ethics, valuing diversity and economic development. He was recently featured in the New York Timesbestseller; Masters of Networking along with Colin Powell. His 2nd book Race For Success; The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks In America was published by the William Morrow Company, and selected as one of the ten best business books of the year by the Booklist. Mr. Fraser is leading a national initiative to build an African American Business Hall of Fame and Museum and a university-based Center for the Advancement of African American Entrepreneurship. Currently 14 renowned leaders sit on the Board of Directors. Four thousand people recently attended its first annual Induction Ceremony/Dinner held in June 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio. Robert Johnson of BET, Oprah Winfrey, Cathy Hughes of Radio One, Clarence Smith and Edward Lewis of Essence Magazine and Berry Gordy of Motown were inducted into the Business Hall of Fame in a nationally televised (The Word Network) program and ceremony. Mr. Fraser is the founder and executive producer of an annual PowerNetworking Conference, one of Black America’s largest gathering (17,000) of professionals, business owners and community leaders. The Conference features numerous workshops on networking and relationship skills building, top motivational speakers and a Business Opportunity Exposition. It is extensively covered by the national media to include; C-Span, The WordNetwork, New York Times, Ebony, Jet, and Black Enterprise Magazine. Mr. Fraser has served on numerous boards and has received many awards and citations for his community service, including the United Negro College Fund National Volunteer of the Year Award. Allstate Insurance recently presented to him on national TV its Architects of the Village Award. He had been appointed to state and city commissions by both the Governor and the Mayor of his home state and city of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Fraser spent 17 years in management with Procter & Gamble, United Way and Ford Motor Company Today as a popular speaker and author, Mr. Fraser has appeared on more than 250 television and radio talk shows. His views are solicited by media as diverse as CNN and the Wall Street Journal. Last year he gave of 120 speeches to audiences averaging 500 people each. His inspiring talks on success principles, effective networking, wealth creation, business ethics and valuing diversity are as popular among corporate professionals as they are among college students. His words and ideas have been taped and televised. Over the last decade the prestigious publication Vital Speeches of the Day has selected five of Mr. Fraser’s speeches to be reprinted and distributed worldwide, a first for any professional speaker in America. UPSCALE magazine name him one of the top 50 power brokers in Black America. Black Enterprise Magazine called him Black America’s #1 networker and featured him on its cover. Personal growth “guru” Stephen Covey called Mr. Fraser a “masterful teacher”. TV host and journalist, Tony Brown called him a “visionary with the rare combination of leadership and management skills.” Mr. Fraser attended New York University and received his executive training at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
Christopher Gardner Christopher Gardner is president and CEO of the Chicago-based brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co., which he founded in 1987. Prior to launching his own firm, Mr. Gardner worked for several prestigious Wall Street firms. He landed his first job in the securities industry in 1981 with Dean Witter Reynolds, coming out of their training program. Later, he spent four years with Bear Stearns & Co., where he became a top earner. A self-made multi-millionaire, Gardner is intent on giving back to the communities where he conducts business because he has never forgotten his humble beginnings or the odds he has surmounted. Christopher Gardner's accomplishments are extraordinary on their own merit, but are all the more astonishing because of the unimaginable obstacles he encountered on the road to success. Always hard working and tenacious, a series of circumstances in the early 1980's left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dream of financial independence, Gardner started at the very bottom of the financial industry ladder and pulled his way up, often spending his nights in a church shelter or a bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland. The amazing story of Gardner's life will be soon be published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, by Amistad/Harper Collins on May 23, 2006, and will also be the subject of a movie with the same title starring Will Smith as Gardner to be released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gardner never knew his father. He lived with his mother, Bettye Jean Gardner, and her family and, when necessary, in foster homes. Despite a life of hardship and emotional scarring, he always had supreme love and admiration for his mother, who was a trained schoolteacher. His mother taught him some of the greatest lessons of his life, which he follows to this day. When Gardner told her he wanted to be the great jazz trumpeter Miles Davis she said, "Son, there's only one Miles Davis and he got that job. So you have to do something else." He understood from that day forward that his job was to be Chris Gardner - whatever that entailed. Bettye Jean also taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could attain whatever goals he set for himself by saying, "If you want to, one day you could make a million dollars." Gardner believed this to be fact, and it allowed him to persevere through the years when and his son were struggling for survival and a better life. Straight out of high school, Gardner enlisted in the Navy, just like his uncles, his role models, had done previously. After the military, Gardner went to San Francisco and took a job as a medical supply salesman. Then he reached a turning point in his life. In a parking lot, he met a man driving a red Ferrari. "He was looking for a parking space. I said, 'You can have mine, but I gotta ask you two questions.' The two questions were: What do you do? And how do you do that? Turns out this guy was a stockbroker and he was making $80,000 a month." That pivotal encounter gave Gardner a clear career goal, but he still needed a way into the world of high finance. Without experience, connections, a degree, or pedigree, Gardner began knocking on doors, applying for training programs at brokerages, even though it meant he would have to live on next to nothing while he learned. When he was finally accepted into a program, he left his job in medical sales. But his plans collapsed when the man who offered him the training slot was fired, and Gardner had no job to go back to. Things got worse. He was put in jail for $1,200 in parking violations that he couldn't pay. Chris Jr.'s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, "I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children, my children were gonna know who their father was." With a network of offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, GRC has grown by focusing on its commitment to provide quality service and excellent trade executions for clients. The firm executes trades for some of the nations largest institutions, public pension plans and unions. Under Mr. Gardner's directions, GRC has adopted a "give back to the community" program. The Company donates 10% or more of the company's earnings toward school and educational projects in the communities it serves. Chris Gardner's remarkable story of struggle, faith, entrepreneurialism, and fatherly devotion has catapulted him beyond the notoriety he has found on Wall Street. He has been featured on CBS' "Evening News with Dan Rather" and ABC's "20/20," as well as being the subject of profiles in many newspapers and national magazines.
Luther Gatling Financial expert and founder and President of Budget & Credit Counseling Services, Inc. Buccs, which was the first credit counseling organization in the country to not only deal with the broad spectrum of consumer debt but also to serve as a kind of laboratory for bank products and their effect on community needs.
Scott Herman Scott Herman was born on October 8th, 1984 and now lives in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Scott Herman was the handsome body builder in pursuit of a modeling career on. Scott sent an audition tape due to the constant requests of a female client he was training as opposed to attending a Real World casting call in person. He grew up splitting time in both Lawrence Massachusetts and Salem New Hampsphire just across the northern border of Massachusetts. Scott started working at the Golds Gym in Methuen Massachusetts at the age of 14. He won the Mens Health Iron Abs contest in 2007 and was the pullout posted 3 times in 2008. Scott graduated from Merrimack College in North Andover Massachusetts with a BA in Business. He also has both a real estate and financial advising license along with his DJ company Galaxy DJs. Scott aspires to be the face of Calvin Klein and the lead role of Captain America in his upcoming movie. College Lecture Topics Fitness, Dedication, Entrepreneurialism, Goal Setting and Accomplishing, Alcohol Awareness, Drug Awareness: Steroids
Willie Jolley Willie Jolley is Americas Premier Celebrity Speaker Singer Author Inspiring Millions with Music & Motivation! He is an award winning speaker, a world-class singer, and a best selling author and media personality all in one person! He specializes in Accelerating Success and Growing Businesses by Growing People, Performance and Profits. Willie Jolley was recently inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame, a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. He joined luminaries like Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar, Harvey McKay and Les Brown. And in 1999, Willie Jolley was named One of the Outstanding Five Speakers in the World by Toastmasters International. Less than 50 speakers worldwide have been bestowed that honor! Former winners include Christopher Reeve, Margaret Thatcher and Colin Powell! In 2003, the McDonalds Corporation named him A Black History Maker of Today! Willie Jolley is a Five Time Washington Area Music Association (WAMMIE) Award Winning singer for Best Jazz Singer and Best Entertainer. His new Jolley music is now the number one downloaded Motivational Music on the Apple I- Tunes site! Willie Jolley is the author of two international best selling books, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life! and A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback. His books have been translated into eight languages. As a co-author of Go M.A.D. (Go Make A Difference), a best selling book for youth - teaching life skills and encouraging academic excellence - his message is spreading around the world! And Chicken Soup For The Christian Soul - II features Willie Jolley along with Joyce Meyers, Tony Campolo and Naomi Rhode! As host of the syndicated radio show The Willie Jolley Motivational Minute, Willie Jolley is heard daily in over 50 markets, on the ABC Rejoice Radio Network, The Radio One Praise Network; and on WHUR-FM in Washington, DC. Plus, he writes a column that is syndicated by the National News Press Association and read by over 6 million readers via the internet with the Electronic Urban Report. Hes seen on television with his PBS ground breaking special for teens Dare 2 Dream, Dare 2 Win and as a spokesperson for Mercedes Benz and the District of Columbia Government Community Outreach Programs. Willie Jolley is a graduate of The American University and Wesley Theological Seminary. His mission in life is to help people maximize their God given talents and abilities so they can Do More, Be More and Achieve More!
Roger Leslie Roger Leslie is of White Mountain Apache, Hopi and Tewa decent. He is the General Manager for the Hon-Dah Resort, Casino and Conference Center which is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe. With a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Business Marketing, he returned to the White Mountain Apache Tribe and began his career in Indian Gaming. Determined and goal oriented, Roger became one of the youngest General Managers to run a multimillion-dollar casino operation at the age of 27. With energy and enthusiasm, Roger gives speeches thoroughout the Southwest on Motivation, Leadership, Tourism Development, and Economic Development strategies. Presentations include Business Conferences, Colleges, Universities, Educational Institutes, Youth groups and programs. Roger has been quoted in various newspapers and publications, assisted Graduate students from prestigious Universities and has been asked to submit a chapter on Successful Customer Service in a Native Work Environment for a book being written on Customer Service. Roger's successful business career does not interfere with his number one priority. "When all else fails-family will be by your side-therefore, Family should be first priority." Married fifteen years to Alivia Leslie, having four children and being involved in community activities, Roger has shown that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve success.
Chris Lowney Chris Lowney, formerly a Jesuit, was named a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan & Co. while still in his thirties and held senior positions in New York, Tokyo, Singapore and London. He served on Morgan's Asia-Pacific, European and Investment Banking Management Committees, accumulating a wealth of multinational experience at a company regularly ranked one of "America's Most Admired Companies" by Fortune magazine. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Lowney was a Jesuit seminarian for seven years. During that time, he taught and studied at Jesuit institutions in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University, where he also received his M.A. and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is holder of honorary Doctoral degrees from Marymount Manhattan University and from the University of Great Falls. Lowney serves on the Board of Directors of Nativity Middle School and on the Board of Regents of St. Peter's College. He lives in New York, where he serves part-time as Special Assistant to the President of the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), the leading U.S.-based Catholic charity providing health care programs and services to people in need around the world. He has travelled to Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and India to help launch CMMB's major initiatives targeted at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. At least twenty percent of Lowney's royalties from the U.S. editions of his works are donated to charities providing education and health care to impoverished children in the developing world. Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World was the #1 ranked bestseller of the CBPA and was named a finalist for a 2003 Book of the Year Award from ForeWord magazine. Now available in paperback after four hardcover printings, it has already been translated into more than a half-dozen foreign languages. A Vanished World, recently published by Free Press/Simon & Schuster, has been awarded a starred review by Publishers Weekly. Mr. Lowney is a popular speaker on topics as varied as leadership, business ethics, and inter-religious dialogue, with engagements in some two-dozen U.S. cities and in non-U.S. locations as diverse as the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, Colombia, and Spain.
Ralph Nader Ralph Nader is an attorney and political activist. Issues he has promoted include consumer rights, feminism, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government. Nader has also been a strong critic of American foreign policy in recent decades, which he views as corporatist, imperialist, and contrary to fundamental values of democracy and human rights. His activism has played a large part in the creation of many governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as the EPA, OSHA, Public Citizen, PIRGs and many more. Nader has run for President of the United States three times (1996, 2000, 2004). In 1996 and 2000 he was the nominee of the Green Party; Winona LaDuke was his vice-presidential running mate. In 2004 he ran as an independent with Green activist Peter Miguel Camejo as his vice-presidential nominee.
Bill Nye Bill Nye, scientist, engineer, comedian, author and inventor, is a man with a mission: to help foster a scientifically literate society, to help people everywhere understand and appreciate the science that makes our world work. Making science entertaining and accessible is something Bill has been doing most of his life. "My family is funny," he says, "I mean funny in the sense that we make people laugh, not just funny looking." Bill discovered that he had a talent for tutoring in high school, and while growing up in Washington, DC. He spent afternoons and summers demystifying math for his fellow students. When he wasn't hitting the books, Bill was hitting the road on his bicycle. He spent hours taking it apart to "see how it worked." Bill's fascination with how things work led him to Cornell University and a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he headed for Seattle and work as an engineer at Boeing. "There's a hydraulic resonance suppressor tube on the 747 horizontal stabilizer drive system that I like to think of as my tube," he says. "I've always loved airplanes and flight. The space program was very important to me as a kid. I have a photo from the Apollo 11 mission with the caption, 'Aldrin's visor reflects Armstrong...' Oh yeah, and they're on the Moon!" exclaims Bill. It was in Seattle that Bill began to combine his love of science with his flair for comedy, when he won the Steve Martin look-alike contest and developed dual careers as an engineer by day and a stand-up comic by night. Eventually, he quit his day engineering day job and made the transition to a mid-morning-to-late-at-night job as a comedy writer and performer on Seattle's home-grown ensemble comedy show "Almost Live." This is where "Bill Nye the Science Guy®" was born. The show appeared before Saturday Night Live and later on Comedy Central, originating at KING-TV, Seattle's NBC affiliate. With fellow KING-TV alumni Jim McKenna and Erren Gottlieb, Bill made a number of award winning shows, including the show he became so well known for, "Bill Nye the Science Guy." The Science Guy show ran on weekends at first and then later on PBS five nights a week and in syndication on weekends. In some markets, you could see the Science Guy seven days a week. While working on the Science Guy show, Bill won seven national Emmy Awards for writing, performing, and producing. The show won 28 Emmys in five years. In between creating the shows, he wrote four kids' books about science. His fifth book, "Bill Nye's Great Big Book of Tiny Germs" was published in spring 2005. Bill Nye is the host of two current television series. "The 100 Greatest Discoveries" airs on the Science Channel. "The Eyes of Nye" is shown on PBS stations across the country. Bill was asked to speak at his former professor Carl Sagan's memorial service and has since moved from being a regular member of the Planetary Society to becoming a member of the Board of Directors.
Suze Orman Suze Orman a financial advisor, writer, and television personality. Orman launched a segment on The Suze Orman Show called "Can I Afford It?" During the segment viewers call in to the show and tell Orman what they want to buy Other publications: Orman also has a Q&A advice section in Oprah Winfrey's popular monthly magazine O, alongside Dr. Phil's advice section. She also writes a biweekly column (as of Jan 2007) on Yahoo!'s Finance page. Telecasts: She also hosts a weekend financial planning show for the CNBC cable television network called The Suze Orman Show.[6] Orman hosts another TV program on QVC called Suze Orman's Financial Freedom. Orman had recently celebrated her fifth year on The Suze Orman Show on CNBC. And also celebrated her tenth anniversary on QVC with Suze Orman's Financial Freedom.
Dr. Jo Ann Pina Inspiring Leadership and Personal Success Dr. Jo Ann Pina is a Professional keynote speaker who has inspired thousands of people to take charge of their lives, realize their dreams and live up to their full potential though leadership development programs and motivational speaking engagements. Participants who have attended Dr. Pinas seminars and presentations rave about the wealth of knowledge and inspiration as well as the authentic way she connects with her audience Motivational speaker: No one exemplifies the idea of success over adversity better than Dr. Jo. She is a success specialist and shows you how you can achieve it! One of the few women of Hispanic heritage with advanced degrees in psychology and counseling, Dr. Jo also excels in cross-cultural communication, gender communication, and cultural diversity training --to enhance understanding between cultures and the sexes.
Rachael Ray Rachael Ray is an Emmy-winning television personality and author who currently hosts the syndicated series Rachael Ray. In addition, she currently hosts (either in first-run or reruns) at least four different programs on cable television's Food Network (30 Minute Meals, $40 a Day, Inside Dish, and Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels), and has authored a series of cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept.
Tony Robbins For more than a quarter of a century, Anthony Robbins has served as an advisor to leaders around the world. A recognized authority on the psychology of leadership, negotiations, organizational turnaround, and peak performance, Tony Robbins has been honored for his strategic intellect and humanitarian endeavors. His non-profit Anthony Robbins Foundation' provides assistance to the homeless, elderly and inner-city youth, and feeds more than one million people in nine countries every year through its international holiday Basket Brigade. Robbins has directly impacted the lives of nearly 50 million people from 80 countries with his best-selling books and audiotape products, public speaking engagements, and live appearances. World Peace Negotiator & Humanitarian Anthony Robbins currently serves as Vice Chairman of Health, Education, and Science for the United Nations/Research Center for the International Council for Caring Communities ICCC) NGO. Anthony Robbins has worked with political and business leaders in diverse world communities such as South Africa, England, Indonesia, Cuba, Venezuela, and the United States of America. Through his strategies for Leadership in Times of Crisis and his systems for Indirect Negotiations, Anthony Robbins has participated in negotiations that have broken the patterns of violence and de-escalated the rhetoric that invites it. Anthony Robbins has worked on teams that not only help mitigate further devastation and facilitate peaceful decision-making among conflicting parties, but even inspire conflicting parties to create a mutually beneficial and compelling vision that is aligned with their respective values and raises the standards by which they live.
