UBR Spotlight: St. Louis Real Estate and Media Mogul Michael V. Roberts

This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, Renita D. Young speaks with business titan and CEO Michael V. Roberts about what it takes for entrepreneurs to establish a legacy in business. Roberts talks with Kennedy about the impact that a successful entrepreneur can have on business, family and community. Along with his brother, Steven Roberts, this master entrepreneur has built a diverse, multimillion-dollar business empire, including ownership of three city blocks in his native St. Louis, Missouri. Michael Roberts is CEO of Roberts Hotels Group, L.L.C., ranked No. 40 on the Black Enterprise Industrial Service 100s list of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses, with $88 million in annual revenues. Brother Stephen is CEO of Robert Brothers Properties L.L.C., No. 36 on the list with $95 million in revenues.

Founded in 1979, the Roberts Properties L.L.C is a subsidiary of The Roberts Cos.—a multifaceted real estate and media enterprise. The St. Louis-based company is the premier minority-owned commercial and residential redevelopment firm in Missouri. The firm’s portfolio consists of six properties located across St. Louis, including the Roberts Orpheum Theater, Roberts Lofts on the Plaza, Roberts Place Lofts, Roberts Place Homes, Roberts Tower, and Bahamas-based Roberts Isle.

Speaking of real estate success, contributor Renita Young speaks with real estate expert, coach and trainer Marki Lemons of Marki Lemons Unlimited about why she believes real estate remains a legitimate pathway to building wealth, even in the current economy on the mend. Banking on a decade of experience, Lemmons shares the realities of the current real estate market and what you’ll need to know to make the most of it.

And finally, every week on UBR, you’ll hear Pepper Miller’s YOU-TURN segment, 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 Rashid Carter.

Pepper Miller is the Founder and President of The Hunter Miller Group 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. If you have a question you want answered or a topic you want addressed on The Urban Business Roundtable, connect with us on Twitter @UBR1690.

Join more than 1,000 outstanding entrepreneurs and top business experts at the 2013 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 15-18, at the 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. To register and find out more, follow the hash tag #BEEC on Twitter, “Like” the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference on Facebook and visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec!