This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR Contributor Renita D. Young talks with award-winning fashion designer Kevan Hall of Kevan Hall Designs, who shares how he turned his life-long love for fashion into an influential enterprise and globally respected design brand.
Born and raised in Detroit, Hall noticed his gift for design early on, when he earned a Designer of Tomorrow scholarship from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. In 1982, he launched Kevan Hall Couture, a successful collection that captured the attention of fine retailers, including Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Boodman. In 2002, Hall launched the Kevon Hall Collection and won the 47th Annual Gold Coast Fashion Award in Chicago as Designer of the Year. His collection has been worn by stars such as Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett and Kimora Lee Simmons.
Also, UBR Contributor Samantha Pass talks with Andree Driskell about how entrepreneurs should go about securing multimillion dollar contracts. Driskell launched her proposal design and consulting firm Andree Driskell Associates with a focus on helping small businesses grow. Also, she is also vice president of the Black Economic Council, an organization focused on promoting self-sufficiency for minority communities through structured economic development.
In my “Alfred’s Notepad” segment, I announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2013 Black Enterprise Small Business Awards, our recognition of the best small, black-owned enterprises in four categories: BE Next (entrepreneurs ages 21-35), Innovator of the Year, Small Business of the Year and the Teenpreneur Award. This is your chance to nominate yourself or someone you know for recognition as one of nation’s outstanding entrepreneurs. The deadline for nominations is March 8, 2013; finalists will be recognized and winners announced at the 2013 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, May 15-18, at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
And finally, every week on UBR, you’ll get motivation and inspiration from author and entrepreneurial icon Farrah Gray, a weekly wrap-up of business news from USA Today business correspondent Charisse Jones, our Patient Investor Report from Ariel Investments and key economic intelligence for small business owners from our UBR economists Derrick Collins and Rasheed Carter.
If you have a question you want answered or a topic you want addressed on The Urban Business Roundtable, connect with me at BE Insider, the social media network for people who are serious about Black Enterprise. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.
Alfred Edmond Jr. is the senior VP/editor-at-large of Black Enterprise and the host of the Urban Business Roundtable, a weekly radio show, sponsored by Ariel Investments, airing CST Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. on WVON-AM 1690, the Talk of Chicago. You can also listen live online at WVON.com. Check back each week for UBR Spotlight, which features additional resources, advice and information from and about the topics, entrepreneurs and experts featured on the show.
SAVE THE DATE for the 2013 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 15-18, at Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. Nominate your company or an outstanding entrepreneur in your network for our Small Business Awards! Also don’t miss the chance to enter our Elevator Pitch Competition to compete for $10,000 for your business. To find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/