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Savannah, Georgia's, African American Business Magazine and Directory. The publication is a colorful and information business information guide for all to enjoy.

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Page 1: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2014

THE JORDAN CONNECT DREAMING IN COLOR TIJAY, MASTER BARBER DARRYL L. HANSLEY

REMEMBERING BLACK WALLSTREET (6) STANDING IN THE GAP (21) MAYOR FOR LIFE (14) COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR NEW TALENT (13) MEDITATION (28) SMART PHONE (18)

CROWD FUNDING MAKES IT EASIER TO OWN REAL ESTATE (19)

RANDAL GREEN’S MONICA WILSON, IT/ TECHURIZED JOSEY SHEPPARDPROFESSIONAL CLEANING INTERNET MARKETING SHEPPARD’SSERVICE

COASTAL

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Due to financial circumstances, many of America’s deserving minority students do not have access to a college education. Since 1944, the United Negro College Fund has sought to provide one. Since 1972, the beginning of this campaign, UNCF has helped more than 3000,000 talented students earn a college degree.

Page 4: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

2 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

Mo r e than

any other time in his-tory, mak-

ing business profits is tough. Competition is fierce and you’re not only dealing with competitors in Savannah, you are dealing with competitors from all over the world. With a global unstable economy, many businesses are unable to thrive. On the other hand, this can be your opportunity to position your business for success not only now but beyond. Setting a solid foun-dation today means profits for many years to come. Your goal should be to provide the highest quality customer service to each customer every time they come to your business. Find out what they want and give it to them. THERE IS A “MOVEMENT” of consumers who demand excellent custom-er care. They want to be able to trust you and be treated with respect, and know that you value their HARD EARNED dollars, and if you do they will keep coming back, and if you don’t they will let you know it. Now is not the time to cut your marketing/advertising budget. If anything, increase it. This is a great way to build your brand and make potential customers aware that you exist. Select a target audience and write compelling ads that will entice them to do business with you. List your business in COASTAL Essence 2015 business direc-tory, free of charge, because you want pros-pects to call on you first, and last but not least join a business networking group.

Join a business net-“work-ing” organizaton such as; Savannah Business Education & Economic Council, Inc., (see page 24) will help you meet with other business owners to share your ideas of what is working or may not be working for you in your daily business operations. Networking with other entrepreneurs also lends the opportunity to discuss bartering with each other for products and services. Entrepreneurs should seek out the industry’s leaders, read re-search and industry reports and listen to the predictions of experts to de-termine any significant or emerging trends. This may just change the way you want to conduct your business go-ing forward. Does Your Business Need a Makeover? I know ours did, does your website or logo need updating? Are you getting tired of your old tag-line? Freshen things up with a business makeover. Give your website a fresh new look, think of a new slogan or find a new logo. This can do wonders for morale, both for employees and exec-utives. Check out www.grovedesigns.com to get you started. Never be satis-fied with the status quo – always be on the lookout for new products or ser-vices to offer your customers. Be cre-ative and think outside the box. Find out what your competitors are doing

P u b l i s h e r ’ s P a g e

WHY PRINT? “Print still has a place, even in today’s high-tech world. Without it, we lose control over content - not to mention the intent - of our message.” THE PRINT COUNCIL

and offer something different. Always test your products and services to see how they are being per-ceived in the real world by your custom-ers. If sales are lagging, find out why and modify your approach; likewise, if sales are going through the roof, find out the reason and then keep doing what you’ve been doing. Testing the market is an im-portant business element and could make the difference between success and failure. My message to our readers is clear; JOIN THE MOVEMENT, check out the businesses that await you in this publica-tion and support Black Owned Businesses in our community. Up and coming Entre-preneurs, print is here to stay, get listed in COASTAL Essence Business directory so they can find you right away!

Peace & Blessings, Terrell Mitchell-Dickerson, Publisher [email protected]

Follow us on instagram: coastalessence912

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND GET THE NEXT EDITION DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS:

www.facebook.com/CoastalEssenceMagazine

Page 5: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

COASTAL Essence Magazine mailing address: P.O.Box 24355 Savannah, Georgia 31403. The Publisher can be reached via email: [email protected]. Distribution is both controlled, free, and paid subscriptions of $5.00 per issue. The magazines cover, contents and photographs are fully protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part by any one without written permission from the publisher. This publication does not guarantee the correctness of information, the absence or errors, or omissions, or against the presence of unintentional inclusions. The publisher takes every precaution to verify the accuracy of ad copies contained in the magazine, however, no responsibility for the same can be or is assumed for inadvertent errors, or changes made after publication. The pub-lisher can assume no responsibility for the quality of goods or services provided by the advertisers or listings in the business directory. Warning copy service: No part of the magazine including the advertisements may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever. Ads are Designed by Independent Contractors at a rate of $150.00 per hour. Some photographs in this publication are copyright of D & D Media Group. If in doubt about reprinting text or photos from this magazine email [email protected]., or expect to pay; COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE C/0 2014

4 Channel Martin and Candice Mitchell,One year later TAG Business Winner Achieves Growth after Victory. 6 Brunette M. Dixon, Editor-In-Chief, Remembering Black Wallstreet.7 The Jordan Connect, Jabias Green,Avid Jordan shoe collector now at the top of his game.10 Caroline Lewis, Shares questions and answers about hospice care, Hospice Savannah.16 Darryl Hansley,“We Help People Realize A Brighter Day.”

21 William Reed,Business Exchange; Mayor for Life. A book with an incredible story of Marion Barry, Jr.17 Be You, Noviah Brinson,Makeup artist and Fashion Stylist.19 Randall Green, Owner,Randall lGreen Professional Cleaning business.20 Monica Wilson,New Customer Marketing and the Importance of Having a Website.21 William Reed,Business Exchange; Standing In The Gap.

22 (SEEC),SAVANNAH ECONOMIC AND EDUCATION COUNCIL, LLC.22 TIJAY Simmons,A Master Barber @ Jazzy Cuts Barbershop.

26 CITY WIDE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL,Picturesque view and 2014 honorees.27 BUSINESS DIRECTORYFree Listing email us: [email protected]

[email protected]

VOL. SUMMER 2014

COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory 3

Lacey Singleton 1708 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA. 31401Schedule Your Appt Today! (912) 232-5206

contents

C o n t r i b u t o r sMonica Wilson, Writer/IT D & D Media Groupwww.GroveDesigns.bizEvents: Peavley’s Sweets & Catering Co.independent/freelance writers Latosha Daniels, ResearchLoreal Daniels, Writer (Next Edition)Operations: John Dickerson, III & John Dickerson IV

“A great publication always informing, enlighten-ing and profiling Savannah’s best!” Jewel Daniels

Page 6: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

How to manage interruptions

Today many forms of com-

munication make it easier than ever to exchange in-formation. And easier than ever to get distracted and interrupted. When it happens to you, remember that it’s OK to po-

litely say, “Wait, I can’t talk now but I can get back to you.” We all need uninterrupted time for quality, focused thinking. If you must concentrate and can’t afford interruptions, post a sign that says: Available at 1p.m. Spending two or three minutes chatting may seem insig-nificant, but it can take up to 15 minutes to reorganize thoughts and focus. Nonetheless, there are times when you must speak to someone, if only because you need information so that you can proceed in your work. Here are some less invasive ways to fit into someone else’s schedule: Try an old fashioned sticky note with a short reminder or message. Not all communication has to be instant.

Last year 5.5 percent of jobless managers and exec-utives launched a business, which is a 31 percent increase from 2012 according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, reporting in CNN Money. People 45 and older started 48 percent of the firms in one Kauffman Foundation study, and they ran 64 percent of firms surviving four years. Older entrepreneurs have more experience, contacts, and financial resources, says Kauffman researcher Dane Stangler.

More Older Execs BecomeEntrepreneurs

NEW HEADBAND TREATSMIGRAINE HEADACHES

It looks futuristic, but it benefits are ready today. The new Cefaly headband offers relief from migraines through the use of neuro-stimulation. It fits over the ears like a pair of glasses, with a wide diamond shape at the center of the forehead. The Recent FDA approval for the Cefaly means mi-graine sufferers can actually prevent the debilitating head-aches by using the device once daily for 20 minutes. Mi-graine symptoms can start days before the event and can include euphoria or irritability. Because the buildup comes on gradually, the developers recommend using the Cefaly daily. A prescription is required for the Cefaly kit, which costs about $295 in the U.S. and $389 in Canada.

Page 7: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

A year after winning the Technology Asso-ciation of Georgia’s (TAG) 2013 Business

Launch Competition, Techturized has made strides in securing its mobile application’s success as the leading one-stop technology solution offering hair care content to women of color. In just a year, the company has suc-cessfully launched its app, Myavana, on both iOS and Android, secured strategic partner-ships, obtained national press and closed on their first client for consumer data.

Their winning product was renamed Mya-vana—reflecting their mission of sis-ters helping sisters achieve hair nirvana. Co-founders Chanel Martin and Candace

Techturized Celebrates A Remarkable Year Since its Win

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG ) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 23,000 members through regional chapters in Savannah, Metro Atlanta, Athens, Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Augusta. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an inno-vative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides networking and educational programs; celebrates Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. TAG hosts over 200 events each year and serves as an umbrella organi-zation for 34 professional societies. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive.

Mitchell also changed their product strategy from web to mo-bile after realizing that women wanted “on-the-go” access to hair content. Since its launch, the app has experienced a 200% increase in user growth and has a solid 5 star rating in Apple’s App Store. “This is a fantastic app! I have so much more fun with my hair now!” exclaims one reviewer, while another mimics the purpose of the app by stating, “Finally something that can help me with my styles and learn how to deal with the day to day hair challenges I face.”

Techturized has provided value by partnering with two promi-nent Buckhead salons validating the stylist model for client gen-eration. In addition to partnerships, the company also tested its ability to use event based marketing in the Miss Naturally Crowned Carolina Pageant where attendees voted on their fa-vorite contestant through the app. This experiment modeled how large scale events could utilize the app to engage patrons; and with Atlanta hosting 100,000’s of women yearly for hair shows and events—the company couldn’t be in a better place.

Despite early advice that it would take years for Myavana to realize a consumer data revenue stream, Techturized has also managed to close on its first client for customer data utilizing its growing user base. Lastly, Martin and Mitchell have ob-tained national press across a plethora of both print and online publications including; Black Enterprise, Business Insider, Es-sence, Atlanta’s own Jezebel and MSNBC. They feel fortunate to have won last year’s TAG competition, and look forward to the continued growth of Techturized and the Atlanta Startup ecosystem.

[Since it was founded in 2006, the TAG Business Launch Competition has be-come one of largest competitions of its kind in the United States, providing $500,000 in cash and over $1,500,000 in donated services to more than 200 young entrepre-neurs. Applicants are screened by an experienced panel of entrepreneurs and the most promising companies are assigned a mentor for the duration of the competi-tion. Representatives from out-of-state venture capital companies sit on the judge’s panel and a multitude of angel and venture capital investors attend the final event. ]

For more information about the the TAG Business Launch Competition visit: http://www.tagonline.org/events/businesslaunch.For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/

Chanel Martin and Candice Mitchell

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Launch Winner Achieves Growth After Victory

COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory 5

Page 8: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

In Tulsa, Oklahoma there once exist-ed a community that was the envy of all of its neighbors. Known as ‘Black Wallstreet,’ the Greenwood neighbor-hood of Northern Tulsa was a 36-block district of businesses, churches and homes owned and occupied by Afri-can-Americans. This neighborhood was thriving. Due to the segregation

laws that made white-owned businesses off-limits to their black neighbors, money that was brought into Black Wallstreet, stayed in Black Wallstreet. Wealth, once it came into the neighborhood, re-mained in circulation in Greenwood. Shopping in neighborhood stores, eating at local cafes and attending the community church kept the neigh-borhood tightly knit and its wealth increased. During the Oklahoma oil boom of the 1910’s Northeast Oklahoma, including Tulsa, flourished. This regional affluence drove the economic success throughout the state. The community of Greenwood built on this affluence and attracted doctors, law-yers and successful business owners. A microcosm of the great city, Greenwood shared in its success. Unfortunately, that success caused envy an-ger in its white neighbors and in June 1921, an inci-dent in downtown Tulsa, a young black man was ac-cused of sexually assaulting a white woman, sparked a tragic attack on Greenwood which left the commu-nity destroyed – up to 3,000 African-Americans dead and over 600 businesses lost – and the most success-ful African-American economic movement demol-

Remembering ‘Black Wallstreet’ A Blueprint For Our Future

ished in a single night. Hastily swept under the carpet and mostly forgotten by the white government, it has only recently been returned to national prominence. Although Greenwood was rebuilt, and was successful, it never returned to the prosperity, it had enjoyed during the early part of the 20th century. No reparations were ever paid to the inhabitants over the damage and death, and the perpetrators of the violence were never brought to justice. The casualties of that night in Greenwood were forgotten and the incident was unjustly dismissed from public consciousness as well. Greenwood’s tragedy spurred our desire to recreate that golden era, that success, by joining to-gether with other African-American business owners and using our shared sense of values and identity to succeed, and then share that success with the com-munity. COASTAL-Essence Magazine, in essence, has the same goal as the creators of the Greenwood neighborhood; we want to help black business owners earn money and keep prosperity in our neighborhood to offer more jobs for our children, to make it a better, a more successful place and the envy of its neighbors. A community is stronger than an individual and we at, COASTAL Essence Magazine, our neigh-boring business partners, church and community asso-ciations hope to create that same sense of community that permeated Greenwood, the ‘Black Wallstreet.’

--By Brunette Mitchell-DixonEditor -in-chief

COASTAL Essence Magazine

6 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

Page 9: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

JABIAS GREEN is an avid Jordan shoe collector and has been for many years. He says, “I was constantly in search of some one whom I could trust to provide me with authentic Jordans in a timely manner and deliver on what he/she promised.”

“In starting this journey I realized that in Savannah, I could only rely on retail shoe stores and a very few small boutiques to supply my business, and they only provided me with new releases. I needed more,” Jabias says he knew there should be a better way to acquire his shoes.

“I had a desperate desire to get into the business of selling Jor-dan’s_I knew early on that I had two problems that I needed to resolve first: I could only get shoes that were just being released and I would have to stand in line all night to obtain them. And that problem forced me to begin the journey to Jordan Connect and I started my business Cportsole23,” says the young execu-tive.

Cportsole23 is an internet based (i.e. website, instagram, face-book) company that delivers locally, in Savannah, and ships worldwide. Jabias says, “I am able to provide my customers with the luxury of acquiring Jordans that have not been released yet, that have’nt been released recently, and/or new releases.” Select shoes are available in sizes ranging from Men and Women to Toddlers.

More recently, Jabias says, “I have attained a loyal following of Jordan fans who like myself desire a specific Jordan, regardless of when it was released. They had become frustrated with the unsafe process of waiting in long lines, only to be disappointed.”

However, “I’ve since turned that process around some of the Jordan fans who stood in long lines are now my customers, and my customers trust me because I deliver them with 100 % Au-thentic Jordans,” Jabias told a mall shopper in Savannah.

JABIAS GREEN“THE JORDAN CONNECT”Phone: 912.677.2599Instagram: cport_sole23E-Mail: [email protected]: www.cportsole23.comJordan Connect

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the luxury of acquiring Jordans that have not been released yet, that have not been

released recently, and new releases.”

SAVANNAH BUSINESS PROFILE

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Office: 912.790.9208220 West 57th StreetSavannah, GA. 31405

* TAX PLANNING & PREPARATION* BOOKEEPING SERVICES* PAYROLL SERVICES* INCORPORATIONS* BUSINESS SERVICES* BUSINESS SALES & PURCHASES* PRE* PREPARATIONS & BUDGETS* START-UP BUSINESS SERVICES

Kawanza “K” RushingYour Tax Professional

We Prepare all Federal & State Tax ReturnsKRSAccounting & Tax Service

Knowledge is power

8 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

THE NEW IDEA IN EDUCATION: Learn first, pay later

Experts at CNNMoney.com are asking: “Which makes more sense: pay $40,000 up front for four years at a public university, or pay, say 3 percent, of income for 15 years after graduation? So if you only get a $40,000 a year job, you would only pay back

$18,000. But if you get a $100K job,the university would earn an extra $5K.

Oregon, recently passed a law requiring a study of a “pay forward, pay back” plan that would

make the income-based option possible. J. Selingo, former top editor of the Chron-icles of Higher Education, says that unless colleges (not just taxpayers) bear some risk for low repay-

ments, schools will just keep raising tuition.

Business Cards First Appeared In the 17th CenturyThe value of a business card is proven. Some feel that in the era of LinkedIn, social media and cloud computing, using a business card makes them feel so horse and carriage. The 1st cards were made in France during the reign of Louis XIV. But now, centu-ries later, there are good reason why biz cards remain successful networking tool. They don’t require batteries, a smart-phone or experience, and everyone in the world understands what they are when given to them, “call me.”

Page 11: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

Many employers still care about a job appli-cant’s SAT score, especial-ly at consulting firms, big banks, investment com-panies and law firms. The SAT, Scholastic Aptitude Test, is taken in the ju-nior or senior year of high school and is always given in college applications. It’s scored on a scale of 2400, with up to 800 points each for critical reading, math and writing sections. The average SAT score last year was 1498. Hiring manag-ers say SATs and college entrance exams like the ACT help when comparing backgrounds or deciding whether someone has the brainpower for the job. Some fussy firms want a

Job RECRUITER’S ASK FOR SAT SCORES

candidate who scored in the 95th percentile or above. Those with a low math score would have to demon-strate other strengths, like subject-matter expertise or leadership ability. A Boston Consulting Group has long used the SAT score as a factor in hiring. Most say it predicts future success, and others say it measures the basic building blocks for success. Google, among other com-panies no longer focuses on grade point averages, SAT or ACT scores. Their data shows that traditionally pedigreed candidates weren’t always the best hires. Then there’s the difference between those who test well and those who do well. As one analyst says, I test much bet-ter than I am intelligent.”

Today’s job applicants are shocked when a recruit-er asks for their SAT Scores. After all, that test was taken in high school, which may have been 10 years ago or even 30 years ago.

For SAT scores: Go to collegeboard.com and search for archived scores for information. There will be a fee for most scores. Phone: 866-756-7346. For ACT scores: Go to actstudent.org and click on 'your test dates and scores.' Fees apply. Phone: 319-337-1313.

HOW TO THINK LIKE NAVY SEALSBECAUSE OF THEIR INTENSE TRAINING,

NAVY SEALS ARE EXPERTS AT SETTING GOALS. * Focus on one major thing, define it well, then focus until you make it happen. Ask yourself, “Does my schedule get me closer to my goal?* See your success. Imagine your goal in the most concrete terms: what it looks and feels like and what you need to achieve it.* Set wayside goals. On your path to the prize, set and achieve small-er wayside goals mark your way forward. These give you momen-tum. /Retired SEAL Commander Mark Divine, Think Like an Elite Warrior/

TECH ETIQUETTE AT WORKThe modern scourge: People who check their phones con-stantly during a meeting or con-versation. Usually it works like this: They put their phone down on the table as they speak. When you respond, they pick it up and ignore you. Fact is checking your device in the company of colleagues or in meetings is disrespectful. Nothing disrupts a meeting like the jarring sound of a ring-tone. Turn off your phone’s ringer

before meetings. It’s safest to let calls go straight to voice-mail. If a crit-ical call comes, leave the room before you begin talking. And don’t snap pictures: Cell-phone cameras make it easy to take pictures, but save your image capturing for scenic weekend strolls.

Page 12: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

Caroline Lewis is the manager of Hospice Savan-nah’s referral center. Family members, patients themselves, doctors, hospital discharge planners and social workers call the referral center to get the help they need.

Why are so many people afraid of hospice?Because they think it means they are giving up. That they are going to die. The really interesting thing is that a 2010 New England Journal of Medicine study shows that hospice and palliative care actually extends life. At Hospice Savannah we’ve always known patients feel better and have a better quality of life once they get our help, but now it has been clinically prov-en that people can live longer with this kind of quality care.

Do you think African Americans are more hesitant to access hospice care than Caucasians? Traditionally there has been fear that African Americans do not receive the same medical care and interventions that Caucasians do. Because Hospice Savannah has been in our community for more than 35 years we have served thousands of African American fam-ilies and I think all of them would agree that we offer exactly the same medical expertise and care to everyone.

What if I can’t afford hospice care? Core hospice services are paid for by the Medicare Hospice benefit or by most private insurance companies so there is typically no cost for so much help! We provide medications, hospital beds and other medical equipment, diapers, social work help, nursing visits, chaplain visits if requested, and visits from certified nursing assistants and volunteers at no cost to our patients. In cases where there is no insurance, we provide care regardless of ability to pay.

Do I have to give up my own doctor? No. The hospice team works along with your primary doctor. Your physician will write a medical order for a hospice care consultation.

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IS ................STAYING WELL..............Getting a calorie check from the vending machine. A New Touch-screen technology is letting vending machine buy-ers check calorie counts before hitting the buy button. The VendScreen mounts on existing machines and displays each item being sold. It will be available soon in your area, if not ask for it by name. A new FDA rule says companies who operate 20 or more machines must display the calorie counts. For-tunately, the VendScreen links with the system vending machines already use. It automatically updates the nu-tritional information. Similar devices, such as the MIND from Ven-dors Exchange, also provide a digital display of nu-tritional information, show ads and run slide shows to promote products, according to USA Today.

ANSWERS

&QUESTIONS

DeAndre Jordon (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Clippers says he’s always powder fresh at games and is sure his opponents ap-preciate that. The New York Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire applies Bath and Body Works Stress Relief Eucalyptus-and-Spearmint. Body Lotion before a game.

Basketball’s Tough Players Crave Skin

Care ProductsMembers of the National Basketball Association are known for their stylish wardrobes.

What’s less obvious is the attention they pay to their

grooming, using special products for their hair and

skin care. Their routines target their sweat-laden, show-

er-heavy lifestyle with creams, moisturizers, glycolic cleans-

ers and pre-shave oil.

What if my doctor recommends another hospice? There are about ten hospices in our area now, but the choice is always up to the patient. If you want Hospice Savannah’s care you have to ask for it, and sometimes insist on it!

Does it make a difference that Hospice Savannah is not-for-profit?Yes, I think it does! We don’t have to pay shareholders a dividend. Instead we can use our profits to give back to the community. One of the ways we give back is by offering bereavement support to anyone who needs it. Our Full Circle bereavement staff pro-vides counseling at no charge to children, teens and adults. We can see you in Savannah, Richmond Hill or Rincon and the death does not need to have been a hospice death. We also provide an annual children’s overnight grief camp for children ages 6 to 17 who have had a loss. What do you think it’s most important for readers to understand?The importance of calling early to get the information and help you need! I constantly have families tell me that they wish they had known about this care sooner. As I said, most patients can actually improve and extend their quality of life with our help.

How do I find out more?Just call us at 912.355.2289 and we can talk or come see you without any obligation. There’s also lots of good information on our website: www.HospiceSavannahHelps.org

10 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

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Right now, the three ma-jor credit agencies each use a different system to generate a credit score. That means TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax could each give a different score. But some lenders only check one score.

In the future, the score for the three agencies will be based on the new VantageScore. It should make it easier for young people and those with a limited credit his-tory to get a score. And it will be easier to under-stand because it will use letter grades instead of numbers. Borrowers with A credit will get the best interest rates. Those with F

Agencies Will Use Same Credit Scoring System

COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory 11

“It gives you $1 million worth of coverage for a relatively small premium and protects your assets.Google: Personal Liability Insurance Savannah GA.”

“Need An Umbrella?I’m Just Asking”“A personal liability umbrella policy can give you extra liability cover-age for situations such as false arrest, false imprisonment, libel, and slander.”

credit will pay the highest rates. The VantageScore won’t eliminate all dis-crepancies in scores, says Evan Hendricks, author of the Credit Scores & Credit Reports (Privacy Times.) The reason scores dif-fer is because the data from the three bureaus differ a lot.

Though agencies say the VantageScore will be available within a few months, officials at Fair Isaac doubt that it will happen quickly. Fair Isaac’s FICO score is the most widely used. They say many lenders have the FICO system in-grained in their comput-ers.

“It’s especially beneficial if you are ever sued because of accidental injury to someone or damage to their property.”

“HERE’S A TIP: IT PAYS TO CHECK PRICES ON WARRAN-TIES. Looking for a warranty on your ipad? Then look around. One major retailer charges $180 for two years of extended coverage on an iPad.That’s more than one-third of the $499 pur-chase price and that is a bad deal. AppleCare+ costs $99 for two years of protection against accidental damage from handling with a $49 deductible. Square Trade’s two-year coverage for $99 with no deductible. It covers unlimited incidents up to the amount paid for the device.”

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12 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

-T. Mitchell-Dickerson, Certified Customer Service Pro.These are five words that will cause you to lose a customer: “That’s not my responsibility.” Whatever your job may be, the minute you an-swer the phone, you are personally involved with the customer’s problem. It’s your responsibility to see that he or she is satisfied and the problem is solved. Both you and the customer know that whatever the problem may be, you do know someone who can fix it. Customers hate it when the person they are speaking with doesn’t take ownership of their problem. In his recent book, Business Without the Bullsh*t, sales expert Geoffrey James says the only correct response is, “I will help you.” This is the 1st response the cus-tomer wants to hear and if a customer with a tech prob-lem accidentally calls your department and you promptly transfer him to technical support, he will feel that you don’t really care. First, ask if you can transfer him or her to tech support. If the answer is yes, stay on the line until the call is answered and tell tech support who is calling. If you leave the customer on hold, he’ll be doing a slow burn because he thinks you just want to get rid of him.

EVERYONE IS INVOLVED IN KEEPING

CUSTOMERS HAPPY

Josey Sheppard“Our priority is to provide premium

customer service and competitive pricing.

Thank you for supporting Sheppard’s!”

CEM2014c/o

Work Notes Overloaded?

Talk to your boss

If you’re taxed to the max, speak up. That’s what career coaches advise staffers who become the go-to person for loads of projects. Your manager may not realize that your time is being soaked up by multiple projects. If that’s the case, it’s up to you to speak up, but be sure you can back up your claims, say career coaches. Install a time monitor on your computer that keeps track in the background of the tasks you are doing, and how long it takes for each task. This gives you precise data as to where your time is being spent (or wasted). Before you speak with the boss, analyze your data to find out where your ener-gy is going. Once armed with the right data, talk to the boss if you need more resources and help. New York City career coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine says you should off-load work that won’t help you advance. Suggest a ju-nior colleague to take on a low-profile project as a stretch role. Quoted in CNNMoney, Ceniza-Levine says you may be part of a chronically understaffed department where the only way to scale back is to leave.

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FAMILY BUSINESSHiring family members: Let your new college grad get experience with another com-pany. They’re smart, they’re willing, and they think you will hire them into the family busi-ness when they graduate. Don’t do it. That’s the advice of Allen Fishman, author of 9 Elements of Family Business Success. If you do, they will always wonder if they could have made it on their own. Now and in the future, they could question their abilities. If new grads work with an-other company for a few years, they will get training and gain experi-ence that could help both them and your company in the future. Other employees will believe in their ca-pabilities, knowing they were not hired just because they are related to you. Outside experience has anoth-er benefit for the new graduate. If

COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory 13

the business ever goes under, he or she will have work experience with a company other than the family business.

RECOMMENDATION * Create a written policy for hir-ing, reviewing and terminating family member employees. * Choose a successor and create a succession development plan. * Ensure good results-driven family communication and dy-namics. * Maintain healthy spousal re-lations when you work together. * Recruit and retain talented non-family member employees. With careful planning, you will reap the benefits of hir-ing a family member and avoid the pitfalls.

At WorkWise, LLC, a consulting firm that helps Fortune 500 companies identify in-fluencers, they often focus on how to retain them. They say “Influencers” are part of an office’s underground world and can make contact with others in a positive way. Ac-cording to The Wall Street Journal, the con-sultants said these are the influencer traits.

* They are outgoing, extroverted and exu-berant but also good self-monitors.* They’re empathetic, approachable and able to sympathize.* They’re accessible. They are fully present and welcoming.* They are energizing. Fellow employees feel invigorated by them.* And they are optimistic. They focus on solu-tions, not what can’t work.

Many companies are embracing the idea of “INFLUENCERS.” One company wanted to ease the staff into a new technology platform in offices around the country. They flew in 30 INFLUENCERS and gave them communication training and in-sight into the project so they could field workers questions and build a positive buzz. In another case, two companies were about to merge. Their influencers were coached on the benefits of the merger and helped the compa-ny avoid an “upheaval” when it went into effect. What’s more, the program didn’t cost the compa-ny anything. Not everyone has the personality of an influencer, but we could be more satisfied with our work relationships if we adopted a more pos-itive attitude and were more approachable.

COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AND FINDING

A WHOLE NEW LAYER OF TALENTOn the surface, they look a lot like everyone else in an office, and they aren’t known to be leaders. In fact, these key players may not be posting top results on their own, but they are boosting per-formance across the organization.

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In Marion Barry’s book, race plays a factor in everything that occurs in America. In “Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr.,” you can learn how this politician’s focus on race made him one of the most popular and controversial figures in modern history. The book is chock-full of information contemporary Black households need to know about what can be done with political power.

Barry recounts the times when we were at our zenith in terms of political power. In Washington he’s a Black “icon” and “role model.” Born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, the son of a sharecropper, Barry is the third of 10 children. His father died when he was four years old, and a year later his mother moved the family to Memphis, Tennessee, where her employment prospects appeared better. In his autobiog-raphy, Barry has a lot to say about how his life in politics was publicly diminished by institutions like the media and government agents.

Barry said the book helps readers “know me.” “Mayor for Life” shows the impact Barry has had on the District of Columbia. He’s a civil rights activist that adroitly leveraged political power for D.C.’s poor and Black communities. Barry has been at the center of the District’s triumphs and troubles since the 1970s. The 78-year-old politician proudly says that he has dedicated 40 years of his life to public ser-vice “always fighting for the people.” Known around the world, Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995 to 1999. He has served on the D.C. Council, representing Ward 8 since 2005.Reading the book reveals Barry’s having courage, tenacity and vision few Black politicians display. The book illustrates that in no way was Barry colorblind. If President Barack Obama leveraged the power of the presidency toward his people, as Barry did, a nation of Blacks would be dancing in the streets.

Barry helped Blacks develop wealth through government jobs and

contracts – Black businesses received 3 percent of D.C. contracts when he entered office and 47 percent when he left. Barry said, “They didn’t want me creating all of these opportunities for Black folks.” His deliberate hiring practices and set-asides for minorities created a generation of Black-owned businesses and the nation’s largest Black middle class. Mayor Barry’s true legacy is Prince George’s County – the nation’s wealthiest majority Black jurisdiction. No other mayor has come close to his achievement in providing jobs for poor young Blacks. The late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson places second on the list. Houston’s Lee Brown comes in third.

The worst longtime Washingtonians are willing to say about Barry is: “He didn’t exercise self-control.” Barry’s personal problems first surfaced in 1983, when he was accused of using cocaine at a night-club party. The culmination of a series of embarrassing incidents was an FBI sting that caught Barry on a videotape smoking crack cocaine at the Vista Hotel. At his 1990 trial, Barry was only convicted of one of the 14 charges pending against him. One juror has been recorded saying: “I believe the government was out to get Marion Barry.”

Call him “a rascal” or “champion for the race” Barry deserves credit for his purposeful and single-minded quest of “doing what’s right for Black Americans.” The 324-page book published by Simon & Schus-ter is squarely aimed at Black readers. Barry makes no apology for that, addressing Whites at the end of the book: “I’m Black, and my life has been about uplifting Black folks.”

Howard University 1991 journalism graduate Omar Tyree, a New York Times best-selling author, penned the book with Barry. Like Barry, Tyree said the book was written for Black people, many of whom benefited economically from city contracts and summer jobs during Barry’s time in office. The book’s hardcover price runs about $20. Hopefully, Barry and Tyree will sell millions of copies so “the Mayor” can go fishing.

William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate Ameri-ca” and available for projects via the BaileyGroup.org

By William Reed www.BlackPressInternational.com) is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America”

and available for projects via the BaileyGroup.org.

BUSINESS EXCHANGEBy William Reed

Mayor for Life

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Want to be a CEO? LEARN ABOUT THE ‘HARD THINGS’Ben Horowitz talks about a time all entrepreneurs expe-rience. That moment when things are going so badly that people shake their heads and ask why they don’t just quit. They usually don’t have an easy answer or any answer at all. Horowitz, author of The Hard Thing About Hard Things, urges entrepreneurs on to the strug-gle. There is always a way, he says, if you go to war and embrace the struggle. Karl Marx wrote that life is a struggle, and Horow-itz adds, so is business. Horowitz started out by co-found-ing the pioneering LoudCloud company. LoudCloud went from being the hottest dot com property going to being a pariah after the dot com bubble burst. That moment was war and Horowitz like other CEOs he describes, had to turn his company on a dime and re-imagine it. Horowitz discusses other wartime CEOs, such as Steve Jobs, who returned to his company in 1997 when the business was on the teetering on bank-ruptcy. In war, CEOs don’t need management pro-fessors and books. They need to focus their vision on recovery and use their business insight to find new paths through the struggle.[The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz, Available in Kindle, hardcover, and audio.]

COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory 15

STARTING A BUSINESS

1. Listen. Understand what your opponent wants.2. Be willing to walk away. One of the most basic skills, you must be able to walk away from the deal. 3. Act as if you are indifferent, but don’t be. You must never let the other party know how much you want or need to make the deal.4. Have the ammunition you need. As much as possible, know the facts on both sides of a deal. 5. Let the other party know what you can and will do if you both do not reach a deal. by M. Swyers is the founder of

Trademark Company, a web-based law firm. He is an expert negotiator here’s his advice:

TIPS FOR

SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATION

Faster processing of disability claims According to Kiplinger Retirement Planning experts, the Social Security Administration will expedite disability claims for applicants with severe medical conditions. The agency lists 200 con-ditions for which the expedited process applies.You can find the list at: socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

CO

AS

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agazine/A Black B

usiness Guide

Southeast Professional & Publications, LLC36

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SAVANNAH BUSINESS PROFILE

16 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

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17

With tremendous talent an a outgoing personality Noviah is on her way to taking this fashion world by storm throughout Savannah, the Coastal Empire and Atlanta, Gerogia.

Her vision and goal of DREAM IN COLOR is to “trans-form every dreamy face, one facebeat at a time and bring timeless, unique style to every closet.”

NOVIAH’S diverse background and artistic talent lead her to name her company, DREAMING IN COLOR IMAGE CONSULTING.”

“I give my client’s personality and style through the clothes, wardrobes or outtts that they are wearing. I help boost the person's self-contdence by helping them make a good impression.”

”I basically assume all tasks related to styling and create fashion visuals.”

NOVIAH sharpened her craft in fashion under the mentorship of Pastor Ajeenah Atkinson, founder of Dream Girls network.

God being the central focus of her life, Noviah made a prayerful move, stepped out on faith and started her own business as a Personal Fashion Stylist.

“Be You, Own It, DREAM IN COLOR!”

Photo by. D&D Media Group: [email protected]

COASTALEssence Magazine/A Black Business Guide

SAVANNAH BUSINESS PROFILE

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have ended badly. VERY BADLY. Police and District Attorneys are warning victims of smart phone theft to let them handle it. They say, your smart phone is not worth your life. This growing trend in vigilan-tism has been noticed in other areas of the country, and not always with good results. A New Jersey man was arrest-ed after he tracked his lost iPhone us-ing GPS technology and physically as-saulted the wrong man, confusing him for the offender. New technologies to track smart phones are cheap and readily available for anyone who has had their smart phone stolen, and many people see the value of their smart phone as the information that is inside it, as well as

SMART PHONE / Prevention

18 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

the phone itself. It’s hard to fault a person for wanting something so personal and private returned to them. Especially if they have already turned to the police and the police don’t ap-pear to be doing anything to recover their property. State and federals officials are work-ing on legislation in an attempt to fix this issue. In California, the ‘kill switch’ bill in-troduced by Sen. Mark Leno would require smart phone makers to include anti-theft technology in smart phones that would make them inoperable if stolen. A similar bill, the Smart Phone Theft Prevention Act, was introduced on the feder-al level in February. That bill is currently in congressional committee, slowly making its way through the U.S. Legislative process.

According to Lookout’s Phone Theft in America report, a survey of smart phone theft victims conducted by IDG Research, 1 in 10 U.S. smart phone owners are victims of phone theft and 68 percent of the victims were unable to recover their device after the theft occurred. In South Georgia, resident LaTesha, the answer was to go get it. After having her and a friends smart phone stolen at a party, she used the ‘find my iPhone’ App to trace where the phones were. She spoke to the po-lice and after being told they were too busy to help her, she and a friend went to confront the thief. Thankfully, this confrontation ended well. LaTesha and her friend got their phones back and no one was hurt. But it could

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Page 21: COASTAL ESSENCE MAGAZINE

COASTAL Essence Magazine 2014 BUSINESS PROFILE GREEN’S PROFESSIONAL CLEANING 19

Randall Green’s Professional Cleaning is owned by Randall Green Sr. He provides janitorial cleaning services to businesses in Savannah and Chatham County. Randall says, “cleaning has been a part of

my life from the time I was 12 years old.” It was at that time he was trained by his father who taught him how to clean of-fice buildings for a living. Randall’s father, Mr. Green owned a cleaning business in Savannah for over 40 years. “I believe that each generation should take entre-preneurship a little further,” says Randall. Randall started his business in 1996. Originally, on a part time basis to get started he purchased his own cleaning equipment, and dis-tributed his business cards. Weeks later, he landed his first client, a finance company in Savannah. For seven years, Green operated his business while working a full time job at a major Aerospace Corp. Randall says, “in 2004 I built a clientele from both the public and private sector” which afforded him the opportunity to re-sign from his job and operate Randall Green’s Professional Cleaning full time, “a decision I have never regretted,” says Randall. Randall Green’s Professional Cleaning service is customized to meet the needs of each client’s request. Wheth-er as needed on a weekly, monthly or daily basis, “my clients are satisfied and most often refer my services to their fami-ly, friends and business associates,” Randall proudly states. “I have the reputation to offer the best customer service and I stand on my fathers shoulders, the person who paved the way for my success,” says Randall. Green claims he is one of the “leading commercial- cleaning service providers in the Coastal Empire, an I have built a portfolio of customers including credit unions, gov-ernment agencies, manufacturers, doctors/dentist offices, non-profits, retailers, churches and homeowners.” Green’s services include commercial carpet and floor care. Green credits the Small Business Assistance Corpo-ration for the financing that helped to expand his business. Randall Green’s Professional Cleaning CONTACT INFO: 912.441.4562

Randall Green, Sr., Randall Green, Jr.

Crowd-Funding Makes It Easier To Own Real Estate

Smaller investors have long wished they could buy an apartment building or a shopping mall, but the

upfront cost was more than they wanted to invest. Now, crowd-funding, the sale of shares in a venture like real estate to hundreds or even thousands of other investors, has made owning commercial prop-erties possible for many. Being able to invest relatively small amounts into different properties is a way of limiting risk. Other investors feel the same way. New websites are springing up that allow individuals to buy stakes in everything from self-storage facilities to luxury hotels. “The interest is huge,” says Scott Whaley, president of the National Real Estate Investors Association in Cin-cinnati. “There is massive demand, both from entre-preneurs who want to get access to capital and from people who want to invest capital.” Crowd-funding has caught on in a variety of industries, spurred in part by regulatory changes that make it easier for such businesses to look for investors. When a property starts to earn rental income, the investors get a share of that. They may earn 8 per-cent or 9 percent annually, but they also get a share of any profits when the buildings are sold.

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“It’s like having a virtual representative…”Having a website makes it convenient for people to con-duct research on interest groups, view talent and buy products and services at any time.