B. Smith TV personality, restauranteur and author, B. Smith is the host of "B. Smith With Style", a half-hour nationally syndicated television series that is now in its fourth season and currently airs in 207 markets nationwide and 22 countries. In addition to hosting her own show, Barbara has created a new lifestyle magazine entitled B. Smith Style. Smith also the owner of three successful B. Smith Restaurants in New York and Washington D.C. She is the author of B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends and B. Smith: Rituals and Celebrations. She was the first African-American woman to grace the cover of Mademoiselle and has appeared on five Essence and Ebony covers.
Dave Toma David Toma is a legend in his own time. For the last forty years he has been America's leading antidrug and antialcohol crusader, speaking to thousands of teenagers, parents, teachers, and school administrators each week. The inspiration for two television series -- "Baretta" and "Toma" -- he was a policeman for twenty-one years and is also a former Marine drill instructor. For sixteen of his years on the force he was a detective in the vice, gambling, and narcotics squad of one of North America's most troubled cities, Newark, New Jersey. His arrest record was unmatched--numbering in the thousands with an unheard-of 98 percent conviction record--all without ever firing his gun. He has lectured throughout the world, is the author of four books including Toma Tells It Straight--With Love, and Turning Your Life Around, and has hosted his own weekly discussion program on New York's WOR-TV and an excellent motivational speaker.
Donald Trump Chairman of The Trump Organization and star of The Apprentice As Chairman of The Trump Organization, Donald Trump sets the highest standards of excellence in real estate, gaming, and entertainment. He was named the "Visionary of the Century" by the UJA Federation and is the author of several best-selling books, including The Art of the Deal and How to get Rich. Trump stars in the very successful reality TV program, The Apprentice, earning rave reviews making history in its ratings. Trump is most famous for several large skyscrapers he developed in Manhattan and named after himself. Starting with Trump Tower, he developed Trump World Tower along the East River and then began construction of the Trump Place Apartment complex along the Hudson River that same year. His nickname of "The Donald" was given to him by ex-wife Ivana Trump. He is often known as "A Schoolboy's Dream" and "A Competitor's Challenge," as he is rarely afraid of defining the ways of a prolific American business executive, and thus became an example of one.
Ted Turner Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American media mogul and philanthropist. He is perhaps best known for founding CNN and Turner Classic Movies and his $1 billion pledge to the United Nations. Turner served as vice chairman of Time Warner Inc., a position he assumed in October 1996, following the merger of Time Warner Inc. and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. As vice chairman, Turner oversaw the Time Warner cable networks division, which consists of the assets of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., including the domestic and international arms of Cable News Network (CNN), Cartoon Network, Headline News, TBS Superstation, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Turner Network Television (TNT), as well as Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO), Cinemax, Warner Bros. International Networks, and Time Warner's interest in Comedy Central and Court TV. He also oversaw New Line Cinema and the company's professional sports teams-Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves, National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks and the Thrashers, Atlanta's National Hockey League expansion team. In January 2001, he became vice chairman of AOL Time Warner subsequent to the merger between Time Warner and AOL in 2000 - a position he retained until he resigned in May 2003. Turner's media empire began with his father's billboard business which he took over at the age of 24 after his father's death. Purchase of an Atlanta UHF station in 1970 began the assemblage of the Turner Broadcasting System. His Cable News Network (CNN) revolutionized news media, coming to the forefront covering the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Years later he originated the "superstation" concept, transmitting the station's signal to cable systems nationwide via satellite. Turner has made his mark as one of the most influential philanthropists in the US. Originator of the Goodwill Games in 1985, he is also president of the Turner Foundation, the Turner family's private grant-making organization, which focuses on population and the environment. Turner is also chairman of the United Nations Foundation, a charitable organization he founded to support UN causes, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Turner, the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, is an active environmentalist and has received numerous civic and industry awards and honors, including being named Time magazine's 1991 Man of the Year and Broadcasting's Man of the Century in 1999, he was also inducted into the Cable TV Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1995, Turner accepted, on behalf of the team, the Atlanta Braves' first World Championship trophy, and in August 2000, he was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. In January 2002, Turner opened the first Ted's Montana Grill, which specializes in bison burgers, in Columbus, Ohio with his partner, George W. McKerrow Jr., founder of the Longhorn Steakhouse chain and several other successful restaurants. Ted's Montana Grill expects to open up to forty more restaurants in the next few years.