Most of Savannah’s entrepreneurs have learned it is an inexpensive and great way to advertise services, share mission statements and feature anything else necessary for targeting a large range of audiences. Today, more and more consumers are using the Internet to purchase products and as a means of gathering initial information about products and services. As a result, prospects are able to research the information at their own pace often times in their home or on there mobile device. A Inter-net surfer will visit a number of sites before making a final decision on product selection. You need to be cer-tain that your site is one that has been visited if you are to stand a chance of gaining the surfer’s business. If you have no website, you have no chance!

Technology is great! Your website can keep a track of how many people visit your site. You’ll know ex-actly how many people have visited, where those people came from, which search term they used in which search engine, which pages they visited on your web site, how long they spent on your web site. All of which is extremely valuable feedback to aid in selling and marketing your products and services.

By providing information visitors can access things like a list of ‘frequently asked questions’ about your service or product, the customer can get an idea of what it is like to do business with you. This is very helpful to customers because it provides instant answers to their “frequently

asked” questions, but it also saves you and your employee’s considerable management time in not having to answer a lot of e-mails, phone calls, or faxes. What this usually means is when you do receive that e-mail, phone call or fax it is an actual order rather than an inquiry!

Your website can work like a kind of robot, sending informa-tion to customers, replying to emails and even making sales - day and night. It is possible to reply to your customers or potential customers automatically without you having to get involved at all. With simple devices called “auto responders” you’re able to set it all up whereby specific targeted replies are sent out to different people, night or day.

Use of a website is also a way to communicate and ex-press one’s unique individuality. People who have some-thing to say and people who love to write use it as an outlet. Educators and trainers use it to potentially teach or inform millions of users a day. If there is a cause that you want to get support for; the importance of having a website is to gain additional support for something others might not understand or realize existed.

Today more and more people are looking for products, ser-vices and business information on the web every hour of ev-ery day. Wouldn’t it be great to know that they just might consider yours?

Monica Wilson holds a BA Degree in Computer Science Contact: Monica for free consultation on Social Media Marketing[[email protected]]

NEW CUSTOMER MARKETINGThe Importance of Having a Website and How it Aids with Effective Marketing

-by Monica Wilson Savannah, Georgia

Selling your product

20 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

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BUSINESS EXCHANGEBy William Reed

COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory 21

Every advanced nation in the world is a free-market capital-ist country. To be successful in a free-market economy re-quires vision and strategic planning. Too few African-Amer-ican households boast of being successful free-market

practitioners, thankfully Curley M. Dossman, Jr. and 100 Black Men of America, Inc. are standing in the gap of wealth and income inequity grooming Black youth in business and enterprise. The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. pro-fesses a mission to improve the quality of life within Afri-can-American communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities where they live.

The group is leading and teaching African Americans through programs and efforts that create environments that motivate young people to achieve, and become self-sufficient sharehold-ers in the nation’s overall eco-nomic and social fabric. The 100 Black Men has more than 100 chapters with more than 10,000 mem-bers. It also has more than 100,000 annual youth partici-pants in mentoring and youth development programs.

The “100” is comprised of lo-cal Black professionals that are teaching and mentoring in their communities. Com-munity partisans, the 100 have a quantifiable record helping Blacks build and grow. Dossman continues to lead the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. into the future. The fifth president and chairman of the Board of Directors, Dossman aims to provide “impactful leadership that delivers innovative programs.” Dossman says his administra-tion is geared toward “the intellectual and economic development of our youth based on the precepts of: respect for family, spirituality, justice, and integrity.” Since 1964, members of the 100 have imple-mented successful programs that have improved African-Americans’ quality of life. Chairman Dossman says that over past decades the 100 Black Men of America has changed the trajectory of the lives of tens of thousands of Black youth from victims to victors. He contends that the 100 Black Men are impacting the lives of tomorrow’s leaders through signature programs that deliver unique and innovative men-toring initiatives.

Dossman knows his way around the streets and the suites. He’s vice president of community affairs and president of the Georgia-Pacific Foun-dation since 1994. He served as state vice president of government affairs at AT&T from 1984 to 1994. Before that, Dossman worked as a legislative as-sistant to Senator Russell B. Long from 1979 to 1984. Today, Dossman also serves on the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District. In previous years, he served as the chairman of the Na-tional Black Arts Festival and as director of Leadership Atlanta and chairman of the Morehouse College Campaign. Dossman’s leadership is grounded in the Market-Based Management business concept that fuels Georgia-Pacific LLC, an American pulp and paper company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of pulp, paper, and packaging, building products and related chemicals. Were

it a public company, in 2013 it would have ranked 17 on the Fortune 500 list. Doss-man’s responsible for community relations program development and administration of the Georgia-Pacific Foundation.

One of the leading Black corporate execu-tives in the world, Dossman directs activi-ties of the Georgia-Pacific Foundation and develops and implements the company’s overall philanthropic strategies. Geor-gia-Pacific believes that self-sufficiency and skillful use of economics are indispensable elements of a sustainable and strong com-munity. Dossman administers his portfolio with astute business and organizational insight. Under Dossman, programs such

as Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta, young people are being taught free-enterprise fundamentals in communities and colleges. Dossman’s programs spark stu-dents’ interest in owning businesses and “thinking like an owner.”

“We realize that student entrepreneurs, when nurtured and developed, can create value and free markets” says Dossman. If we want to close the gaps and inequalities that exist between Blacks and other groups in America, we may want to gauge what has occurred when leaders such as Dossman contribute in building our communities and their capacities.

Inquiries can be directed to the 100 Black Men of America, Inc., 241 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, telephone (404) 688-5100. - William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via the BaileyGroup.org

[God] searched for someone to stand in the gap – Ezekiel 22

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2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (left to right): Wesley Crenshaw, SEEC Member, Rev. Mathew Brown, SEEC Vice President, Imani Mtendaji, SEEC Member, T. Mitchell-Dickerson, owner of Twenty Third Biz Solutions, LLC, SEEC Corresponding Sec.,Josey Sheppard, owner of Sheppard’s Gas & Food Mart, SEEC President, and Kenneth Adams, The Savannah Herald, SEEC Financial

Savannah Economic and Education Council, Inc

22 COASTALEssence Magazine-Savannah African American Business Directory

Tijay Simmons_began his career as an ap-prentice to Master Barber Marvelous Marv ( Marvin Johnson), who is a team member and owner of Jazzy Cutz Barbershop in Savan-nah, Ga. Tijay says, “clean line ups and tight fades are his claim to fame.” Presently, Tijay spends most of his time between two barber shops, Jazzy Cutz Barbershop in Savannah, GA., and Cutty Buddiez Barbershop in Decatur, GA. ENTREPRENEUR: Simmons says, “I own the trademark BARBER FOR LYFE. Not every barber can say that not every barber thinks that way. I’m a businessman first. I think of myself as a corporation. I work hard at presenting myself to the public because-how you present yourself in public means every-thing in this line of business you are your best marketing piece.” Simmons believes that nine-ty percent of what entrepreneurs do in busi-ness should evolve around marketing. Think

about it like this he says, “If I don’t invest 90 % of my time marketing, selling my services, I’ll be a talented barber and know one will know it be-cause I wouldn’t have a clientèle hair to cut.” He also believes hair stylist/bar-bers should take yearly continuing edu-cation classes to craft their trade. POSITIVE AND PROVEN: Tijay says, “the business principals instilled in me by Marv has given him the discipline and pos-itive work ethics to do well in the hair care business for now and beyond.” “GAME FACE!” In the near future Sim-mons would like to get his instructor’s li-cense so that he can teach barbering in the very same manner in which he learned, with patience and sincere-guidance. “I aspire to work with Titans like Paul Mitchell, Andis, Wahl, and Oster just to name a few,” says Tijay.

“I feel sort of privileged working in an en-vironment where I have the opportunity to learn and grow,” Tijay says, beaming. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Tijay Simmons is the manager at Cutty Buddiez Barbershop 1206 Columbia drive Decatur Ga. His work can be found on Instagram bflceo, Facebook bflceo, Facebook fan page Tijay Simmons and for book-ing styleseat.com/Tijaysimmons

Education: Sam Verly Barber School Atlanta Technical College Barber School Awards: 1st place World Wide Hair and Fashion Show Competition 2013-2nd Place World Wide Hair and Fashion Show Competition 2013

1st place Cutty Buddiez Annual Barber Battle 2014

Simmons and a happy customer at Jazzy Cutz Barbershop. “Business is good,” says Tijay reflectively.

Business Network

Mission Statement: The Savannah Economic and Education Council Incorporated which is based in Savannah, Georgia is a non-profit corporation whose primary purpose is to: (1) provide economic education to the African-American community, (2) develop and implement plans to recycle dollars within the African-American business community, (3) economically empower our community by supporting African-American businesses and (4) promote the development of African-American business ownership.

Purpose: The organization will sponsor educational and networking events for the greater Savannah area that foster our mission statement.

“We hope to inspire and build relationships with business owners

and the community.”

Contact: [email protected]: 912.509.0454

Founders: Rev. Matthew S. Brown, Jr. and Josey Sheppard

SAVANNAH BUSINESS PROFILE

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2011 SPRING EDITION COASTALEssence Business Magazine/Directory 35

BUSINESS PROFILE:Abercorn Family Dentistry * 1310 Abercorn Street * Savanah, Georgia * PH: 234-0789

“The business we’re in is grins” is an appropriate slogan for Abercorn Family Dentistry. Located 1310 Aber-corn Street, this local practice provides exceptional dental care in Savannah to people of all ages. Dr. Ann Linton - May-nard and her husband, Roy, are the two masterminds behind the success of Aber-corn Family Dentistry. The couple pur-chased the business from a local dentist

twelve years ago. Together, they have built a thriving practice with a strong emphasis on customer care and infrastructure. Abercorn Family Dentistry prides itself in the level of care and service it is able to ren-der its patients. Providing high-quality, general treatment services to people of all ages, early dental care to babies and children, TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Joint) care as well as ac-cess to innovative dental technologies like Digital Radiography, Dr. Linton and her team of professionals offer a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere that helps patients feel comfortable while quelling any fears they might have regarding the dental visit. “We spend a great deal of time teaching people how to take care of their teeth. We explain everything, and we have an excel-lent team of staff who are well-trained and very considerate of our patients’ needs. Our patients learn their options and the conse-quences for not following through with the proper oral care. We also spend a lot of time in the community educating youth - from Pre-K to College – about good oral hygiene and careers in dentistry,” Dr. Linton said. While Dr. Linton focuses her expertise on

managing her team and providing exception-al dental care to her patients, her husband’s focus is on building the infrastructure of their business. “A lot of people in dentistry don’t offer quality care because they don’t have the right skills or equipment. We put a great amount of time and money in ensuring that our office has the proper equipment and technology to operate and function smooth-ly. Our company’s success is because we are able to tap into a network of people (staff in-cluded) who make it possible for us to offer a higher-quality of care to our patients,” said Roy Maynard. He believes a dentist prac-tice is one of the few businesses tied to infra-structure because it cannot be automated or function without an actual facility. Dr. Linton and Maynard recently opened a second location in Georgetown (821 St. George Boulevard). With one son set to graduate from dental school, both are hop-ing their children will one day join the family business and continue its expansion and growth – helping to ensure that excep-tional dental care is affordable and acces-sible to all in Savannah.

Dr. Ann Linton and Roy Maynard: They’re in the Business of Grins

Dr. Ann Linton and Roy Maynard

written by Lynn Pinderwww.lynnpinder.com

From The Cover

PROS OF BUSINESS

PARTNERSHIP* They want input from another person when making decisions.* Two people can do more than one and they can help each other.* It won't be necessary for one person to be at the business all the time.* The partner will be more motivated than an employ-ee would be.* The business could grow faster if the partner has capital to invest.

REASONS NOT TO HAVE

A PARTNER * The business profits, de-cision-making and recog-

Thinking About Getting A Business Partner or Co-Owner

Take a Look at The Pros and cons of having a co-owner or partner. Most business owners have wondered if it would be to their advan-tage to take on a partner. These are just some of reasons why they would or would not do it.

Airlines now tell all on the prices of fares. As part of the Transportation Department consumer-protection rules: * Airlines must make sure advertised fares include all taxes and other fees, which previously were not apparent when buying a ticket online. * They must include any fees for checking bags when people book and pay for a ticket online. The goal is to avoid having passengers being surprised by fees and having to pay for them at the airport.

TRAVEL NEWS

YOU CAN USE

nition will be shared.* A partner with poor judg-ment could be detrimental to the business.* If the partnership is not suc-cessful, it could be necessary to buy out the other person.

When seeking a partner you both should have similar work habits and ethics. And you should have the same vision of how the business should grow and earn money. In some ways, partners should be different, bringing different skills into the business. Complementary capabilities help to spread the workload and provide better problem solving.

Before taking a partner, have a buy-sell agreement in place in case things don't work out.

Pros and Consof Business Partnership

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24 COASTALEssence Magazine & Savannah African American Business Directory

Read this: it could give you a new idea or two The Vision Council advises on digi-tal eye strain Remember the 20-20-20: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Decrease background brightness. Maybe change it from a bright white to a cool gray. Lessen overhead light. It can compete with your device’s screen.

Adjust the screen. Make it directly in front of your face and slightly below eye level. Coordinate the chair and monitor. In your chair extend you arm. Your palm should rest comfortably on the moni-tors if you’re high-fiving the screen. Keep handheld devices a safe distance from your eyes and below eye level. Increase the text size. You’ll spot any mistake easily and it will be easier on our eyes. Some programs let you do it instantly. Others make you use control settings to make adjustments that feel comfortable to your eyes. Remind yourself to blink more often. Staring at a digital screen affects the number of times you blink, leading to dry eyes.

DECADENT HEATH BAR CAKE Heath Bar Cake; Better Than Sex Cake; Better Than “Any-thing” Cake; Better Than Almost Anything Cake; and others. Decadent Health Bar Cake1 box German chocolate (or devil’s food) cake mix1 cup caramel ice cream topping1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (de-frosted)__3 to 4 Heath candy bars, chopped Bake the cake mix according to package di-rections and spread in a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan. While still hot, punch holes in top of cake with a skewer, straw or clean pencil. Pour sweetened condensed milk and car-amel topping over hot cake. Let cake cool. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. When cooled, spread with whipped topping and sprinkle liberally with chopped Heath bars.

NO PROBLEM WITH GMOS

Some states want to pass leg-islation that says foods with any ge-netically modified Organisms (GMO) should have special labels on them. But no harm has been demon-strated with ingesting these foods from genetically modified plants, according to Professor Irwin Rosenberg at Tufts University’s Friedman School. The American Medical Associa-tion agrees that there is no proven risk in foods containing ingredients whose DNA has been modified. The World Health Organization and the National Academy of Sciences agree.

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The last decade’s explosion of health costs found many companies, including our own, searching for ways to bring costs under control. With health insur-ance premiums still rising, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, companies have to take action. Their goal has been to continue to provide high quality health coverage while encouraging people to take part in health initiatives. • THE FIRST STEP WAS TO

ELIMINATE SMOKING IN

THE WORKPLACE, and that program has been successful virtual-ly nationwide. With co-pays rising everywhere, health care consumers are becoming more aware of costs. Consumerism has entered the world of

health care. • In organizations where tiered co-pay-

ment arrangements are offered, for ex-ample, workers pay lower co-payments for generic drugs and high co-pay-ments for brand name prescriptions.

• Another consumer-driven plan calls for health insurance to cover all annual checkups and preventive tests such as mammograms. After that, the insured and their families receive $1,000 in coverage for the year. When the $1,000

EMPLOYERS ARE FINDING MORE WAYS TO

MANAGE HEALTHCARE COSTSis used, the next $1,500 is paid by the worker. Beyond that, the company in-surance pays 90 percent of the bill.

• To keep their workers healthy, com-panies are offering education plus exercise and weight-loss programs.

Organizations such as PepsiCo, Ameri-can Standard Companies., And others have programs to identify workers at risk for major health problems. Their health appraisals include cholesterol levels and family histories. An outside consultant evaluates their risk for de-veloping heart disease, diabetes, and other ailments. Those with high risks are assigned a health coach, accord-ing to Business Week. For Business an Group Presentations on The New Health Care Laws Contact *Agents: 912.323.6892* Certified In Medicare Affordable Health Care Pre-sentations for Business/Individual/Groups

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WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY The Anniversary of the

19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Women’s Equality Day commemorates the 26th of August, 1920 when women’s right to vote officially became part of the U.S. Constitution. This day marked a turning point in the history of women’s rights. Winning the right to vote was one of many areas in which women have fought successfully for equality. Among the others, the right to own property, sign con-tracts and run for public office, things we take for grant-ed today.