J.C. Watts Former Congressman J.C. Watts serves as a political contributor and Republican strategist on CNN's The Situation Room. In addition to serving as a CNN contributor, Watts is the chairman of the J.C. Watts Companies, implementing business development and public affairs strategies for many leading corporations. Watts was elected to the U.S. Congress from Oklahoma's fourth district in 1994. In 1998, he was elected chairman of the Republican Conference, the fourth-ranking leadership position in the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this capacity, he provided daily counsel to the speaker of the House and participated in bi-weekly meetings with the U.S. president. Since leaving Congress, Watts has continued his civic involvement by leading a U.S. delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Conference on Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia at the request of President George W. Bush and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. He also joined Bush on his historic trip to Africa. Watts co-founded and co-chairs the Coalition for AIDS Relief in Africa and serves on the board of the Corporate Council on Africa. He also serves on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is also the chairman of GOPAC and created the J.C. and Frankie Watts Foundation to focus on urban renewal and other charitable initiatives. Watts graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. While at the University of Oklahoma, Watts was quarterback for the Sooners, leading them to two consecutive Big Eight Championships and Orange Bowl victories. He was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1980 and 1981 Orange Bowls. From 1981 to 1986, he started for Ottawa and Toronto in the Canadian Football League and was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Grey Cup, the CFL's Super Bowl, his rookie season. In addition to careers in politics, athletics and business, Watts has served as youth minister and associate pastor at Sunnylane Baptist Church in his home state of Oklahoma.
Armstrong Williams A rising star as one of America's most provocative and intelligent pundits, Armstrong Williams is a powerful voice for moral values in America's public debate. He defends his views on what's right for America on radio, television and in print. He is the host of The Right Side With Armstrong Williams, a nationally-syndicated talk radio program covering subjects of national and local importance and featuring prominent guest experts on today's hottest, most topical issues. He is the author of Beyond Blame: How We Can Succeed by Breaking the Dependency Barrier. A rising star as one of America's most provocative and intelligent pundits, Armstrong Williams is a powerful voice for moral values in America's public debate. He defends his views on what's right for America on radio, television and in print. True to his entrepreneurial spirit, Williams is Chief Executive Officer of Graham Williams Group, an international public relations firm based in Washington, D.C. Clients of the Graham Williams Group include corporations and individuals from the business community, entertainment industry and political arena, such as Century 21, Computerland executive Terry Giles and poet laureate Maya Angelou. Williams is also a former partner in Premier Limousine, Garden Grove Toyota and Onyx Travel.In addition, he hosts The Right Side With Armstrong Williams, a nationally-syndicated talk radio program covering subjects of national and local importance and featuring prominent guest experts on today's hottest, most topical issues. For The Right Side, Williams was voted into Vanity Fair magazine's 1996 Hall of Fame as one of the most visible radio voices in America. The show was also on television on the National Empowerment Television Network, which featured interviews with many of the same stimulating guests and topics broadcast on the radio. Past guests of the programs have included former Vice-President Dan Quayle, Hollywood "Mogul" Norman Lear, Presidential Candidate Malcolm S. Forbes, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and Reverend Robert Schuler. Williams has appeared on a number of acclaimed television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Crossfire, Firing Line with William Buckley, America's Black Forum and The Today Show, and is a frequent guest on several shows on networks such as CNN, CSPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX and CNBC. His book Beyond Blame: How We Can Succeed by Breaking the Dependency Barrier was published by Free Press in May 1995. Williams is also the author of Letters to a Young Victim: Hope and Healing in America's Inner Cities, a moving account of the relationship between Williams and a fellow inner-city youth named Brad. Together, through correspondence, they broke down the dependency barriers that restrain many of us from achieving our goals. A third-generation conservative Republican with a long history of political involvement, Williams has worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Strom Thurmond and served as a confidential assistant to (now Associate Justice of the Supreme Court) Chairman Clarence Thomas of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Congressmen Carroll Campbell and Floyd Spence.Highly opinionated in print, Williams is a syndicated columnist with The Los Angeles Times Syndicate and is read in many major newspapers across the country including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times, The Detroit Free Press, The Boston Globe and his hometown newspaper, The Marion Star-Mullins Enterprise. Additionally, he is a frequent guest columnist for USA Today and Reader's Digest.Williams is a native of Marion, South Carolina, and a 1981 graduate of South Carolina State College. His views and opinions continually raise the American conscience as he discusses issues such as the abolishment of welfare, the restoration of morality in today's society and the key to "Right Living."