[email protected]

26 COASTALEssence Magazine-Savannah African American Business Directory

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ALTERATIONSJeanette’s Alterations & Designs1610 Bul Street Savh.........................238-0068

Vera’s Alterations & Designs7062 Hodgson Memorial DrSavh...................................................355-7277

APARTMENT COMPLEXAllen Apartments595 W 54th St, Savh...........................232-7659

ART GALLERIES (Dealers)Disapora Marketplace The, Inc.510 MLK Jr. Blvd., Savh…........................232-262

BAIL BOND COMPANYA Brighter Day Bail Bond Inc.2 Park Of Commerce Blvd., Suite GSavannah....................................................233-1007

BANKSCapitol City Bank & Trust Company339 Martin Luther King Blvd...................232-9670

Carver State Bank701 Martin Luther King Blvd....................233-9971

BANQUET FACILITIESBethlehem Baptist Church 1008 May St. Savh....................................233-9040

Joe Addison Banquet Center 2812 Bee Road @ E. Victory Dr., Savannah, GA.

Litway Missionary Baptist Church 2335 Shell Rd. Thunderbolt, GA..............355-1225

Progressive Recreation Center5321 Ogeechee Road Savh........................236-8717

BEAUTY SALONSBeauty Essentials407 E. Montgomery Xrds Savh....................925-0881

Claire’s Personal Hair Care & Spa10214 White Bluff Rd. Savh........................925-3988

Hair In Motion1408 MLK Jr., Blvd., Savh...........................201-9904

Love & Care Beauty Salon1809 Montgomery St. Savh........................234-1206

Miles of Beauty Hair Studio2428 Abercorn St. Savh..............................236-7121

Stepping Out Salon4318 Augusta Rd. Garden City....................966-5338

Upscale Hair Salon1708 Abercorn St Savh...............................232-5206

Vera’s Cut & Styles11709 Largo Dr Savh............................961-0100

DentistAbercorn Family Dentistry1310 Abercorn St., Savh.......................234-0789Brown, Patricia M. Dr. 102 E. Victory Dr. Savh........................238-3600Cooper, Phillip W. Jr. DDS 413 W. Duffy St. Savh..........................234-5003Jackson Dental Center 1501 Abercorn St. Savh......................233-79701

Environmental ConcernsCitizens For Environmental Justice1115 Habersham St. Savh.....................233-5105

Event PlannersBibles UnlimitedHenrietta Hills......................................965-0257Peavley’s Sweets & Catering CoWeddings* Parties* Events..................503-0777

Financial -Business ServicesSmall Business Assistance Corporation111 East Liberty St Savh.......................232-4700

FloristJohnson Florist & Baloon Company11151 Abercorn St. Savh........................9204644Lester’s Florist 2100 Bull St. Savh.......233-6066

Fueling-Gas ServiceJackson Brothers Care Center1141 W Gwinnett St, Savh....................236-0631Shepphard’s Gas/Food Mart1302 W. Gwinnett St. Savh...................238-1932

Funeral DirectorsMichael & Brown 1429 W. Bay St....................................233-2133Sidney A. Jones 124 W. Park Ave....................................234-7226Williams & Williams Inc. 1012 E. Gwinnett St. Savh....................234-1634

Graphic DesignersD & D Photo & Video1935 Skidaway Rd. Savh......................596-4804

COASTAL ESSENCE An African American Business Magazine/Directory 27

PARDON OUR PROGRESS We’re Under Construction And Working on a Mobile App for Coastal/Essence & Savannah African American Business Directory

We’re Growing Fast Join Our Business List! Email: [email protected] Designs-Tony Hargroveswww.grovedesigns.biz...............................713-1559

Hats On Time Fashions 26 W. Broughton St. Savh...........................233-2320

Insurance Accurate Insurance, Harold Cutter1023 Victory Dr. Savh.................................236-8420Allstate, Albert Lawyer, LUTF11413 Abercorn St. .....................................790-2030State Farm Insurance, Bill Richards20 E. Montgomery CrossRds.......................927-3033State Farm Insurance, Dennis Aiken7010 Skidaway Road, Savh.........................353-9121State Farm Insurance, Verdell Jones1114 Abercorn St Savh................................920-9300

Marts * Food * FuelSheppard’s Gas/Food Mart 1302 W. Gwinnett St. Savah........................238-1932

Opthamology * GeneralChatham Eye Associates3709 Waters Ave Savh.................................354-1434

OptometristBrown & Brown Drs. P.C.1320 Abercorn St. Savh...............................236-4898

PhotographyD & D Photo & Video1935 Skidaway Rd. Savh.............................596-4804

PublishersCoastal Essence Business MagazineSavannah......................................................323-6892Savannah Herald1803 Barnard St Savh........................232-4505Savannah Tribune1805 MLK Jr., Blvd., Savh................233-6128

Tutoring ServiceReid’s Personal Tutoring Service994 Stiles Ave. Savh........................ ....412.7323

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Self inquiry is one of the most powerful and effective medita-tion techniques used by thousands of people all over the world. Taught by the enlightened Guru, Ramana Maharshi, this medi-tation technique alone has helped many people experience pro-

found states of meditation and even self realization.

At the most mundane level, self inquiry is asking “Who am I?” In asking this question, your attention reverses back onto itself, the mind becomes still and for however long it lasts, you experience nothing but pure consciousness, pure attention itself. Dualistic sub-ject/object perception is gone and there is only the experience of one infinite consciousness.

The amazing thing about this meditation technique is that it uses the mind to stop the mind. “Who am I” is not an intellectual question, in-stead it is a question to cut right through the intellectual mind. Because if you really look to find the answer, you will find that your name, body and occupation is not what you are.

Certainly intellectually, these things would be your answer. But if you really inquire into the nature of what you are in this moment, you move past all mental definitions and come to something which cannot be put into words, something that actually silences the words. So in practicing the self inquiry technique, in asking “Who am I,” your at-tention moves inward instead of outward, past intellectual knowledge to that which cannot be described or defined. You begin to experience what is here beyond your thinking, beyond all ideas and definitions of what you know intellectually. This experience of pure consciousness, pure attention is often referred to as the Self, Atman, the feeling of ‘I am,’ stillness, silence, the void and the absence of me.

All of these words may point in the direction of what is here, but it is necessary to note that the words themselves are not the answer. The answer is the silence, the mystery that is there every time you ask the question. You use the self inquiry meditation technique to take you to the essence of what is here beyond thought and in that you learn to remain in that essence, to rest in pure consciousness.

When you begin practicing the self inquiry meditation technique, you may ask “who am I?” and the experience of pure consciousness may only last a moment before you are again caught up in thinking. So then you repeat the question to again take you out of thinking and into your natural state of pure consciousness. At first, it may be that you ask “who am I” with every inhale and then on the exhale you experience what is here beyond thinking.

At first, the experience of pure being may last 2 seconds, then 5 sec-onds, even 30 seconds before you get caught up in thinking.But with practice, you come to a point where the question is no longer needed; you come to a point where the feeling of pure consciousness becomes dominant enough that your attention can remain without actually needing to use the question any longer.

28 COASTALEssence Magazine/A Black Business Guide

relaxationLearn Meditation Technique for your moment of

It is here the meditation technique no longer be-comes an inquiry, but rather you simply relax into pure being, you surrender in pure consciousness. You begin to be able to directly experience this mo-ment beyond mental perception, without having to use your mind. What you begin to experience are not your thoughts, but the consciousness behind the thinking, the consciousness from where the thoughts arise and disappear on their own.

Ramana Maharshi radiated Shaktipat, the energy of enlightenment. Just by sitting in Ramana Ma-harshi’s presence, people would effortlessly experi-ence deep states of bliss and self realization, with-out having to practice any meditation technique at all.

For ”Shaktipat Meditation Music” Visit http://www.bliss-music.com/meditation_music.htmEditors Choice: A Free Article.com

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